Delivering Monstrances Around the World
Catholic World Mission strongly emphasizes evangelistic revival and spiritual development in its core values. Our latest endeavor involves providing underprivileged parishes and communities with monstrances to foster increased devotion to the life-giving power of the Eucharist.
Eucharistic Adoration is a Catholic tradition in which we get to be in the presence of the exposed Blessed Sacrament. The Body of Christ is held in a monstrance and stationed in a designated space, usually the altar or chapel, which allows us to have personal, tranquil, and uninterrupted time with Jesus.
A consecrated host, one that has been transformed at Mass to the actual Body of Christ, is removed from the tabernacle. While the tabernacle does hold the consecrated hosts, is available for prayer, and given reverence, the Eucharist is still covered, concealed, and usually locked inside. For Eucharistic Adoration, the host is placed in a monstrance that contains a glass compartment (called a luna) and exposes the Eucharist before all. The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament proves to be the key and most important factor of Eucharistic Adoration. If the parish chooses to only have particular hours for Eucharistic Adoration, an ordained minister will repose the Blessed Sacrament and place it back in the tabernacle.
The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament serves as an extension of the adoration and praise of the Body and Blood of Christ during the Mass. Eucharistic Adoration allows us to acknowledge the strength and almighty power of our Lord and Savior. During this time of reverence, visitors may pray, recite the rosary, read scripture, offer intentions, or simply sit in the presence of the Lord.
Open to anyone, Eucharistic Adoration also assigns the visiting adorers the responsibility of being a guardian to the Blessed Sacrament. This silent period of time with Jesus gives many people the blessing of internal peace, greater hunger for Communion with God, and deepened assurance in His power and presence.
The origins of Eucharistic Adoration can be dated back to the time of Jesus’s first apostles. These evangelists strongly emphasized the physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist and its role in being a continuation of Jesus’s saving mission. Influenced by this faith, early hermits would conceal and often preserve the Eucharist in their caves for safekeeping. They would also carry the Eucharist on their person when traveling.
By the Fourth Century, the Eucharist was commonly reserved in monasteries and convents and served the primary purpose of reaching the sick and dying. The keeping of the Blessed Sacrament in religious houses became very guarded, often under lock and key.
The 11th century brought extremely controversial voices that rejected and criticized the physical transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Pope Gregory VII, defending against this heresy, clarified the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist: Jesus is truly and actually present in the Eucharist. This clarification created various gateways for visits, viewings, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This “eucharistic renaissance” brought about a more open and available worship of the Blessed Sacrament. Since then, the ability to adore and be before the Eucharist has developed greatly and continues to move the hearts of countless individuals and communities.
By attending Eucharistic Adoration, we are accepting an invitation from Jesus to grow closer to Him. With the presence of the exposed and physical being of Christ, God reveals his tenderness to us in the silence. By allowing God into our hearts, He gives strength and hope to those who wander or are lost. Eucharistic Adoration blesses one with a temporary escape from the secular world to bring our struggles before God. Away from noise and distractions, adoration opens an opportunity for healing, guidance, enlightenment, forgiveness, and peace.
Anyone is welcome to visit and pray with the Blessed Sacrament. God makes his grace available to all his children. From individuals to groups to entire parishes, Eucharistic Adoration is offered to all for petitions and thanksgiving.
It does!
The tradition of Eucharistic Adoration also brings an abundance of blessings for the parish. Whether attending on a whim, on your own schedule or signing up for a specific guardian time, attending adoration increases your involvement in parish life. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament offers a place for the community to come together in deep prayer and adoration.
God pours out his love and support to parishes in need. Parishes that become anchored in Christ in this way are able to withstand any challenge, change, or shortcoming.
The Eucharist is also a sign of personal communion with God. The more we develop this spiritual relationship on a personal, individual level, the better we get at developing an authentic love of neighbor, which strengthens the parish family.
