St. Mary parish celebrates five years of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration

Sleepy Eye, MN - Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration has been going on for five years at St. Mary Parish, Sleepy Eye.

The parish took the first steps toward Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament approximately ten years ago. It started with 24-hour adoration on first Fridays of the month, beginning after the morning Mass. It wasn’t long when all 24 hours of every Friday were taken by adorers as well as those who stopped in for a short spontaneous prayer time away from their busy schedules. Some time later, Sundays through Thursdays (noon to 6:00 p.m.) became adoration time as well.

Through the guidance of Father John Richter, Perpetual Adoration plans began to materialize. With adoration 24 hours a day, every day, there was a need for an adoration chapel. With many dedicated parishioners, prayers, planning and work, the original chapel of the 1920 convent was restored. It was renamed The St. Francis Chapel in appreciation to the Sisters of St. Francis for their dedicated service to St. Mary’s Schools since 1883.

Now, with two "homes" in place for Jesus’ perpetual presence, (Divine Providence Community Home Chapel three days and nights and St. Francis Adoration Chapel four days and nights), the Apostolate for Perpetual Eucharist Adoration of Bensalem, PA was contacted for help. Father Victor Warkelwiz came to speak at all the Masses on a weekend, with the needed 375 parishioners signing up for their one-hour of adoration per week. It was stressed that the continued effort of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration had to be under the leadership and ministry of the parish laity. St. Mary Parish celebrated five years of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration on February 25, 2003.

As stated by St. Peter Julian Eymard: Through Eucharistic prayer, "society will once more become Christian, conquered for Jesus Christ."