Holy Hour for Sunday School Students

May 15, 2015

MELAKA (Herald Malaysia): The Church of St Theresa held a memorable Holy Hour on May 3 before Mass. Primary 1 to Form 5 students and their parents were specially invited and encouraged to participate.

In his unique presentation of the Holy Hour, Fr Lionel Thomas began by approaching the Tabernacle and ‘conversing’ with Jesus, much to the surprise of the children. It was to demonstrate His real presence and to make sure, through Fr Lionel, that the children were ready to adore Jesus by observing certain rules in the Church. Did they switch off their mobile phones? Did they dress appropriately? Did they genuflect?

He stressed the importance of genuflection whenever we enter the Church, walk by the Tabernacle, or the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration and when receiving Holy Communion. He also informed that the word ‘monstrance’ was derived from a Latin word monstrare, meaning ‘to show’ or ‘to display.’

Fr Lionel then invited the children to come and sit on the steps nearer the Altar. It was like a scene from St Matthew Ch 19:14 – ‘Let the children come to me’ — the Shepherd calling his sheep. When the children were settled, he showed them how to prostrate before the Lord and taught them to say the following prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe in You, I adore You,
and I hope in You and love You,
I ask pardon for those
Who do not believe in You,
Those who do not adore You,
Those who do not love You,
Those who do not hope in You.
Amen.

His words were both instructional and inspirational, while taking us through the Holy Hour. It was interspersed with hymns from the choir, words of encouragement, love and hope from the Bible verses, and moments of silence adoring the Lord.

To help us understand the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, he told us a beautiful story of one of the three visionaries, Lucia, who saw our Lady of Fatima.

Lucia saw an angel holding a chalice during one of her visions, the chalice was left floating in the air when the angel left the chalice. The Angels immediately prostrated before the floating chalice.

He explained the use of the Humeral Veil worn on the shoulders of a priest and the significance of the smoke from the incense just before the Benediction.

The silence during Benediction was truly ‘a taste of heaven on earth,’ said Andy Tan, a Form 3 Catechism teacher. He was very moved by this experience. Steven Ropan, a father of two, was in tears. Mrs Ropan felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and she hoped that the Holy Hour could be held often. Felicia Ann and Nicole James who were confirmed in 2014 were ‘extra moved.’

Fr Lionel expressed the importance of family prayer. Parents, especially fathers, being the head of the family, must show the life of God to their children. Families must show joy, not anger, for the Church to grow. Children complain that their parents do not pray at home, thus depriving our children of learning to love and serve God, a God who forgives and loves us unconditionally.

His unique and dynamic presentation of the Holy Hour will remain etched not only in the minds of the children but also their parents. It is hoped that this experience and encounter with Jesus during the Holy Hour will spur a ‘Eucharist Awakening’ among Catholic families.