The End of an Era. . . .

But the beginning of another.

Back in 1978, an Perpetual Adoration Chapel was opened in DBQ by the Power of Prayer, Inc. The chapel was located in then residence of the Archbishop of DBQ @ W 11th & Bluff. After Archbishop Byrne retired in 1984, his successor decided to sell the building & move elsewhere. At that time the chapel was moved into a building on w 17th & Heeb St. that had had a variety of uses over the years. In addition to the chapel where the Blessed Eucharist was exposed for adoration there was a 2nd chapel that was used every Wednesday afternoon for a weekly Mass to pray for the end of abortion.

While that site served its purpose, there were a lot of problems. The building was in poor repair, the road used for access was extremely narrow & steep so getting to the parking lot was difficult. Also the building wasn't the most accesseble for elderly & handicapped. A new site was definitely needed. Recently the old convent @ St. Anthony's Catholic Church was made available. Over the Summer the building was remodeled. Like the current site, it will have 2 chapels, 1 for adoration & another for Mass.

Which brings me to the title of this post. Today saw the beginning of the end of the chapel on W. 17th. This afternoon the final Mass was said followed by the final time for the Divine Mercy Devotions. Tommorrow a Mass will be said in the afternoon at the new site & Eucharistic Adoration will begin @ 2 pm. At that time Eucharistic Adoration while end at the old site. The building has been sold & will more than likely be remodeled.

Meanwhile, 32 years of Perpetual Adoration in DBQ will continue for many more in a new location more centrally located. Additionally, the last few years have seen regular Eucharistic Adoration daily in St. Joseph's Chapel at Loras College during the school year. & as I reported many months ago, next March, the St. Joseph Chapel in E DBQ will open & there will be 2 sites for Perpetual Adoration in the DBQ area.