"May God give all who come to adore Him a constant deepening in faith and in grace…and a more fruitful sharing in the memorial of our redemption."
Bishop J. Kevin Boland
Lumen Christi is Latin for "light of Christ." The name is especially appropriate for this chapel, given its purpose.
By providing a place for perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, it brings all those who visit into the Lord's illuminating presence. The name is apt for another reason as well: The interior of the chapel glows. The magnificent new monstrance, the artwork adorning the walls, and all the colors and furnishings were carefully crafted and chosen to capture, reflect and enhance the room's numerous sources of natural and artificial light.
More than 150 square feet of artistic glasswork are included in the skylight and three stained glass windows. These, along with three mosaics on the opposite wall, were designed and painted by local artist James Langley, then cut, welded and assembled by local artisan Carl Fougerousse. The windows represent scenes from the Lord's passion and resurrection, while the mosaics depict scenes from the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Byron Stephens was the designing architect, assisted by Ed and Camille Krolikowski. Tony Phillips served as contractor for the project. Father Mark Ross (pastor 2003 – 2017) devoted many hours overseeing the long process of the chapel's creation. He was also instrumental some years ago in the establishment of a perpetual adoration chapel at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.
"We see this not as a beginning," Father Ross noted, "but as a continuation of the perpetual adoration that has gone on at the Cathedral." The Cathedral adoration chapel has remained open for limited hours each week, with both chapels drawing adorers from throughout Savannah deanery.
What is Adoration?
"…the time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth."
Mother Teresa
"Could you not watch one hour with Me?"
The words of Christ to His apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane are asked of us again today. Could we not spend time in prayer with Jesus, who is present to us in the Blessed Sacrament? In response to this invitation, St. James Church has made a commitment to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of Our Lord, exposed on the altar in a monstrance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
At every Mass, the saving death of Christ, the sacrifice of the Cross, is made present again in a sacramental way. Jesus becomes truly present on the altar at the consecration, as ordinary bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The priest offers Jesus once again to the Father, as the perfect sacrifice in atonement for our sins. The Eucharist is the greatest gift that Jesus gives to His Church. It is the gift of Himself – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – hidden under the appearance of bread and wine. It is nourishment for our souls, for the world.
Eucharistic Adoration is a continuation in a personal way of the communal worship of the Mass. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is an opportunity to come before Jesus physically present in the consecrated Host. Perpetual Adoration is an act of faith in this presence, an act of love for the God who loved us even unto death on a cross. It is sitting before our Lord as the early disciples did, to listen to Him, to learn His will for us, to allow our hearts to be transformed. It is gazing upon Him in whose image we were made. It is consoling the Heart of Jesus, wounded by our indifference and sin. It is placing ourselves and our loved ones before the radiance of His peaceful gaze to experience His healing, strengthening presence.
Jesus says to us in the Bible, "I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him shall bear much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (Jn 15:5) Jesus also bids us "Come to Me all of you all of you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you." (Mt. 11:28) Our Lord will bless each of us, our families, our parish, and the whole world for the time we spend with Him in faith. He will console and encourage us, strengthen and heal us, inspire and guide us. Jesus explained to St. Faustina Kowalska that each person coming before Him in Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament represents all humanity, and that every person on earth experiences a new effect of His goodness, grace, love, and mercy for each Holy Hour made in His presence.
An hour spent in the presence of Jesus, praying directly before Him, is truly a Holy Hour. It is a powerful means for advancing along the road to holiness. As Mother Teresa said, "the time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in Heaven, and will bring about everlasting peace on earth."
The Lumen Christi Adoration Chapel belongs to the Deanery of Savannah. All Catholics and members of other faiths are invited to participate in this important opportunity to deepen our community’s prayer life. Would you be willing to spend just one hour in prayer with Jesus each week? Please consider taking advantage of this privilege of watching and praying with your Lord and Savior in this special way.