What is Eucharistic Adoration?

"...As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species." (CCC 1379)

Believing that the Eucharist is the true presence of Jesus Christ, we worship the Eucharist both within the Mass and outside of it during Eucharistic Adoration. In Adoration we are praying in the very presence of our Lord, making it an especially impactful time of prayer.

What Should I Do During Adoration?

Some parishes may offer adoration in tandem with praise & worship or a speaker, but if you attend adoration and find it's silent there are many ways that you can engage in prayer.

Simply be present - look up at the Eucharist, admire Jesus, offer your thoughts, prayers, or concerns to him in that moment
Pray the rosary - if you forget your rosary there is a chance the chapel may have extra rosaries and guides (or you can use your 10 fingers!)
Lectio Divina - most chapels will have missals available that you can use for Lectio Divina with either the past Sunday readings or the upcoming Sunday readings
Write in a prayer journal - if you enjoy journaling bring that practice into your prayer life and journal during adoration
Listen to music - music can be a spiritual experience, so consider creating an adoration playlist and listening to it in adoration
Read a book - bring your current spiritual book to adoration and allow Jesus to speak to you through those words

Making a Holy Hour

A Holy Hour is a time to visit Jesus as He is present in the Eucharist. Through prayer, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, we can bring our fears, anger, questions and concerns to Him. We can also listen. In the quiet and peaceful presence of Christ, we may hear the Holy Spirit lead us in a new direction.

Holy Hour Resources

Below are some resources for to help get you started with a Holy Hour.

Parish Holy Hour script, available in English and Español
Holy Hour prayer for families or individuals, available in English and Español

Additional resources available for purchase:

Order for the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist: Presider's Edition from litpress.org
Printable prayer booklets are available at https://ebreviary.com/

Reflections for Adoration

Eucharistic Reflections from Bishop Joensen:

“As soon as is possible… we must return to the Eucharist with a purified heart, with a renewed amazement, with an increased desire to meet the Lord, to be with him, to receive him and to bring him to our brothers and sisters with the witness of a life full of faith, love and hope.” - Cardinal Robert Sarah, “Let Us Return to the Eucharist with Joy”

Bishop Joensen breaks down this quote from Cardinal Robert Sarah into 4 different Eucharistic Reflection. All four parts can be downloaded as a single packet or you can download the individual reflections (available in English and Español).

Purified Hearts, available in English and Español
Renewed Amazement, available in English and Español
Increased Desire to Meet the Lord and Be with Him, available in English and Español
To Receive Him & Bring Him to Our Brothers and Sisters, available in English and Español

Eucharistic Reflections from Bishop Emeritus Joseph Charron:

Additional Eucharistic Reflections:

Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty: All of God's Children, Living & Deceased, are United
Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida: Made Clean by the Presence of Love
Pope Benedict XVI: The Eucharist and Pentecost (Part 1)
Pope Benedict XVI: The Eucharist and Pentecost (Part 2)
Father Jake Epstein: Go to Jesus
Jeanne Wells Thill: Reaching the Age of Reason
Pope Francis: Treasure the healing in the Eucharist
Brooke Miller: You are a tear in my heart
St. Alphonsus Liguori: Eucharistic self-gift
Pope Francis: Make time for adoration
Pope Francis: Who do you say that I am?

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

With more than 80 parishes across the Diocese there are many opportunities to adore Jesus in the Eucharist any day of the week. While only one parish, St. Augustin in Des Moines, offers perpetual adoration other parishes offer adoration on a monthly, weekly, and even daily basis.

Parish Adoration Times

Below is a listing of times that parishes offer adoration. To have your parish's adoration times added to this list or updated, email communications@dmdiocese.org.

Adel

St. John's
24042 302nd Place
Thurs: 9 AM - 9 PM
Adoration will be offered on Thursdays following 8:30 AM morning Mass.

Altoona

Ss. John & Paul
1401 1st Ave
Mon: 7-8 PM
Tues - Fri: 6-7 AM

Ankeny

Our Lady's Immaculate Heart
510 E 1st Ave
Sat: 8:30-10 AM

St. Luke the Evangelist
1102 NW Weigel Dr
Thurs: 6-7 PM
Sat: 9-10 AM
1st Friday of Month: 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM

Council Bluffs

Corpus Christi
3304 4th Ave
Mon: 9 AM - 5:45 PM
Thurs: 9 AM - 5:45 PM

St. Patrick
4 Valley View Dr
Fri: 8:30 AM - 3 PM

Des Moines

Basilica of St. John
1915 University Ave
Mon: 9 AM - 2:30 PM
Wed: 9 AM - 3:30 PM

Christ the King
5711 SW 9th St
Mon - Sat: Times vary
https://christthekingparish.org/adoration

Holy Trinity
2926 Beaver Avenue
Thurs: 2 PM - 9 PM

Our Lady of the Americas
1271 E 9th St
Thurs: 9 AM - 5 PM
Sun: 7-8 AM

St. Ambrose Cathedral
607 High St
Mon: 5-6 PM
Fri: 9AM - Noon

St. Anthony
15 Indianola Road
Mon - Fri: 7:45 AM - 8 PM

St. Augustin
545 42nd St
24/7, Perpetual Adoration
https://staugustin.org/perpetualadoration

St. Joseph
3300 Easton Blvd
Mon - Fri: 7-8 AM
Thurs: 9 AM - 9 PM

Glenwood

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
24116 Marian Ave
Daily: 5 AM - 11 PM

Imogene

St. Patrick
304 3rd St
Tues: 1 AM - 10 AM, 6 PM - 12 AM
Wed: 12 AM - 11 AM, 6 PM - 10 PM

Indianola

St. Thomas Aquinas
210 S Wesley St
Wed: 9 AM - 9 PM
Fri: 9 AM - 12 PM

Red Oak

St.Mary's
1510 Highland Ave
Thurs: 6 AM - 12 AM
Fri: 12 AM - 6 AM

West Des Moines

Sacred Heart
1627 Grand Ave
Tues: 8:30 AM - 7 PM

St. Francis of Assisi
7075 Ashworth Rd
Mon - Fri: 6 AM - 8 PM
Exposition takes place at 6 AM and Benediction will close at 8 PM.

Winterset

St. Joseph's
1026 N 8th Ave
Tues: 11 AM - 6 PM