Holy Eucharist was focus of men’s retreat at Laurie shrine
Living the Faith has often been compared to a journey, and men in Laurie recently had a vivid reminder of this metaphor.
Members of St. Patrick parish enjoyed a walking pilgrimage and retreat at the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, on Oct. 19.
The shrine, with its beautiful fountains and celebrated sculpture of the Blessed Mother under her title of Mary, Mother of the Church, is located on the landscaped hill behind St. Patrick Church, near the Lake of the Ozarks.
“It was great to get closer to God and closer to Christian friends,” said Jim Gerke, one of several Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus who took part in the retreat.
The retreat was sponsored by the Men of St. Joseph (MOSJ), a prayer group that meets each Wednesday morning in St. Patrick Church.
The group prays the Psalms together, then reads and discusses the readings for the next Sunday’s Mass.
“The Men of St. Joseph gives us a chance to improve our faith together,” said MOSJ president Robert Miller.
A hike and a procession
Retreat attendees gathered at the parish’s original stone church on Highway O for Morning Prayer, led by Father John Schmitz, pastor at St. Patrick parish and the St. Philip Benizi mission in Versailles, and spiritual director of the national shrine.
The men then hiked two miles through the Ozark woodlands to the shrine, praying a Rosary together and chatting on the way.
Upon arriving, they were refreshed with coffee and doughnuts, courtesy of Jim Skelly, in the parish hall.
The retreat also included Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and a beautiful Eucharistic procession and blessing, with torchbearers, incense, a crucifix and an honor guard of Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
“We have all heard that many within the Church do not understand that Jesus is really present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Holy Eucharist, so we wanted to make a point of giving honor to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,” said MOSJ vice president Dr. Fred Boley.
“It’s really Him in the monstrance!” Dr. Boley added.
The procession was also meant to be a witness to the community at large of the great love and respect the Church has for Jesus in the Eucharist. “Adoration and procession gives us the chance to honor Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,” said Fr. Schmitz. “It is a privilege to adore the Real Presence of Jesus — Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. And it’s a privilege to show the community how much we love and honor Jesus.”
Repentance and devotion
Dr. Gregory Mary Thompson, Eucharistic Apostle of Divine Mercy, of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, addressed attendees on masculinity and its challenges for modern-day Catholics.
He encouraged the men to take the lead in humility and prayer within their families.
Dr. Thompson distributed free books to help and encourage attendees in their devotion to Jesus and the Church.
Attendees prayed a chaplet of Divine Mercy together, and Stations of the Cross, before enjoying a time of reflection, an examination of conscience, and confession.
“There was a long line!” said Mr. Miller.
The retreat concluded with the attendees attending Mass together at St. Patrick.
“It’s a good chance to get off the expressway and think about where you’re going,” Jim Stoltz remarked.
Dennis Dorman added: “It gave me an opportunity to go on a journey with fellow Catholic men to get to know each other better, and to spend a day on a faith journey with fellow Knights and Catholic brothers.”
MOSJ plans to organize another retreat during Lent, and invites all men of the diocese to journey with them.
The St. Patrick chapter of MOSJ meets every Wednesday at 7 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Hall at St. Patrick Church in Laurie.
