November 20, 2009
Perpetual Adoration
Chapel at Holy Redeemer brings change to parish
Adorers kneel and pray at the Holy Redeemer Perpetual Adoration Chapel in Evansville, which opened on the Feast of All Souls, Nov. 1. Over 450 people have signed up as regular hourly adorers or as substitutes, using a sophisticated computer system developed in Washington, Ind. Materials and labor were donated for the chapel, in what was once the garage of an early parish rectory. (Message photo by Paul R. Leingang) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
It was once a garage, then a place for pre-school kids. It was a library, and then a room for quilters. Since Nov. 1, the former garage is now a Perpetual Adoration Chapel. And Father Paul Ferguson is convinced that the perpetual presence of the Blessed Sacrament has brought about a much larger change in the parish.
“Never empty,” said Father Paul Ferguson. The chapel, dedicated to St. John Vianney on the Feast of All Saints, always has three to eight people in it, day and night, all of the time.
“That’s what they mean by perpetual adoration,” he said.
Three weeks before the scheduled dedication, Father Ferguson and Cecelia Philips put out a sign-up sheet. And the response?
“Amazing” is the only word that seems appropriate. More than 500 people are on the list to cover the 168 hours in a week. Of the total number who signed up, 277 are substitutes who can be called on to fill in any hour needed.
All the regulars and the substitutes are tracked on a computer, using software designed by Todd Hammer of Washington, Ind., where it is also used by Our Lady of Hope.
A touch screen makes sign-in simple. Helping manage the system are coordinators for each of the 24 hours in a day, and two division leaders for each six-hour segment of a day.
“The people here have taken ownership of it,” said Philips.
“Holy Redeemer has a lot of programs that need the pastor on staff,” said Father Ferguson. “But this comes from Jesus,” he said, and this is the parish vision, “to be a Eucharistic people.”
All the labor to build the chapel was donated. All the materials to fit it out and to furnish it — at least $10,000 worth — were donated.
Some minor work was still underway in the first days of the chapel, but the project was accomplished quickly soon after Father Ferguson gave the go-ahead earlier this year.
Philips helped bring together 15 people on a commmittee back in May. She told them the only requirements were to be “passionate about perpetual adoration, with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm” and that they themselves would have to be perpetual adorers.
“We almost had a committee too big,” she said.
“We were really tested,” she believes, not mentioning the devil by name but clearly seeing the presence of the evil one trying to “distract or dissuade us.” Obstacles included a broken bone, a case of identity theft and an illness in a family. But despite it all, everything went “really smooth.”
Both Philips and her pastor are convinced that perpetual adoration has already made a difference in the mood and spirit of the parish.
Having “the love of the Eucharist, the love of God, being in front of Jesus is the connection that brings us together,” said Father Ferguson. “It is the peace and the joy that comes from seeing Jesus face to face.”
“Things are different,” Philips said. “A page has been turned. Everybody is more joyful, everybody wears a smile on their face.”
Philips added that blessings have already come to the parish and to the families, and Father Ferguson is convinced the chapel will bring blessings to all of Evansville and the entire diocese.
Parishioners and others may submit prayer requests, and the adorers always pray for what has been requested. Another booklet is used to record the prayers that have been answered and the favors that have been received.
The chapel is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. A security system allows registered adorers access at all times.