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Eucharistic Home ShrineS - EHS - is a laity-sponsored ecclesia movement in the Church. Pope John Paul II has said the plethora of these movements in the Church augurs for the forthcoming victory of the Church in the modern world. Bishop Ryko, secretary of the Pontifical Council for the laity, hails our missionary creativity, and declares these ecclesia movements to be an enormous gift of the Holy Spirit for the Church in our time. What does a Shrine look like? Most of our Shrines are small pictures, most often made from First Communion, Ordination, Ordination Anniversary or Mass cards. A symbolic chalice and host are necessary. Shrines may be three dimensional. Real chalices and unconsecrated hosts may be used. Actually, our ShrineS are more beautiful than ever now, because Keepers often use shadow boxes with artificial flowers, medals, pictures of saints, etc. to enhance the host and chalice scene. How did Eucharistic Home ShrineS begin? The Apostolate began when the first Shrine was dedicated by Fr. Francis Syrianey in the home of Marion and Joan Barnwell in Blessed Sacrament Parish in Denver, Colorado on October 27, 1958. Unknown to us then, it was the 46th anniversary of the consecration of the Denver cathedral. We thought the Shrine would be only a family Shrine until seven years after the dedication. Then two friends - Sandy Ferreira, No. 2, and Lory Lothamer, No. 3, asked whether they too could have ShrineS - no one realizing that within a short time our ShrineS would be on all seven countries! How did we come to embrace the fish and fishermen theme? The Shrine intentions of "fish and fishermen" is a leading example of God's direction of the Apostolate. The weekend that we were pondering what our Shrine intention would be, a Bishop Fulton J. Sheen God Love You column was found in The Denver Catholic Register in which Bishop Sheen in a letter to a young boy named Brian, (who had wantonly killed a goldfish and sent a dollar in reparation to the Bishop), explained what Christ thought of when He saw a fish: priest fishermen who fish for the souls of men. Because the Barnwell Shrine actually began with a Marian statue in a fish aquarium, and the Barnwells had an infant named Brian, the stage was set for the fish and fishermen intentions, and that wording is still retained in two of the Shrine prayers. Shortly before his death, Archbishop Sheen was told of his role in the determination of the fish and fishermen intentions. He celebrated two Masses for the intentions of Eucharistic Home ShrineS, plus sending a very encouraging letter regarding the Apostolate. This was made possible thru the efforts of Denver chair lady, Vivian June Potter (#77, etc.) when God brought her breathlessly to the feet of Bishop Sheen at St. Catherine's Church in Denver. Three Masses are celebrated each month with the hope that our lives, in the spirit of Fatima, become holy patens upon which we offer Love, Obedience, (especially to the Magisterium), Tears and Sacrifices to Jesus and Mary, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. Additionally, to celebrate our October anniversary each year, dozens of Masses are offered on all seven continents. This year, since we are celebrating our 45th anniversary, 45 Masses were be celebrated. Our total number of Masses offered this year will be at least 90! Thanks be to God. A unique setting for one of the Masses is in the chapel of Our Lady of Snows in Antarctica. This thanks to Fr. Bill Middleton of Christchurch, New Zealand, who has faithfully negotiated this annual Mass for many years.
Altogether, more than 100 Shrines have been accepted by priests. In the case of busy priests, we do not load them down further with prayers, but we ask them to ask Our Bl. Lord one time only to come to us and to all of our Shrines from the Elevations in all of their Masses the rest of their lifetime. In 1987 a Shrine was dedicated for Archbishop T.F. Little of Melbourne, Australia. Two other ShrineS have been erected for bishops. A most exciting Shrine recipient was our great Bishop Carl Fisher, S.S.J., Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and Bishop of San Pedro Region, who died on September 2, 1993. His blessed support was a long-for, prayed-for grace that we received only after 29 years of waiting for real hierarchical approval. We believe that Bishop Fisher, as he promised in a cherished letter, continues to direct us from Heaven. Succeeding Bishop Fisher as head of our San Pedro Region, has been Bishop Joseph Sartoris. His name is actually an angelicized version of Giuseppe Sarto, the christening name of Pope St. Pius X, whom we have regarded from the beginning as the Canonized father of our Apostolate! On June 1st, 1994, Bishop Sartoris came to our parish in El Segundo, California to celebrate Mass for the school children. On that day he gave his "ABSOLUTELY" blessing to Eucharistic Home ShrineS. It is said that gifts from Heaven come the day before a Feast Day, and that was the day before the anniversary of Bishop Fisher's ordination anniversary! Perhaps it is only just to report that a later-dated and complimentary note from Bishop John Ward, V.G., was mailed to our-then pastor, Fr. James O'Grady in behalf of our work. Hundreds of ShrineS have been blessed in general audiences by several Popes. And, respecting Pope Paul VI's monthly intention that there be greater communication between those of us still living and those "who sleep in Christ," several ShrineS have been dedicated posthumously for Popes, canonized Saints, priests and lay people. A priest's blessing is required. Many ShrineS have been blessed by Pope John Paul II in general audiences in Rome, Africa and in the United States. Our newest innovation with ShrineS we give out, is to touch them to the monstrance during Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, giving further witness to our belief in his Divine Presence. Keepers may also dream up their own ShrineS and arrnage for a blessing from their favorite priest. There are secret ShrineS in Russia and Red China. There is also one in the Los Angeles Time Capsule, which is to be opened by the citizens of the year 2076. Except for our Tabernacle ShrineS (explanation upon request) most ShrineS are in the homes of us "little people in the pews." By the grace of God, we are well-intentioned people who love Him, our Bl. Mother, the Church, the Mass, the Priesthood and our Scapulars and Rosaries, which, one day, will be the fragile twine binding Satan as he is rendered powerless in hell for all eternity! As we wait that great day, we pray hard for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, beginning with each of us, before Satan destroys any more of Her children. We give thanks to God and to Our Bl. Mother for bringing us from one humble home Shrine to 3,000+ ShrineS at this point. We had wanted to offer Our Bl. Mother the 2,000th Shrine by the year 2000, but thru the enthusiastic response of our Shrine Keepers - we went over the 2000 goal to more than 3000! (Thanks to Our God of Happy Surprises). And, of course, as promised, the 2000th Shrine was given to Our Bl. Mother! The 3000th shrine was given to St. Joseph primarily but also includes the entire Court of Heaven as well. Hopefully, our ShrineS may be regarded as dynamic, 20th / 21st century innovations, throbbing, vibrating, pulsating with the loving Presence of Our Bl. Lord as Keepers invite Him to us from the Elevations in all the Masses - Adoration, Benedictions - they attend. What a "feeding of the the spiritually hungry" this must be. |
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For questions on Eucharistic Home ShrineS, please mail to Joan Barnwellat joanbarnwell@socal.rr.com / EHS@socal.rr.comSend mail to Fr.
Abraham Mutholathu Jacob at
mutholath2000@yahoo.com with
comments about this web site.
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