HIGH POINT — After a three-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration will return to the chapel at Pennybyrn retirement community on March 19, the eve of the Solemnity of St. Joseph.
“We are all very excited,” said Sister Lucy Hennessy, S.M.G., mission leader and chairperson of Pennybyrn’s board of directors. “When the chapel closed, it was devastating for people. We are all so happy about the return of Perpetual Adoration.”
After the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, the Blessed Sacrament will be taken in procession up the center aisle of the main chapel and then over to the Adoration Chapel to be officially enthroned, Sister Lucy said. Father James Solari, assisted by Deacon David King, will lead the Eucharistic Procession, Benediction and Divine Praises followed by silent prayer.
Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist by at least one person every hour of every day will then resume in the chapel.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapel closed March 14, 2020, after holding Perpetual Adoration for nearly 26 years – since the Feast of Corpus Christi on June 5, 1994. Re-recruiting people to commit one hour a week took time. Four coordinators worked hard to fill six-hour time periods for each day of the week and ultimately reached their pre-Easter goal.
A minimum of 168 people are needed to make Perpetual Adoration possible. However, having at least two adorers assigned to each hour is helpful for backup, making the preferred number of adorers 336. After coordinators’ efforts, there are now a record 219 people committed to Holy Hours. There are a good mix of new adorers and those who have committed to it for many years, Sister Lucy noted.
The Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, who serve at Pennybyrn, also spend time in Eucharistic Adoration early each morning.
“We want the faithful to come, too,” Sister Lucy said. “But the sisters are there if needed. We love it as much as they do.”
— Annie Ferguson