Archbishop's Committee for Eucharistic Adoration
The Archbishop's Committee for Eucharistic Adoration was established in 1997 to support the Archbishop's Strategic Plan Goal #1: To foster conversion through prayer and the Sacraments; and Priority #1: To revitalize participation in the Eucharist, with the primary emphasis on achieving the Archbishop's goal for increased participation in Eucharistic Adoration in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
The committee is a catalyst and a resource to help parishes and schools institute Eucharistic Adoration and increase participation in Eucharistic Adoration. To this end, the committee:
- conducts various conferences and meetings
- provides assistance and publicity
- develops appropriate resources such as prayer cards and pamphlets
We hope the information on these pages will help you increase and promote devotion to the Eucharist.
Search Eucharistic Adoration Times
Click to view databaseClick to search parish websites (may have more current information)
“The Holy Eucharist is thegreatest treasure that the Church
has on earth: it is Christ Himself.”
–Cardinal Arinze
2. Primary responsibility for Eucharistic Adoration resting with a LayCoordinator and a committee, which report to the Pastor or his designee,
3. Six to eight people meet once a week to pray for success,
4. Regular, eye catching bulletin articles (see below, "Promotion and Publicizing in the Parish"),
5. Expertise of an experienced coordinator from another successful parish (Also see sign-up weekends),
6. Confidence that Perpetual Adoration is easier to initiate than 1-2 days a week,
7. Assistance from an experienced guest homilist to promote adorationon sign-up weekend (please refer to list below and - also see sign-upweekends)
Promotion and Publicizing in the Parish
General Organizational Information and Requirements
Organization
Have in place an organization of lay people who have responsibility for the day to day participation in Eucharistic Adoration in accordance with Parish and USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) requirements. The Head/Lead coordinator for Eucharistic Adoration normally reports to the Pastor or his designee.
The organization for Eucharistic Adoration depends on the number days and times of adoration and also the number of adorers. This would include the Head/Lead Coordinator and an appropriate number of coordinators/committee members. The following are examples:
- For Perpetual Adoration (24 hours, 7 days per week) - In addition to the Head/Lead Coordinator there is probably a need for Midnight, Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Division Leaders/Coordinators. Also need six Hourly Captains reporting to each of the four Division Leaders/Coordinators.
- For Eucharistic Adoration on one or two days a week - In addition to the Head/Lead Coordinator, there may only be a need for four Monthly Leaders/Coordinators, each of who is responsible for adoration three months of the year. Also consider having a Lead Adorer on each hour of adoration who is requested to be present on time and to stay until the Lead Adorer for the next hour arrives. If the Lead Adorer is not able to be present as scheduled, that person is asked to obtain a substitute, and to tell the substitute of the responsibility of the Lead Adorer.
Attendance Requirements
"Every effort should be made to ensure that there should be at least two people present. There must absolutely never be periods when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and there is no one present ..." "The use of drapes or doors to shield the monstrance, even for a short period of time, is not the required reposition of the Blessed Sacrament." (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops publication, Thirty-One Questions on Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament- page 11)
Sign-up Weekends
To increase participation in Eucharistic Adoration, conduct a sign-up weekend every 2-3 years. It is usually best to have a guest priest as a homilist at all Sunday Masses on a weekend (emphasizing the importance, graces/blessing, etc) to inspire people to signup to participate in Eucharistic Adoration. Sign-up forms and pencils should be available in the pews.
Attendance Log
Provide an attendance log for adorers to sign-in as they enter the chapel for Eucharistic Adoration. Include the date and hourly times on the log and provide a space in the log for scheduled adorers to sign and a separate place for drop-ins/visitors to sign-in at each hourly time.
Contact List
Post a list of leaders and coordinators, with phone numbers, who can be contacted during adoration if there is a concern, such as lack of adorer coverage and for other concerns.
Available Prayer Items
Provide approved spiritual reading material for adorers (adults and children) such as Bibles, appropriate books (saints, Eucharistic miracles, etc.) pamphlets and prayer cards [e.g. Eucharistic Adoration Prayers (Archbishop's Committee on Eucharistic Adoration), and other approved prayers. Also, have rosaries (inexpensive plastic rosaries that have been blessed) readily available for use or to keep.
Click to download large Prayer Card
List of Substitutes
To provide for more reliable participation in adoration, develop a list of substitutes (people who are willing to sub for scheduled adorers) with phone numbers, which is made available to adorers for use as needed.
Children's Adoration
- Arrange an adult and children holy hour (program/schedule)
- Encourage teachers to bring students to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
- Encourage parents to bring their children to their Holy Hour.
- Use children's prayer card for Eucharistic Adoration (Archbishop's Committee on Eucharistic Adoration) or similar prayers.
Prayers for Childrens’ Visit with Jesus during Eucharistic Adoration
Intention Book
Provide a book in the adoration chapel for adorers to list their intentions and request all adorer to pray for the intentions in the book.
Intention Offering Cards
Make available intention cards (post cards or other cards suitable for mailing) which provide a space to indicate that you prayed for that person during your Holy Hour at the chapel at a specific date/time.
Letter of invitation to New Catholics from the RCIA
Compose a letter to the newly initiated welcoming them and informing them of the adoration times in your parish. Click here for a sample.
Suggested Bulletin Notes
Use the weekly parish bulletin to encourage adoration. Click here for a series of suggested bulletin notes.
Communicating Changes
Have a system (bulletin, e-mail, phone, bulletin boards, announcementat Mass, etc.) to keep adorers informed of any changes in the schedulesfor adoration. This can include: Holydays or holidays when the BlessedSacrament may not be exposed or at times when snow or icy conditionscause delays or cancellation.
Suggested Speakers to Institute and Promote Eucharistic Adoration
Fathers of Mercy
Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament
Web Sites
1. Vatican: The Holy See
www.vatican.va
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Article III: The Sacrament of the Eucharist
www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a3.htm
John Paul II ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA
www.vatican.va/edocs/ENG0821/_INDEX.HTM
Pope Paul VI MYSTERIUM FIDEI ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PAUL VI
ON THE HOLY EUCHARIST
www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_03091965_mysterium_en.html
2. Archdiocese of St. Louis
www.archstl.org
3. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
www.usccb.org
Cardinal Arinze on the Eucharist and Eschatology
www.usccb.org/liturgy/arinze.shtml
4. The Real Presence Association
www.therealpresence.org
www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/a.html
www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/pea/history.htm
5. EWTN - The Teachings of the Catholic Church
www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/index.htm
www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/HISTOREA.TXT
www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/euchmenu.htm
6. Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament
www.perpetualadoration.org/sf1999.htm
7. The Fathers of Mercy
www.fathersofmercy.com/our_apostolates/eucharistic_adoration
8. Marian Catechists
Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke (Commentary on Ecclesia De Eucharistia)
www.mariancatechist.com/html/catechesis/ecclesiadeeucharistia.htm
9. Eternal Life
www.lifeeternal.org
10. Adoremus
www.adoremus.org
11. Children of the Eucharist
www.childrenoftheeucharist.org
12. Children of Hope
www.childrenofhope.org
13. Body of Christ Outreach
www.bodyofchristoutreach.org
Resources available from The Archbishop's Committee on Eucharistic Adoration
1. Papal pamphlet (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
2. Comic booklet (Come and Adore Him)
3. Eucharistic Adoration Prayers (card)
4. Vocation Prayer Cards - Archbishop Rigali
To obtain these resources and more information, contact:
Chaplain of the Archbishop's Committee on Eucharistic Adoration
Msgr. Joseph Simon
314.846.8207 ext. 204
Email: jms@qasstl.org
