Pope Benedict XVI monstrance will visit Utah to encourage vocations

Courtesy photo/Serra Club of Portland

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The pictured monstrance was Blessed by Pope Benedict XVI to inspire the faithful to pray for an increase in vocations. It has since been sent throughout the world.

SALT LAKE CITY — A special monstrance will be on display during the Nov. 22 Mass for the ordination of seminarian Kenneth to transitional deacon. The Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

The monstrance, that of Pope Benedict XVI, also will be on display during the Nov. 21 Holy Hour at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Sandy.

In June, when Parsad takes his priestly vows at the cathedral, a monstrance of Pope John Paul II will be used.

The monstrances were an effort by the two popes to encourage vocations throughout the world. On Nov. 24, 2004, the late Pope John Paul II blessed six monstrances for use during the Year of the Eucharist, which began in October 2005, for people to pray for an increase of vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life. During that year he also asked then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to promise that when he became pope that he, too, would bless and send forth a monstrance for vocations.

Later that year, after Pope John Paul II passed away, the cardinal became Pope Benedict XVI and fulfilled his promise. He entrusted a monstrance to Serra International, a worldwide organization of Catholic businesspeople who strive to live out their Christian values in their professional lives. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops came into possession of one of Pope John Paul II’s monstrances, and also placed it in the care of Serra International.

The monstrances will come to Utah through the efforts of Father Dominic Sternhagen, vocations director for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. While a seminarian at Mount Angel Seminary, Fr. Sternhagen became friends with Melliza Palazo, the vocations vice president of the Serra Club of Portland. When Palazo reached out to Fr. Sternhagen to see if the Salt Lake diocese would like to host the monstrances for Parsad’s ordinations, he gladly accepted.

“I think it’s wonderful; it’s a great grace,” Fr. Sternhagen said. “It’s a beautiful connection to two different popes as well as to the wider Church. I’m really thankful to Melliza and to the Serra Club for making that possible.”

Serra is an international organization that pray and work for vocations; local clubs also “organize and promote a huge array of events and programs,” according to the website https://serrainternational.org/.

A native of the Philippines, Parsad studied for the priesthood in his native country before becoming a seminarian for the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 2022. He considers Blessed Sacrament his adopted home parish. He has been embraced by the parish’s Filipino community and stays there when he visits on breaks from Mount Angel Seminary, so it made sense to have the Holy Hour at that parish, Fr. Sternhagen said.

Father Carlos Guzman, Blessed Sacrament Parish administrator, is thankful for the blessing of the monstrance’s visit, he said.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for [parishioners to have] the possibility of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament by having the monstrance of Benedict XVI,” he said “Hopefully, they will be able to have more devotion to the Blessed Sacrament personally, as well as for intention of praying for vocations, especially for the diocese.

“We’re hoping that this ordination of Kenneth will inspire other young people, especially those who have somehow expressed their intention of entering the seminary anytime this year or in the future,” Fr. Guzman added.

The monstrance will be on display during a Nov. 21 Holy Hour at 6 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 9800 South 1700 East, Sandy; and during the Nov. 22 ordination at 6 p.m. the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City.