Local3/24/2006

Traveling monstrance spurs prayers for vocations

byFather Robert M. O'Grady

Father Michael Harrington explains to the students at St. Paul Parish school about Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist and asks them to pray to Jesus for an increase in vocations.

BOSTON — The vocation monstrance, one of six blessed in November 2004 by the late Pope John Paul II, completed its pilgrimage throughout the archdiocese at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross March 17, the feast of the archdiocese’s patron, St. Patrick.

The purpose of the traveling monstrance was to promote adoration as well as raise awareness of the need to pray for vocations, according to Father Michael Harrington, assistant vocation director for the archdiocese.

Various parishes, grammar and high schools, as well as several religious orders hosted the monstrance during the nine-day journey. Young men at Malden Catholic High School and St. John Preparatory School, Danvers; children at St. Paul, Wellesley and St. Patrick, Lawrence, sisters at the Jamaica Plain home of the Daughters of St. Paul and at the downtown home of the Sisters Disciples of the Divine Master; parishioners at Immaculate Conception, Weymouth, Sacred Heart, Middleborough; St. Patrick, Brockton — to name just a few of the stops the monstrance made — assured that all five pastoral regions of the archdiocese were included.

While the greater part of those gathering for prayer and adoration at the various stops around the archdiocese were the people of the parishes, the monstrance was accompanied by Father Harrington and Father Daniel Hennessey, director of the archdiocesan vocation office.

For more information visit www.bostonpriesthood.org or call the Vocation Office at 617-746-5949

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