The Eucharistic Revival in the United States has sparked fervor across the United States — and parishioners in one Midwestern diocese are doing their part. 

“Praying for peace in adoration — that was at the root of a three-and-a-half-month-long campaign in the Diocese of Salina, Kansas, with the goal of increasing adoration hours in every one of its 86 parishes,” explained correspondent Alan Holdren on the Friday edition of EWTN News In Depth.

The Beloit, Kansas-based Adoratio Foundation ran the “Adoration for Peace” campaign in the diocese following last summer’s National Eucharistic Congress. The effort started on Ash Wednesday and continued through Corpus Christi.

“It’s to personally invite everybody in the parish to start a regular prayer life in Eucharistic adoration,” said Andrew Niewald, president of Adoratio.

Adoratio’s research found that, on average, only 3% to 7% of parishioners participate in adoration.

To remedy that, the foundation set about enlisting adoration coordinators for each parish — “to develop a devotion to the Eucharist,” Niewald explained.

The result, Holdren reported, is obvious: “With these volunteers on the ground, they increased the total number of Eucharistic adorers and Holy Hours across the diocese.”

What is the fruitful outcome?

• 32 diocesan parishes that did not offer adoration now do;
• 34 parishes expanded their adoration hours; 
• 500 more weekly hours equals 26,000 more Holy Hours a year.

The bishop has given his blessing to the Eucharistic effort, of course.

“It’s amazing what’s happening in our diocese,” said Bishop Gerald Vincke, who prays a daily Hour Hour himself. “We try so many things to evangelize, and really the most important thing is Eucharistic adoration because hearts are transformed. This is what we really need in our whole country, in the world, really, is for people to pray.”

Tym Bonilla, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Cathedral, is edified by the results, too.

“For me, it’s just been really exciting. There’s just a little bit of a buzz and an attention to it that we haven’t seen in a while.”

Fellow Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioner Jeannie Hrabe added, “In the community, people are becoming more and more aware and attending.”

Father Keith Weber, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Salina, has also been impressed by the fervor for adoration.

“As I walked by the chapel throughout the day … there’s oftentimes up to 10 to 15 people in there praying, which rarely happened before this campaign.”

Another adorer in the diocese, Mona Marrs, has also seen the blessed fruits. 

“I think it makes the virtues of God grow within our diocese because it opens up a new light,” she observed, adding that “those people who are so attuned to the Blessed Sacrament, their light will be Christ’s light.”

Marrs’ grandchildren attend adoration with her several times a month, and they enjoy spending quality time with Christ. As one of the youngsters said, “I just like praying with Jesus, and I normally just listen to what he has to say to me.”


WATCH ON EWTN