Who are the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration?

The Apostles of Perpetual Adoration were founded by Archbishop Barry James Hickey of Perth and Father Douglas Harris in 2006 as a public Association of Christ's Faithful in order to fulfill Mary's mission of having her Son adored perpetually. In 2010 the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration were renewed as a public Association of Christ's faithful on a permanent basis by Archbishop Hickey.

From the approved Statutes: " ...The Society will be called Apostles of Perpetual Adoration. Both Archbishop Hickey and Fr. Harris will be founding members..."

What are the Aims and Charism?

Firstly to promote Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, especially Perpetual Adoration in Parishes.

Secondly to strive for the highest level of sanctity for the Glory of God.

Thirdly to strive that all peoples will attain the highest level of sanctity.

Who are the members?

The members include priests, deacons, consecrated brothers and sisters, single and married lay people. The Association is open to all those 18 and above who agree with the charism of the association.

Priests in APA are vowed to celibacy and promised to obedience.

The consecrated brothers and sisters make promises (called private vows in Canon Law 1192, 1196, 1197) of poverty, celibacy and obedience.

Single and married lay men and women make promises (private vows) of chastity and obedience.

Our members are found in many countries around the world and some of our priests and other members travel from country to country promoting Perpetual Adoration. Others travel within their country going from diocese to diocese to promote PEA. Others within their own diocese going from parish to parish. Some of the recent places our members have been working to establish chapels of PEA are Indonesia, Latvia, South Africa, Kenya and other countries in Africa, China, the US and Australia.

The contemplative consecrated brothers within the APA are called Little Eucharistic Brothers of Divine Will.

What are the prayer obligations?

Priests, deacons, non-religious consecrated brothers and sisters are obligated to attend or serve daily Mass and pray the Divine Office. They are also to do a daily Holy Hour. The men must do at least one of their Holy Hours each week between 12 midnight and 6 am. Lay members do a Holy Hour each week on the roster at a parish which has Perpetual Adoration if possible.

Who is the moderator or leader of the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration?

Father Doug Harris in 2006 when he founded the community

Father Douglas Harris is the moderator or leader of APA. He is also the parish priest of St Bernadette's Glendalough in the Archdiocese of Perth. He has also been appointed as the Chaplain (by Archbishop Hickey) in charge of promoting Eucharistic Adoration in the Archdiocese of Perth. He is also the Chaplain of the Divine Will Movement in Perth Archdiocese and the Chaplain of the Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community and a number of other groups. He has helped open many chapels in Australia and Indonesia.

Father Doug Harris in May 2013 at St Bernaette's Church

What is an Association of Christ's Faithful?

Associations of Christ's Faithful are distinct from the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life in which the Christian faithful, either clergy or laity, or both together, strive by common effort to promote a more perfect life to foster public worship, or to exercise other apostolic works, namely to engage in efforts of evangelisation to animate the temporal order with the Christian spirit. The associations often have within their membership consecrated men and women who are full members of the association and under the governance of the association's moderator. Some examples of non-religious consecrated Brothers and Sisters are - Consecrated Brothers and Sisters of the Emmanuel Community, Regnum Christi, Consecrated Brothers and Sisters of the Beatitudes Community, Focolare Movement, Communion & Liberation.

Who is our Patron?

We are under the patronage of Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament whose feast day is May 13.

Where is the 'mother house'?

The 'mother house' is in the parish of St Bernadette's Glendalough in Perth Western Australia where the Moderator is the Parish Priest.

How can you contact us?

You can visit us at St Bernadette 49 Jugan Street Glendalough Western Australia or email Father Doug on doug@catholic.org

Habits of Burgundy and White

Brother John Joseph of the Immaculate Womb with Br Gilbert Joseph of the Divine Presence with Father Doug Harris on May 13 2013.

Below is Brother John Joseph and Brother Gilbert inb their Burgundy work habits in 2014. These habits are actually the same colour Burgundy but look redder and pinker in the two different shots.

This photo shows the true colour more acurately with Brother John Joseph at the Passover Seder that the Brothers led in Tasmania in 2014.

