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‘Morning Watch’ Sept. 23rd, 2006 at Sacred Heart Church in Trout Creek

On Saturday September 23rd Fr. Norbert brought up about 20 CORCs (‘Catholics on the Road for Christ’) from Peterborough area to Trout Creek, one of the northern-most parishes in our Diocese. These youth brought with them their love for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and came to share it with the people, especially youth of the parishes and communities in the northern regions of the Diocese.

Now, I understand the bus ride up from Peterborough and back down the next day was already quite eventful, which is obvious looking at the pictures below. But while the trip was fun, the purpose of the trip was even better.

‘Morning Watch’ is an all-night adoration, where especially young people are invited to encounter Christ personally, who is truly present, body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist. This is the greatest mystery of our faith; yet, once we open ourselves to this mystery, we cannot but recognize Christ in person and connect with him in a very unique way. This was the 5th ‘Morning Watch’ in the Diocese of Peterborough and it is great to know that it is an event which is increasingly popular.

After Saturday evening Mass Fr. Norbert and Fr. Ace, the Pastor of Powassan and Trout Creek, presented Christ in what is called ‘the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament’. A monstrance is used which is a large golden container, usually made of precious metal and shaped in the form of a ball of rays, often decorated in different ways with jewels or angel figures. In the center of the monstrance is a clear glass opening in which would be exposed the sacred host for all to see. The monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament is placed in the middle of the altar. Incense is used to honor Christ and to symbolize the prayers of all those present.  Many parishioners stayed after Mass to pray for some time in the presence of Our Lord, while others came in later to pay their respects.

Some youth would pop in for an hour or more all through the night to pray to Jesus present and offer to him whatever was in their hearts and on their minds, all their joys and sorrows, their concerns and hopes. Most of the night was spent in silent prayer, which is something most people today would find rather difficult or even awkward, but it is in silence that we can really find Christ, hear him speak to us and come to know him … and ourselves in the process. Every hour on the hour, though, a reflection was read and some praise & worship songs were sung by those who happen to be present at the time.

In between our visits with Jesus in Church – we did not spend all night in Church – we were in the Church hall socializing, talking, singing, playing cards or games, just hanging out; o yes, and eating. Plenty of food was provided for us all by the local CWL and KofC. We even played a game of soccer outside, interrupted only by some rain showers and the occasional car passing through. We did get a good number of hours of sleep – in sleeping bags on the floor of the hall; enough to be ready for the next day.

Adoration continued in Church until Benediction on Sunday morning one half hour before 11 o’clock Mass, which concluded the 5th ‘Morning Watch’ of the Diocese. The people of Trout Creek felt truly blessed and were thrilled to see so many young people in Church so devoted and prayerful. The experience was wonderful for whoever came and it is certainly a great way to make Christ in the Eucharist better known and loved and a more important part of the life of the youth of our Diocese. See you next time!

Paul Long, Trout Creek

Information on Morning Watch June 2006 click <<here>>