My Priest is getting rid of our Adoration Chapel

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FraPio

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Our Bishop here in NJ recently reassigned our priest that we have had for a number of years, who was well liked.

Now his replacement has decided to get rid of the Adoration Chapel and replace it with a small office to sell Mass Cards and etc.

A number of the members of our Parish met inside the Chapel to prayer the Rosary and implore our new Priest not to do this.

I recently quit the Evangelization Committee because our administration refused to hold a monthly Eucharistic Adoration (one of the reasons mentioned was that it would cost a lot of money to turn the lights on for an extra hour each month.)

I am at a lost as to what to do. Part of me wants to leave this parish – but I am fearful that will put a major dent in my Mass attendance.
 
These are such difficult times for parishes all over. In our area we had several merging, and our parish partnered with another. We share a priest. This priest has a parish that has two other parishes that merged with it.

I was just saying the other day, how difficult that it is to deal with all of this change. We really miss our pastor, too. Our former pastor has retired due to ailing health. Our new priest is overwhelmed, and the parishioners must adapt to all this change as well. However, we must all work together.

Do you have another adoration chapel that is nearby? We may be losing our weekly adoration day. If that happens, I will attend another adoration chapel that is only a 10 minute drive for me. Hopefully, you have another one close by for you, if you lose your adoration chapel.
 
I don’t drive and the only other Adoration Chapel is in another town.

I sometimes go online and view a live feed of other Adoration Chapel’s and prayer that way.

It just feels like the spirit of my parish is waning, finances are getting in the way of tradition and Godliness (in my opinion)

There just has to be a better way to raise money.
 
FraPio said:
Our Bishop here in NJ recently reassigned our priest that we have had for a number of years, who was well liked.

Now his replacement has decided to get rid of the Adoration Chapel and replace it with a small office to sell Mass Cards and etc.

A number of the members of our Parish met inside the Chapel to prayer the Rosary and implore our new Priest not to do this.

I recently quit the Evangelization Committee because our administration refused to hold a monthly Eucharistic Adoration (one of the reasons mentioned was that it would cost a lot of money to turn the lights on for an extra hour each month.)

I am at a lost as to what to do. Part of me wants to leave this parish – but I am fearful that will put a major dent in my Mass attendance.
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Is there another room somewhere on the parish properties that might be suitable, if this current room is identified for another purpose? Or, are there certain times during the week when the church itself might be opened for prayer?

Try to refer to your current priest as “our pastor” rather than someone’s replacement. Be grateful your parish has an Evangelization Committee, most parishes have nothing like this.
I hope you, and like minded adorers and evangelism types, try hard to win over the priest. Who knows, maybe in his last parish he found those people to be kinda demanding, wanting recognition but refusing to volunteer for mundane jobs.

I sympathize with your position which I myself have been in. Pray, not just to change the pastor or parish leaders’ minds, but that God’s will be done, whether you like it or not. That kind of humility, and offering to take out the garbage, etc, may win over people.
 
FraPio said:
Our Bishop here in NJ recently reassigned our priest that we have had for a number of years, who was well liked.

Now his replacement has decided to get rid of the Adoration Chapel and replace it with a small office to sell Mass Cards and etc.

A number of the members of our Parish met inside the Chapel to prayer the Rosary and implore our new Priest not to do this.

I recently quit the Evangelization Committee because our administration refused to hold a monthly Eucharistic Adoration (one of the reasons mentioned was that it would cost a lot of money to turn the lights on for an extra hour each month.)

I am at a lost as to what to do. Part of me wants to leave this parish – but I am fearful that will put a major dent in my Mass attendance.
Click to expand...
Do I understand correctly that you were denied a monthly adoration but had an adoration chapel? I’m not sure I follow that…
 
commenter said:
Is there another room somewhere on the parish properties that might be suitable, if this current room is identified for another purpose? Or, are there certain times during the week when the church itself might be opened for prayer?

Try to refer to your current priest as “our pastor” rather than someone’s replacement. Be grateful your parish has an Evangelization Committee, most parishes have nothing like this.
I hope you, and like minded adorers and evangelism types, try hard to win over the priest. Who knows, maybe in his last parish he found those people to be kinda demanding, wanting recognition but refusing to volunteer for mundane jobs.

