Join the community at St. Martin of Tours parish for Adoration each Monday at 6:00 p.m., and on First Fridays at 8:30 a.m. or 7:30 p.m.
7963 S. 116th St.
Franklin, WI
414-425-1114
Adoration and First Friday devotions are more than just prayer traditions for the Priests of the Sacred Heart, they are among the essential elements of Dehonian Spirituality in practice.
Fr. Andrzej Sudol, SCJ, is pastor of St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, WI. Just before he assumed the role, Fr. Carlos Luis Suarez Codorniú, SCJ, came to the US Province in 2022 for the general visitation. Knowing that Fr. Andrzej was about to begin ministry at St. Martin of Tours, the two spoke about ways in which to make a parish more Dehonian. Top of the list: “First Friday Devotions and Adoration,” said Fr. Andrzej, “along with a ‘shrine’ or information area about Fr. Dehon.”
The pastoral team at St. Martin of Tours agreed and decided to make First Fridays and Adoration a priority for the parish in 2023.
“We encouraged and explained the idea of Adoration and First Friday in a variety of ways,” said Fr. Andrzej. Slowly, the First Friday gatherings grew from about 20 people in the morning to upwards of 70. This includes several families who take part in Catholic Schoolhouse, a Catholic homeschool program. A smaller gathering in the evening continues to take place.
“What we have done is a start, but we must do more to help people know and understand these traditions in the context of our Dehonian charism,” said Fr. Andrzej. “The three-year Eucharistic revival program is an excellent opportunity to explain and popularize Adoration and First Friday at St. Martin of Tours. We must take advantage of it.
“We SCJs must also take advantage of this opportunity to share our beautiful Dehonian traditions. It is good for us as Dehonians to be present in prayer with others, it has a greater impact than many of us realize. Busy in ministry, we often struggle to find such moments with the laity in prayer. But it is an important way to share who we are as Dehonians, and it is important for our own prayer lives, regardless if we minister in a parish.
“I welcome my SCJ brothers to join us at St. Martin of Tours for Monday Adoration at 6:00 p.m. and/or First Fridays at 8:30 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. Of course, we welcome anyone to join us in prayer; the invitation is not just for SCJs!”