Brother Gilbert: Consecrated Brother Ceremony

First posted here on 5 Feb 2013



Last night [4 February 2013] on the Feast Day of St Gilbert of Sempringham I took life promises as a consecrated brother with the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration. It was a simple but beautiful Mass with the ceremony of my consecration after the homily. I thought I would share the handout for the ceremony with you all. I was assisted in the singing by a group of young adults who attended. Some of my family also attended which made it especially joyful.

Apostles of Perpetual Adoration Consecration Ceremony for Brothers

Father Doug: Come Bridegroom Blessed is he who comes (Bo Khatan Baruch ha ba)

Brother Gilbert with Choir: ( sings in Hebrew) Lechah dodi, Likrat Kalah, penei Malcah, n’kabelah Boi Kalah Boi Kalah Boi Kalah Shekhinah (Come my beloved to greet the Bride, the face of the Queen, let us receive her. Come Bride Come Bride Come Bride of the Divine Presence).

Brother Gilbert comes forward with his candle and lights it from the ‘Face of Jesus’ candle. He hands the candle to Callum who gives it to Father Doug. Brother Gilbert kneels before Father Doug. Father Doug blesses the candle and hands the candle to Brother Gilbert.

Father Doug:  Gilbert receive this light as a symbol of the Eucharistic light blazing forth from the hearts of Jesus and Mary

Brother Gilbert: I, Gilbert, receive this light as a symbol of the Eucharistic light blazing forth from the hearts of Jesus and Mary

Brother Gilbert with Choir: (sings in Hebrew) Kumi Ori ki va orech Ukhvod Adonai alayikh zarech (Isaiah 60:1) (Arise shine for thy light has come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon you)

Brother Gilbert hands the candle to Callum

Father Doug then blesses the Blessed Sacrament emblem and hands it to Brother Gilbert

Father Doug: O Divine Bridegroom and giver of all spiritual and mystical graces, send forth Thy blessings upon this Blessed Sacrament emblem, that he who will wear it may be protected with heavenly strength and keep a perfect faith and sincere will to persevere in his promises of holy poverty, chastity and obedience in service to our Eucharistic Lord, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Father Doug: Gilbert receive this emblem as a remembrance of your consecration to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

Brother Gilbert: I, Gilbert, receive this emblem as a remembrance of my consecration to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

Father Doug then blesses the Rosary and gives it to Brother Gilbert

Father Doug:  Holy Lord, Almighty Father, everlasting God,
be pleased to bless this Rosary, that it may be a saving help to he who will pray it in union with Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
Let it be a support of his faith,  an encouragement to good works,
and the redemption of souls; his consolation, protection, and a shield
against the cruel darts of the enemy; through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Father Doug: Gilbert receive this Rosary as sign of your consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

Brother Gilbert: I, Gilbert, receive this Rosary as a sign of my consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

Brother Gilbert with Choir: (sings in Hebrew)Gili Meod Bat Tzion Hari-ee Bat Yerushaliyim (Rejoice greatly O Daughter of Zion Cry out O Daughter of Jerusalem) Zechariah 9:9

Father Doug: My Brother and Friend, what do you desire?

Brother Gilbert: I desire to live out perpetually my vocation as a consecrated brother with the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration for the glory of God in the service of the Eucharistic Kingdom

Brother Gilbert lies prostrate on the floor in the form of a cross

Father Doug:  Lord, grant the prayers of your people. Prepare the heart of Your servant for perpetual consecration to Your service. By the grace of the Holy Spirit purify him from all sin and set him on fire with Your Eucharistic love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Callum  gives the Bible to Father Doug and Brother Gilbert rises and kneels before Father Doug with his hands placed on the Bible and he makes his perpetual promises of chastity, poverty and obedience

Brother Gilbert: In response to the gift of vocation to the consecrated life, and following the inspirations of grace drawing me to the sublime apostolate of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and prayer for the highest sanctification of priests and laity, I, unworthy though I am, but nevertheless relying on the Divine Mercy, and earnestly desiring to give myself in total dedication to the worship of God through Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and prayer and sacrifice for His priests and laity, make forever to the Adorable Trinity the promises of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience according to the Rule of Life of the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration, in your hands, Father Moderator and in the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of her worthy spouse, St. Joseph, and all the Heavenly Court. So help me God, and these His Holy Scriptures, which I touch with my hands.

