Dear Parishioners,
One of the things that I love about Holy Spirit Parish is our Perpetual Adoration Program. You cannot fully grasp all of the varied graces that can come from an apostolate that is dedicated to adoring and worshipping our Lord Jesus 24-7. From a spiritual perspective, I can think of only a few other things that can bear as much fruit as the dedicated commitment “to pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17) God is not outdone in His generosity, and that is why is it so important that we continue to be generous to Him. “Could you not watch one hour with me?” (Mark 14:34) God will continue to bless our parish and parishioners in both visible and invisible ways as we strive to stay always faithful to Him.
We currently have about 14 open hours in the schedule. We need to get those filled up with permanent adorers, so that we can truly be a “perpetual” adoration offering to the Lord. I realize that some of the open hours are difficult hours in the early morning, but those particular times are truly filled with many more graces than other hours because of the greater sacrifice entailed. Jesus knows how hard it is for you to crawl out of bed, get dressed, and drive over to church, sometimes when it is freezing cold and snowing! How heavy those bed covers can be when it feels like they are holding you down by themselves! However, your saying “Yes” to Christ, to keep watch with Him for at least one hour, is a grace-filled way of making reparation to His Sacred Heart that has been bruised by the offenses of mankind. Think of how His Sacred Heart was wounded by the tired indifference of His apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane. Perpetual Adoration during the middle of the night is the perfect way of doing what the Apostles did not do, and loving our Lord when His Sacred Heart was insulted.
I recently signed up for the midnight hour on Wednesday morning. I figured that I could not ask you to take a hard hour if I myself was not taking one. Would you please consider taking one of the open hours that are listed here in the bulletin? Of course, anyone and everyone is welcome, but I think that we really need the men of our parish that do not currently have an hour sign up for one of the early hours.
Two main reasons for that. First, men are called by God to be the spiritual leaders of their family. Husbands and fathers exercise the priesthood of their domestic church at home, and are called and tasked by God to lead their wives and children in virtue and holiness. Women have important roles as well in the church and home, but God calls men to be the leaders in faith. Secondly, it is better and more prudent to have men out and about in the early hours of the morning, God forbid something nefarious would happen. Either outside church or anywhere else. In general, they are more disposed to defending themselves, others, and even the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel if something like that should occur.
Thank you men of Holy Spirit, for prayerfully considering taking one of our open hours.
God bless you,
Fr. Timmerman, Pastor
