by Jill Ragar Esfeld
jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
LENEXA — The arrangement worked after a fashion, but Holy Trinity parishioners here are glad they no longer have to choose between a good cry or eucharistic adoration.
For the past 12 years the cry room and the eucharistic adoration chapel were one and the same. This situation improved last Nov. 30 when hundreds of parishioners gathered for the dedication of the parish’s new eucharistic adoration chapel.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann presided at Mass and then led a eucharistic procession to transfer the Blessed Sacrament from its location in the church’s cry room to the new chapel. He was assisted by pastor, Father Tom Dolezal; associate Father Richard McDonald; the choir; and representatives from the fourth-degree Knights of Columbus. Following the transfer and blessing, all attending were invited to the café area of the Father Quigley Faith Formation Center for lunch.
When the parish built its parish center in 1974 and began celebrating Mass there, adoration was relegated to the old stone church built in 1911. It was moved from that church to the cry room when the new church was built in 1996.
The new adoration chapel was created as the focal point of the entire Holy Trinity campus.
It sits in front of, and connected to, the Father Quigley Faith Formation Center.
With approximately 860 square feet, the chapel seats 40 — small enough to allow an intimate environment, but large enough for entire groups to spend some time together in prayer. The interior’s meditative atmosphere is complemented by the surrounding stained-glass windows depicting the corporal works of mercy.
Just outside the chapel’s east entrance is the “Father Jim Wright Meditation Garden,” named in honor of a former pastor who loved gardening.
Parishioner Katie Schroeder, who has been actively involved in adoration for many years said, “I think the new chapel is wonderful, and feedback from parishioners has been excellent. It is very quiet, and I think people appreciate that most.”
The 24-hour adoration chapel is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“We encourage people to come for a ‘Holy Minute,’” said Schroeder, “if they can’t do a Holy Hour.”
