After the dedication of Saint Monica Catholic Church, and the attached adoration chapel, on July 14, 2000, in Edmond, a small group of parishioners along with then-Father Anthony Taylor, took a huge leap of faith and began the perpetual adoration program. Within the first weekend, more than 400 people signed up for one hour a week. The result has been 23 years of non-stop adoration with more than 400,000 hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Cece Dan has been the adoration coordinator for the past four years and ensures there are two adorers with the Blessed Sacrament for 168 hours per week.
“In addition to my personal time in adoration, I spend about three to four hours each week making sure adorers are in place with phone calls and e-mails. Many churches were closed during COVID. However, thanks to our high school age parishioners, who were out of school, and therefore able to help fill hours when parishioners were unable to attend, we were able to keep adoration going. The youth really came through for us!” Dan said.
“The program started with Father Anthony Taylor and required a tremendous commitment by the parish members 23 years ago. That commitment continued under former pastors, and especially under the present pastor, Father Stephen Hamilton. He has shown a tremendous influence and commitment to the program,” Dan said.
Dan also urges other parishes to take the next step, take the leap of faith and go in all the way. She said the graces will flow for the parishioners and the parish.
Aimee Ryan and her husband attend the one hour 3 a.m. shift each week. Ryan started this program nine years ago, after completing cancer treatment.
“Greg and I had so much to be grateful for and adoration is the perfect opportunity to thank God for his love and this real presence in the Holy Eucharist and in our lives! Over the years, my time in adoration has focused on seeking God’s will in a particular matter, learning more about him through different books or materials and often it’s just deep, focused prayer. Adoration is necessary now more than ever. The consolation it provides is a great grace that I see in our marriage, our family and our church!” Ryan said.
Ryan said, many people were concerned about going to church during COVID but added that adoration was “easy” and so necessary during that trying time.
Becky Goza calls herself a “baby Catholic” as she entered the Church on Easter in 2022. She has fully immersed herself in the Blessed Sacrament Adoration Program at Saint Monica Catholic Church.
“Adoration has really helped me to grow in my relationship with Christ. It is a chance to praise God, and most important, it has really helped me develop spiritually,” Goza said. “Saint Mother Teresa is quoted as saying, ‘when you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now.’ I really love that quote. Maybe that is why you see so many people at adoration tearing up, including me.”
There are opportunities to take part in perpetual adoration at other locations in the archdiocese such as Holy Innocents’ Adoration Chapel in Warr Acres and Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond.
“You will get much more out of adoration than what you put into it,” Goza said.
Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: St. Monica Catholic Church adoration chapel. Photo provided.