During the summer months I often have a lot more time on my hands thanks to a lengthy vacation from my job that I like to invest in prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ. This morning I decided to spend some time with the Lord in private adoration. I remembered a post here on Cleansing Fire not too long ago by a reader named Gail, who was looking for churches available in the area for private adoration. Rather than going to my usual place of prayer, I made the decision to try another area church, hopefully being able to provide a possible site for our dear friend Gail to pray to the Lord.
I will not name the particular church (hint: it was on the south west side of Monroe County), but I was quite disappointed with what I found when I went up to the door. It was locked. A house of God was locked, in the middle of the day, in an area that does not experience much crime. How could this be? What’s even more strange about this is that this particular church moved its tabernacle some years back to a private adoration chapel. Yes, a chapel for private adoration that is not being used during the day because the church building is locked. I tried all the doors, but no success.
Why do churches with private adoration chapels lock their doors during the day? What is the whole point of moving the tabernacle to a separate chapel if the only time one can make use of it is right before/after Mass when there is a crowd of people surrounding the tabernacle and only a couple of chairs/kneelers available for prayer? It just does not make sense to me. If a church is going to lock their doors, there is no reason for the tabernacle to be moved from the center of the church. Why don’t these churches install a security camera? If they do this they can leave their doors open 24/7. The parish had money after all to modify the church in order to move the tabernacle, one would think they could have afforded a camera that would allow the church to remain open for all to spend quiet time with the Lord Jesus.
Tags: Orthodoxy at Work
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When I want to spend time alone with our Lord,I go to the Carmelite Monastery on Jefferson Road. Rarely there might be one other person there. It is such a beautiful place. ST Joseph in Rush has a combination on the door they will give you if they know you are coming. IT is on the side of the Church , seperate entrance.
St. Stephen?s in Geneva has a similar situation at their Perpetual Adoration Chapel. It?s unlocked during the day. At night, all that anyone needs to do is knock. All are welcome.
There is Thursday Adoration at St Francis in Phelps. The hours are from 9-4 for the summer. They will be expanded when school begins. All are welcome.
St. Mary?s in Canandaigua has First Friday Exposition and Adoration from 8:30 AM-9PM. All are welcome.
I?m wondering about compiling and posting a list of Adoration times and locations.
God Bless.
Mr. B, that sounds like a wonderful idea! The diocese posts a list of Mass times, you'd think they would include times for private adoration as well.
I had this very same experience with my parish in Irondequoit. I've gone several times midday, and the doors have been locked every time. Just put some cameras in for safety and let us praise the Lord in peace! As long as the tabernacle is securely nailed down and the door on it is locked, they have nothing to worry about.
A church should never be locked. Period.
Maybe the leaders of this parish moved the tabernacle out of the church proper because they don't want the watchful eyes of our Lord witnessing their liturgical abuses.
Very well put. Thank you.
Mr. B, I love that idea. I'll gladly post your list after you've compiled it.
~Dr. K
I get anxious with the thought of leaving a church unlocked all night long. Remember last year when those teens went into the church and vandalized it. They spray painted and urinated all over the scantuary. Just a few months ago, down in Hornell, someone broke the heads off the statues in the garden. It pains me terrible to think of what could happen if the churches are left unlocked.
Scott, are you talking about the Good Shepherd in Henrietta incident where the kids rode their bikes in the church and caused all kinds of damage?
Maybe overnight is not a good idea, but a church should at least be open in the daytime in the suburbs.
~Dr. K
Dr. K — wasn't that at St. Pius X in Chili. Vandals defiled holy water; marred the carpet with cigarette burns and skid marks from bicycles; damaged the baptismal font, door frames, a chalice and a painting; discharged fire extinguishers; broke into the sacristy; smashed bottles of Communion wine against a wall and tossed around unconsecrated hosts.
If we had Eucharistic Adoration in each Church that would put someone right in the church so it probably wouldn't get vandalized. Plus, if we prayed for vocations, we might get a lot more.
I think it was the church building (not the chapel) at Good Shepherd. Did this happen at St. Pius too?