November 26, 2017

Christ the King Parish holds 40 hours of adoration for feast day

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Carolee McGrath

LUDLOW – In honor of the feast day of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Christ the King Parish in Ludlow held 40 hours of eucharistic adoration beginning Friday, Nov. 24 at 8 a.m. The devotion concluded with a solemn procession following the 11:15 a.m. Mass, Sunday Nov. 26. The tradition dates back to when the parish was first built as a mission church of Immaculate Conception in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield in 1940.

“It falls on the feast of Christ the King and that’s our parish. So, we always have the 40 hours of adoration,” said parishioner, Betty Babinski.

Throughout the weekend, there were different evening devotions held in the church. At 7 p.m. Friday Nov. 24, more than two dozen visiting priests were on hand to hear confessions. There was Benediction and people prayed the Liturgy of the Hours.

Babinski, a mother and grandmother, said praying before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is very powerful. Babinski recently lost her son, who was married with two small children, to cancer.

“Just for the blessings that you get. My son passed away this February. It was just a place to go. And people have just found peace and comfort before Jesus and he just helps you through,” she said.

The feast of Christ the King is celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year. It was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, in response to growing secularism and to proclaim Christ’s full authority as a loving king of the universe. It also comes in advance of the Advent season when Catholics await the birth of Jesus Christ, the newborn king.

Babinski’s mother helped start perpetual adoration at Christ the King parish 23 years ago. The chapel is located adjacent to the parish center on Warsaw Avenue in Ludlow. In 2004, it was dedicated as a chapel to pray for vocations. People pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Babinski, who helps schedule the adorers, said there’s always a need for people to cover shifts throughout the night.

“It’s the one to three o’clock slot. Early mornings we can get people at 4 or 5 o’clock, but it’s those early hours that are harder to fill,” said Babinski. “But we’ve been doing okay. Somehow the Lord provides us with people. We encourage people who want to just sub. That’s a big help.”

For those interested in signing up to be an adorer, call the parish office at 413-583-2630.