Starting An Adoration Chapel Dave Engels engelsdasbcglobal net

Starting An Adoration Chapel Dave Engels engelsda@sbcglobal. net

Why Perpetual Adoration? • St Peter Chanel Parish Experience-parish life energized • Urged by Pope John Paul II for all parishes • Parish Spirituality: – “Mass attendance in my parish has increased noticeably on Sunday and during the week as a result of perpetual Eucharistic Adoration”-Most Rev Ruben Profugo, Bishop of Lucena, Philippines – “We had prostitution and drugs being sold right out in front of our church. When we took on Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, this all stopped. When our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar, crime leaves that area”-Fr. James Swenson, St Bridget Catholic Church, Las Vegas, Nevada – “It was not until 1973 when we began daily Hour that our community started to grow and blossom”- Mother Teresa of Calcutta – “Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in my parish produced both a steady influx of non-Catholics into our RCIA program, and a visible, practical spiritual growth among our parishioners”-Fr. Charles Fanelli, Pastor St. John Vianney Parish, Northlake Illinois

Objections to Perpetual Adoration at St Angela’s • “-Attendance at monthly Adoration is poor, given that, how can Perpetual Adoration succeed? ” – Answer: The distinction is commitment from participants, as opposed to the present ‘open house invitation’ • “-Not enough people in our parish would be willing to support Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration” – Answer: . As of October 2012 St Angela’s has 175 committed adorers and 30 ‘floaters’( who fill in when an adorer can’t make their time because of illness, vacation, Dr. appointment, etc). An estimated total of about 500 people come to adoration at St Angela’s every week. • “- It is not necessary to have exposition to have Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Jesus is just as present in the tabernacle!” – Answer: The difference between spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament exposed in a monstrance and spending time with Him in the tabernacle is the same as the difference between conversing with a friend face-to-face and conversing with them with a closed door between both of you.

Adoration Chapel At St. Angela Merici Church • The key is a commitment for one hour a week from adorers, as opposed to ‘come when you feel like it’ invitation to adoration • Adapt an existing parish room while formation is in process • At St. Dorothy’s it took six weeks to get formation completed. Then, seven years in a temporary chapel • Raising the funding for the present permanent chapel: “Not a problem at all”

Perpetual Adoration Chapel • St Dorothy Parish ( Glendora) experience: – Started Small ( converted storage room) – Adoration Community there over 7 years – Then Raised Funds ( “No Problem”) for permanent Adoration Chapel – In Operation Since 1991 – People Come ‘from many miles away to adore’ – Parish Spirituality-’Enormously Enhanced’

Adoration Chapel Organization • First, it has to be organized so as not to pose a big administrative burden on any one person • Second, it has to be organized so as not to pose additional administrative burden on pastor • Pastor has oversight always, and his wishes are to be honored always • Organization Suggestions Elsewhere On This Disk - Works very well at St. Angela’s

Starting Out: Adoration Days/Hours • Start Modestly, Then Expand As Experience Will Show – Carefully Consider • How Many Days per Week? • How Many Hours Each Day? • At St Angela’s: Mon-Friday 9 am-midnight ( 75 hours/week) has worked out well. We will consider expanding to Saturdays in 2013, then to 24/7 maybe in 5 years.

Getting Started • Initial Meeting With Pastor • Pastors are very busy. They are approached all the time with suggestions for new activities & ministries. • Expect Reluctance- Convince him that this is a lay movement and that lay people will do all the work. Convince him that you are there for the long haul. • Expect Reluctance- The Pastor has to request Bishop’s permission to do this…. he has to be convinced this is real and that later on he will not have to tell the Bishop it fizzled. • Show Pastor your plan for organization & staffing ( contained in this CD) • Pastor meets with Bishop, Gets Bishop’s Approval – You are on your way!!!!

Getting Started (cont’d) • EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: – Pastors have individual attitudes towards Adoration. – Don’t be surprised if he is reluctant – Above all: • Do NOT, under any circumstances attempt to ‘browbeat’ or ‘push’ your pastor on this. He may turn you off if you do. • Be enthusiastic, convince him you are serious about this and that you won’t disappear once initial enthusiasm dies off. • Show him your plans ( this briefing, and other plans on this CD)

Getting Started (cont’d): • At All Masses, Priests Begin to Preach About Perpetual Adoration (or talk given during announcements by lay person. Sample talks are included on this CD) • Announcements Put In Bulletin For Signups • Then, At Kickoff Weekend, Preach at all Weekend Masses. Signup slips in pews. • Signup Slips Collected and Put Into Data Base & ‘holes’ in the Schedule(ie 5 day/week or 24/7 or a different schedule) are Identified • Then, Pastor letter to ministries; then speakers address St. Angela Ministries for signups • It took St. Dorothy’s six weeks after initial ‘Signup Sunday’ weekend to get enough signups • Then, telephone committee contacts each signup and gets commitment for day/hour they are to adore. List of backups prepared • Adoration begins.

How Many Adorers Are Needed? Mon-Fri; 9 am-Midnight Scenario • 5 Days/Week & 15 hours/day 75 adorers required • BUT: There will be occasional absences ( Dr. visits, illness, vacations, etc) also adorers will drop out because of schedule changes, move away, illness, etc. • Best to plan for 2 or more adorers per time slot and a number of ‘floaters’ to fill in temporary absences. • Adorers needed: • • 75 times 2 = 150 plus 20 floaters = 170 adorers Adoration Committee ( see Organization Folder) 10 Total: 180 Adorers This is what we have at St Angela’s and works very well.

How Many Adorers Are Needed? (24/7 Adoration) • • • Adorers: 1 each hour of week (min): 168 Backups: 8 per day: 7 x 8= 56 Data Base Maintainers: 2 Phone Committee: 3 Four Division Leaders: 4 Adoration Chapel Coordinator: 1 Assistant Chapel Coordinator 1 ____ Total Required (minimum): 235

24/7: Can We Get That Many? • St. Angela’s: 3200 Registered Families – Approx 6400 Adult Catholics • If 4% (1 out of 25) become adorers: 256 adorers – More than enough “If You Build It, They Will Come”

Looking At It Another Way: • There About 45 Ministries At St Angelas Who Can Be Approached For Signups • 5. 2 Signups from each would do it • Knights of Columbus, probably 15 -20 signups This definitely is do-able!!

Organizations Dedicated To Assisting Parishes Starting Perpetual Adoration • • • Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament-(Startup Materials, posters, pamphlets) PO Box 1701 Plattsburgh, NY, 12901 Ph: 518 -561 -8193 www. acfp 2000. com • • Apostolate for Perpetual Adoration-(Startup Materials, posters, pamphlets, etc) PO Box 46502 Mt. Clemens, Michigan, 48046 -5602 Ph: 313 -949 -9156

Open Questions • What hours/days should we strive for? • 24/7? • 9 am-midnight? • How to approach the 45 Parish Ministries for support? • How to approach the Spanish Speaking Community? • Where will the Adoration Chapel be located? – Temporary Site OK – St Dorothy’s Was in Converted Supply Room for 7 years, after which they had “no problem’ raising funds for permanent Adoration Chapel

• With Our Lord’s Blessing and the Holy Spirit, • We can do it!!!

And, Above All, Pray, Pray!!!!!