Three-Day Lenten Mission Focuses on Blessed Sacrament

sufficient in Himself. God is being itself. And we are utterly dependent on God.

While both evenings, Hadjuk’s talks were a very clear historical and theological description of the evening’s topic Father Siniscalchi’s deeply personal and spiritual presentations put the evenings into the present. He took the focus of the night to the experiential level of the participants.

Father Siniscalchi began his talk the second evening by reading the Gospel of Matthew’s institution of the Eucharist. He then asked the congregation “Does God love you?” “Do you want to live in that love?” After loud collective “Yes” to both questions, Father Siniscalchi proclaimed, “God is Love.”

He then asked the rhetorical question, “How much does God love your?”

He spread his hands slightly and said, “No.” Then widening his hands a little at a time he asked the same question until his arms were spread open like Christ on the cross and answered, “No, this much!”

On the first and second nights of the retreat, Father Siniscalchi asked everyone to place their right hand on the

Top left, during the diocese's Lenten Mission, Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father Guiseppe Maria Siniscalchi asked attendees to place their right hand on the person next to or near them and repeat the blessing, which he led, "Heavenly Father You made this child, You love this child, Father, this is Your child. Father, I ask You in the Name of Jesus to send down the Holy Spirit.” Top right, Father Siniscalchi gives a deeply personal and spiritual presentation on the Eucharist and Awe. He posed the rhetorical question, How much does God love you? He answered the question widening his hands until they were spread open like Christ on the cross, and said, this much. Above, Father Siniscalchi prays during Eucharistic Adoration. During the second night of the Lenten Mission, half the lights in the Cathedral were turned off. — John Batkowski photos person next to or near them and repeat the following blessing which he led: “Heavenly Father You made this child, You love this child, Father, this is Your child. Father, I ask You in the Name of Jesus to send down the Holy Spirit.”

Eucharistic Adoration

After both of Father Siniscalchi’s talks he exposed the Blessed Sacrament on the altar for Adoration. The first night the members of congregation were then invited to come forward as Father Siniscalchi carried the Monstrance with the

Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus, to the communion rail where he paused in front of each person kneeling there. It was suggested that as they venerated the Monstrance in front of them they could bow before the presence of the Lord, or look deeply at the Monstrance or even touch the Humeral Veil that Father Siniscalchi wore, as did the woman healed by Jesus when she touched his garment. However, they chose to express their devotion each person was invited to place their needs or the needs of others for healing before the Lord. It was an inspiring sight.

One individual, Matthew Gilbert, who knelt at the communion rail had just experienced the loss of a very close friend and although not a parishioner of the Cathedral heard about the evening and decided to attend. He said that as he knelt in front of Christ he raised his friend and himself to the Lord and he felt in his heart the healing presence of God.

The second night of the Lenten Mission, after Father Siniscalchi exposed the Blessed Sacrament on the altar, half the lights in the Cathedral were turned off, which created a quiet and peace so intense nothing could break the powerful, prayer-filled atmosphere.

Enhancing the messages of the retreat was a musical presentation by Array of Hope Ministry who began each evening with a program of spiritual music. A group of musicians and songwriters, AOH was founded in 2010 to evangelize and spread the Gospel through music, films and events. Their music throughout the Mission helped create a peaceful and meditative environment.

Each night of the first two retreat evenings ended when the Eucharist was placed back in the tabernacle and Hajduk thanked all who attended and announced the focus of the next night. On the second night he stated the Lenten Mission’s final evening would focus on Eucharist and holy Communion.

Throughout the entire two evenings, two priests were available to administer the sacrament of reconciliation.

Susan Kovach, a member of the Cathedral Parish, described the Lenten Mission as wonderful. The three nights, she said, were a great balance between the tradition of Eucharistic Adoration and the powerful presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and the music was very uplifting and engaging.

Deacon Cline exercises his ministry at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater