The History of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at. Holy Family Catholic Church

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1 The History of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Family Catholic Church

2 In 1991 Virginia Leopold and several prayer groups requested Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Family for the special intention of Respect Life.

3 Monsignor Harte agreed to all night Eucharistic Adoration on the first Friday of every month ending with Mass and Benediction on Saturday morning.

4 The first adorers were from Our Lady of Fatima's Blue Army, Holy Spirit Prayer Group, Legion of Mary, and the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart Program.

5 In 1993 Bishop Dorsey asked each parish to have Eucharistic Adoration every Friday in honor of Orlando s 25 th year as a diocese.

6 One year later Father Ennis agreed to having Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Family. Father O Holohan became the spiritual advisor.

7 Virginia became the coordinator with the support of Carol LaRosa, Anna Long, Marlene Mauro and Karen Walls as division leaders.

8 Art Cruz made signs and people committed to holy hours until every hour of the day was covered. 250 parishioners participated

9 Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration began on May 22, 1994, on Pentecost Sunday. The Blessed Sacrament was placed in the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadelupe in the old church.

10 Articles were published in local newspapers to announce Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Family Catholic Church.

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13 Adoration was relocated to the Administration Bldg., while the new church was being built. Later, the Blessed Sacrament was returned to the Chapel.

14 During this time of transition for the Blessed Sacrament, Fr. O Holohan had a dream. He dreamt that one day Jesus would have His own chapel reserved solely for adoration.

15 After the rosary each morning, Virginia prayed aloud for the intention of the chapel. Emily King heard her and asked, I hear you praying for this chapel, but what else are you doing about it?

16 Emily talked to Father Ennis about donating the chapel in honor of her deceased husband, James. The construction began in 1999.

17 It was decided the chapel would be named the Divine Mercy Chapel. Audrey Sanders was commissioned to paint an image of Jesus in Divine Mercy to hang in the foyer.

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19 Thanks to the Holy Spirit, Fr. Ennis, Fr. O Holohan, Emily King, Virginia Leopold and the faithful adorers, the Divine Mercy Chapel was dedicated on September 3, 2000.

20 In 1998 Anna Long became the second coordinator of PEA and served for the next six years.

21 With the expansion of the church and the construction of the Parish Life Center, the Chapel was moved to its present location.

22 In 2004 Nancy Harnish became the third and current coordinator of PEA. Of the original team Virginia Leopold and Marlene Mauro are still serving the Lord as division leaders. Tony and Beth Schiesz and Lucretia Head became the replacements for Carol LaRosa and Karen Walls.

23 There are now 332 adorers who have a holy hour each week and some have more than one. Holy Family Catholic Church is the only parish in the Orlando diocese with Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. There are only two parishes in the state of Florida that have PEA.

24 St. John Vianney once asked a man who sat quietly for hours before the Blessed Sacrament what he was doing. The man replied, I do not know. I look at Him and He looks at me, and we are happy together.

25 In the words of John Paul II from the encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia, The Church draws her life from the Eucharist.

26 Praise the Lord! for 15 years of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Holy Family Catholic Church.