dl-perpetual-adoration.jpgEFFINGHAM - Perpetual adoration participants filled St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital Chapel in Effingham July 24 to celebrate the 15th anniversary and commemorate the over 130,000 hours of perpetual adoration at the chapel. The celebration included an outdoor living rosary, Mass and reception.

Perpetual adoration began at St. Anthony's Hospital on July 29, 1993. Marguerite Schumacher, whose initiative and dedication is credited for helping launch and grow the perpetual adoration prayer ministry at the hospital, gave the opening welcome at the celebration. Perpetual adoration participants, who ranged in age from 5 to 85 years old, lined the sides and back of the chapel. Each one held a candle as they prayed aloud a living rosary.

Dan Woods, hospital administrator, spoke briefly about the proud Catholic tradition at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital. Then hospital chaplain Father Ralph Zetzl, OFM, celebrated Mass, with Fathers Sylvano Pera, OFM, Carl Schmidt and Robert Spriggs, as concelebrants. Alex Niebrugge and Jacob Schumacher were servers, and Ron Seiler was cross-bearer.

A fellowship reception was held in the hospital's auditorium immediately after Mass.