On Nov. 23, Tammy Huntington prays during Eucharistic adoration at Wahlert Catholic High School/Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School chapel in Dubuque, Iowa.
“(I) just pray for … all the children, as they grow up, to make good choices and to love one another and all that good stuff,” Huntington said.
Earlier this month, Holy Family began to invite parents to participate in Eucharistic adoration inside the Wahlert Catholic High School/ Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School chapel from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each Monday that school is held. Adults either register for a time slot or drop by to be prayerful witnesses for the children.
Eucharistic adoration is uninterrupted prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, a consecrated Eucharistic host, usually displayed in an ornamental vessel.
The Telegraph Herald (http://bit.ly/1NpGjXJ ) reports that students also stop by the chapel to pray a few minutes when their schedule allows.
“It’s really good. Being at a Catholic school, it gives us various opportunities to practice our faith,” said Adeline Jochum, a senior at Wahlert.
Holy Family offered Eucharistic adoration to students occasionally in the past. Chief Administrator Carol Trueg said Steve and Connie Hardie, Wahlert alumni and parents of Wahlert alumni, suggested asking parents to pray for their students during adoration.
“Their rationale, with which I and others in the campus ministry program agreed, was to create opportunities for grace to offset the increasing challenges to holiness that students and adults face,” Trueg said.
Amy Freund and Sheila Ward serve as parent coordinators, and they encourage people to participate.
“I really feel like God is calling me to do this,” Freund said, adding. “Who wouldn’t want to pray for their kids?”
The goal is to have two people signed up to pray every half-hour. On Monday, all the time slots were filled.
Parents wear lanyards that state “I am PRAYING FOR YOU today” when they participate.
“It’s a way for our students to see us putting our faith in action,” Freund said.
Jochum appreciated parents taking time out of their busy schedules.
“I think students always need prayers. It just helps,” she said.
Eucharistic adoration is a common devotional at Catholic high schools and is practiced by several tri-statearea churches.
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