Sophomore Cameron Taylor participates in the praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet which is done every Friday in the chapel of Owensboro Catholic High School in Owensboro. COURTESY OF JULIA MARSHALL
Spending mornings with Jesus in Adoration gives students ‘new mindset’ at Catholic High
BY JULIA MARSHALL, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Beginning in June 2022 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called for a Eucharistic Revival among the nation. All members of the Catholic Church are invited to deepen their devotion and faith within the Blessed Sacrament. Through Eucharistic Adoration, we can be physically present with Jesus who is physically present with us in the Eucharist.
The theology department at Owensboro Catholic High School made available daily Adoration, welcoming all students to participate in the Revival. The goal is to deepen a community’s faith and relationship with God.
Kristin Dorth, theology teacher, encourages students to participate in Adoration to have still moments: “We offer Adoration because the world is such a busy place and it is easy to get caught up in our phones and responsibilities.”
Adoration offers an opportunity to create quiet in our lives so that we can hear the voice of God more easily. In a world where students are constantly being distracted and tempted to turn away from faith, teachers hope giving students the opportunity to grow their commitment to faith will help to continue to foster their beliefs.
Adoration begins around 7:30 a.m. in the school’s chapel daily. When the Eucharistic Host is placed in the monstrance on the altar, the Blessed Sacrament becomes exposed, meaning the body, blood, soul, and divinity of God is fully present. Students can experience prayer in a more intimate way, truly in the presence of Him.
Daniela Guido, a senior, says Adoration to her is, “A place where she can go to fully give herself to God through her prayer and worship.”
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the monstrance in the chapel at Owensboro Catholic High School in Owensboro on September 29, 2023. COURTESY OF JULIA MARSHALL
Members of the theology department offer to take turns sitting in each morning and leading in prayer. Theology teacher Lisa Higdon finds inspiration when spending her mornings in prayer: “As a teacher, I have been inspired by the number of students who continue to show up in the morning, consistently seeking it, and making it a priority to spend time with Jesus. That gives me a lot of hope for the future and gives me encouragement to strive for this in my own life.”
The theology teachers’ desire to help us deepen our faith, shows their commitment to the Eucharistic Revival and helping us recommit to Christ.
Each morning is something different from live worship music to praying the rosary as a group. Students become united when praying together.
Senior Tutt Carrico thinks praying as a group keeps him focused: “When praying as a community we can share our thoughts and have a deeper connection to the Lord.”
Students are encouraged to attend even if it is just for a couple minutes. Students such as sophomore Mayme Powell have been able to grow their relationship with God outside of theology class. Powell expresses the new priority in her life as well as a positive outlook on school mornings: “Going to Adoration before school has completely changed my life. My mornings used to be full of stress and chaos. Now, my mornings are spent with Christ, and I leave with a new mindset for the day.”
Around 8:05 a.m. the Host is taken out of the monstrance and placed back into the tabernacle. Students head to class and will now begin their day with a sense of fulfillment and tranquility.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “God is a friend of silence.” Let us sit with our Friend and just be in the moment. We are all invited to sit in the presence of our living God and take a gaze into our faith. In this we can truly look at Jesus as He looks at us, imitate Christ, and invite others to answer His call.
Julia Marshall is a senior at Owensboro Catholic High School in Owensboro.
Originally printed in the November 2023 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
