MANDALUYONG, Jan. 23, 2013—The football field in Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) became a witness to a scene totally different from the usual hustle and tussle of games when 2,500 students, alumni and parents gathered there for a Eucharistic adoration last Monday.
“Many in tears”
From 6 – 8 p.m., thousands of participants stayed close to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (Photo credit: Bryan James Briones)
“I was moved when I saw the 2, 500 participants all converging at the altar at center of the football field, all wanting to “touch” Jesus, and be “touched” by Him,” said Bro. Juvelan Paul N. Samia, SDB, the Salesian animator of the Don Bosco Days With The Lord, who helped organize the event.
According to Samia, a particularly emotional part of the adoration, which left many in tears, was the “Touching of the Cloth” prayer ritual where participants were encouraged to touch six unrolled pieces of cloth near the Blessed Sacrament, following the example of faith of the haemorrhaging woman in the Gospel.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation was also offered during the adoration, with 8 priests on stand-by for the purpose.
“It was an awesome sight to see the long line of penitents, both young and old seeking forgiveness from God,” Samia said.
Unprecedented
The organizers were amazed at the unprecedented attendance of young people in the said event, a smaller version of which is usually done in the chapel with 100 people or so attending.
This is despite rains right before the event, leaving the field muddy, but as Samia noted, people did not just stay on, but stayed on their knees to be close to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
When asked about the adoration as the group’s choice for an event, Samia cited the power of the Blessed sacrament, quoting Don Bosco, “Have devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are.”
In celebration of DBTC’s 60th anniversary, the Days With The Lord organized the Grand Eucharistic Adoration as a way of thanking the school for its support of the group for the past 16 years. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz/CBCPNews]