Sts. John Fisher (1469-1535) and Thomas More (1478-1535) were strengthened in life and prepared for martyrdom by fervent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In one of More’s prayers, published after his death, we read, “O sweet Saviour Christ, by the diverse torments of Thy most bitter Passion, take from me, good Lord, this lukewarm fashion or rather key-cold meditation, and this dullness in praying to Thee. And give me Thy grace to long for Thy Holy Sacraments, and especially to rejoice in the Presence of Thy Blessed Body, sweet Saviour Christ, in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and duly to thank Thee for Thy gracious visitation therewith.”
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1680), a Visitation nun, found that the Blessed Sacrament gave her the strength she needed to endure what witnesses at her beatification process declared were “contempt, contradictions, rebukes, insults, reproaches, without complaining, and praying for those by whom she was ill-treated.”
On August 18, 1996, Father Alejandro Pezet was saying an evening Mass at a Catholic church in central Buenos Aires. Upon finishing distributing communion, a woman came forward and informed him that a discarded host had been seen on a candleholder in the back. Unable to consume the host, Father Peret placed the Blessed Sacrament in a vessel of water in the tabernacle to allow it to dissolve. The following Monday, Father Peret was astonished to find that the host had transformed into a significantly larger and bloody substance. Kept in secret and rejecting decomposition, the host was under lock for a few years.
Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, had the substance scientifically analyzed by various specialists who determined that the mysterious substance came from an actual piece of human flesh. More specifically, it was announced to be a part of the left cardiac ventricle, a muscle responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body. Furthermore, scientists concluded that due to an inflamed condition and an excess amount of white blood cells, the heart must have been alive when the sample was taken and had undergone severe amounts of stress.
Explore the tabbed sections below to see where you’ve helped spread the gift of Eucharistic Adoration!
DR Congo has been locked in a violent civil war for years. In the summer of 2017, the Church was targeted by the warring factions, forcing priests, religious sisters, seminarians, and bishops to go into hiding. Churches have been burned, including monstrances still containing the Blessed Sacrament!
The Church has been heavily targeted. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the Diocese of Luebo was desecrated on March 31. This is the seat of our friend and supporter of Ndekesha Orphanage, Bishop Pierre Celestin. He has fled the diocese for his safety.
The priests of the Diocese of Luebo have also fled. Some are still in DR Congo, living in groups in the bush or hostels, but many others have fled to other countries, including a refugee camp in Angola.
Catholic World Mission committed to getting a new monstrance to the Diocese of Luebo when the news of the violence broke. We wanted to restore the gift of adoration to the Diocese of Luebo by replacing the monstrances that were desecrated by fighters. We know the importance of being able to sit face-to-face with Jesus, especially in the midst of suffering. One of the main tenets of our faith is that the Lord is always near to us, especially in the Blessed Sacrament, and we wanted to help Bishop Celestin bring adoration back to his diocese.
Thanks to your help and generosity, we were able to give a monstrance to Bishop Celestin. You made it possible for the faithful in DR Congo to be physically near to Jesus in the Eucharist, even in the midst of violence and fighting.
Thanks to your help and generosity, we were able to give a monstrance to Bishop Celestin. You made it possible for the faithful in DR Congo to be physically near to Jesus in the Eucharist, even in the midst of violence and fighting.
Atlanta, USA – Bishop Celestin visits! L-R: Ide Maka, CWM partner; Deacon Rick Medina, CWM Executive Director; Bishop Pierre Celestin of Diocese of Luebo, DRC; Monsignor Marren, pastor of All Saints Catholic Church in Atlanta; Fr. Donatien Beya, Diocese of Luebo, DRC; Stephanie Lange, CWM Operations Manager
Atlanta, USA – Fr. Constantin Panu and Fr. Donatien Beya, both of the Diocese of Luebo in DR Congo, receive a new monstrance. CWM Executive Director Deacon Rick Medina and CWM partner Ide Maka present the monstrance.
During the Feast of Christ the King, Msgr. Simon leads the faithful in Eucharistic adoration. The distribution of Monstrances made possible by generous donors like you brings many to experience the peace of Christ through Eucharistic adoration.