I sympathize with your position which I myself have been in. Pray, not just to change the pastor or parish leaders’ minds, but that God’s will be done, whether you like it or not. That kind of humility, and offering to take out the garbage, etc, may win over people.
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This is great advice. I will add that one can also practice Nocturnal Adoration, that is , night adoration in the home. This is something that was being promoted by Pius XI in 1929. Just call to mind Jesus Presence in the Eucharist and recite your prayers of adoration from your home. You could also adore Jesus Eucharistic Presence in Spirit in any place in the world where He is neglected or forgotten- maybe right in your own parish. Pray for your pastor and pray to Your Blessed Mother for Adoration to be returned to your parish.
 
You mention a monthly Adoration at your chapel.Is the room actually a dedicated 24 hour chapel? Or is it a room where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for a certain day per month?
 
FraPio said:
Our Bishop here in NJ recently reassigned our priest that we have had for a number of years, who was well liked.

Now his replacement has decided to get rid of the Adoration Chapel and replace it with a small office to sell Mass Cards and etc.

A number of the members of our Parish met inside the Chapel to prayer the Rosary and implore our new Priest not to do this.

I recently quit the Evangelization Committee because our administration refused to hold a monthly Eucharistic Adoration (one of the reasons mentioned was that it would cost a lot of money to turn the lights on for an extra hour each month.)

I am at a lost as to what to do. Part of me wants to leave this parish – but I am fearful that will put a major dent in my Mass attendance.
Click to expand...
I was part of a lay group who started Perpetual Adoration for the three parishes in our town. The trick to get approval was to tell the three pastors that we would take care of everything.

We had found a chapel that was attached to a nursing home. Maybe there is another place where you could have Eucharistic Adoration. Even a large room in some facility could be used with the permission of your Bishop. This was done in another City.

Check with the power company as to the actual cost of an extra hour of light and heat. Our chapel had a donation box on a small table which took care of everything including the candles. Maybe candles would be enough light depending on windows. Be sure to have someone responsible for the candles.

This idea may or may not be proper depending on your parish. Compile a list of Adorers and their guests. There could be a register book near the door. The intention would be to demonstrate how many parishioners and outsiders take part in Eucharistic Adoration at some point in time. Count children. Another idea is to demonstrate that Eucharistic Adoration can strengthen the parish because participants are on this or that committee or are grounds keepers, janitors, choir members, ushers etc. If you have the Knights of Columbus, they could come as a group for a special hour of prayer. Our country needs prayer.

We had a bulletin board where people posted intentions for prayers. They also posted prayers granted. One of the first special graces of Eucharistic Adoration was the conversion of a husband. Another miracle was when a young soldier somehow knew to drive his truck off the road. Doing this, he missed being in a road bomb explosion. And yes, his family are participants in Eucharistic Adoration.

If you have a diocesan paper, check for stories about Eucharistic Adoration. Check stories about Corpus Christi. The point is to present the power of Eucharistic Adoration.

I would suggest using the above plus your (name removed by moderator)ut as a special report to the Pastor. The binder could have a picture of the Good Shepherd with these words “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11: 28-30

One last idea is to celebrate the beginning of Eucharistic Adoration. How many years? Have a party. And give the Pastor some kind of small gift in recognition of his work in the parish.

And do continue your prayers. If you have questions, I will do my best to answer.

Blessings,
granny
 
grannymh said:
I was part of a lay group who started Perpetual Adoration for the three parishes in our town. The trick to get approval was to tell the three pastors that we would take care of everything.

We had found a chapel that was attached to a nursing home. Maybe there is another place where you could have Eucharistic Adoration. Even a large room in some facility could be used with the permission of your Bishop. This was done in another City.

Check with the power company as to the actual cost of an extra hour of light and heat. Our chapel had a donation box on a small table which took care of everything including the candles. Maybe candles would be enough light depending on windows. Be sure to have someone responsible for the candles.

This idea may or may not be proper depending on your parish. Compile a list of Adorers and their guests. There could be a register book near the door. The intention would be to demonstrate how many parishioners and outsiders take part in Eucharistic Adoration at some point in time. Count children. Another idea is to demonstrate that Eucharistic Adoration can strengthen the parish because participants are on this or that committee or are grounds keepers, janitors, choir members, ushers etc. If you have the Knights of Columbus, they could come as a group for a special hour of prayer. Our country needs prayer.

