Making time for adoration at the Blessed Sacrament is growing in popularity amongst Catholics. Despite hectic daily schedules, we find that for some of us, there is a desperate need for a place of silence, especially with Eucharist. Every now and then, I see a number of our parishioners, as well people from other Faiths, regularly coming and going into our Church, praying silently with their eyes fixed on the Blessed Sacrament. Even in the scorching heat, people make themselves available to be with the Lord.

For the past four years, I have been thinking seriously about setting up a Eucharistic Adoration room. This idea has now come to fruition and we have decided to name this room “St Joseph’s Adoration Room”. Monsignor James Gnanapiragasam will be given the honour to bless the room after the 6.45 am Mass on Tuesday, 19 February 2019.

Many of our parishioners may still remember the very old tiles, with the three distinctly unique designs, which were laid along the aisle of our Church in 1928, during the time of the late Rev Fr Victor Antoine Herman, who initiated the extension and rebuilding of the Church of St Joseph, Sentul. These 91-year-old tiles were removed from the aisle when our Church underwent major renovations in 2013. All these sentimental tiles were safely stored for re-use in the future. We then reused some of these tiles when we built St Joseph’s Shrine, located next to the parish office, in June 2015. We then kept the remaining tiles in storage, until a proper use for these was identified.

When the time came to set up an adoration room, we selected 417 tiles and these are now used as a flooring for the Adoration Room. We have laid them in the same manner as they were originally laid along the Church’s aisle, back in 1928. We are indeed blessed to have a small but meaningful token of our Church’s past, still being used in a relevant and significant way. It is important to repurpose these tiles, so that a part of our Church’s history remains. There are still a few more old tiles available, which, though not in perfect condition, will be laid out at the grotto in couple of weeks time.

 

At the base of the altar, where the tabernacle is positioned, I have buried a few medals and prayer cards of St. George, St. John Marie Vianney, St. Anne, St. Padre Pio, a miraculous medal of Mother Mary and Sleeping St. Joseph. I have sprinkled them with Holy Water from Lourdes, France and blessed them with Chrism Oil. These blessed religious objects are sacred signs of sanctity, purification and protection.

The main purpose of St. Joseph’s Adoration Room is for us to spend time in prayer, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The Room will be open daily from 7.00 am to 10.30 pm. The Church too is still open as usual, for those who would like to sit there and pray instead.

What we can do in the St Joseph’s Adoration Room?

• Read the Word of God and Meditate using Scripture.
• Pray the Psalms or the Liturgy of the Hours.
• Pray the Rosary.
• Cry out to the Lord with all your heart and adore Him.
• Pray for forgiveness.
  
• Intercede for others.
  
• Sit quietly and just “be” in the presence of God. 

Adoration is a time for our soul. So, slowly increase your time spent in prayer with the Lord and you will be amazed at how the Lord increases your faith and strength to be with Him! Let us make ourselves available to meet the Lord in adoration, and let our adoration never cease. (cf. Catechism Catholic Church, #1380).

Rev. Fr. George Packiasamy

Blessing of Adoration Room