V’eres-tik li le-olam, v’eres-tik li b’tzedek uv—mishpat, uv-khesed, uv-rakhamim. V’esres-tik li be-emunah, v’yadaat et Adonai

I will betroth you to me forever, and I will betroth you to me with righteousness, justice, kindness and mercy. I will betroth you to me with fidelity, and you shall know the Lord.

Father Doug: By the authority entrusted to me as Moderator of the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration, and in the name of the Church, I receive the promises you have taken. I earnestly commend you to God, that your gift of self, made one with the sacrifice of the Eucharist, may be brought to perfection. By this profession, you are now a consecrated brother with the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration for Life. Amen

The Unveiling of the Messiah by the hands of the Archangels

Brother Gilbert of the Divine Presence thanks all his family and friends for sharing in this special day with him. May God bless you.



An article appeared this week about me in the "Record". See the link "Rebellious Punk who turned to the Love of God in Adoration"

Perpetual Adoration in Indonesia

Perpetual Adoration in Indonesia

 Fr. Hugh Thomas CSSR and another priest from Australia (Father Doug Harris of the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration) have been
establishing Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration throughout Indonesia since
2006. In that year perpetual adoration was established in Surabaya in a
Catholic hospital. Also, in Kuta, Bali, in the parish of St. Francis
Xavier.

In 2007 these two priests attempted to start perpetual adoration in
Kalimantan, in Sempit. However, it is still a work in progress as very few attended the seminar. However, a chapel was established in Semarang in Java.

In 2008 a chapel was established in Manado in Sulawesi. Many miracles
continue to occur in these chapels. In the chapel in Manado, Sr.
Bernadette was paralysed until she was healed during a Holy Hour. Also, ayoung woman had her handphone stolen. She prayed a Novena of 9 Holy Hours. On the day she completed her ninth Holy Hour her phone was returned with more than enough money to pay for all the calls the thief had made.

A young man named Rainier decided to commit to one Holy Hour a week
because a friend of his was doing one Holy Hour everyday. Today, Rainier
does one Holy Hour everyday except Sundays when he does two.

In 2009 a second visit to Sulawesi resulted in a chapel in Tomohon. Then
to Flores. The first chapel was in Maumere. Bishop Kheribum has built an
impressive chapel for perpetual adoration. The Bishop does a Holy everyday from 8pm to 9pm. In Maumere the local schools have Holy Hours for the children.

A businessman in Maumere committed to Mondays 1am to 2am. However, after
sometime he stopped going because he got lazy. Then he lost an important
document which negatively effected his business. One Monday morning before 1am his phone rang twice, just enough to wake him up. He then realized it was time for his Holy Hour, so he went to the chapel. As soon as he was in the presence of Jesus he knew where the document was. Today, he and his wife will never miss their weekly Holy Hour in the middle of the night.

Then a chapel was opened in Waitabulla in Sumba. Fr. Hugh Thomas revisited Sumba in 2012 to find that the parish priest is still doing a Holy Hour from 4am to 5am everyday. Next a chapel was established in Bandung, Java with the help of Mr. Herry Respati from Kuta.

In 2011 three chapels established in the diocese of Ruteng. In Borong,
Ruteng and Labuan Baju. In Labuan Baju there was already a chapel of
Adoration in the Seminary. There, a paralysed woman received partial
healing. During her Holy Hour she discovered she could walk for the firsttime in 7 years, however she still has some pain.

A Moslem school girl was unable to talk for over a month. Her Moslem
father did a Novena of 9 Holy Hours. As a result his daughter was healed. Also, a deaf and dumb Moslem man was healed after a Novena of Holy Hours.

A man had kidney failure until he completed a Novena of Holy Hours. A
couple of 6 years marriage were unable to conceive. On the ninth day of a Novena she was pregnant. There have been cases when people have been freed from demonic possession. On one occasion a family brought to the chapel a male member who was possessed. He was freed as the family prayed for him there.