We had a bulletin board where people posted intentions for prayers. They also posted prayers granted. One of the first special graces of Eucharistic Adoration was the conversion of a husband. Another miracle was when a young soldier somehow knew to drive his truck off the road. Doing this, he missed being in a road bomb explosion. And yes, his family are participants in Eucharistic Adoration.

If you have a diocesan paper, check for stories about Eucharistic Adoration. Check stories about Corpus Christi. The point is to present the power of Eucharistic Adoration.

I would suggest using the above plus your (name removed by moderator)ut as a special report to the Pastor. The binder could have a picture of the Good Shepherd with these words “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11: 28-30

One last idea is to celebrate the beginning of Eucharistic Adoration. How many years? Have a party. And give the Pastor some kind of small gift in recognition of his work in the parish.

And do continue your prayers. If you have questions, I will do my best to answer.

Blessings,
granny
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:clapping:👍
 
FraPio said:
Our Bishop here in NJ recently reassigned our priest that we have had for a number of years, who was well liked.

Now his replacement has decided to get rid of the Adoration Chapel and replace it with a small office to sell Mass Cards and etc.

A number of the members of our Parish met inside the Chapel to prayer the Rosary and implore our new Priest not to do this.

I recently quit the Evangelization Committee because our administration refused to hold a monthly Eucharistic Adoration (one of the reasons mentioned was that it would cost a lot of money to turn the lights on for an extra hour each month.)

I am at a lost as to what to do. Part of me wants to leave this parish – but I am fearful that will put a major dent in my Mass attendance.
Click to expand...
I don’t understand why you would leave your parish if that would result in hampering your ability to attend Mass. Many of my parishioners have attended Mass elsewhere when daily Mass was near their work or when a parent was unwell and so they attended Mass in the parent’s parish rather than their own…but to stop attending your own parish when that is where you normally attend all Masses is only harming yourself.

While I think perpetual exposition chapels can be a real aid to the spiritual life, my holy hours personally are always before the reserved Sacrament…not the Sacrament exposed. Jesus is Jesus…whether He is in a ciborium or pyx inside the tabernacle or in the monstrance…
 
Cor_ad_Cor said:
Do I understand correctly that you were denied a monthly adoration but had an adoration chapel? I’m not sure I follow that…
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that confused me as well unless the OP meant Eucharistic Adoration in the church once a month for all parishoners.
 
The Adoration Chapel is open from about 7am until 8pm each day.

The goal of the Monthly Holy Hour was to get a group together (12-24 people) to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, it met resistance from the Administration of my parish some said “What would we pray for.” others said it would be too much money.

I should note that members of the KoC, Rosary Society our local Sisters were willing to attend (even weekly).

However the Monthly Holy Hour never took off, but at least their was the Adoration Chapel.

Now their won’t be neither.

I just feel like the my parish is spiritually dying (financial issues, low attendance)

In my opinion had we done the Monthly Holy Hour (it possibly was going to include Confessions too) it would had lifted our parish up. Not only that but Tim Francis (idk if some of you are familiar with him) was willing to come and speak to our parish for 2 nights. The parish council never got around to approving it and the opportunity went away.

It’s just a pretty sad state of affairs.
 
FraPio said:
The Adoration Chapel is open from about 7am until 8pm each day.

The goal of the Monthly Holy Hour was to get a group together (12-24 people) to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, it met resistance from the Administration of my parish some said “What would we pray for.” others said it would be too much money.

I should note that members of the KoC, Rosary Society our local Sisters were willing to attend (even weekly).

However the Monthly Holy Hour never took off, but at least their was the Adoration Chapel.

Now their won’t be neither.

I just feel like the my parish is spiritually dying (financial issues, low attendance)

In my opinion had we done the Monthly Holy Hour (it possibly was going to include Confessions too) it would had lifted our parish up. Not only that but Tim Francis (idk if some of you are familiar with him) was willing to come and speak to our parish for 2 nights. The parish council never got around to approving it and the opportunity went away.

It’s just a pretty sad state of affairs.
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Normally, I do not engage these sorts of threads. As a priest, I do not try to second-guess priests who are on-site…or the bishop who has given them their pastoral assignments.

I have to wonder if one of the issues, however, is that there are not enough people coming – actually coming, not simply signed up – to assure coverage. If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, it is never to be left unattended.

