Spending time with Jesus in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament is like a reset button. It brings me out of my own head and into a state of peace that only the Lord can give.

I would spend all of my time in the Adoration Chapel, surrounded by His love if I could. It has been such a blessing in my life. – Annabel Schaffner 

     For 40 years, adorers have knelt or sat before the Blessed Sacrament in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at St. Michael the Archangel Church to spend quiet time in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

     To celebrate that milestone, the chapel’s anniversary was honored at a Vigil Mass at St. Michael on Saturday, June 17. The date was chosen because it is close to the dedication date in 1983 on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

      Efforts to create the chapel started after Father Martin Lucia spoke at Masses at St. Michael and St. Paul about how Perpetual Adoration Chapels are organized and how important it is to spend time adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

     Mass attendees were invited to sign up for a holy hour, and chapel coordinators phoned them to set up a convenient time. The Blessed Sacrament is never left alone, which means coordinators filled time slots that covered 24 hours a day. 

     A night adorer from the beginning, Linda Spohn says she remembers when her aunt, Monica Mitch, invited her to participate in the creation of the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Her aunt and several other parishioners, including those from neighboring parishes, served on a committee to set up the chapel.

     “Our adorers are very dedicated and love their weekly hour with Jesus,” Mrs. Spohn said. “Some parishioners have had the same holy hour for years.”

     The hours of Adoration have changed over the years; currently the chapel is open from 9am on Tuesdays through 4pm on Fridays. For the night hours of 9pm through 6am, the chapel is reserved for scheduled adorers only.

      “This chapel is the hidden gem of All Saints Parish,” adorer Annabel Schaffner wrote in a notebook left in the chapel to gather adorers’ comments.

     “It is a blessing to be able to sit for an hour in Christ’s presence in our Adoration Chapel, wrote adorer Diane P. “What a wonderful opportunity to pause, praise, worship and listen – to be in the company of the Almighty, so full of love and mercy.”