Two more Monstrances have been distributed to Ghana which marks 14 Monstrances that currently reside all over the country. Bishop Essien and the Sisters of the Oblates are elated with joy to have gotten two of these precious Monstrances that will encourage adoration within their parish communities and beyond.
Two More Monstrances Given to Ghana!
2018 saw two more monstrances given to Ghana. We are so exited to be able to continue spreading Eucharistic Adoration throughout Ghana.
In June, Deacon Rick Medina traveled to Ghana for the dedication of the newly build Immaculate Conception Parish in Enchi, Ghana. While he was there, he presented a monstrance to Msgr. Simon Assamoah and Fr. Anthony Eshun, two of our partner priests in Ghana.
Bishop John Kwofie, Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, visited Atlanta in October 2018. Bishop Kwofie was in town to raise awareness and founds for his diocese in Ghana. It was happy surprise for him to be able to receive a new monstrance as well!
It is our sincere hope that many, many souls come to know the ever-present, never-failing love of Jesus through spending time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Thank you for all you do to make it possible for people to encounter Jesus Christ this way.
Visit the Updates tab to see photos of monstrance distribution in Ghana over the years!
Fr. Anthony, now in Ghana receives his monstrance while on assignment in Atlanta.
We are excited to share that a precious monstrance has arrived in Nigeria! The monstrance was delivered to Archbishop Augustine O. Akubeze of the Benin Diocese in Edo State, Nigeria. How joyful it is to present the community with new opportunities to draw near and pray before the Blessed Sacrament.
Thank YOU for your generosity that continues to spread the faith in all parts of the world. See more pictures below!
A new monstrance for the Legionary Community in Cumming, GA.
Father John Bartunek and Deacon Rick Medina.
Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup, NM.
Santo Niño Parish in Catron, NM.
Madre de Dios in Wislow, AZ mainly serves the poor Latino in the farthest west end of their Diocese.
St Joseph Keams in Canyon, AZ. serving the Hopi, Navajo, and Tewa people in the area.
Thanks to your continued support, we have been able to ship a Monstrance to the Diocese of Sylhet in Bangladesh! Archbishop Bejoy D’Cruze joyously accepted the Monstrance on behalf of the Diocese in a special ceremony that took place on June 19th in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He assures that the Monstrance will be given to Bishop Shorot Francis Gomes, the Bishop of the Diocese of Sylhet, once he returns from an overseas trip. The Archbishop personally called Catholic World Mission to send a message of thanks to our supporters for their abundant generosity.
Deacon Rick met with the Knights of Columbus members at St. Patrick’s Church in Norcross, GA to deliver the Monstrance. (From left) Danny Sequeira, Father Joe Mendes, Deacon Rick Medina, Norbert Mendes, Harry Schnirring.
Praise be! Thanks to the generosity of the Catholic World Mission family of supporters, two monstrances have been distributed to the Diocese of Udipi in southern India.
The first monstrance to arrive was presented to Bishop Gerald Lobo and was immediately celebrated with a parish-wide Eucharistic Adoration. The second monstrance was gifted to the local senior center in Udipi for the community’s retired priests.
The Udipi Diocese was recently opened by the Holy Father only two years ago! We are thrilled to play a role in developing the new diocese by providing more opportunities to experience the peace of Christ through Eucharistic Adoration.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, an advisor of the Holy Father, blessed the Monstrance that we were able to give to the Archdiocese of Mumbai. The Monstrance has since then been sent to the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Sanpada, Navi Mumbai. Pictured above, Father Francis Noronha proudly holds a sacred part of a long tradition in the Catholic Church that we have been able to give to this Archdiocese.
Monstrance being blessed by Cardinal Oswald Gracias.
The Monstrance was donated by Barbara and Joe Kelly along with CWM.
For Archbishop George Antonysamy, of the Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore, India, the family is the bedrock of the faith in India and for the whole Church. He told us, “If the family isn’t sound, the Church will not be sound.” This is true, especially when the Cathechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the family–the domestic church–is the primary catechist for children. “Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith” (CCC 2226).
