Touched by the presence of Jesus

Seminary Holy Hour focuses on need for priestly vocations

By ANH HOANG
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

"You can't come before the presence of God and not be touched," she said. "It's like you go outside in the sun and you're not aware how much you've been out there until you're sunburned. It's the same thing when you come to Holy Hour. God is there, you'll feel him there."

Potvin is one of the organizers of the monthly Holy Hours, which will be led by Archbishop Thomas Collins or Father Sylvain Casavant.

Held at St. Joseph's Seminary, it is an offshoot of the local Burning Bush group, formerly known as Youth 2000 which met monthly for Eucharistic Adoration at St. Andrew's Church.

Casavant said, "We cannot be Christians unless we've been touched.

"You have all these people gathered in front of Christ and then going out and putting it in action. You can't love if you're not filled with love. By standing in front of the Blessed Sacrament, it gives us the ability to see God."

The Holy Hour has grown from six participants a year and a half ago to almost 80. Though participants are usually in their early and mid-twenties, it is open to all ages. It includes songs and group and silent adoration.

"We decided this is too good of a thing to keep to ourselves," Potvin said.

"It's set up so that you're not bored," Potvin said. "Some people think it's boring before they come to it, they think that about Holy Hour, but they realize it's not. They really get into it.

"My son goes to it all the time now. He's 16. He never misses it."

The time of prayer focuses on the needs of the archdiocese, "and part of the need right now is vocations," Potvin said. "That's why we feel it's very fitting to have it at the seminary."

Both Potvin and Casavant are confident the participation of the archbishop will encourage a larger crowd. They're also hoping it will spread to other parishes.

"This is not my Holy Hour or Father Sylvain's Holy Hour," Potvin said. "It's Holy Hour for the archdiocese. It's for everyone. We hope it outgrows St. Joseph's Seminary into every parish.

"The whole atmosphere is an atmosphere of love and joy. People say it's the closest thing to heaven."

The next Holy Hour will be led by Archbishop Thomas Collins at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5 at St. Joseph's Seminary, 15611 St. Albert Trail. For more information call Lorianne Potvin at 487-9963.

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