The Eucharistic Adoration Chapel in Dobie offers an invitation to all, “Come to me,” an inspiration of Fr. Dave Oberts, whose efforts led to its formation. (Submitted photo)
Jenny Snarski
Catholic Herald Staff
On Sept. 17, 2000, the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Dobie first opened its doors to adorers. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, priests serving the cluster preached on adoration, invited new adorers and provided information to cluster members on the history and fruits of this effort.
Parishioners Judy Pottinger and Gail Librande said it was shortly after Fr. Dave Oberts became pastor at the country church that he wanted to begin a perpetual adoration chapel. However, feeling the initiative needed to come from the laity to be successful, he did not share the idea with others. Two men came forward who had felt the need for this and believed Our Lady of Lourdes would be an ideal location. Fr. Oberts began the approvals process with then-Bishop Raphael Fliss.
At that point, knowing there were proper procedures to be learned, the Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament were contacted and a representative sent for an evening presentation. Neighboring parishes were contacted, and the meeting had attendees from Rice Lake, Cameron, Barron, Chetek, Ladysmith, Cumberland, Sarona, Spooner, Crescent Lake, Webster and Hayward.
That night, all 168 slots were filled and organizers were thrilled.
The adoration chapel was housed in the former sacristy, and in the first years it consisted of the monstrance on a simple stand with kneelers and chairs. In 2003, renovations were made to make the chapel accessible with Dave Librande as the volunteer general contractor for the project, which included lowering the entire floor to eliminate a 14-inch step as well as extensive electrical rewiring completed by Mike Tomesh.
The monstrance’s wooden encasement was crafted from locally grown butternut and a red quartzite stone surround sourced from the Blue Hills, as was the stone used to build the church in 1904. Scott Mullen offered his masonry skills for this portion and Jill Alton contributed her painting skills for the finishing detail trim work.
While the design for the stained-glass pattern for the chapel entrance was in its early stages, Fr. Oberts sensed something was missing. Sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, he was inspired to have the words “Come to Me” added in the stained glass above the doors. The open-pattern wrought iron and stained-glass doors were designed and crafted by local artisan Julie Rutherford.
Current pastor Fr. Adam Laski, a native son of Holy Trinity Parish in nearby Haugen, credits the Dobie adoration chapel as an important factor in his vocation to the priesthood as well as the vocation of Sr. Mary Pietrina Busse, who recently made her final vows as a Dominican Sister of Hawthorne in New York.
Since February 2011, inspired by parishioner Kristine Deering, a Vocations Holy Hour has been offered Mondays at 6 p.m. Participants pray for men and women discerning vocations to the priesthood and religious life; prayers continue even after their pursuit of and commitment to consecrated life. A list of men and women following the call to consecrated life is posted at Our Lady of Lourdes, including the seven current seminarians and 10 priests ordained for the Diocese of Superior since 2011; seven from the diocese following religious order vocations; and another six religious and seminarians with connections to the diocese through Totus Tuus or family.
Beneath the list of names is a quote of St. John Paul II: “Few are called to priesthood or religious life, but all are called to pray for vocations.”
