The Blessed Monstrance of St. Pope John Paul II is visiting the Diocese of Allentown. Hosted by the Serra Club of the Lehigh Valley, you can partake in adoration with this special monstrance at the parishes listed below.
On Nov. 24, 2004 the late Pope John Paul II blessed six monstrances for use during the Year of the Eucharist for people to pray for an increase of vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life.
The Year of the Eucharist began Oct. 17, 2005 and concluded in October 2006 with a world Synod of Bishops with the Eucharist as its theme.
The monstrances were designated for Eucharistic adoration for vocations for each major continent or geographical area around the world as a symbol of the connection between the Eucharist and priestly vocations. The six regions given a monstrance are: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
The first diocese to receive the monstrance was Portland, Maine in February 2005. A year later, the monstrance had traveled to over 45 dioceses throughout the United States and Canada.
Due to the overwhelming volume of requests, the Bishops’ Committee on Vocations decided to prolong the availability of the monstrance beyond the end of the Year of the Eucharist, and as long as interest continues.
The Serra Club encourages you to pray for an increase in vocations at these locations:
St. Peter, Reading – Thursday, Sept. 14, noon to 8 p.m.
St. Paul, Reading – Friday, Sept. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
St. Joseph, Reading – Saturday, Sept. 16, 3 p.m. to Sunday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m.
St. Margaret, Reading – Sunday, Sept. 17, noon to 2 p.m.
St. Catharine of Siena, Reading – Monday, Sept. 18, after 7:15 a.m. Mass to 8 p.m.
St. Mary, Hamburg – Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6 to 7 p.m.
St. Thomas More, Allentown – Wednesday, Sept. 20, 6 to 8 p.m.
Sacred Heart, West Reading – Thursday, Sept. 21, after 8 a.m. Mass to 8 p.m.
St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring – Sunday, Sept. 24, after noon Mass to Tuesday, Sept. 26, 8:30 p.m.
St. Mary, Kutztown – Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7 to 8 p.m.
Holy Guardian Angels, Reading – Sunday, Oct. 1, after 11:30 a.m. Mass to Tuesday, Oct. 3, Forty Hours conclusion.
What is Serra Club?
Serra is a nonprofit Catholic organization made up of laymen and laywomen whose mission is to pray and work to foster, promote and affirm vocations to ministry in the Catholic Church.
Its name is derived from Blessed Father Junípero Serra, a Franciscan missionary priest who established many missions in California in the late 1700s through his evangelization, and was canonized by Pope Francis Sept. 23, 2015.
For more information, call Pat Fielding at 610-867-7341.
Photo: CNS file photo.
Copy Permalink