The seminary had a serious water shortage. The priests in the Seminary
often prayed for a solution. In the Adoration Chapel one priest felt that Jesus told him where to dig. At that spot they now have three litres of water per minute, enough for them and some of their neighbours.

In 2013 a chapel was opened in Ende, the capital of Flores, and also in
Bajawa. The Dean priest now does Mondays 1am to 2am.
In 2014 the plan is to open chapels in Larantuka, Adonara and another in
Sumba. There are many places in Indonesia that God wants chapels. For
example, Sumbawa, Sumatra Timor and everywhere there are people. Please
ask your priests and your Bishop to invite us by contacting Fr Douglas
Harris doug@catholic.org

African Mission of APA

PROGRESS REPORT OF THE SPREAD OF PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION IN EAST AFRICA IN 2012 by Father Michael Kithusi

In the wake of the Blessed Pope John Paul II appeal for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration when he said “Every member of the Church, especially bishops and priests must be vigilant in seeing that this Sacrament of Love shall be at the Centre of the life of the people of God, so that through all manifestations of worship due it, Christ shall be given back love for love; and truly become the life of our souls.” (Redeemer of Man) and also
when he expressed his deepest desire for the whole Church with the words "I hope that this form of Perpetual Adoration, with permanent exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will continue into the future. Specifically, I hope that the fruit of this congress results in establishment of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in all Parishes and Christian Communities throughout the world" (Pope John Paul II's homily at the 45th Eucharistic Congress in Seville, Spain), so far and for the first half of this year, we have done the evangelization that has led to the opening of 6 Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapels. Three of them are in Hoima Diocese, Uganda, one in Nairobi Archdiocese, Kenya and
two in Bukoba Diocese, Tanzania.

The main promoters of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the above Dioceses were, Joseph Karuga Kariuki, Emmanuel Okello, Nicholas Maina all from Kenya, and Deusdedit Tusiime, from Ugandan. Joseph and Emmanuel are in the process of opening Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel in a third parish in Bukoba and also have an invitation in August in another Diocese inTanzania while Deus has an invitation to start evangelization in Hoima at the end of July and in Kasese Diocese in September.


From last year January up to March this year I worked by opening upto 3 chapels of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in Fort Portal Diocese, in the same period I met Deusdedit Tusiime, Emmanuel Okello and Godfrey Kanyambwe. When they expressed their interest to promote Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration on a full time basis I embarked on training them on its evangelization and organization each at his own time. Deus and Emmanuel have now participated in the opening of seven Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapels inclusive of the chapels opened last year.

This year each has participated in the opening of two chapels of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (Please see name of main evangelizers in the pictorial part of this report). Also for a long
time when in Kenya I have been working with Nicholas Maina who for the first time and single handedly evangelized for the opening of the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel in a Parish in Nairobi Archdiocese.

 Between January 17th and April this year, I, Joseph Karuga, Emmanuel Okello and Godfrey Kanyambwe made trips from Kenya to Tanzania and then Rwanda. During this period we knocked the door for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in Mwanza, Kahama and Bukoba dioceses of Tanzania. And later in Rwanda, where we requested the Priests permission to promote Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in their parishes in Kibungo and Kigali Dioceses. 

Joseph and Emmanuel were allowed to work in Bukoba Diocese by the Bishop and have already assisted in the Evangelization and Organization that has led to the opening of two Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapels there. Right now they are two weeks working for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in a third parish in the diocese. In February this year we visited Kigali and Kibungo Diocese in Rwanda. I found three Priests who were ready to allow me to promote Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in their parishes located in these two diocese but they asked me to get permission from the Bishop.

Around first of March this year through a letter, I applied to the Bishop of Kigali who is also the Apostolic Administrator of Kibungo Diocese asking for permission to promote Perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration in both Kigali and Kibungo Dioceses in Rwanda. He is yet to let me know his decision. In May I visited the Bishop of Kasese in Western Uganda who allowed me to work with Godfrey Kanyambwe and also to promote Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in his Diocese if I get a willing Priest. I got one Priest in Kasese diocese who wants Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and introduced him to Deudedit Tusiime. These two have agreed that they begin Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration evangelization in September.

