June 27, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com
OUR PARISHESI 5A
Pennybyrn marks 20 years of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Kathy Roach Correspondent
HIGH POINT — The feast of Corpus Christi was made more special this year at Pennybyrn at Maryfield. The feast day marked the 20th anniversary of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at the retirement community’s Maryfield Chapel. Father Fidel C. Melo, vicar of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte, celebrated Mass in the chapel, which was filled to capacity with local Catholics and Pennybyrn residents. Assisting at Mass was Deacon David King of High Point. After Mass, Knights of Columbus and children from Our Lady of Grace and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes helped lead a Eucharistic procession around the chapel’s rose garden, with Father Melo bearing the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. After Benediction, everyone gathered in Norcross Square for a reception. The four volunteer coordinators of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel – Edna Day, Betty Doyle, Edna Corrigan and Louise Kemp – were on hand to answer questions and provide information to prospective volunteers. Also in attendance was Anne Carr, one of the original volunteer coordinators at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Carr said the idea started with her friend Kelly Kellenbarger. They first met each other at Our Lady of the Highways Church in Thomasville, which had
Eucharistic Adoration but not every hour of every day. Kellenbarger, Carr and three other people wanted to start participating in Perpetual Adoration, but they did not know of a suitable place where Perpetual Adoration could be held. They asked Sister Lucy Hennessy, SMG, chairman of the board of nearby Pennybyrn at Maryfield, who agreed to establish Adoration in the retirement community’s Maryfield Chapel. The Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God opened Pennybyrn at Maryfield 67 years ago, and the community has grown into an extensive continuing care retirement home for people of all faiths. The Maryfield Chapel, and its longstanding offering of Perpetual Adoration, have become hallmarks of the sisters’ commitment to serving the people of God in the Triad area. The Perpetual Adoration Chapel addition was built in 1996. According to Carr, Kellenbarger did not like to take credit for starting the Adoration Chapel, instead pointing out, “I didn’t start it, God did.” “As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, we rejoice that in our chapel there is continuous prayer to the Lord day and night. This special celebration of our anniversary is one of many that reminds us that Christ is truly the center of our community,” Sister Hennessy said. “The constant flow of traffic to and from our chapel demonstrates that more and more people have been drawn to visit the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and that Perpetual Adoration has drawn people to a greater prayer life.”
Photos by Kathy Roach | Catholic News Herald
Father Fidel C. Melo carries the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament to lead a Eucharistic procession on the grounds of Pennybyrn at Maryfield June 22. Local children who recently received their first Holy Communion dropped rose petals along the procession route.
Show your love for our faithful servants The people of the Diocese of Charlotte have long been noted for our loyal support of the priests who have baptized and taught our children, preached the Gospel, officiated our weddings, celebrated the Eucharist, comforted us in our sufferings and heard our confessions. Through this campaign we, the parishioners they are happy to shepherd, will have the opportunity to return the favor for their faithful service, as well as help to ensure the future of our faith by educating future seminarians. To meet the anticipated needs of our retired priests and our seminarians, Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love will allocate $10 million to the Priest Retirement Trust Fund and $3 million to the Vocations and Seminarian Support Endowment.
Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love will provide a solid basis for responding to the immediate needs of your parish and key diocesan ministries that either directly or indirectly benefit parishes. Funds raised will help respond to the extraordinary growth experienced throughout our diocese, and address much-needed endowment security to prepare for the future, such as support for our retired and future clergy. The success of this effort will help us renew, strengthen and advance our diocese and parishes in the work of putting into action Jesus’ Gospel message of salvation.
Learn more about the campaign:
www.forwardfaithhopelove.org