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By Erika Anderson
Staff Writer
CUMMING--At Pinecrest Academy, students are told to put on their "eyes
of faith" in order to see the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Students have been learning about Christ's presence in the Eucharist all
year, and on Jan. 28, they experienced adoration, as Archbishop John F.
Donoghue led exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the school.
Arlene Gannon, dean of students, said that this was the first time many of
the children were able to attend adoration.
"For some of these kids who have never been to adoration, this is a
whole different dimension of their faith and adoration of Christ," she
said.
The Blessed Sacrament remained exposed in the chapel as classes visited
throughout the day.
"This is a mystery of our faith," Gannon said. "We just tell
them to put on their eyes of faith and look and ask the Lord to increase their
faith."
Gannon said that children seem to accept the real presence without question.
"It doesn't take a lot for them to believe," she said. "If
you tell them it's Christ, they'll believe it. It's when they get older that
the voice of doubt enters."
Father Scott Reilly, LC, chaplain of Pinecrest, said that the faith of a
child is very simple.
"That's the beauty of it," he said. "But at the same time
it's very deep. I think they understand at their level."
This was the first time fourth-grader Franco Garcia prayed before the
Blessed Sacrament.
"I loved it," he said. "I could see the Lord and I could talk
to him. I could just tell him how great he is and how much I love him. It was
great. I wish it could happen every day."
Fourth-grader Amanda Peacock also experienced adoration of the Eucharist for
the first time.
"I thought it was great, because I could just pray to God all
day," she said. "It just felt very peaceful. I really felt that I was
in the presence of the Lord. I could tell him what my thoughts were about
everything. I just kept praying and praying until it was time to leave."
Gannon said that while the Blessed Sacrament remained exposed, the
atmosphere throughout the rest of the school was peaceful.
"They were so reverent," she said. "There were real moments
of anticipation."
Many parents also joined in adoration with their children. Gannon believes
it was a learning experience for many parents as well as for their children.
"We can never learn enough because it is so deep and it is so
profound," she said. "Even the masters in theology and the masters in
spirituality cannot drink enough of the Eucharist because it is Christ."
Gannon believes that it is the responsibility of the teachers and the adults
to instill a love for the Eucharist in children.
"We have to be the ones who generate enthusiasm and who generate a deep
reverence by our example and our excitement," she said. "If we have
that, they will always have that love for adoration. But if we go dead, Christ
will die in our hearts."
"It takes a lot of prayer to surround these kids," she continued.
"They need to be leaders who will stand up for Christ, and in order to do
that, they have to know him in this unique and most special way in the
Eucharist."
Father Reilly said that it is important for the children to learn about the
presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
"Their faith grows at a very young age and they learn that God loves
them. That's one of the greatest treasures one can have," he said.
"They can have a friendship with the Lord and they are learning to walk in
faith. That's really what it's all about."
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