Vocations monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II visits local churches

Messenger staff report

The Serra Club for Vocations, Northern Kentucky is taking part in the effort to bring a monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II to local churches, including the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, Aug. 2–4. The adoration schedule with the monstrance is:
August 2 The monstrance will be at Old St. Mary’s Church, Cincinnati, for an all-night vigil until Benediction the next morning. Exposition begins Aug. 3 after the 7:15 a.m. Mass until 9 a.m. Mass.
August 3
The monstrance then travels to the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption for adoration noon – 4 p.m. (Mass at 4:30 p.m.) and then 5:30 p.m. until 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4. Officers will be present during the overnight hours to ensure the safety of adorers.
August 4–6
From Aug. 4, 1 p.m.– Tuesday, Aug. 6, 6 a.m., the monstrance will be at St. Agnes Church, Ft. Wright, for adoration.

In 2004, St. Pope John Paul II blessed six monstrances to be used during the Year of the Eucharist (2005-2006) for people to pray for an increase in vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life. The monstrances were designated for Eucharistic adora- tion for vocations for each major continent 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 Holy Father presented the North American Continent monstrance to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for this purpose. In turn, the USCCB entrusted the monstrance to the USA Council of Serra International with instructions to fulfill the Pope’s request: to ensure that this monstrance be used in local parishes so that all Catholics far and wide would come together and pray for vocations. The first diocese to receive the monstrance was Portland, Maine in 2005. A year later, the monstrance had traveled to over 45 dioceses throughout the U.S. and Canada by 2006. Due to the overwhelming volume of requests for the monstrance, the Bishops’ Committee on Vocations made a decision 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 for Vocations, Northern Kentucky, is a group of Catholic men and women who pray and work to foster vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. Club members are also committed to grow in knowledge of the Catholic faith and to become better Catholics through prayer and acts of stewardship. For information about the Serra Club visit www.serranky.com.