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My journey: Children's Adoration
My journey to guide children in Eucharistic Adoration began in 1995 when I was teaching first grade in a small Catholic school in Ohio. Our priest required for all classes to attend Adoration every first Friday. After my initial panic of “How do you bring first graders to such a reverent event?” and the encouragement from one of my student’s mothers, I quickly learned that my students loved this special time with Jesus. I even had one student feel Jesus give her a hug. Children are meant to adore Jesus just like adults. Its form was different than a “Quiet” Holy Hour and not as long, but oh, so special. That priest gave me an unexpected treasure.
When I stayed home to raise my child, I placed my ideas in a folder and kept them in my heart. I knew God had created a longing within me and a hope that I would help bring children to Eucharistic Adoration again. Eight years passed and I felt strongly that God was calling me to start Children’s Eucharistic Adoration at my parish. It was 2004 - “The Year of the Eucharist”.
After talking to my Director of Religious Education and receiving approval to have a Holy Hour with my class of students (and later others), I pulled my old ideas out and researched additional ideas to make the children’s time with Jesus meaningful. I was extending my shorter Holy Hours from the past into a full hour. The possibilities excited me.
Along with many other sources, the Children of Hope website influenced me and provided some additional suggestions on things I could do with the children such as saint stories and prostration. I found it encouraging that other children were going to Adoration. It helped confirm that I was hearing God’s call.
During the next year and a half, I guided children though Holy Hours each month of the school year and a few times during the summers. I felt compelled to have written plans in my hands as I guided the children. Each month’s plan had variation to it. The groups ranged from 4 to 20 children. I had dreamed of larger numbers, but came to realize that God does things in His own perfect timing.
After another break (a year and a half) to have a second child, God’s call came again – this time in a much larger capacity. Our parish had hired a new Director of Religious Education, Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez, whose heart also strongly desired to bring our children to Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. His vision was for all children in our Religious Education program to attend Adoration several times a year. Our Elementary level alone would have five sessions of Adoration in a single week. Those plans I felt compelled to write down several years earlier became very useful to getting our new and larger program off the ground. I was able to train a few people to lead some of the Adoration sessions and also give them the written plans to know what to say and do. That first year we did over twenty sessions of Guided Hours of Eucharistic Adoration for Children with group sizes ranging from 75 to 200 children.
Deacon Guadalupe encouraged me over and over to put my plans in a book form. Because I had spent many hours of research and prayer, with God’s guidance putting the plans together, he felt other people and parishes would benefit by a complete program in place.
I humbly present this program to you now.
May you experience God’s many graces!
Melissa
[email protected]
[email protected]
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Many, many years of Guided Children's Adoration
Parish Children's Eucharistic Adoration Coordinator Four Years: Parish Children's Liturgy of the Word Coordinator Ten years & counting: Parish Religious Education teacher Elementary, Middle School, and High School Guest speaker on Adoration for Children, Parents, & Teachers Nine years: Cub Scout Den Leader Diocesan Committee member compiling & creating an Adoration Manual for Deacons |
Former Member of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting
BS in Elementary Education One year: Public School Teacher Two years: Catholic School Teacher Two years: Reading Recovery Teacher (Elementary) 28 years: Mom 32 years: wife Ascension Author |
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