'We are a Church on fire': Eucharistic Adoration transforms Acushnet parish

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A little church in a small town, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church was facing tough times. The congregation was dwindling, and Mass attendance was at an all-time low. The empty confessional was collecting dust, and donations were dismal.

But then the unthinkable happened.

Today, St. Francis Xavier is one of the most vibrant parishes in the diocese with standing-room only Masses, confessional lines, a busload of parishioners participating in the March for Life, and an abundance of freewill donations that will make them debt-free by April.

“Jesus is on the property,” said Mary Cardoza, the spark that inflamed the parish. “We are a church on fire.”

southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110219/SPECIAL/102190315/-1/NEWS06
 
Actually today interestingly enough I walked into a Parish nearby I dont attend to go the the Chapel since i was near it. The place was a ghost town with noone in sight (and I walked around a bit to be sure) they did not have Perpetual Adoration and the chapel was empty. I felt wierd being there alone so left.

I went to another Parish nearby that I also dont attend that did have adoration. There was about 6 people in the chapel on a random saturday. People arriving early for Saturday Mass, a wedding wrapping up, and some people in the prayer garden doing the Stations of the Cross.

I know my parish, although it is a bit contempoary in style, has perpetual adoration and we are at standing room every mass (we have 4 on sunday) with several people in the chapel, no debt, and expanding.

Get Perpetual Adoration! It works!
 
This is an inspiring story! How I have longed to belong to “a church on fire”, a place where openly passionate worship, fellowship and solidarity abounds. Clearly, the Holy Spirit is at work in this parish, and it is touchingly refreshing and beautiful.

I have always experienced a very profound personal phenomenon, since my earliest recollection, anytime I enter a church…any church: It is akin to that experienced by the Virgin Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, whose infant lept in the womb due to his encounter with Jesus, still housed within that living temple…Mary. It is a personal sensation for me, and it is born of the fact that I have never doubted that Christ Himself is present within the edifice of the church. It is a feeling of excitement which is difficult to describe.

Yet, unfortunately, after I take my seat in the pew , as so many blank expressions fill in the spaces around me, my fervor becomes tempored by the unsatisfying social aspects of the surroundings. Then my worship becomes mainly interior, as the unfolding mass proceeds in a sort of neutral emotional manner. That feeling of awe does not return until I take the Eucharist, and then it remains with me until long after mass has concluded.

I would love to worship in “a church on fire” someday, but up to this point in my life, I must admit, that I have yet to be so fortunate. Until then, my interior sense of “awe” will have to suffice.
 
It is wonderful and amazing the continued flow of Eucharistic Adoration miracles. How the true presence of our Lord Jesus Christ continues to work miracles.
 
unafraid said:
This is an inspiring story! How I have longed to belong to “a church on fire”, a place where openly passionate worship, fellowship and solidarity abounds. Clearly, the Holy Spirit is at work in this parish, and it is touchingly refreshing and beautiful.

I have always experienced a very profound personal phenomenon, since my earliest recollection, anytime I enter a church…any church: It is akin to that experienced by the Virgin Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, whose infant lept in the womb due to his encounter with Jesus, still housed within that living temple…Mary. It is a personal sensation for me, and it is born of the fact that I have never doubted that Christ Himself is present within the edifice of the church. It is a feeling of excitement which is difficult to describe.

Yet, unfortunately, after I take my seat in the pew , as so many blank expressions fill in the spaces around me, my fervor becomes tempored by the unsatisfying social aspects of the surroundings. Then my worship becomes mainly interior, as the unfolding mass proceeds in a sort of neutral emotional manner. That feeling of awe does not return until I take the Eucharist, and then it remains with me until long after mass has concluded.

I would love to worship in “a church on fire” someday, but up to this point in my life, I must admit, that I have yet to be so fortunate. Until then, my interior sense of “awe” will have to suffice.
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Let your love, devotion and awe be an example to those spiritually slumbering who surround you. I usually cry at the consecration or after reception. It has become a part of my mass experience. I was dead and now am alive.
 
Isn’t it wonderful! So happy to see a Catholic parish “on fire” with love for God. Let it spread, let it spread!
 
Hi, Turtleoompa,

I just read the article - and, thought it was great! “Jesus is on property!” truly an amazing - and on-goning-miracle in our lives.

God bless
turtleoompa said:
Isn’t it wonderful! So happy to see a Catholic parish “on fire” with love for God. Let it spread, let it spread!
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What struck me–besides the parallels to my parish (we are in need of more adoration) was that this article was in a*** secular*** newspaper!
 
Hi, Another Mary,

I missed that! Thanks for pointing this out! 🙂

God bless
Another_Mary said:
What struck me–besides the parallels to my parish (we are in need of more adoration) was that this article was in a*** secular*** newspaper!
Click to expand...
 
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