March 12, 2025

By Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin
Contributing Writer

The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament of Hope. During this Jubilee Year, which coincides with the Year of Mission in the National Eucharistic Revival, there has been a resurgence in devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and adoration in our diocese and throughout the country. Local faithful shared their thoughts on the power of prayer before Jesus, our Eucharistic Lord.

Father Bryan D. Stitt, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Canton, explained what inspired him to expand Adoration in his parish and add a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. opportunity every Friday.

“Going to the National Eucharistic Congress and experiencing Adoration in the Lukas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis inspired me to expand the hours of Adoration here at St. Mary’s,” he said. “Coordinating prayer and worship in a stadium is far from ideal. Nevertheless, it was done so well there that I realized I knew I should bring some of this back home. If we wait for things to be ideal, we often miss the good.”

While a youth, Father Stitt was fortunate to encounter the Real Presence of Christ.

“It was during Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that I first saw my father pray,” Father Stitt said. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. For a big, poorly educated blue-collar worker to be brought to his knees was very significant. And of course, it wasn’t just dad. Still in my teens, I personally learned the power of quiet prayer in the midst of our noisy world. This was reiterated by my formation at Wadhams Hall. When I got to Major Seminary, the rector instituted a daily Holy Hour of Adoration. Though it was optional for the seminarians, that’s when a daily Eucharistic Holy Hour became a crucial part of my spiritual life. 25 years later, it still is.”

Although there are many reasons to begin or attend weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Father Stitt shared the most important: Jesus wants it.

“Some years ago, a teenaged boy was reflecting on Confession,” Father Stitt relayed. “He was thinking about the passage in the Gospels when Jesus gave the Apostles the gift: ‘Whose sins you forgive are forgiven.’ He then said to me, ‘I guess, if Jesus gave the Church this gift, he wanted us to take advantage of it.’ Brilliant. I’d say something very similar about Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration. It is such a gift. ‘If Jesus gave the Church this gift, we can be sure he wants us to take advantage of it.’”

Parishes are also increasingly endeavoring to share the gift of Jesus’ Real Presence with children and families. Father Michael J. Jablonski, pastor of Church of the Assumption in Redford and St. Joseph’s Church in Dannemora, related that there has been a children’s Mass in his parishes for three years.

“Kids bring up gifts and lector,” Father Jablonksi explained. “We keep it going during the summer as well.”

This special monthly Mass is preceded by a Holy Hour of Adoration that families attend together. This hour of blessings is held before the 4 p.m. anticipated Mass and the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Dannemora, and before the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at Church of the Assumption in Redford. The next children’s Mass will be on the weekend of March 15 and 16.

During the week, there is also Eucharistic Adoration from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Redford and on Wednesdays and Fridays in Dannemora. Confessions are heard during Adoration. This time with Jesus concludes with a Marian litany in Redford and the St. Joseph’s litany in Dannemora.

During Lent, Father Jablonski is giving Magnificat books to his parishioners to help them grow in love with the Mass. Many of the adorers in their parish are daily Communicants. He has found that this time with our Lord has brought about a new sense of hope and rebirth.

“There is a correlation between more people going to Confession with the Adoration,” he said. “[It has borne great fruit] in daily Mass people and what they do, and some of the Sunday people are volunteering and doing things they didn’t before. The Lord challenges us when we sit in His presence and the Holy Spirit. We’ve got to get back Adoration and the basics.”

Father Jablonksi said he encourages everyone to spend time with Jesus in Adoration.

“People aren’t that familiar with Adoration,” he said. “Folks, we have our Lord here, come on. Our Lord is the life line to eternal life and we need him especially in this day and age, and we need to turn to him so we can keep our souls ignited. If we don’t, that fire will be burned out. The devil is alive and well. If we go to Adoration, we are able to bring our Lord out to the world that is in such need and does not know him anymore.”

Father Jablonski said he hopes more parishes will schedule regular Adoration opportunities.

“I encourage parishes to give Adoration a chance,” he said. “Start with your daily Mass people, have it before the daily Mass. Start small and you’d be surprised how things grow. It makes it easier and we can minister better and move on. It’s doable. Then take it to the Sunday Mass crowd. It helps them get a taste so maybe they’ll come to Adoration during the week. With our families, it is so vital.”

In Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh, Ken and Kathy Racette, weekly adorers at Holy Cross in Plattsburgh, have invited others to join in the parish Eucharistic Adoration. Since the beginning of the revival, just by word of mouth and sharing literature, approximately 25 new adorers have signed up to spend an hour with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament each week.