The monstrance, one of six the late pontiff blessed to promote Eucharistic adoration during the 2004-05 Year of the Eucharist, is making a stop in Detroit to encourage prayers for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Since given to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops by the Vatican, the monstrance travels to dioceses across the United States and Canada for exposition and adoration in various settings, including churches, youth ministry programs and seminaries and religious houses.
The other five monstrances blessed by Pope John Paul were sent to bishops’ conferences in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific for similar purposes as a symbol of the essential connection between the Eucharist and the priesthood.
The monstrance previously made three stops in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The first occurred in 2006 to celebrate the beginning of a special Year for Vocations declared by then-Archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida; in 2008 the monstrance returned as part of the celebration for the 175th anniversary for the founding of Detroit as a Catholic diocese; in 2010 the monstrance was present to coincide with the closing of a Special Year for Priests that was announced by Pope Benedict XVI in June 2009.
This year’s stop coincides with the Year of Faith.
The faithful are encouraged to travel to one of the 13 host sites to pray for vocations. Two of the sites — Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth, and the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit — are also designated by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron as pilgrimage sites for the Year of Faith. Parishioners who make a pilgrimage to one of the designated sites may obtain a plenary indulgence after having also received the sacraments of penance and holy Communion and prayed for the intentions of the pope.
The monstrance’s stop at the cathedral will be part of the 6th annual Vocations Convocation sponsored by the Office for Priestly Vocations. Visit www.detroitpriest.com for details.
Monstrance’s stops in Metro Detroit
• Sept. 5 (9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
Divine Grace Parish (St. Patrick site), Carleton
• Sept. 6 (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
St. Cyprian Parish, Riverview
• Sept. 6-7 (3 p.m. until 3 p.m.)
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth
• Sept. 8 (Noon to 7 p.m.)
Holy Spirit Parish, Highland
• Sept. 9 (2 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
St. Fabian Parish, Farmington Hills
• Sept. 10 (8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
St. Andrew Parish, Rochester
• Sept. 11 (1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Sterling Heights
• Sept. 12 (Noon to 7 p.m.)
St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms
• Sept. 13 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
St. Mary Queen of Creation Parish, New Baltimore
• Sept. 14 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit
• Sept. 15 (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
St. Augustine & St. Monica Parish, Detroit
• Sept. 15-16 (7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.; 7:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Holy Redeemer Parish, Detroit
• Sept. 17 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Divine Child Parish, Dearborn
