Parish Spiritual Activities
Adoration
“The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in Heaven and will help bring about everlasting peace on earth.”
- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
“The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharist worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet Him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1380
The purpose of the special Holy Hour of Adoration is to spend time in prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Venerable Fulton Sheen said about the Holy Hour of Adoration, that with each Holy Hour we do of Adoration, in a way, we undo the first failed Holy Hour of the disciples when our Lord said to them: “Could you not keep watch one hour with me?”
Adoration at St. Leonard Church is the first Friday of the month, for one-hour increments, between 9:30 am and 2:30 pm. If you would like to spend one hour, one day per month, in Adoration, contact the church office at 740-522-5270.
Focolare
The word, “Focolare” is Italian for “hearth” or “family fireside”. The Focolare movement began in 1943 during WWII by a young elementary school teacher, Chiara Lubich, who saw God’s love as the only antidote when life was crumbling around her. With Bible in hand, during air raids, she felt deeply Jesus’ desire that they all may be one. A group sharing her vision joined in helping and the numbers grew. After the war, Focolare groups held retreats and in 1955, the gathering took on the name, “Mariapolis”, a model of peace for the world under Mother Mary’s patronage. Today, Focolare is in over 180 countries.
Focolare at St. Leonard Church meets the first Thursday of the month for dinner at a local restaurant and praying the Rosary, followed by discussing the book, The Word of Life. To be a part of this group, contact the church office at 740-522-5270.
Bereavement Ministry
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."
Mark 9:35
The Bereavement Ministry of St. Leonard’s is made up of staff and parishioners to support grieving people, who have lost a loved one, to plan the Funeral Mass. They schedule a Mercy Meal with the Women’s Guild, which is provided for the family after the funeral.
If you would like to be a part of the Bereavement Ministry at St. Leonard’s Church, contact the church office at 740-522-5270.
Homebound Ministry
"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me."
Matthew 25: 40
The Homebound Ministry is a group of parishioners with the special gift of taking the Holy Eucharist to parishioners who are homebound and unable to come to Mass at the church. Often, the homebound minister says that even though they are sent to take the sacrament to the homebound, they in turn feel truly blessed to be allowed to provide this service to others.
If you would like to serve the Lord as a Homebound Minister, contact the church office at 740-522-5270.
Nursing Home Visitation
This group of parishioners visit persons living in area Nursing Homes to chat with them and may take them the Holy Eucharist. No special skills are needed to be a volunteer at a nursing home, and in fact, most nursing homes really need volunteers. Many people living in nursing homes (or retirement centers) are lonely and would love to have someone to talk to or perhaps have someone with whom to play a board game or cards. Often, when someone begins volunteering with the idea to "help someone else", the volunteer realizes that he/she is the one who receives the blessing. Is God calling you to visit the elderly?
If you would like to visit persons who are in Nursing Homes, contact the church office at 740-522-5270.