Persistence paid off for those who helped establish the chapel at SS. Peter and Paul Parish
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
GREEN BAY — The brochure for the Christ the King Adoration Chapel at SS. Peter and Paul Parish features a question on the cover: “Could you not spend one hour with me?”
Adorers continue to answer “yes” by sitting before the Lord for an hour, covering 24 hours a day, 168 hours each week — and have done so for 25 years.
An anniversary Mass for the perpetual adoration chapel was celebrated on Nov. 23 at SS. Peter and Paul Church.
Bishop David Ricken was the principal celebrant. Concelebrants were Fr. Jose Lopez, current pastor; Fr. Tom Farrell, a former pastor at SS. Peter and Paul; and Fr. Juan Altamirano, who had served at the parish.
A eucharistic procession and rosary service preceded the Mass.
During his homily, Bishop Ricken shared how the Christ the King Adoration Chapel started when, in 1993, parishioners presented the idea to then pastor Msgr. Roy Klister. Bishop Ricken said that Msgr. Klister “enthusiastically responded to the idea after developing an appreciation for eucharistic devotion while he worked at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.”
Bishop Ricken said that Bishop Emeritus Robert Banks, then bishop of the diocese, “was a little hesitant to give permission to such an endeavor. He had concerns about the parish’s ability to provide adequate security, and he was unsure if enough volunteers would be available to fill all of the time slots for adoration.”
The parish asked again in 1994.
“You see how persistence is important,” said Bishop Ricken.
In 1998, a $250,000 renovation project was completed at SS. Peter and Paul Church, which included the annex project with an elevator to make the church more accessible. The renovations helped create the space for an adoration chapel and, in 1999, Bishop Banks gave his approval.
The Christ the King Adoration Chapel was dedicated on Dec. 12, 1999.
“(Bishop Banks) asked (adorers) to pray for vocations to the priesthood for the diocese,” said Bishop Ricken. “All of you have been doing that. Your prayers have been producing fruit for the diocese.”
Bishop Ricken credited the late Deacon Jim Asmuth, who founded the Twin Cities Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Neenah, and Ron Mullenbach, from the Chapel of Divine Mercy at Good Shepherd Parish in Chilton, for their guidance when the Christ the King Adoration Chapel was established.
The bishop also offered his gratitude to Sharon Van Ooyen, who served as the chapel coordinator for nearly 20 years by managing the chapel schedule and building a list of 300 adorers.
“So many stepped up not even knowing where this was going. Now look at it, all the blessings and the people that are involved. New people are coming,” Van Ooyen told On Mission. “Those people in the beginning were the little stones in the foundation that built this.”
Van Ooyen recalled asking Msgr. Klister about the possibility of closing the chapel in situations such as a snowstorm. She said he told her to keep it open at all times because he didn’t want anyone to go out in the middle of the night to find the chapel closed.
“God bless him, Fr. Tom (Farrell) and all the priests along the way, Fr. Jose (Lopez) now,” said Van Ooyen. “They were all so willing to help.”
The chapel was originally in the southeast corner of the lower level at SS. Peter and Paul and, in 2005, it was rededicated in the northwest corner of the lower level. It was closed for a period of time during COVID.
The adoration chapel was also recently closed from Nov. 11 until the anniversary date on Nov. 23 for renovations. Juan Jacome, a parish member, built a new altar.
“It started with a conversation with Fr. Jose,” said Jacome. “We wanted to make some changes. I said that I was willing to help and he gave me the opportunity.”
“It was lots of hours,” he added. “Everything was hand carved, every piece of it.”
Jacome said that he listened to Gregorian chant and prayed while doing the work.
“Lord, you created me. Here are my hands. Everything I do is for you,” he said. “My inspiration is that somebody can walk in there and get inspired to want to come more often to be with the Lord.”
Bishop Ricken thanked Jacome for his work following a blessing of the chapel after Mass.
An anniversary reception closed the celebration. Cindy Parent, the new coordinator for the Christ the King Adoration Chapel, said that new adorers are always welcome. She was an adorer for eight to 10 years before stepping into the leadership role.
“We have a little adoration team that works together,” said Parent. “We started using the ‘We Adore Him’ scheduling tool. I help coordinate the schedule. You can’t find a Sharon Van Ooyen who has a list of subs in her back pocket to call.”
“It’s amazing the commitment,” Parent said about those who fill the late night and early morning hours. “You talk to some of the people and they say, ‘We love it. We love being the only one there.’”
While the Christ the King Adoration Chapel is located at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, it is for all faithful in the area. For more information or to become a regular adorer, visit Eucharistic Adoration · Christ the King Adoration Chapel, Green Bay, WI or contact a team member at (920) 481-2914.
