Pope St. John Paul II once said: “During a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration we contribute to the radical transformation of the world”.

For this reason, and in response to Pope Francis’ call to the faithful to offer special prayers over the course of this year for the crucial Synod on the Family in October 2015, a worldwide novena of Eucharistic Adoration is being launched to bring the Church, the Pope, the Synod Fathers, and all families to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

The Eucharistic Adoration Society for the Synod on the Family 2015, a lay initiative which began last year in Rome, is inviting clergy, religious and faithful worldwide to take part.

Co-founded by Christine McCarthy, wife and mother of 6 and author of a book of prayers and meditations for Eucharistic Adoration, entitled ‘I Am With You Always’, together with myself, the Eucharistic Adoration Society is seeking to devote the first Thursday of each month, for nine consecutive months, to worldwide Eucharistic Adoration, beginning on February 5th and ending on October 1st, the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, three days before the opening of the Synod.

McCarthy said she was inspired to launch the initiative after the 2014 Synod on the Family in Rome. “There was much discussion amongst the hierarchy, curial officials, young priests, seminarians, religious students and laity, not only in Rome but in many parts of the world,” she said. “I believe it is fair to say that many were and remain confused as to the direction in which the Church is going over the issue of marriage and the Holy Eucharist.”

She continued: “Whilst Pope Francis has welcomed discussion, he has also asked for prayer for the Synod on the Family, which is to take place nine months from now. The worldwide novena of Eucharistic Adoration was born out of the Holy Father’s request for prayers for the Church and the Synod Fathers.”

The complete list of dates of the Eucharistic Adoration novena are as follows:

• Thursday, February 5 (St. Agatha)

• Thursday, March 5 (II Thursday of Lent)

• Thursday, April 2 (Holy Thursday)*

• Thursday, May 7 (V Thursday of Easter)

• Thursday, June 4 (Corpus Christi)

• Thursday, July 2 (XIII Thursday in Ordinary Time)

• Thursday, August 6 (Transfiguration)

• Thursday, September 3 (Pope St. Gregory the Great)

• Thursday, October 1 (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)

* Note that as this date falls on Holy Thursday, the faithful are asked simply to follow the normal liturgical rites of the Church for that day, which include adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the altar of repose following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Faithful in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe have already committed themselves to the initiative. And in an effort to spread the novena across the globe, the Eucharistic Adoration Society is inviting clergy, religious, parishes, families and all lay Catholics to organize a day of Eucharistic adoration on the dates above, according to their own possibilities and circumstances.

For example, a religious community of cloistered nuns might dedicate their daily Holy Hour to the intention; a parish priest might organize a special day or evening of Eucharistic adoration (and possibly Confession) for his parishioners and neighboring parishes; a family might make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament together to pray the Rosary and spend time quietly with the Lord, a layman or laywoman might commit to offering an hour of Eucharistic Adoration at their local Adoration Chapel or Church, for the Pope, the Synod Fathers, and the Church.

Clergy and faithful alike are also invited to visit a dedicated