Janice L. Semmel/CATHOLIC SUN

Parishes begin long awaited perpetual adoration

A solemn eucharistic procession made its way through a parish neighborhood south of downtown Phoenix last month as a means of heralding long-awaited news.

A new perpetual adoration chapel, just under a year in the making, opened June 13 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish on the feast day of its patron saint.

Neighboring Catholics from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish also joined in the celebration. It included an evening, bilingual Mass with Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, a blessing and dedication as well as a potluck fiesta.

Perpetual adoration began at 10 p.m.

It was very important to have a person well respected in the Church come and initiate this perpetual adoration, said Catalina Noriega, perpetual adoration coordinator. It means a lot to the church for the parishioners to see Bishop Olmsted that close, not through a newspaper or TV. She also recognized the involvement and supportive role as a priest of Fr. Labrado Godinez Rivera, IVE, of Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Noriega estimates almost 800 people signed up for perpetual adoration with most hours covered by at least one person, but she still needs 300-400 more volunteers to ensure each hour has at least two people. She explains the hardest times to fill fall between midnight and 5 a.m. because it is difficult to get up during the night and parishioners work during the day.

Volunteers continue to trickle in though with Catholics signing up as late as the night before the adoration chapel opened. Dolores Segovia, group leader, fills in where needed

With the immigration issue we lost about half, so we are re-signing up volunteers and ministry groups will come in to help,” Segovia said.

Some 25-30 members of the parish’s Encounter of Youth Promotion committed to regular time in the adoration chapel. They plan to spend time in prayer together.

The group Encounter of Youth Promotion committed 25 to 30 people to help with perpetual adoration, says . He says the group plans what days to come, and they use it as a group activity.

“First heard of it (perpetual adoration) last year and glad it is here now,” said Gilberto Arciniega, the leader of the group. “My parents started coming to the meetings and signed up to be adorers. Great blessings for our community to have it here 24/7. Anytime you can come in and spend with the Lord is good.”

“I want to say how grateful I am for all of these great sacrifices to make this chapel of adoration possible,” said Bishop Olmsted. “Thanks to all of you who have made this possible, but especially thank you for your great devotion for Christ the Eucharist.  For your desire to create here for the needs of all of our people and for the growth of the kingdom of God.”

The procession returned to St. Anthony to participate in a fiesta filled with music, dancing and food brought by the parishioners.

“It has been a great blessing for us here at St. Anthony to have perpetual adoration,” said Fr. Librado. “Very many blessings to St. Anthony and the Diocese of Phoenix.”