By Anne Marie Amacher
DAVENPORT — Anyone interested in deepening a relationship with Jesus and having a regular time of prayer in the quiet is encouraged to sign up for eucharistic adoration.
Beth Budelier of Quad City Perpetual Adoration at Sacred Heart Cathedral said people are encouraged to take an hour each week, if not more, for adoration in the cathedral’s St. Margaret Chapel. “If people are interested in taking an hour they shouldn’t be discouraged because they’ll occasionally have to miss. We all have to miss sometime.”
Budelier said there are always two people praying each hour to provide a built-in back-up system so the Blessed Sacrament is never left alone. There is also a list of substitutes who are available to fill in if someone cannot make the designated hour.
Adorers, those who pray in the presence of the Lord exposed in the monstrance, come from various parishes throughout Scott County, Budelier said. During their hour, adorers might recite their favorite prayer, read the Bible, contemplate acts of faith, hope, charity, thanksgiving and reparation, recite the rosary or engage in another form of prayerful devotion. “You can just sit and say nothing, simply keeping (Jesus) company,” she said.
Father Rich Adam, the cathedral’s pastor, and its former pastor, Bishop Robert Gruss, now bishop of Rapid City, S.D., have been supportive of adoration at the cathedral.
“Ideally, every parish would have perpetual adoration 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Budelier said. She thinks Sacred Heart Cathedral has the best setup for perpetual adoration, which is appropriate because it’s the diocesan cathedral.
Bob Hammill, who has been active in QC Perpetual Adoration for 10 years, said, “It’s relaxing, quiet time with the Lord. It’s amazing what it’s done for me.”
He said it’s not easy to describe the feeling he gets during adoration, but the Lord will answer him in different ways.
Hammill said he used to take a list of written prayers with him for his one hour each day. But someone once suggested, “Why not shut up and listen.” And he did. The adoration chapel “is the only place I think God talks to me. I just ‘shut up and listen.’”
Adorer Bill Grothus of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf said, “Outside of the Mass, adoration is the best time of my week.”
Adorers have designated hours for special purposes, Budelier noted. The World Apostolate of Fatima/Blue Army rosary is prayed after the 4 p.m. Mass (about 5 p.m.) each Saturday and is led by Mary Costello, Geri Henninger and Denise DeAnda. The last Saturday of each month Vito Spadafino leads praise and worship music in the chapel from 8-9 p.m. And every Sunday from 9-10 p.m., the “Children of America” gather in the chapel to say prayers for our nation. This hour is led by Jill Kluver and Jeanne Wonio.
For more information on becoming an adorer on a regular basis or as a substitute, visit www.qcperpetualadoration.com or email qcperpetualadoration@yahoo.com. Other contacts include Jean Willadsen at (563) 441-0582 or dwilladsen@netexpress.net; Bill Grothus at (563) 332-7180 or billgrothus@afo.com; or Bob Hammill at (563) 391-8840 or 1943rah@gmail.com.
Individuals are welcome to visit the chapel during adoration hours for prayer on their own.
Adoration schedule
Adoration is held at the following parishes and times in Scott County:
Bettendorf
Our Lady of Lourdes — Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday from 5-10 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Davenport
Holy Family — Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Our Lady of Victory — first Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and every Thursday from 7-8 p.m.
Sacred Heart Cathedral — Sunday from 4-10 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6-11p.m.; Wednesday and Friday from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 5-8 p.m.
St. Alphonsus — Monday from 8:30 a.m. to noon (except holidays)
St. Anthony — Tuesday from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
St. Mary — Wednesday from 5:15-6:15 p.m.
St. Paul the Apostle — first Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
LeClaire
Our Lady of the River, first Saturday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