While I appreciate the good will of the poster who said above that, in their situation, the laity would commit to seeing to everything, the reality always was, as the parish priest, that I was the one ultimately responsible before God and before the Bishop, precisely because I held the mandate of parish priest. I was also the one living on site, which meant I was the one dealing with issues going wrong…and the one most aware of what was wrong.

Some times, it required re-stimulating a perpetual adoration program that was waning. Other times, frankly, it meant making the determination – which some people really did not like – that the programme was simply no longer viable. It could for many reasons.

If your parish is facing diminishing attendance and diminishing revenues, the parish may not be sustainable.
 
Give your priest a copy of the book In Sinu Jesu

The book urges priests to become adorers. It’s a beautiful read for lay people, too.

There should be more opportunities for adoration, not fewer.
 
FraPio said:
I am at a lost as to what to do. Part of me wants to leave this parish – but I am fearful that will put a major dent in my Mass attendance.
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That would be cutting off your nose to spite your face. Might I suggest you find a time to go to the Sanctuary when the doors are open for your time of adoration. That is an option available to those that do not have the resources for perpetual adoration.
 
Don’t the documents of Vatican II call for Adoration Chapels? If so present this documentation. I thought this was the reason the tabernacles were removed from directly behind the altar, something which is being restored in many dioceses. A parish should really have both a tabernacle behind directly the altar and an Adoration Chapel.
 
pnewton said:
That would be cutting off your nose to spite your face. Might I suggest you find a time to go to the Sanctuary when the doors are open for your time of adoration. That is an option available to those that do not have the resources for perpetual adoration.
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It’s not a question of perpetual adoration, the plan is to remove the Adoration Chapel completely. There would be no more chapel.

We pray the rosary in this chapel before Mass, we have a Communion Service once a week there as well. The tabernacle has doors that you can open and close to do adoration whenever you wish.

Without the chapel their will be no adoration at all except the 40 hours we do once a year.
 
FraPio said:
It’s not a question of perpetual adoration, the plan is to remove the Adoration Chapel completely. There would be no more chapel.

We pray the rosary in this chapel before Mass, we have a Communion Service once a week there as well. The tabernacle has doors that you can open and close to do adoration whenever you wish.

Without the chapel their will be no adoration at all except the 40 hours we do once a year.
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Surely then the tabernacle will still be in the sanctuary then. Then wherever the Eucharist is reserved, one can still have personal adoration. Opening the doors is not needed to be in the presence of the Lord.

Is the priest going to allow the communion service to be held in the Church?
 
FraPio said:
Our Bishop here in NJ recently reassigned our priest that we have had for a number of years, who was well liked.

Now his replacement has decided to get rid of the Adoration Chapel and replace it with a small office to sell Mass Cards and etc.
Click to expand...
It appears to me that the real issue is to find a place to sell Mass Cards.

How big is the lobby? Is there a gathering place?

Seventy years ago, my parents and their friends decided it was time to “Put Christ back into Christmas” by ordering Christ-- cards in the small Church lobby. Then this group decided it was time to get good Catholic books into the hands of parishioners. They had a cart with book shelves which they pulled into the lobby on Sunday.

I would think there would be more “customers” in a Church lobby. If there is a gathering place, once a month, there could be a display of rosaries, statues etc. The items could be borrowed from a local Christian store. The key to this is to have an organized group, maybe the Knights of Columbus, be responsible for the nitty-gritty details. Our Knights will sponsor a breakfast as a way of being a community. Eucharistic Adoration feeds out souls.

As a last resort, share space with the “office”. Normally, when one needs to have a Mass said, one goes to the parish office. Not sure how to put my argument into words.
If the Pastor’s idea is that this Adoration space will attract more parishioners, then have it open during Holy Mass. Folding tables can be used. Attendance at the Sunday Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the priority so during that period, technically the area can be used for something else.

If any of the above is possible, every detail or possible detail has to be completely worked out before presentation. For example, the Knights or members of another group could volunteer to be present in the “store”. However, I would strongly advise closing this store during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has to be primary. Many years ago, there was some opposition to Eucharistic Adoration. One concern was that Eucharistic Adoration would draw people away from Holy Mass.

We had a committee which took care of all the stuff connected with Eucharistic Adoration. When there was a problem, we would spend time, as a group, in Eucharistic Adoration. Go talk to the Good Shepherd now.

Blessings,
granny
 
O Sacrament most holy.
O Sacrament Divine.
All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.
 
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