The Catholic Standard & Times - Children pray for peace, families inWorldwide Eucharistic Holy Hour

Children pray for peace, families in
Worldwide Eucharistic Holy Hour

By Barbara Fitzgerald
Special to The CS&T

Catholic students across the Archdiocese gathered for a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament to commemorate the Blessed Mother’s appearance to three children at Fatima, Portugal, nearly 90 years ago, and to join in a worldwide movement to pray for peace and for all families.

The hours of adoration were in the planning for months, but the prayers seemed even more poignant last week following the fatal shootings of the innocent Amish school girls in Lancaster County, Pa.

“It is important, especially with what we witnessed, that we pray for a more nonviolent world,” said Joan Stulz, principal of Queen of the Universe School in Levittown. Students there participated in Benediction and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament as part of the worldwide service.

In addition to their Holy Hour, Cardinal Dougherty High School students in Philadelphia made a banner filled with prayers and greetings to send to the families that lost loved ones in the Lancaster tragedy.

The Worldwide Apostolate of Fatima USA program, “Children of the Eucharist,” had asked Catholic schools around the country and the world to gather before the Blessed Sacrament from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, to pray in unity for peace and for families. At the same time, a national service was held at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and broadcast live on EWTN.

The theme of this year’s Holy Hour was, “Mary, Queen of Families, Pray for Us.”

Connie Schneider, national chairwoman of the World Apostolate of Fatima Children’s Programs, said the Holy Hour was in response to the message of Our Lady at Fatima, which began with the apparitions of an angel to three shepherd children, Jacinta, Lucia and Francisco.

The “Angel of Peace,” as he announced himself, taught the children Eucharistic prayers. As a chalice and sacred Host hung suspended in the air they bowed and prayed.

“This was the first children’s Holy Hour,” Schneider said.

The late Pope John Paul II also exhorted children to join in prays for peace.
In his 1994 letter to children, he wrote, “My dear young friends, it is to your prayers that I entrust the problems of your own families and all of the families of the world.”

Elizabeth Morton, principal of St. Ignatius of Antioch School in Yardley said, “It is important for our children to learn the Church’s history, and to participate in something worldwide is a wonderful way to teach our students.”

St. Ignatius school’s students participated in a living rosary, recalling the sorrowful mysteries, as part of their Holy Hour. They also adored the Blessed Sacrament.

At Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Feasterville, students said their Holy Hour was a great time of reflection, and a time to “talk to God.”

Sister Patricia McKee, the school’s principal, said the hour was “intended to bring the children together, to unite them with the rest of the children throughout the world on this day.

The Holy Hour, she said, “was a wonderful opportunity for our children to feel a part of that worldwide community.”

Fostering devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the rosary and our Blessed Mother, were also important, Sister Patricia added.

At St. Francis of Assisi School in Norristown, the students participated in crowning a statue of the Blessed Mother, and were given Miraculous Medals of Our Lady of Grace.

“She’s the mother of Jesus and our mother,” said Principal Constance DiBonaventure. “It's important for kids to know that our Blessed Mother is always there to support us in our time of need.”

Jane Rowles, vice principal of St. Katherine of Siena in Philadelphia, pointed out that at Fatima and Lourdes it was children to whom Mary made herself known. “Who better to pray than children?” Rowles asked. “Our families need our prayers for peace in our world and peace in our families.”

Teaching children to pray to Mary is also important, she said: “As an intercessor she is so powerful. Her Son never refuses her.”

Beside their hour of prayer, students at Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia spent their lunch hour signing the large banner, which had been painted by students, to deliver to families of the slain students in Lancaster.

Some of the messages written on the banner read: “Keep the faith. I know your daughters are watching in heaven with love and care,” and, “All of your children are in a far better place than we are and may their souls rest in peace.”

Julia A. Walsh, a junior, wrote, “I’ll continue to pray for you. Your example of forgiveness is one we should all follow.”

“Today was the day where we had the prayer and adoration,” said Father Carl F. Janicki, the principal. “This was an opportunity to do something positive on top of that for the people of Lancaster who are suffering.”

School officials said pictures of the banner would be taken for the 2006 yearbook.

Senior Marie Hosein noted that Cardinal Dougherty’s students know what it is like to lose someone to a violent death. Two years ago a student from the school was shot on the front porch of his home in Philadelphia.

“We understand the grief they have,” she said.

“Violence in general is a confusing subject,” said Ashley Wolf, also a senior. “Our school has dealt with it. When you see it in a quiet area like Lancaster it is just heartbreaking.”

Said Senior Justin Minter: “We just want them to know we care about them. We’re just glad we could help.”

The help of students, in prayer or action, was the message of the worldwide Holy Hour. A theme song written for just and performed by the Catholic music artist Dana, “We Are the Children of the World Answering His Call,” summed up the purpose of the call for prayer this year.

The lyrics are, in part:

Dearest Lord we pray,
Bless our families with Your peace and love.
You tell us, ‘Do not be afraid.’
Bless all people with Your Peace and Love —
The peace of Christ throughout the world.