The Eucharist is the core of our faith!

Our small rural parish communities of St. Augustine’s in Taber and St. Joseph’s in Vauxhall recognized the great need to increase vocations. Often, our smaller communities are deeply affected by the shortage of priests, limiting opportunities for worship in the sacred liturgy, as our existing priests are stretched thin, often covering two or three parishes that may be as much as an hour apart. In response, we decided to take up the call to come together for 40 hours of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with special intentions for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
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What initially seemed like a tall order for us to cover turned into a blessing as the call went out. We were overwhelmed by the response of our parishioners, some of whom took this opportunity for Adoration for the first time in a long while—or, for some, for the very first time.
 
We began our adoration on November 25, 2024, at 3 am and concluded on November 26 with Benediction at 6:45 pm. This was followed by a Memorial Mass offered for the special intentions of all deceased members of the Knights of Columbus. A time of fellowship was shared by all following the Mass.

With eyes wide open, we witnessed how Jesus desires to touch us deeply, speak to us, heal us, and transform us when we meet Him in adoration. Many parishioners sat in Adoration of our Lord for more than the one hour asked of them. In heartfelt praise and thanksgiving…. all were blessed to offer this time.
 
Coming together as a community, the presence of the Holy Spirit was strongly felt, filling many with a greater awareness of Jesus’ presence in the Blessed Sacrament. This experience brought blessings of joy and peace, along with the grace waiting for all of us in Eucharistic Adoration.
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We especially lift up all our seminarians, praying that God will fill them, continue to encourage their hearts, and bless our Catholic communities with more priests and religious men and women.
 
God bless all our faithful servants for Your glory, Lord.

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Written by Linda Kinahan, St. Augustine's Parish. Linda has been a lifelong parishioner in the Taber area, first at Assumption Parish, Grassy Lake which was a missionary parish of St. Augustine’s, Taber. She currently sits on the Liturgy Committee at St. Augustine’s and is responsible for Sacred Art. She is married to Deacon Brian Kinahan.