By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
To help people foster a habit of spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will kick off a monthly series, “An Afternoon with Christ,” beginning Sunday, January 15, 2023, as part of the National Eucharistic Revival.
The afternoon will begin at 2:30 p.m. with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a reflection presented by a priest or deacon at 3:00 p.m., and ending with Benediction to conclude at 3:30 p.m.
“This is an opportunity to increase Eucharistic piety in the Diocese of Lake Charles,” said Very Rev. Ruben Buller, Vicar General and Rector of the Cathedral. “The Eucharist is how Christ decided to remain with us. Adoration offers us the chance to sit with Christ, to be with Christ.”
So far, the schedule of presenters through June of 2023 will be as follows, all on Sundays at 2:30 p.m.:
• January 15 — Rev. Jeffrey Starkovich, Pastor, St. Pius X Catholic Church
• February 12 — Very Rev. Edward Richard, M.S., Pastor, Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church
• March 19 — Rev. Joseph Caraway, Parochial Vicar, St. Henry Catholic Church
• April 16 — Very Rev. Matthew Cormier, Pastor, St. Henry Catholic Church
• May 21 — Very Rev. Daniel Torres, V.G., Pastor, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church
• June 11 — Very Rev. Ruben Buller, V.G., Rector, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
One of the goals of the National Eucharistic Revival is to spark personal conversions through the joyful discovery of a relationship with Christ by encountering the love of God present in Jesus in the Eucharist.
“We are all called to develop a friendship with Christ, and Eucharistic Adoration can help in this regard,” said Father Buller. “The more time we spend visiting the Blessed Sacrament, graces from God flow through our fidelity.”
Father Buller likened visits at Eucharistic Adoration to Moses going on top of Mount Sinai.
“God spoke to Moses as one man speaks to his friend. Hopefully, when we go before Our Lord in the Eucharist, we will be able to hear Christ speaking to us in that same way,” he said.
Father Buller encouraged those who don’t know what to do during Adoration to simply focus on being silent with a friend.
“Don’t be afraid of silence,” he said. “Even in a good relationship with someone, silence is part of that friendship, when we can sit in the company of a friend and not have to entertain or be entertained.”
Following the advice of St. Catherine of Laboure, “Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, ‘Lord, I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do’ …. And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. … and then I listen. If you listen, God will speak to you. God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply.”
For more information on “An Afternoon with Christ,” call the Cathedral office at 337-436-7251. The Cathedral is located at 935 Bilbo Street in Lake Charles.
