The Gift of Eucharistic Adoration: Encountering Christ through Adoration Opportunities at Our Parish

On any given Tuesday or Thursday, people who stop by Our Lady of the Assumption and visit the chapel will be greeted by the devotion of Eucharistic Adoration. What began as simply an opportunity for parishioners to enter into quiet time with the Lord has now become a refuge from the chaos of some parishioners’ daily lives.

“I seek out adoration,” says Kimberly Sax, one of the parishioners that helped found our Eucharistic Adoration program. “The Mass is a beautiful place to engage our faith within our community, but I feel adoration is the time I am drawn into the significance of the Eucharist and grow spiritually. The host exposed in the monstrance is the Real Presence of Christ, and adoration is an opportunity for us to spend quiet time in utmost reverence and respect of our Lord.”

Adoration at OLA has been around for many years and is an experience about which all are invited to learn and even make a part of their schedule. After the 8 a.m. daily Mass on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Eucharist is exposed in the chapel until 7 p.m. Parishioners are welcome to stop by anytime or make a commitment to a particular day and time each week. Commitments can be made in one-hour or half-hour increments with Don Thamer, our current adoration coordinator.

“My wife and I began going to adoration regularly as a Lenten commitment many years ago,” Don says. “When we got to the end of Lent we realized it was such a good thing, so we continued going every week and continue to see the gifts in our lives from going.”

Anyone that visits adoration is welcome to sit quietly, read a book, pray the Rosary or Divine Office — whatever suits them to spend time with the Lord that day. No two adoration experiences are alike, and in that is some of the beauty of this gift of adoration.

“I remember hearing once the idea that Jesus is your friend, someone you ought to spend time with,” Don says. “I took that idea to heart and adoration is one of the best times each week for me to connect with Him and feel the Holy Spirit, even more than daily prayer.”

Adoration is also likened to the challenge of Jesus to the apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He was crucified. As we read in Matthew’s Gospel, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?” From then on, the apostles stayed awake and accompanied Christ on His journey to the crucifixion. Now we are given the chance to “keep watch” with our Lord and enter into the peace and stillness in His presence through the gift of adoration.

Ideally, each hour of adoration has at least two people present to stay with our Lord. Right now we have openings for various hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a second person to accompany our Lord and commit to weekly time with Him. Additionally, Don is always looking for people to be on the substitute list in case things come up and someone is unable to make their commitment.

“For anyone considering stopping by, please do,” Kimberly says. “Know you are always welcome — even if it’s 15 minutes of your day between errands to celebrate a joy in life or mourn a sorrow. Each time I go, I feel my burdens for this world lifted and draw closer to God. I want for all of us at OLA to consider making this a part of your regular schedule. You will be rejuvenated and filled with peace.”

Anyone interested in pledging to spend time with our Lord through a weekly adoration commitment is invited to call Don Thamer at 916-549-7195 to schedule a time. Appointments are not necessary for drop-in visits. Please join us for adoration when you are able.

Don and Mary Ellen Thamer

Darren and Kimberly Sax