THOUGHTS FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL, JOSEPH VORBACH:
About a decade ago, the parish we belonged to in Connecticut began to offer perpetual adoration. My son, about 12 at the time, wanted to sign up for an hour each week and so we discussed it and allowed him to do that after looking at the timing and logistics. There were, of course, times when he couldn't do it because of activities. Frequently, either my wife or I would cover for him. This became the unexpected gift of an opportunity to pray in silence.
When I began to work at Bishop O'Connell nine years ago, I was presented with so many more regular opportunities to pray as part of my daily routine than I had ever had before. Certainly, one can always pray, but it was as though O'Connell was providing me with a regular invitation to pray.
Since the start-up a few years ago of the Knights Intercessors, an intercessory prayer group begun by Father Thompson and the Spirituality Committee of our PTO, I have received another gift in prayer. The weekly exercise of prayer through this outlet has also grown for me into opportunities to commit the cares, concerns, worries, pains, sufferings and mournings of the O'Connell community to prayer. There are so many times when we are at a loss for words, or our words seem so insufficient, when trying to comfort someone in need. But the sincere offer to pray for someone is powerful and meaningful and seems always to be genuinely appreciated.
Last week, I read an interview that O'Connell Board Member Reverend Paul Scalia did with Washingtonian Magazine about his new book. The interviewer asked Father Scalia to elaborate on the idea expressed in the book that the passing of his father, Justice Antonin Scalia, gave him a new realization of the gift of his faith. Father Scalia responded: "Well, first of all, in the outpouring of prayers, Mass cards, and condolences that came from Catholics and Christians and people of other faiths from throughout the world, because they knew him to be a man of faith, and not necessarily their own faith..." When I read this, I was brought immediately back to the days after my mother's passing almost three years ago. I was completely overwhelmed by the support that my family and I received. And so often, the simple words, "you are in my prayers" had such an impact.
One final thought on the power of prayer. For those who do not already know this, all who are connected to the Bishop O'Connell community are in the prayers of the community of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, including of course the prayers offered by retired Sisters at Camilla Hall in Immaculata, Pennsylvania in their chapel that is known as the "Powerhouse of Prayer." They sent me a card when I started working at O'Connell to tell me I was in their prayers...I am in their prayers...you are in their prayers.