I came back to Western Kenya around early June and between the last week of June and now I have been working with Godfrey Kanyambwe in a small place called Migori in South Westen Kenya near Lake Victoria. I met and introduced Godfrey to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in December last year. I worked a little with him in December last year in Kagoma Parish of Fort Portal Diocese in Uganda.

For now I can say that he is going on well and I feel that by the end of this year he will be able to Evangelize on Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration individually. The three Joseph, Godfrey, and Emmanuel have committed themselves to spreading Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration on a full time basis and are ready for the God's call to any state in life including the Priesthood. I am now working with Godfrey in mastering the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Evangelization. He has already mastered two Sunday Evangelization and we are left with two more Sunday Evangelization and the Seven New Evangelization presentations. After these we will do scheduling and organization for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We may do what is left in about 6 weeks and theoretically Godfrey will be ready to evangelize for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in two months.

Please note that we have also made applications for promoting Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration to other Bishops and Priests in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I am waiting to get their response on whether they have
accepted my application....

Thank you very much for your prayers and financial support. May Our Eucharistic Lord bless you.

Note: Those who would like to help financially with our missionaries both in Africa and Latvia please contact Father Doug Harris.

Congregation of The Clergy wants Adoration

Promotion Of Continuous Eucharistic Adoration In Diocese For The Benefit Of Priests And Priestly Vocations

CONGREGATIO PRO CLERICIS

Explanatory note to help promote the practice of continuous
Eucharistic adoration in dioceses (parishes, rectories, chapels, monasteries, convents, seminaries) for the benefit of priests and priestly vocations.

In his Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI concretized the perennial teaching of the Church on the centrality of Eucharistic
adoration in ecclesial life by a direct appeal addressed to all pastors, bishops, priests, as well as the People of God, for perpetual Eucharistic adoration: "With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church's pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic adoration, both individually and in community. (194) Great benefit would ensue from a suitable catechesis explaining the importance of this act of worship, which enables the faithful to experience the liturgical celebration more fully and more fruitfully. Wherever possible, it would be appropriate, especially in densely populated areas, to set aside specific churches or oratories for perpetual adoration. I also recommend that, in their catechetical training, and especially in their preparation for First Holy Communion, children be taught the meaning and the beauty of spending time with Jesus, and helped to cultivate a sense of awe before his presence in the Eucharist. (Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 67)

In order to support the Holy Father's appeal, the Congregation for the Clergy,in its own solicitousness for the presbyterate, proposes that:

1.Each diocese appoint a priest who will devote himself full time – as far as possible – to the specific ministry of promoting Eucharistic adoration and coordinating this important service in the diocese. Dedicating himself generously to this ministry, this priest will be able to live this particular dimension of liturgical, theological, spiritual and pastoral life, possibly in a place specifically set aside for this purpose by the bishop himself, where the faithful will benefit from perpetual Eucharistic adoration. Just as there are Marian Shrines, with rectors in charge of that particular ministry and suitable for its specific needs, it is also possible to have "Eucharistic shrines" – with priests in charge of them – which radiate and foster the special love that the Church has for the Holy Eucharist, worthily celebrated and continuously adored. Such ministry within the presbyterate will remind all diocesan priests, as Benedict XVI said,that "the secret of their sanctification lies precisely in the Eucharist.(…)The priest must be first and foremost an adorer who contemplates the Eucharist" (Angelus, 18 September 2005);

2.Specific places are to be reserved for continuous Eucharistic adoration. To that end, parish priests, rectors, and chaplains are encouraged to introduce the practice of Eucharistic adoration in their communities, both personally and communally,in a collective effort to enhance prayer life. Let everyone be involved, beginning with children preparing for First Holy Communion;

3.The dioceses that are interested in this project might look for appropriate donations in order to organize continuous Eucharistic adoration in the seminary, in parishes, rectories, oratories, shrines, monasteries, and convents. Divine Providence will surely assist in finding benefactors who are willing to contribute toward suitable works to set in motion this project of Eucharistic renewal for the particular Churches, specifically: the construction or adaptation of a place of worship for adoration within a large worship building; the purchase of a solemn monstrance or a noble liturgical vestment; and the funding of liturgical-pastoral-spiritual material for such promotion;