Archbishop George dreams of building a center in his archdiocese devoted to the Holy Family, where families can come for counseling, faith formation, and spiritual retreats. He requested a monstrance for this center, so that all the families who come can know Jesus and receive graces from sitting at the Lord’s feet in adoration.
Along with Catholics, Archbishop George taught us that Hindus and Muslims also have a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hindus and Muslims make up the majority of the population in India, and Archbishop George wants to help form all families, so the Holy Family Center will be open to practitioners of all faiths–Hindu, Muslim, and Christians. Archbishop George wants to teach all families how to pray together and how to resolve conflicts and grow stronger together. It is so exciting to be part of that mission in an integral way by providing a monstrance!
One major impact Archbishop Antonysamy hopes adoration in the Holy Family Center will have is on priestly vocations.
He shared with us that for many seminarians, their approach to their studies is more like studying for a profession rather than a vocation. This stems in large part from family culture in India. Adult children are expected to care for their parents, especially as they age. For many men in seminary, the priesthood appears to be a profession which will allow them to fulfill this duty. We know that the priesthood is a vocation, and a vocation is a gift from God, which allows us to know him, love him, serve him, and make him known to others. (Marriage and consecrated life are other vocations.)
Archbishop George sees that forming families goes hand-in-hand with forming the hearts of men called to the priesthood. He wants to mold the hearts and minds of these men in a special way so that they know that by giving their lives in service to God and his Church, they are doing more than taking up a job or career. They are, in fact, responding to God’s deep love for them. He wants to form families, too, so that they more fully understand their son’s calling and their own vocations.
In August 2017, Bishop Harry Perera visited Catholic World Mission to receive two new monstrances for the Diocese of Kurunegala. Bishop Harry shared his plans for the monstrances: one will be used immediately for the diocese’s monthly day of reflection for priests, and the other will be installed in a perpetual adoration chapel that will be added to Bishop Harry’s cathedral in Sri Lanka.
On the second Monday of every month, the priests of the Diocese of Kurunegala gather at the Cathedral of St. Anne. Bishop Harry told us, “I want the priests to pray before the Eucharistic Lord, especially for one hour in adoration. I want them to gather strength from this source and summit of Christian life.”
“Without the Eucharist,” Bishop Harry added, “there is no priesthood!” This is a point that is incredibly important to him. He repeated it several times during our visit with him. His love for the priesthood and his commitment to Jesus in the Eucharist is strong.
Bishop Perera thanked Catholic World Mission and our donors warmly. He told us, “I want to thank Catholic World Mission and its donors. Assure your donors that I will pray for them in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord.”
“I want the priests to pray before the Eucharistic Lord, especially for one hour in adoration. I want them to gather strength from this source and summit of Christian life.”
Father Simon Chung, LC, has served in Seoul, South Korea, for five years. Fr. Simon and other Legionary priests have a simple but profound mission: to work, as Fr. Simon says, “for the good of many souls in Korea.”
The Legionaries work to build a foundation for their order and Regnum Christi (an apostolic movement within the Roman Catholic Church) in the Archdiocese of Seoul and the surrounding area. Legion priests first came to South Korea 11 years ago but, Fr. Simon says, “They have been very difficult years.”
Two months ago, Fr. Simon started a prayer group that gathers to pray for an increase in vocations and to bring personal intentions to the Lord. His desire is to make adoration available during these prayer meetings, so that the faithful who come can bring their needs to Jesus in a very special way. This prayer group currently celebrates mass together for their intentions, and Fr. Simon is excited to be able to add adoration to their prayer nights as well!
One of the fruits Fr. Simon hopes will come from Eucharistic Adoration in his area: that the community in Seoul, which is still in a period of “laying foundations,” so to speak, will be strengthened as they draw closer to Jesus.
Please keep Fr. Simon and his mission in your prayers. He has been a Legionary for 27 years, and was ordained to the priesthood in 2002. We are grateful for his “yes” to his vocation, and we are honored to support him with our prayers.
Fr. Frank Formolo, LC, received the monstrance on behalf of Fr. Simon Chung, LC. Deacon Rick Medina, Executive Director of Catholic World Mission, presented it to Fr. Frank.
