Holy Cross parish in the Bronx has been hosting a Perpetual Adoration gathering that started the evening of Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, as a special way to begin the season of Lent.

The English/Spanish praise and worship event, featuring live music, continued overnight and has been going on continuously since then. It has included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying of the Rosary, fellowship, The Stations of the Cross, Mass celebrations, healing services, and lots of music – all designed to help participants with their spiritual renewal. Hundreds of people have attended each night when there are inspirational speakers and live musical performances. 

The event, which has included regularly scheduled Mass celebrations, is being led by Father Vincent Druding, parochial vicar at Holy Cross, who has been serving as event emcee and spokesman. Father Druding and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Espaillat kicked off the gathering the first night by giving talks that focused largely on the importance of conversion. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne celebrated Mass on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 23.                 

“This is a powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit in our presence, that is setting hearts on fire,” Father Druding told The Good Newsroom in a Feb. 27 phone interview. “That is healing wounds, that is breaking chains, that is renewing new life, the Resurrection power of the Eucharistic Lord. And I think that’s absolutely essential in this time of such tremendous darkness in the world.”

He added, “The Church must become the light again for the world…There’s been a lot of tears and a lot of healing; we pray over people before they speak.” He said there has been emotional, spiritual and physical healing, and that the Lazarus theme of bringing people back to spiritual life has been an important, recurring topic. He said plans are for the event to end March 3 or 4. 

The event is titled “Jesus in Zion: From Asbury (University) to the Bronx,” inspired by a recent days-long spiritual gathering at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky (The university is Christian non-denominational).   

Among the event participants was Taylor Hauser, 24, who attends Mass at several Manhattan parishes. “I went on Friday and I went last night (Sunday, Feb. 26). It’s incredible; it is so powerful and moving,” said Ms. Hauser, who was among participants who gave testimonials of past personal struggles and eventual conversion; she said her struggles included suicidal thoughts.  

Hauser said she experienced spiritual conversion three years ago, and that attending the “Jesus in Zion” gathering has greatly deepened that conversion. It was three years ago that she relocated from her native Iowa to New York, settling in a Times Square apartment and attending Mass at St.Patrick’s Cathedral; she currently goes to Mass at the cathedral and other Manhattan parishes.  

Maria S. Garcia, 59, said she has attended the event most days, and that she keeps returning because “I found Jesus again; my life changed totally again.” Ms. Garcia, a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas parish in the Bronx, added, “I am very thankful, and I will always pray for them to continue reviving New York, all parishes; we need this revival. We need to praise God.”  

Teresa Santiago, a Holy Cross parishioner and consultant for Catholic Charities New York, said she has been watching the event via livestream, not able to attend in person because of work and personal obligations. “I haven’t gone yet but I’ve been watching it on YouTube. It has been extremely powerful…This is day number six and it has been non-stop. There have been people there every single hour. The young people have been amazing,” Ms. Santiago told The Good Newsroom.  

The cited Scripture messages have included words from Revelation 15:14, “Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before you. All people shall come and worship in your presence.”   

The gathering is being livestreamed via the Holy Cross parish YouTube channel: Catholic Soundview. In addition to Father Druding and Bishop Espaillat, speakers at the gathering have included: Father John Higgins, pastor of Holy Cross, Father Ambiorix Rodriguez, pastor of St. Elizabeth parish in Manhattan, Father Pierre Toussaint, CFR, Father Ignatius Schweitzer, Father Christian Amah, Father Justin Cinnante, O. Carm, and Sister Mary Grace, SV, from the Sisters of Life. There have also been a number of music groups and lay preachers from various ministries.  

Holy Cross Church is located at 600 Soundview Ave., the Bronx. Parking is available. For more information call (718) 893-5550. Email: Host.holycrossbx@gmail.com