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A soundproof room...inspirational reading...silent prayer...no interruptions...the presence of God: People are finding all of these as they participate in perpetual adoration of the Eucharist at Christ Our Light parish in Loudonville.

"People are hungry for contemplation in our busy world, and to be in communion with God," said Rev. David Noone, pastor. "This is the vehicle that allows a deeper relationship."

The Eucharist is at the center of Catholic faith. Eucharistic adoration takes place in every Mass in a communal sense, but individual adoration - prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, usually for an hour at a time - has also been practiced for centuries.

Christ Our Light is one of at least three sites in the Albany Diocese sponsoring perpetual adoration, meaning that people are present in the church 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (St. Augustine's parish in Troy and St. Ambrose in Latham also have perpetual adoration.)

Filling a need
"People are looking for eucharistic devotion as a means to develop their spiritual life," noted Kay Connolly, who coordinates the effort at Christ Our Light.

Father Noone said the idea of sponsoring perpetual adoration came with the 2009 merger of Our Lady of Mercy parish in Colonie and St. Francis de Sales in Loudonville to become Christ Our Light.

"There were strong feelings about the Eucharist and a desire to focus on the Eucharist," he recalled.

The newly-created parish sought permission from Bishop Howard J. Hubbard to host perpetual adoration, identified a space for it and recruited adorers.

Initially, there was concern about covering the 24/7 time slots: Father Noone explained that, with 168 hours in a week, and hoping for two adorers per hour, "we're talking about lots of people. But the results were surprising - and it is actively growing."

Volunteers who sign up for adoration during the night have access to the chapel via a security code. Rules for adoration state that the exposed host is never to be left alone and can only be handled by a priest or deacon.

If an adorer is not relieved at the end of a shift, he or she places a cover over the monstrance holding the host and the next volunteer uncovers it to resume adoration.

Host of volunteers
More than 200 participants from 19 parishes now cover the 'round-the-clock adoration schedule, Ms. Connolly said. They include married couples, singles, widows and widowers, women religious and prayer groups.

Many others drop in when they can. There is also a special hour on Saturdays for children to participate in adoration.

"People love to come spend quiet time and recharge their batteries," said parishioner Ray Cecot. "Our society is hustle-and-bustle, running here and there with the kids. Both parents are working. They look forward to time in the presence of the Lord."

Mr. Cecot is editor of "Adoration News," a quarterly newsletter that has sprung up to describe and update Christ Our Light's effort. The publication contains announcements, prayer needs and messages from Father Noone to the adorers.

Father Noone believes that perpetual adoration has been so successful at Christ Our Light because of many factors: a sense of ritual, the encouragement of fellow adorers, the commitment to be there at a specified time and the resulting peace and strengthened relationship with God.

Down-time
Volunteers "make a commitment to that hour to think and pray," he said. "This forces them to do something they want to do but don't make the time."

Perpetual adoration has also helped heal the difficulty of the parish merger, he said: "The lack of acceptance has diminished. The unease has dissipated."

Several other parishes in the Diocese sponsor adoration for First Friday devotions, night vigils or for special causes such as pro-life holy hours.

Walt Gartner is a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, but comes to Christ Our Light for perpetual adoration because he believes it's God's will: "If He wants it, that's enough for me."

(For information, call Kay Connolly, 459-2911, or email [email protected].)

(12/09/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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