Above: Bishop Lucia kneels before the Eucharist during Holy Hour for the Conclave on May 4 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
By Tami S. Scott, editor
On the afternoon of May 4, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia presided over a Holy Hour for the Conclave, uniting the faithful in prayer while we wait for the election of a new pope.
The solemn hour included hymns, Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Praises and the Litany of the Good Shepherd.
Susan Thomas and Austin Milone, both members of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, shared their motivations for attending the prayer session.
“I’m very much hoping that the Lord grants us a good pope,” said Thomas. “That He brings us all in accord with His will.”
Milone, who finds spiritual fulfillment in Eucharistic Adoration, said he’s praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the Cardinals and the continuation of the Church’s mission as a refuge. “It’s such a pivotal time in the world,” he said.
Monsignor Neal Quartier, rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, hopes the new pope continues the pastoral approach that Pope Francis began, noting what the pontiff called “attentive mercy,” embracing a global compassion.
Bishop Lucia remarked that the following Sunday, May 11, is Good Shepherd Sunday, also observed as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. With optimism, he suggested that by then we may know the name of our next holy father.
The papal conclave begins on Wednesday, May 7.