4.Initiatives directed at local clergy, especially those relating to the continuing formation of priests, should be always permeated by a Eucharistic spirit, specifically devoting a suitable time to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, so that it may become– together with the Holy Mass – the driving force for each individual and communitarian undertaking;

5.The modalities for Eucharistic adoration in different places may be diverse, according to the circumstances. For example:

·perpetual Eucharistic adoration throughout the 24 hour day;

·extended Eucharistic adoration, beginning in the early hours of the morning and continuing until the evening;

·daily Eucharistic adoration during specific hours;

·Eucharistic adoration during one or more days of the week during specific hours;

·Eucharistic adoration for special circumstances, such as feast days and anniversaries.

The Congregation for the Clergy expresses its gratitude in advance to those Ordinaries who will become promoters of this project, one that is certain to renew the spirituality of both the clergy and the People of God in their particular Churches.

In order to more closely follow the development of this important appeal of the Holy Father, the individual Ordinaries interested in the initiative are kindly requested to keep this Dicastery informed of developments related to continuous Eucharistic adoration in their dioceses, indicating especially which priests and places are involved in this important apostolate.

Should further clarification on this matter be necessary, the Congregation for the Clergy stands ready to provide it.

From the Vatican, 8 December 2007

Solemnity of the of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

St Joseph and Perpetual Adoration

St Joseph and Perpetual Adoration

This from the latest edition of "Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Newsletter"for November 2010

St Joseph and Eucharistic Adoration

Father Doug Harris recently spoke on Perpetual Adoration at all the Masses at the Yangebup Parish and 39 generous souls volunteered to adore Jesus at Christ the King Beaconsfield. These generous people are the apples of God’s eye in an era when even many practicing Catholics have become so much of the modern world of instant satisfaction that they will not sacrifice or put themselves out for Jesus. If they do adoration they want it on their terms when they feel like it. So those generous souls who volunteer to do a set hour each week are the treasures of our time, those who have a heart for Jesus abandoned in so many tabernacles. They sacrifice for him so that others will be blessed and so they may have a chapel to come to 24 hours 7 days a week. Even more blessed are the jewels of the heavenly crown who volunteer for the late night hours- the blessings reserved for them are beyond our earthly understanding.

Our own Father Doug is Joseph-like quietly and patiently persisting in his mission of promoting Perpetual Adoration under the patronage of St Joseph. Our own Father Joseph R here at St Bernadette’s lives up to his name of Joseph by volunteering to do a late night hour on two different nights. What graces they win for the people of God! How transformed is this parish of St Bernadettes and the surrounding area since Perpetual adoration began here.

The theme of this newsletter is St Joseph who is always present mystically with Jesus and Mary in every holy hour. In the Old Testament times he was mystically present represented by the Cloud and Our Lady by the fire when the Divine Son as the Divine Word spoke out of the midst of the Divine Manifestation of God in cloud, smoke and fire. The God of Sinai is this Divine Son. The same one that gave us the Torah himself took on flesh and came as a man and then as God and Man he also became the Eucharistic bread and wine for us.

Joseph in eternity was also one of the four cherubim in the Garden of Eden- who were represented in the Temple by the two golden cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant and the two large olive wood cherubim that stood in the holy of holies either side of the Ark. The two on the Ark represent Jesus and Mary. Joseph is represented by the male olive wood cherubim.

Wednesday is the traditional Catholic day in honour of St Joseph which is linked to the fourth day of the Creation week where the two great lights appear. This of course makes us think of the vision of the Patriarch Joseph of the sun, moon and stars. There are of course many valid interpretations at the mystical level of reading scriptures. For example the Sun can represent the Divine Will. It can also represent the Messiah son of Joseph who is “the sun of righteousness who rises with healing in his wings”. Symbolised as a created mystical Sun it can represent Joseph himself. Joseph is so surrounded by the rays of the uncreated Mystical Sun that he becomes the created mystical Sun or icon of the Divine Sun. As Abba (Daddy/Father) to Jesus he is the created icon of the Father. It is in this manner that joseph is referred to as the Shadow of the Father.

