An hour before the Lord

​At its heart, the recent newsletter from the Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration carries one clear message: Eucharistic Adoration changes parishes.

March, devoted to St. Joseph, the Passion of Our Lord, and the institution of the Eucharist, is a fitting time to return to the heart of our faith: Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. The Church has long taught that worship of the Eucharist outside of Mass is not secondary or optional. As St. John Paul II wrote in Ecclesia de Eucharistia:

The worship of the Eucharist outside of the Mass is of inestimable value for the life of the Church. … It is the responsibility of pastors [parish priests] to encourage, also by their personal witness, the practice of Eucharistic adoration, and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in particular, as well as prayer of adoration before Christ present under the Eucharistic species” (St. Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, No. 25). 

Likewise, Redemptionis Sacramentum urges that Eucharistic adoration be diligently fostered “with the participation of the people.”
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The message is simple and direct: if we desire renewal in our parishes, we return to the Lord in the Eucharist.

What we are seeing in our Diocese

Last year, parishes across the Diocese of Calgary took up that invitation in a concrete way through the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations.

At St. Mary’s Cathedral and in parishes throughout the diocese, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for extended hours. Parishioners signed up for time slots, many of whom returned more than once. Some came late at night. Others brought their children. Students in Catholic schools also participated, adding dozens of hours of adoration across chapels and classrooms.
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At Holy Spirit Parish in Calgary, 378 adorers were formally registered, with participation likely exceeding 500. Many described the experience as calm, peaceful, and holy. One recurring question that surfaced afterward was: When can we do this again?
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The numbers matter less than what they represent: a hunger to remain with the Lord.

Adoration at Holy Spirit, Calgary

Adoration at Sacred Heart, Calgary

The Heart of Adoration
​St. Teresa of Calcutta expressed it plainly:

The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth.” ~1996 address at the Eucharistic Congress in Calcutta.

Her words echo what many in our own diocese have experienced: silence before the Lord brings clarity, strength, and peace. It deepens love for Jesus and, from there, love for one another.

​Pope Benedict XVI, in Sacramentum Caritatis (§66), highlights its intrinsic link to the Mass: "In the Eucharist, the Son of God comes to meet us and desires to become one with us; eucharistic adoration is simply the natural consequence of the eucharistic celebration, which is itself the Church's supreme act of adoration... The act of adoration outside Mass prolongs and intensifies all that takes place during the liturgical celebration itself."

Why Adoration Matters​

​The newsletter cites a striking statistic: 70 percent of seminarians come from parishes with Eucharistic Adoration. While statistics never tell the whole story, they suggest something profound: where Christ is adored, vocations flourish.

Adoration draws us into sustained contact with the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. It strengthens faith in the Eucharist. It deepens reverence for Holy Communion. It fosters repentance, intercession, and reparation.

40 Hours Devotion for Vocation

​In our own Diocese, the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations revealed a real hunger for time before the Lord. Parishes reported strong participation, including overnight hours. Students, families, and seniors alike came to pray. ​

Adoration is not an extra devotion. It is a wellspring of renewal for the Church. And it begins with one hour.

Where to find Adoration hours?

• Check the parish-submitted schedule for Parish Adoration in our Diocese.
• Join the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocation - and commit for one hour.