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Vocations monstrance makes return visit
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published May 2, 2008
Detroit — Although the Year of Vocations has passed, the monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II will be making a return visit to the Archdiocese of Detroit later this month.
The monstrance, a sacred vessel to expose the Eucharist for adoration blessed to encourage prayers for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, will be in the archdiocese May 17-26 for the archdiocese’s 175th anniversary. It’s one of six blessed by the late pope to promote Eucharistic adoration during the Year of the Eucharist, 2004-05, to symbolize the connection between the Eucharist and priestly vocations.
In the U.S the traveling monstrance program proved so popular that its tour extended well beyond its original October 2005 end date. The United States’ monstrance came to Detroit in January of 2006 for the Year of Vocations, designated by Cardinal Adam Maida. Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific also received a monstrance for adoration.
Fr. Sean Sylvester, pastor of the Pontiac Catholic Community of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Michael and the Shrine of St. Joseph, is one priest who is all too familiar with the effects of diminishing vocations. Come June, he’s not sure he’ll have a full-time associate pastor to help him minister to the people of three parishes and two languages.
“It’s a huge need,” he said.
He’s in the process of getting the word out to his parish and beyond about the visit, and is hoping for a strong turnout. “A lot of people are excited for it,” he said. “We need a lot of work to promote prayers for vocations.”
The tour of the monstrance is sponsored by the archdiocesan Vocation Office. “I can think of no better way for the people of God to help in the mission of the Vocation Office – to beg the ‘Master of the Harvest’ to send more workers for the vineyard,” said Fr. Tim Birney, director of Vocations.
Fr. Rich Treml, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish and St. Mary Burnside Parish, both of North Branch, called it a privilege to host the monstrance at his parishes. He will be hosting a Eucharistic procession in North Branch, a few blocks through the small town and back to the church.
He said an active vicariate-wide vocations committee also hosts events such as vocations retreats and banquets. “Like I tell them, we need vocations to replace me,” he said. “If vocations don’t come from you, where are they going to come from?”
The monstrance’s second Detroit-area stop is at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, which will hold a Holy Hour of prayers for vocations. That Holy Hour is sponsored by the Fisherman’s Fund, which ensures that no vocation to the Roman Catholic priesthood, diaconate or lay ministry is hindered due to financial need.
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