Looking at the pictures above, you wouldn't necessarily know that there is a visiting priest present for Adoration. You wouldn't know that there are mothers or fathers or students, you wouldn't know who's retired or who just started a promotion at work. You wouldn't know anyone is celebrating a new stage in life or struggling with some difficult news. You wouldn't know anything about the people present except that they are children of God.

Adoration is an experience for people at any stage of life. Think of God as your grandparent that lives across the country - He wants to hear from you through prayer like your grandparent wants to FaceTime to see how you're doing and ask what's new. He wants to be a part of our lives, even the parts that feel mundane to us. While we may just be silhouettes in Adoration, God sees each of us individually. Before He formed us, He knew us, and He wants to continue that relationship with us throughout our human experience. 

As part of that human experience, it can be hard to find the time to participate in scheduled Adorations or XLTs. We're overwhelmed with busy schedules, we spend all day at work and school and with our children or grandchildren, then we go to our second jobs, our after-school jobs, we have chores and yard work to do and dinners to cook and bath time and bed time and time for exercise and hobbies. The last thing we may think about is setting aside time to simply be and put a pause on all of that busyness to spend quiet, peaceful time before the Blessed Sacrament.

"In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host." // Pope Benedict XVI

As we prepare to enter the Advent season in the coming weeks, we invite you to join us for hope and rest, especially in Adoration and other prayerful opportunities offered by our family of parishes. Bring your family, bring a friend, bring an open heart and an open mind. Know that you are worthy and welcome to any Adoration, XLT or other prayer event at either Our Lady of Light campus. Whether you are...

• Catholic or exploring Catholicism 
• With kids or without
• A student or retired
• A parishioner at one of our churches or from the surrounding community
• A sinner or a saint

You are welcome. Find peace with us in the midst of our busy lives.

When I was first ordained, I was approached by our priest personnel committee to see if I would take on being the chaplain for the Legion of Mary in Dayton.  I told them that I was happy to do so.  My grandmother was in the Legion of Mary, and I thought it was a good way to remember her.

As I began learning more about the Legion, I learned about Servant of God Frank Duff.  Frank Duff started the Legion of Mary in his small parish in Ireland in 1921.   By the 1940's, the Legion spread to other continents including Africa and Asia.  In 1965, he was invited to the 2nd Vatican Council as a lay observer, and when he was introduced to the assembly he received a standing ovation.  

The Legion's purpose is in devotion to Jesus through Mary and also multiplying the work of the priests by visiting the sick, communion to the home bound, and serving the poor.  His cause for sainthood is now up, so servant of God Frank Duff... pray for us!

The Gospel on Tuesday morning was about how the mustard seed exponentially grows beyond itself.  The same way, God grows us beyond we ever thought we could.  Every Saint starts by being baptized, and then grew in faith with God's grace through works of mercy, prayer, and growing in community with each other.

We begin the same way as all the Saints...in baptism.  

On All Saints Day, we celebrate all the Saints, the canonized and those only known to God.  On this day, we get a chance to remember all those in heaven, which could include all our family members.  

We all start out as saints when we are baptized.  God then grows us as the mustard seed to grow beyond our shell and become the flourishing disciple of Christ that He calls us to be.

Have a blessed rest of your week and see you at Mass.

In Christ,
Fr. Brian