"Oops…"

On the night of Tuesday, July 30, I walked confidently into the Adoration Chapel at 8:50pm in order to repose the Blessed Sacrament. Being my second Tuesday on the job, I thought I had the Adoration schedule figured out. Nope.  

Turns out that Adoration goes all night from Tuesday into Wednesday morning (just like Fr. Tollefson had told me, by the way, days before, and is listed in the bulletin). I was then approached just before the start of Mass on Wednesday the following day to repose the Blessed Sacrament. “That can’t be right.”  

But sure enough — Jesus was there in the monstrance, waiting for the start of Mass like everyone else. Some poor Adorer, I am sure, had exposed the Blessed Sacrament themselves after my departure from the chapel on Tuesday night to spend their assigned hour in prayer before Jesus. My bad. Whoever you are, sorry about that.

My confusion could be chalked up to the fact that I am still the newbie around here. But the candid fact is — and forgive my candor as the aforementioned newbie — our Adoration schedule can be confusing. It’s simply not at all straightforward, and as such, it is easy to forget. Yet another reason to bring back Perpetual Adoration, 24/7.

I remember clearly when I was in high school and college visiting the Adoration Chapel at Nativity of Our Lord for late night prayer. These times of prayer became particularly important as I discerned my vocation. Indeed, I spent significant time in prayer in that little chapel the very night before my ordination to the priesthood. And I know I’m not the only one to prepare for major moments of life within those hallowed walls. The chapel’s then-24/7 accessibility made these visits easy.  

Father Tollefson has asked me to do everything I can to bring back Adoration 24/7 to Nativity by the start of next summer (June 2025). I know we can do this.  

Even beyond the practical considerations described above, there is an even more important spiritual reality: our parish will be better and stronger the more parishioners and neighbors spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Please do join me in praying that Our Lord will bless us with the ability to offer truly Perpetual Adoration once again. The National Eucharistic Congress, just concluded in Indianapolis, is a providential backdrop to making the extra effort to make this a reality. It does require work, and sacrifices, to be sure. But I know we can do it.  

I certainly believe it to be Our Lord’s will for our parish, named after the great mystery of “God With Us.”  

Come, let us adore him!

In Christ, the Little One,
Fr. Erickson (The Newbie)