Bishop Quinn blesses the Holy Hour attendees.

Shortly before his death, Pope John Paul II blessed six Eucharistic monstrances to be used by the faithful to pray for an increase in vocations to the ordained ministry and consecrated life. The monstrances were designated for Eucharistic adoration in each of the six inhabited continents, signifying the connection between the Eucharist and priestly vocations.

The blessed monstrance for North America has been making its way throughout dioceses in the United States and Canada and arrived at Sacred Heart Major Seminary on Sunday, May 18. About 150 worshippers welcomed the monstrance during a Holy Hour for Vocations in the main chapel at Sacred Heart, presided by Auxiliary Bishop John Quinn. The service was sponsored by the Fishermen's Fund, the volunteer lay organization that raises scholarship money for Sacred Heart seminarians and lay ministry students.

In his reflections, Bishop Quinn remarked how appropriate it is for adoration of the Holy Eucharist to be the focus of prayers for vocations. The Blessed Sacrament is not just a memory, he explained, nor a representation of a person or event from the past as with an old family photograph. It is the Real Presence—really and truly Jesus Christ, his Body and Blood. "Jesus gave us this gift of himself to be with us for all time, not just as a memory."

Students representing six local Catholic schools led the opening procession into the chapel, some carrying colorful banners. The schools were Brother Rice High School, Bloomfield Hills; Divine Child Elementary School, Dearborn; Marian High School, Bloomfield Hills; Notre Dame Preparatory School, Pontiac; and Shrine Catholic High School and Shrine Catholic Grade School, Royal Oak. Attendees enjoyed a punch and cookies reception afterward. The blessed monstrance will continue to circulate among archdiocesan parishes during May and June as part of the 175th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Detroit archdiocese.