Dear Friends,

Once the hosts on the altar have been consecrated by the priest and have been consumed by the community, we might not be aware of what happens to the remaining consecrated hosts. The hosts are placed in a tabernacle as each parish is asked to have a place that is noble and prominent according to our liturgical documents. When one reads the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM), it states that it is placed in a chapel area. Great care should be given to where that is placed, and it should be beautifully decorated. It also states that if this is not possible for a chapel, then it may be placed in a prominent area in the sanctuary. 

Our tabernacle is placed at the center of our property and is open for prayer anytime our campus is open. First thing in the morning until our last function at night, anyone is invited to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. The placement is confusing for some, as the belief is that it has to be behind the altar, and some are upset that it is not. Reading the Church documents on liturgy, it states that the chapel is a proper placement for the tabernacle. And if that is not possible in a parish, then it is to be placed somewhere in the sanctuary. 

The history of our parish was that we only had one building on the property (Fenlon Center), which was a multi-purpose building, so there were all types of activities in the building. There really was no dedicated place for prayer. So, in building our main building, we thought that the Blessed Sacrament chapel should be dedicated solely to prayer. No other activities or sound is found in that sacred chapel. 

Parishioners and all people are encouraged to come and pray in our chapel. A refuge from a busy world, a place to listen to God, a place to remember God is with us in our joys and challenges.

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Eric