On Nov. 24, 2004, Pope St. John Paul II blessed six monstrances for use during the Year of the Eucharist, calling the faithful to pray for an increase in vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life.
Each monstrance was designated for one of the six continents of the world – North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific – so that Eucharistic adoration for vocations could be promoted across the globe.
These monstrances serve as a visible sign of the profound connection between the Eucharist and priestly vocations, reminding the faithful that prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is at the heart of fostering new vocations within the Church.
This same North American Monstrance, blessed by Pope St. John Paul II, visited St. Michael the Archangel in Schererville, St. Bridget in Hobart, Holy Spirit in Winfield, Bishop Noll Institute and St. Mary in Hammond this fall. It will end its tour in the Diocese of Gary during National Vocations Week at St. Helen in Hebron (Nov. 7, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.) and St. Mary in Crown Point (Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-noon) before heading to St. Stanislaus Kostka in Michigan City that evening.
The Serra Club of NWI, a lay Catholic organization within the Diocese of Gary that works to promote and support vocations to the priesthood and religious life, organized the return of the monstrance to Northwest Indiana for a second consecutive year with the blessing of Bishop Robert J. McClory.
“Catholics need the sacraments which we cannot have without priests,” said Serran Susan Gryfakis.
Father Tom Mischler exposed the Blessed Sacrament at Holy Spirit the morning of Nov. 5, which was followed by the recitation of a prayer for vocations.
“Lord, grant to our young men and women, the generosity necessary to follow your call and the courage required to overcome all obstacles to their vocations,” Father Mischler said. “Give parents that faith, love and spirit of sacrifice which will inspire them to offer their children to God’s service and to rejoice whenever one of their children is called to the priesthood and religious life. Let your example and that of your Blessed Mother and St. Joseph encourage both children and parents.
He continued, “And Lord, through the intercession of St. John Vianney, call from our diocese those who might be seeking to do your will, to follow you in the ministry of the priesthood or concentrated life.”
The monstrance will be used for Eucharistic adoration at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 2-6 p.m., and again on Sunday, Nov. 9, following the 7 a.m. Mass concluding after the 10 a.m. service. The church invites all parishioners and visitors to join them in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, asking the Lord to bless the Church with holy vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
Camille Higdon, financial officer and capital campaign co-chair at St. Stanislaus, stated the church is pleased to be able to host a viewing of this treasure from St. John Paul II.
“As we gather in adoration, we unite with the faithful throughout the world who have prayed before these same monstrances,” she said, “continuing the mission and vision of Pope St. John Paul II to renew the Church through a deeper love of the Eucharist and a generous response to God’s call.”
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church began as a Polish parish in 1891 and is named after St. Stanislaus Kostka, a Polish saint. Due to the church’s Polish heritage, it feels a special connection to Pope St. John Paul II, who was born in Poland, became pope in 1978 and was canonized in 2014.
“Our hope in hosting the Pope St. John Paul II Monstrance is that it will inspire people to turn to God and listen to His voice in their daily lives.” Higdon said. “We hope and pray that hearts will be open to the Lord’s call and that more men and women will be moved to answer God’s call to serve Him in religious life.”
The Serra Club of NWI meets at 6 p.m. monthly on the third Monday at St. Bridget in Hobart. Each meeting starts with a Holy Hour including Eucharistic adoration as they pray for Diocese of Gary seminarians and an increase in priestly and religious vocations. A business meeting, and sometimes a speaker, follows. New members are always welcome. For more information, contact the club at serraclubnwi@gmail.com.
