History of the Prince of Peace Eucharistic Adoration Chapel
The history of the Prince of Peace Eucharistic Adoration Chapel began in 1999 during the celebration of our parish’s 50th Anniversary. Responding to the call of St. John Paul II to deepen devotion to the Holy Eucharist through Eucharistic Adoration, Father Noonan envisioned offering 50 continuous hours of Eucharistic Adoration in preparation for the parish’s anniversary Mass on September 19, 1999.
That vision became the foundation of a ministry that, through prayer, faith, and the dedication of countless parishioners, would eventually lead to the establishment of our perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.
To organize this special spiritual event, several parishioners were invited to form a planning committee. Through prayerful discernment, a committee of ten members was established. With the generous response of our parish family, enough volunteers committed to ensure that all 50 hours of continuous Eucharistic Adoration were covered.
Following the anniversary celebration, many parishioners expressed a desire for more frequent opportunities to spend time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. In response, Father Mayall approved Eucharistic Adoration twice each month—on the first and third Mondays—in the chapel of the Stoke Center.
The parish enthusiastically embraced this ministry, faithfully covering hours throughout the day until closing at 9:00 p.m. Although Benediction was not celebrated at the conclusion, members of the committee who served as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion led prayers and hymns before reverently reposing the Blessed Sacrament. Afterward, the committee remained in prayer before the tabernacle, interceding for the sick and dying, for vocations, and for the many intentions entrusted to them.
Above all, they continually prayed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, asking how God wished Eucharistic Adoration to grow within our parish.
When Father Andrew Wypych was appointed pastor of Prince of Peace, he embraced this vision and proposed establishing a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.
At the same time, Eucharistic Adoration was flourishing throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago, with many parishes opening perpetual adoration chapels. Working closely with the parish committee, Father Andrew selected the former Religious Education Office as the future home of the chapel. The Religious Education Office was relocated to the parish school, making room for this sacred space dedicated entirely to prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Around this time, the Archdiocesan Eucharistic Adoration Association, under the direction of Bishop Joseph N. Perry, was established to educate, encourage, and assist parishes in developing Eucharistic Adoration chapels. Through the Association, an architect—who had once been a parishioner of Prince of Peace and whose mother remained an active member of the parish—prepared the plans for the chapel. It truly seemed that the Holy Spirit was guiding every step of the journey.
The Association also provided a $5,000 grant to help install the secure entrance doors and locking system needed for the chapel.
Our parish administrator, Elsa, suggested the name Prince of Peace Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. It was a fitting choice, for all who spend time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament experience the peace that only Christ, the Prince of Peace, can give.
On September 30, 2006, after seven years of prayer, planning, and faithful perseverance, our dream became a reality. During a beautiful celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Bishop Joseph N. Perry concelebrated the dedication Mass and solemnly carried the Blessed Sacrament in procession from the church to its new home in the chapel.
The opening of the Prince of Peace Eucharistic Adoration Chapel was the fulfillment of years of prayer and trust in God’s providence. It reminded us that God’s plans unfold according to His perfect timing, preparing both the place and His people for this extraordinary gift.
In 2024, the beauty and devotion of the chapel were further enhanced with the installation of the new Stations of the Cross, along with statues of Our Lady of Fatima and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. These sacred additions have enriched the prayerful atmosphere of the chapel, inviting all who enter to deepen their meditation on Christ’s Passion and to grow in love for Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.
For nearly two decades, the chapel has remained a sacred oasis where parishioners and visitors come day and night to adore Jesus Christ truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Countless prayers have been offered, hearts have been strengthened, vocations have been nurtured, and lives have been transformed in the quiet presence of the Lord.
As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Prince of Peace Eucharistic Adoration Chapel (2006–2026), we give heartfelt thanks to God for the vision of our pastors, the dedication of the founding committee, the generosity of our benefactors, and the faithful commitment of the hundreds of adorers who have sustained this ministry through the years.
May the Prince of Peace Eucharistic Adoration Chapel continue to be a dwelling place of peace, a refuge for the weary, and a beacon of hope for all who come before the Lord in adoration. May all who enter here be drawn into ever deeper union with the Heart of Christ.
