Broken Arrow church launches ambitious prayer initiative

The Church of St. Benedict in Broken Arrow is actively striving to establish 168 hours of Eucharistic Adoration by Jan. 4, the Feast St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first person born in the U.S. to be canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church.

The parish currently has Eucharistic Adoration for 90 hours each week Monday to Saturday. The goal would provide Eucharistic Adoration 24/7.

Increased opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration, which is being promoted through the “Adoratio Foundation In His Presence” campaign, will require a minimum total of 500 individuals to commit to one hour of prayer in Eucharistic Adoration each week.

The Eucharistic Adoration chapel is located 2200 W. Ithica St., in Broken Arrow and someone will always be in the chapel praying during this time.

“Eucharistic Adoration is the practice of praying before our Lord Jesus Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament,” said Father Bryan Brooks, Pastor of the Church of St. Benedict in Broken Arrow. “It is a centuries-old part of Catholic spiritually. It is a simple act that has strengthened the faith and changed the lives of countless men, women and even children.

“Many of God’s holy ones were shaped by this devotion, that many call a “Holy Hour” Among them were St. Teresa of Calcutta, Blessed Fulton Sheen and Servant of God Dorothy Day.”

“We invite you to step away from the noise and distractions of daily life to spend intentional time with Christ in Eucharistic Adoration.”

Also known as Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Eucharist Adoration offers an opportunity for the faithful to pray and sit in silence with Jesus Christ who is physically present in body, blood, soul, and divinity, via a consecrated host.

Catholics believe this central teaching of the Church; that Christ becomes truly present in the Eucharist when the priest consecrates the bread and wine during the Mass, and they are transformed into Jesus Christ’s literal body and blood. For this reason, the exposed consecrated host in Eucharistic Adoration is never left unattended.