Washington D.C., May 29, 2013 / 05:02 am
Many U.S. dioceses and individual parishes will join Pope Francis in simultaneous Eucharistic Adoration June 2 that is uniting Catholics in prayer around the world.
The Pope has invited the world to join him in an hour of adoration at 5 p.m. Rome time this Sunday, the Feast of Corpus Christi, which he will lead from St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
The announcement drew particular enthusiasm in Corpus Christi, Texas, which is named for the Blessed Sacrament.
"The Diocese of Corpus Christi bears the name of this central mystery of our faith and thus we feel particularly impelled to join with the Holy Father in this unique celebration of unity gathered around the Eucharistic Lord," the diocese said on its website.
Bishop William Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi will celebrate the 9:30 a.m. Mass at Corpus Christi Cathedral and then join Pope Francis in Eucharistic Adoration at about 10 a.m. local time.
In the Diocese of Sacramento, Calif., Bishop Jaime Soto will preside at Eucharistic Adoration for a Holy Hour at 8 a.m. local time after the 7:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
At least 243 U.S. dioceses or parishes are participating in the holy hour.
Some U.S. parishes have adjusted their Mass schedules to coincide with Pope Francis' period of adoration. However, because the scheduled hour of Eucharistic Adoration in Rome takes place at a time when most U.S. parishes are celebrating Sunday Mass, the U.S. bishops have suggested that parishes can hold a special hour of prayer at a more suitable time on Sunday.
In Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput will hold a Holy Hour at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul at 5:30 p.m. local time.
The Archdiocese of Denver has invited local faithful to attend Eucharistic Adoration at 3 p.m. local time at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
There are two intentions for the Holy Hour.
The first intention is for the obedience of the Church so that she appear before the world as "beautiful, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish." The second intention is for victims of violence, drugs, human trafficking, economic insecurity and social marginalization.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, told CNA May 28 that the global Holy Hour is "a historical moment" because "for one hour all the churches in the world will be united."
"We are united because the Eucharist makes us all one body and one spirit, so we enter into the deepest meaning of the Eucharist," the archbishop said.