The wonderful little prayer book entitled “The Holy Cloak in honour of St Joseph” has a beautiful prayer that says:

“O Glorious Patriarch St Joseph, prostrate, before you and your Divine Son, Jesus, I offer you with heartfelt devotion, this precious treasury of prayers, being ever mindful of the numerous virtues which adorned your sacred person. In you, O glorious patriarch, was fulfilled the dream of your precursor the first Joseph, who indeed seemed to have been sent by god to prepare the way for your presence on this Earth. In fact, not only were you surrounded by the shining splendour of the rays of the Divine Sun, but you were splendidly reflected in the brilliant light of the mystic moon, the Blessed Virgin Mary. O glorious Patriarch, if the example of the ancient Jacob, who personally went to congratulate his favourite son, who was exalted on the throne of Egypt, served to bring all his progeny there, should not the example of Jesus and Mary, who honoured you with their greatest respect and trust, serve to bring me, your devoted servant, to present you with this precious cloak in your honour...”


The full glories of St Joseph were not to be fully unveiled until the latter days according to St Isadore of Seville in the 8th century. St Joseph is the hidden saint. The new Testament calls him a Tzadik (A righteous man)- he is the hidden Tzadik who is the foster-father of the ultimate Tzadik the Messiah son of Joseph who would come riding on a donkey. The concept of Joseph ha Tzadik and the Hidden Tzadik as well as the Messiah son of Joseph is rich in Jewish mystical tradition. Joseph is present with us in each holy hour leading us in adoration with Our Lady to their Divine Son.

When I became a Catholic in 1987 I took the name Joseph in honour of St Joseph of Arimathea. At that time I had no interest or devotion to what I then thought of as the ‘boring’ Joseph married to Mary (may heaven forgive me). In 1994 the Vicar General of Manila in the Philippines- Monsignor Josefino (Pepe) Ramirez wrote a book entitled “Letters to a Brother Priest” to promote Perpetual Adoration.

In one of those letters he linked me (I am now a layman assisting Father Doug with PEA), Doug Harris (now Father Doug), Patrick Barry (now a priest who has started PEA chapels all over the world mentioned in last month’s newsletter) and Adam Hayward (now Father Charbel the superior of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in Perth) with St Joseph. It is interesting that the letter also mentions Bethlehem as Father Patrick went to Bethlehem when he was still a seminarian in the 1990’s to see if he could find a place there for PEA (Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration). Each religious house said they had no room and to try elsewhere. Patrick couldn’t help but think of St Joseph trying to find a room for Jesus and here 2000 years later Patrick (whose middle name is Joseph) was getting the same response for the Eucharistic Christ Child. I was also in Bethlehem in 2003 with two future priests (Father Robert R and Father Patricio H) trying to find a place for Jesus to be adored perpetually with the same response after we had been forced to close down Perpetual Adoration in Jerusalem. While Perpetual Adoration occurred all the bombing stopped in Israel. The last time I was in Israel in 2008 I learnt that finally a chapel of PEA had been established in Bethlehem and the decreased bombings of recent years I believe is due to this chapel. When I arrived in Israel in 2002 there were bombings in Jerusalem every day or two and I was almost a victim of one of them. When we began Perpetual Adoration at the Armenian Catholic church of Our Lady of the Spasm on the Via Dolorosa in the Muslim Quarter all the bombs stopped and did so for the next few months, so much so that the unusualness of it was commented on in the media.



“Letters to a Brother Priest” by Monsignor Pepe

A Room In The Inn –Feast Day of St Joseph, husband of Mary- March 19 1994 JMJ

Dear Fr. Thomas,

Today is the feast of St Joseph. There is not much said about St Joseph in scripture. He was a just and faithful servant, and a quiet figure in the history of salvation. St Joseph reminds me of the vast majority of Catholic priests in the world today. They are just, faithful and totally dedicated to god and service of the Church.

