Eucharistic Adoration anniversary at St Ann’s

On Friday, October 18, Feast Day of St Luke, St Ann’s parish celebrated 27 years of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (PEA).

In his homily, parish priest Fr Alan Mohammed OP mentioned why he thought there was a decline in Eucharistic Adoration. One was the loss of the sense of sin, another was a loss of devotion to our Blessed Mother. He said that Mary, our Mother was a very important person, since she is the one who will lead us to her Son.

Fr Alan noted that the chapel was always filled, day and night with Eucharistic adorers. He believes that if every Catholic spent one hour before the Blessed Sacrament weekly, our lives, our country and the world, would change—there would be great healing.

He indicated he was willing to put his priesthood on the line for his conviction. He also said that Eucharistic Adoration is biblical, quoting Jesus’ words, “could you not watch one hour with me?” (Mt 6:21; 26:40).

Fr Alan echoes Fr Eugene Delahunt’s sentiments. It was at Medjugorje that Fr Eugene, a former parish priest (deceased) of St Ann’s, was inspired to pray for PEA.

“One day I visited Vicka (Ivankovic), one of the visionaries at Medjugorje, who prayed over me and I asked her to ask our Blessed Mother to help spread Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in Trinidad and Tobago. She said she would. This is what is dearest to the Immaculate Heart, to draw all her children to the Eucharistic Heart of her Divine Son.”

On Holy Thursday 1994, the Congregation for the Clergy published the Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests. This document gave new impetus to PEA: “faith and love for the Eucharist will not allow Christ to remain alone in His Presence” and challenged each priest to be a model for the faithful in Eucharistic Adoration. Fr Delahunt was that model for us at St Ann’s.

We thank God for the many graces He has bestowed on St Ann’s, despite the many challenges faced in promoting PEA. We pray that, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother and St Joseph, first Adorers of The Blessed Sacrament, St Luke and all the saints, Eucharistic Adoration may flourish in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain and in the world. —Joy Nanton