Eucharistic Adoration: Putting Our Relationship with Jesus First

In Matthew Chapter 26, Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, before His crucifixion. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee fall asleep — Jesus asks them, “So, you could not keep watch with me for one hour?”

How fitting it is that we have the opportunity to keep watch with our Lord 24 hours per day, seven days a week here at Our Lady of Hope. Eucharistic Adoration means the Blessed Body of Christ is exposed in what’s called a monstrance. The Blessed Body of Christ cannot be left alone when exposed.

Thanks to a large group of committed adorers, or those who cover the same hour each week, we’ve been blessed with Eucharistic Adoration at Our Lady of Hope since 2005.

Joyce Schwenk is the coordinator for the chapel, helping with scheduling and filling in when needed. She and her late husband, Fred, were in a group that helped get adoration started. Joyce has committed to three hours per week since adoration began. She spends her time praying a Rosary and reading books from the Adoration Chapel library.

“I like to just sometimes sit there and take in the quiet,” she says. “It’s a safe place to go to be still.”

Jesus asked us to keep watch with him for an hour. Joyce asks that we all answer his request, and that parishioners commit to an hour per week. If that won’t work, consider becoming a substitute or just stopping in the chapel to spend time with Jesus when you can.

While it can be challenging to fill all the hours with committed adorers, Joyce admits God has taken care of the chapel all along. For those who need to miss their hour due to a vacation or a scheduling conflict, there are plenty of substitutes who are willing to help. Joyce also is happy to help.

“I really don’t know what I would do without adoration in my life,” Joyce says. “We need to make time for our Lord, not just at Sunday Mass.”

The blessings that Fred and Joyce received through adoration are many. When Fred was diagnosed with cancer, he went to his 2 a.m. adoration hour and asked that the Lord go lightly on him in terms of pain and sickness. Fred lived for four years after his diagnosis and didn’t deal with much pain. For Fred and Joyce, this was a miracle.

“In adoration, the Lord gives us hope and that’s what we need,” Joyce says. “We need a lot of hope right now and a lot of prayers for the world right now. You have to believe the Lord will answer your prayers. They may not be answered in the way you want, but He does answer them.” There is plenty of sanitizer, wipes, and spray, for those who want to make sure the chapel is safe and clean. The chapel is also kept clean during the week.

We have the opportunity to keep watch with our Lord 24 hours per day, seven days a week here at Our Lady of Hope.

To commit to an adoration hour, please contact Joyce Schwenk at schwenk2@nwcable.net or 812-698-1766.