Your Diocese

NAPERVILLE, IL — Some sacrifices have to be made so eucharistic adoration can bring blessings to a parish, stressed Father Michael Lane, pastor of St. Jude Parish in Joliet. Addressing the congregation Jan. 13 at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Naperville, he invited others to give up their time to spend one hour in the presence of the Lord through eucharistic adoration. He said, “The little sacrifice we make in one hour a week is paid back over and over again.”

Father Lane made the same request for adorers when he visited the parish five years earlier, in order to start up the parish’s eucharistic adoration. The response was good enough to create a perpetual adoration chapel, but in 2007 the number of adorers has diminished somewhat. During a Jan. 11 telephone conversation with Your Diocese, Father Lane said he was hoping to rejuvenate the devotion at the Naperville parish by speaking at all the weekend Masses Jan. 13-14.

According to Margaret Gilmore, a core team member that coordinates the chapel at St. Elizabeth Seton, the priest’s mission was accomplished. They were able to fill hours that were in need of adorers and gain some additional volunteers to duplicate several hours.

Father Lane, a priest for more than three decades, credited adoration with strengthening his own vocation, encouraging congregations to participate more completely in the Mass as well as inspiring better stewardship. He said, “Any success I’ve had in any parish I attribute to (adoration.) For me, it’s just a must.”

In his homily during the Mass, Father Lane emphasized the blessings that one can receive through simply spending one hour in the presence of the Lord in adoration. He shared the impact the devotion had on one couple that was preparing for a divorce before they started adoration. After a few weeks of finding peace and listening to the Lord, the couple’s marriage was strengthened and a divorce was prevented.

The Naperville parish is just one of the many faith communities Father Lane has traveled to and inspired interest in eucharistic adoration over the last decade. St. Mary of Gostyn Parish in Downers Grove and his current parish St. Jude Parish in Joliet are just a few examples of where he has generated enough interest to start eucharistic adoration. However, the first parish he was instrumental in starting adoration was at Visitation Parish in Elmhurst while he was pastor 10 years ago.

Owen Hilding, co-coordinator of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel of Our Lady, Mother of the Eucharist at Visitation Parish, said “There’s no question it’s an overwhelming success.” The faith community has well over 400 registered adorers that have committed themselves to be present in the chapel for at least one hour during the 168 hours of the week. He said, “The beauty of it is that because these people have committed, they allow everyone to come in at anytime to receive the graces of God.”

Hilding also applauded the dedication of the adorers, who oftentimes find their own replacement without needing to contact one of the 30 adoration coordinators. Hilding also credited the Lord with providing enough manpower. He said, “God always sends us someone to fill our need.”

Additionally, Hilding proposed that successful adoration in every parish would bring about many more blessings. He said, “I truly believe we could solve the shortage of priests if everyone became an adorer.”

Many other parishes are also trying to offer the opportunity for eucharistic adoration, but it’s not always perpetual. Adoration is only offered once a month, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on the first Fridays of the month, at Immaculate Conception Parish in Braidwood. The members of the Mystical Rose presidium of the Legion of Mary sponsor the adoration by offering their time as adorers in their parish.

“It’s really been difficult to get people to come,” acknowledged Rosemary Cannon, president of the presidium. She attributed the lack of interest to two main reasons—a lack of the laity’s knowledge about the devotion and clergy support.

“In our world, everybody is looking for love in the wrong places. All we need is God,” commented Cannon. She said, in her experience, once people are informed of the blessings that can come from adoration, they become devoted and their lives improve. She added, “I really believe between eucharistic adoration and the rosary, the world is going to be turned around.”

Another clergyman showing his support for the devotion is Franciscan Father Gerald Schubert. The pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Wilton Center partakes in eucharistic adoration once a week. He said, “I have a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and I can’t ask the people to go for an hour if I don’t do it myself.”

Even though the faith community is fairly small—only about 150 families are registered—the devotion attracts others from the surrounding area and the devotion is important to maintain, he noted. He credited his dedicated parishioners with keeping up the devotion. He said, “The people that do come are very serious.”

“It’s not an easy thing to accomplish,” acknowledged Sharon Hoger. The parishioner of St. Patrick Parish said she has been spending time in the presence of the Lord since the faith community started adoration eight years ago. The parish once offered more often than just 8:30 a.m.-noon on Fridays, but a lack of interest has dwindled down the hours.

Hoger expressed her disappointment in the number of people who are missing the opportunity to spend time with the Lord. She values the time she has spent in adoration. She said, “Some of my closest moments to Jesus have been in front of Jesus.”