A sacred tradition began on Nov. 1, 1962 at St. Augustine Parish in Barberton.
On that day, parishioners began perpetual adoration, which continues today. The faithful sign up to spend an hour in prayer and adoration. Bishop Edward Malesic traveled to Barberton to celebrate Mass on Nov. 5 in recognition and appreciation for the 60 years of perpetual adoration.
The pastor, Father David Majikis, welcomed the bishop to St. Augustine for his first pastoral visit. Concelebrating was parochial vicar Father William Browne, with Deacon Robin Adair assisting. The parish was established in 1898.
(See photo gallery above.)
“The Eucharist is the heart of our faith. It is the sacrament of the risen Lord who promised to remain with us forever. Your parish’s deep devotion to the practice of perpetual adoration stands as an extraordinary witness of our Catholic faith,” the bishop said.
He told the congregation that Pope Francis reminds us immersing oneself in silent Eucharistic adoration is the secret to knowing the Lord. Also, he noted that Mother Teresa of Calcutta found the Eucharist to be her source of strength in helping the poor.
“By contemplating Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we some to a deeper devotion of him in the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy – the Mass – just as we are doing now. It helps you to do what Jesus said in today’s Gospel: We come to worship in God today in Spirit and in truth,” Bishop Malesic said.
Meditating on the Eucharist means we also must renew our trust that Jesus meant what he said and could do what he promised when he gave us the words of institution, like St. Paul gave in the second reading. The bishop repeated the words, first said by Jesus at the Last Supper, and now said at each Mass. Over the bread, the priest says, “This is my body that is given for you.” And over the wine he says, “This is the new covenant in my blood.”
Each time the priest recites those words of Jesus at Mass, we trust in the power of his words that the bread becomes his body and the wine becomes his blood, the bishop said, adding, “Jesus, I trust in you.”
Mass is the representation of the offering of Jesus on the cross. It is where the gift of Jesus’ love comes to us in a most effective way, the bishop explained.
He told the faithful at St. Augustine they have been contemplating the Eucharist in perpetual adoration for 60 years. “It has helped you to celebrate this Eucharistic liturgy, the highest prayer of the Church, in spirit and in truth. Here, God brings his love into the world. Here on this altar, God comes to us. In the tabernacles and in our monstrances, Jesus remains with us. But his love must not be imprisoned here. He wants to send you out as his ambassadors of God’s great love for us.”
The bishop said here Jesus wants to replace the emptiness of our hearts with the life of his presence. He wants us to receive him so we ca take him out into the world.
“Thank you for your witness to the love that Jesus has for us. Please remember to take him with you wherever he sends you, no matter how he calls you, into a world that needs its darkness to be replaced by the light we have found here in Spirit and in truth,” he said.
The bishop thanked all who support the parish with their time, talent and treasure. “You make it place where God is worshiped and loved above all and where faith is lived and proclaimed, where those who are materially and spiritually poor are served. He also asked them – especially the younger people – to be mindful of God’s call. He said God has a plan for each of us.
“Some of us may have ‘spiritual earwax,’ and may not hear the Lord’s call. Listen,” he said, noting, “The road has many lanes.” Marriage is the widest lane, but there are others including a call to ordained life as a priest or deacon, to religious life as a vowed sister or brother and to single life. Pray for vocations, he said.
After Mass, the bishop took advantage of the warm – but windy – fall weather to greet parishioners outside the church before joining some of those involved in Eucharistic adoration at a celebration dinner in the hall.
Learn more about St. Augustine Parish here.
Click here for resources and more information on the Eucharistic revival.