Because they are not disruptive, they do not get any publicity. They are so pastorally oriented, busy taking care of the people in their parish, that nothing is ever said or written about how much they do for God and his people. Like St Joseph, they quietly go about their life working for the glory of God. Look to St Joseph, Thomas, as your model. He represents spiritual and apostolic maturity. By maturity, I mean he was dedicated to the interest of Christ. He put the interest of Christ ahead of his own.

In his love for Jesus and Mary, his thought process focused on their needs, rather than his own. In theory, every priest would agree to this. In practice, however, it may be a different matter. For example, I have asked many priests to consider having perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Many of them say that they cannot find a place for a prayer room. Did not St Joseph search until he found a place for Christ to be born? “There was no room for them in the inn.”(LK 2:7). But St Joseph kept searching until he found a place. And this place he found in Bethlehem became the first chapel of perpetual adoration where even the shepherds in the region, living in the fields, came to adore Him.

A priest whose mind is primarily on the interest of Christ would give up his own bedroom, if there was no other place available, if it meant finding a place where the Blessed Sacrament would be adored day and night. I know such a priest. He came to Manila for the ordination of Fr. Brian Morgan. His name is Fr. Brian Ahern. Fr. Brian Ahern is pastor of St Gerard’s Catholic Church in Geraldton, Western Australia. Fr. Ahern wanted perpetual adoration in his parish, but there was no room anywhere for a prayer chapel. Fr. Brian Ahern did what St Joseph would have done. He gave Jesus his bedroom. It makes an ideal chapel because it has a separate, outside entrance. One does not have to go through the rectory to come into the chapel. The privacy of the rectory is maintained as the people use the outside entrance to come into the chapel, which was formerly Fr. Brian Ahern’s bedroom...Fr Brain Ahern’s prayer chapel inspired Brian Morgan to become a priest and to dedicate his priesthood to spreading perpetual adoration. Brian Morgan is now a priest. His holiness and love for the Eucharist has already attracted six other vocations to the priesthood. Five of them are now studying here in Manila at St Vincent’s in Tandang Sora for a new community of priests, ...founded to spread perpetual adoration. These young men are Patrick Barry, Doug Harris, Vincent Cherry, Athol Bloomer and Adam Hayward. .. I am writing you this letter, dear Thomas, so that you may be the next one; the next St Joseph priest to find a room in the inn for the Lord...Msgr Pepe”

This weekend Father Doug will be visiting Father Brian Ahern’s new parish in Dongara to speak on Perpetual Adoration. Accompanying him will be Brian Milne who in the past was one of the pillars of late night adoration at the chapel in Mirrabooka. This was the church that Father Patrick Barry, Father Charbel and I first heard the preaching of Father Brian Morgan and learnt of PEA. Brian Milne  is now assisting us with the late night adoration at Highgate for a number of hours on two late night shifts. Another hero of mine is also from the late night hours at Highgate and that is Patrick Galway  who has been doing many late night hours for many years while working and rearing a family. Another wonderful example is Gerry Evangelista from the Glendalough chapel who has faithfully done late night hours twice a week for many years.

Recently I was told of a Eucharistic miracle that occurred in the Highgate chapel where two ladies who didn’t know each other saw Jesus appear from the host and waved at them. One of the ladies thought she must be imagining things until the other lady started to cry out that she could see Jesus.

The other week Anthony T (a young man who does two late night hours each week) was driving me to Adoration at Highgate before he went to do his adoration at Glendalough. On the way a car pulled out when we where almost on top of them and somehow our car seemed to leap to the right and smoothly go round the end of the car and back onto the lane. As another car was coming from the other direction we would have been hit if we had gone too far right. It was a strange experience as time seemed to speed up and slow down at the same time. Anthony and I both remained very calm through the whole experience and felt that we had been spared from death by a God moment. Jesus knew he couldn’t take us both out when we were due to do adoration at two chapels.

I am sure there are other wonderful stories to be shared from all the chapels. So please feel free to contact me at the Glendalough parish to share your story or send me an email on atholbloomer13@hotmail.com so we can share them in future newsletters.