Eucharistic Adoration for Children

Jul 17, 2014

By Beleena Goh
The Eucharistic Adoration for children was started three years ago in 2012 by Fr Lionel Thomas (pic) who had a vision of gathering one thousand children for an hour to worship and adore the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration. His vision came through with the gathering of catechism children at Majodi Centre from the South Johor parishes.

This year the annual Eucharistic Adoration for children (English-speaking) was held on Saturday, May 31 from 2.00pm to 4.30pm at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Despite it being the school holidays, 500 people from four parishes came together for this event. The parishes were Church of Holy Family (Ulu Tiram), Church of St Joseph (Plentong), Church of Immaculate Conception and Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, both in Johor Bahru.

The theme for this year’s gathering was taken from Luke 2: 22 “So they took the child to Jerusalem and present him to the Lord.”

The afternoon started with Praise and Worship led by the youth of the Church of Immaculate Conception. Two students from each parish then recited the rosary.

Then, Fr Lionel spoke to the children about the importance of the family — the role of parents in educating children in the Catholic faith and children knowing their faith. He asked the children if they knew what happened during their baptism. He got volunteers to reenact the Sacrament of Baptism. The responsibilities of the parents as well as godparents in bringing up the child to be a good Catholic and how important it is to attend Mass and adore Jesus in the Eucharist were emphasized.

The adoration began with Fr Lionel asking the children to bring their hearts and minds to Jesus. He reminded them that Jesus is present in the monstrance. He then went on to explain about the items used during the Adoration — the Tabernacle and the Monstrance. He spoke about the presence of God in the Monstrance — the real Flesh and Blood of Jesus. He showed pictures of the Miracle at Lanciano, Italy where during Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into real Flesh and the wine was changed into real Blood. Samples of the host were taken for scientific testing and it was found that the Flesh and the Blood were of human species and had the blood type AB, the blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin.

He then told the story of Fatima when the Angel of Peace was “holding a chalice in his hands, with a host above it from which some drops of blood were falling into the Sacred vessel.” The Angel left the chalice and host suspended in the air, and prostrated himself upon the ground with the children.” Fr Lionel then invited some children to come in front of the altar and showed everyone how to prostrate themselves before the Blessed Sacrament. The Crowning of Mother Mary followed as a symbol of her always encouraging us to adore her Son, Jesus.

He spoke to the children about praying for the family. At each prostration, he prayed for families: families who have lost their fathers; families who have lost their mothers and children who are sick with cancer. The children then prostrated themselves with the prayer: My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! Please forgive those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You! The Adoration concluded with the consecration of the Blessed Sacrament and Fr Lionel brought the Monstrance around to the children.

Many of the children and adults who attended the event said that it was a good experience for them. Fr Lionel made it simple for them as children to know how to adore and pray to the Lord in the Eucharist. It was a good reminder for those who had attended the Adoration previously.