Adoration
ADORATION AT ST PATRICK CHURCH
Due to the pandemic, Adoration at St. Patrick Church is on hold. As soon as we are able, we will announce an Adoration schedule. Please visit the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the meantime.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION AT THE
BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL
Within the boundaries of St. Patrick's Parish, there is a community of contemplative sisters who serve a Chapel of Perpetual Adoration. It is located at 4105 Ocean Drive next door to the bishop's residence. Mass is every morning at 7:00 a.m. and the chapel is open from 5:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. seven days a week. On Wednesdays and Fridays, volunteers from St. Patrick's volunteer for an hour of adoration from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. so that the sisters may take care of other responsibilities within the convent. These volunteers for adoration are divided into two groups.
Honor Guards - those who commit to take a specific hour every week on Wednesday or Friday. Call Elizabeth Morga at (361) 993-3622 for more information.
Auxiliaries - those who commit to come at their convenience for an hour during the week to join their prayers with those of the sister who is in adoration. Call Diana La Rue at (361) 749-1520 at home or cell (361) 813-6683 for more information.
WHAT IS EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration is adoring or honoring the Eucharistic Presence of Christ. In a deeper sense, it involves “the contemplation of the Mystery of Christ truly present before us.” During Eucharistic Adoration, we “watch and wait”, we remain “silent” in His Presence and open ourselves to His Graces which flow from the Eucharist. By worshiping the Eucharistic Jesus, we become what God wants us to be! Like a magnet, the Lord draws us to Himself and gently transforms us. In its fullest essence, Eucharistic Adoration is “God and Man reaching out for each other at the same time!” Immersing oneself in silent Eucharistic adoration is the secret to knowing the Lord. Pope Francis said, “One cannot know the Lord without being in the habit of adoring in silence.” The Church draws her life from the Eucharist, a priceless treasure: both by celebrating it and by praying before it outside of Mass, we are enabled to connect with the very wellspring of grace. In a variety of ways, the Church joyfully experiences the constant fulfillment of the promise: “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt. 28:20). At the moment of Consecration, during the Mass, the “gifts” of bread and wine are transformed (transubstantiated) into the actual Body and Blood of Christ, at the Altar. This means that they are not only spiritually transformed, but rather are actually (substantially) transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The elements retain the appearance of bread and wine but are indeed the actual Body and Blood of Christ. This is what is meant by Real Presence: the actual, physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
