What we all need, and so often desire, is a quiet space to pray without interruption, connecting exclusively, one-on-one, with Christ Jesus, our brother, Savior and Lord. If you are looking for a way to be truly present in his company, to connect deeply or to just spend time with our Almighty God, adoration may be exactly what your soul has been searching for.

In the Upstate

Adoration is a simple concept that many parishes have adopted to allow for that quiet and present prayer. Some of the programs are perpetual, meaning that they have someone praying in the church every day and at every hour, while others conduct adoration on a part-time or scheduled basis. No matter the format, the invitation is the same: come, be still and spend time with Jesus.

No matter how it’s done, parishes across South Carolina are practicing adoration with sometimes around-the-clock coverage or adoration “shifts” with multiple adorers — and there is always room for one more.

Our Lady of the Rosary in Greenville is one of our 30 or so parishes across the state to hold regular adoration. Though not perpetual adoration, it’s held frequently throughout the week. For example, Monday morning adoration is from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and is mostly covered by students from Our Lady of the Rosary School. Tuesday and Friday mornings are from 7 to 8. and the time with Jesus is covered by students then, too. The church holds Wednesday adoration following 7:15 a.m. Mass, and it lasts until 5:15 p.m., concluding with Benediction, or Stations of the Cross during Lent. On Thursday evenings, adoration is from 7 to 8 and is sponsored by the various ministries of the church.

For several years, the parish had adoration on the first Friday following the 10 a.m. Mass; it lasted until 5 p.m. Since September of last year, OLR has had an overnight adoration vigil, beginning on the first Friday of the month until 9 a.m. Saturday morning and followed by a pro-life Mass.

“Adoration is important because it affords a quiet time for adorers to spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,” Deacon Eric Bricco said. He was ordained in 2025 and serves at Our Lady of the Rosary. “While we have several volunteers scheduled throughout the week, many people come in at random times to spend time with our Lord. We have a vibrant and growing church community, and we credit the growth and devotion of the families of our church to adoration in the Blessed Sacrament.”

He added that sometimes they worry about coverage for the shifts during the overnight vigil, but “the Eucharist calls to people in our parish.”

“With young families in the church, schedules get tight. We depend on and are grateful for the members of the parish who keep a diligent schedule for adoration,” Deacon Bricco said. “Time slots are attended even during the more demanding hours in the middle of the night.”

In the Lowcountry

Greg Buehner is a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church in Charleston, and he is a weekly adorer of their perpetual adoration chapel. He is proof of what a commitment to adoration can do, and he wants others to experience it, too.

Buehner wants to engage the next generation of Catholics in the call of adoration.

“We want openness, and we want to call people to action to perpetual adoration,” he said.

He explained that they are looking into adopting a digital platform to help, and they are open to technology to fit their needs. For example, he mentioned an app to communicate with volunteers so that when someone goes out of town, they can switch with someone else. The parish wants to create ways to overcome barriers that keep people from an hour with Jesus.

Buehner said they also use postcards to show parishioners that someone prayed for them during adoration.

“These go a long way. It feels great knowing that someone is thinking about you and praying for you. Giving out the postcards is taking what we are doing and sending it out to the church community,” he said.

As a father of three, Buehner believes that the responsibility is with us to keep adoration going.

“It’s a call to action. It isn’t easy to put into words what adoration has done for me. It has been life-changing. It’s focused prayer time in a busy world,” he said.

On the Islands

St. Peter Church in Beaufort also practices perpetual adoration, and their program stands as a model for what is possible when a parish commits to time before the Blessed Sacrament.

Anna Sudomerski, parish communications coordinator, said they try to fill each hour with two or more adorers. For the 168 hours they have available each week, they have 311 adorers and 128 substitutes.

However, Sudomerski said their goal is to reach 500 people committing to a weekly hour with Jesus.

The parish began adoration on a part-time basis in 1986. By 1990, it was five days a week. 

“On Palm Sunday of March 1991, the Eucharist began perpetual adoration and has been exposed without interruption 24 hours a day, seven days a week ever since,” she said.

Currently, St. Peter uses an online program for adoration scheduling. Everyone is encouraged to sign up, and Sudomerski said they have several parishioners from other churches who volunteer.

Matthew Wiegand, a regular adorer at St. Peter, said, as a father of young children, “It can be hard to get quiet time at home. I enjoy having an hour to be with the Lord and listen to his voice.” 

And that one hour can make all the difference.

Mary Butler, another St. Peter regular, said adoration has helped her through many difficult times in her life. “Give it a try; I think you will find that it brings something to your soul,” she said.

We don’t need to wait for a perfect moment. We give Jesus a little of our time, and he does the rest.

“I highly encourage everyone to spend an hour with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,” Sudomerski said. “There is nothing that can compare with spending this quality time with Jesus. As Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, ‘I thirst with such a terrible thirst to be loved by you in this sacrament of my love.’”

The God of the Universe and Savior of mankind is waiting, right now, for you. Will you join him?

250 hours of adoration for America’s 250 years

Celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4 by participating in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ goal of reaching 250 hours of adoration. This initiative encourages prayer for the unity and healing of the United States. Parishes can participate by offering a Holy Hour on a weekly or monthly basis, leading up to July 4. Visit usccb.org/weholdthesetruths for more information.

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will also take place at the end of this month, leading up to the 250th celebration of our nation. It will pass through South Carolina from May 28-30. See the schedule and sign up to participate by visiting: charlestondiocese.org/eucharist2026.