The chapel of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament came about with the help of many people. In early 1990, two members of the little servants of Christ The King prayer community, Mrs. Annette Ladouceur and Sister Marie Larrivée, approached Father Farrell about starting Perpetual Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

After much prayer by the service group of the prayer community, it was discerned that the Lord wanted this to happen. Father Farrell then spoke to Bishop Plouffe about this proposal, and Bishop Plouffe gave his consent. Father then approached the parish council who also agreed, and stated that when the church was first designed, Father Brennan had envisioned a chapel in that very spot which was included in the original plans.

A church architect friend designed the chapel at no cost. The parish Ladies Auxiliary bought the carpet; and the prayer community purchased the 14 arm chairs, the sign-in table, the 8 ft. commitment board, the ledge below the board, the podium beside the chapel, the sign-in books, several bibles, etc. Father Farrell's sister from Montreal donated the monstrance and a special wall hanging, and The Sisters of the Precious Blood in North Bay repainted the statue of Our Lady. It has truly been a blessing that so many people helped to bring the chapel to fruition so quickly.

The chapel was officially opened on November 1st, 1990 with a special blessing and Mass celebrated by Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe. When the Lord has a plan and we listen and follow it, everything falls into place. Thanks be to God!

From the beginning, the service group of the prayer community prayed together in unity each step along the way - one step at a time, from the chapel's conception to its implementation, seeking the Lord's perfect will. This continued throughout the process and the Lord blessed the entire group with an abundance of His peace.

Father Farrell spoke to each of the Knights of Columbus councils in the Sudbury region, inviting them to commit themselves to an hour of prayer each week before The Blessed Sacrament in this chapel, and to pray also for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Several councils took up the challenge and continue to be faithful to their weekly commitment.

Larry Arsenault and the chapel team (7 dedicated captains - one from each area) worked to ensure that all 168 hours per week were covered. After some time, Marie Cook and the chapel co-ordinating team took over scheduling chapel hours. Today, Inez Germain, a member of Our Lady of Hope parish and a long-time member of the prayer community, is in charge of scheduling visits to The Blessed Sacrament so that someone will be present every hour of the day and night. The prayer community continues to administer the chapel to this day.

Shortly after the Chapel opened, a petition box was placed at the foot of the altar, where anyone could write out their requests to the Lord. Within a short time, a thanksgiving box was added as many people reported that their requests were answered. People have been cured from alcoholism, from smoking, from addictions of every kind. Parents have asked the Lord to help their family, to heal illnesses of body, mind and spirit, etc. The thanksgiving box is often as full as the petition box and both have to be emptied frequently and their contents burned. Needless to say, the notes in the petition and thanksgiving boxes are confidential. We continually give praise and thanks to Jesus in The Blessed Sacrament for touching our hearts and souls so deeply as we come into a closer relationship with Him!

People come from all across the Sudbury region and from all three sectors of our Diocese and beyond, to pray in this Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Many who chose their time when the chapel first opened have remained faithful to their commitment. We estimate that over the past fifteen years 250,000 hours of prayer have been offered in this special chapel (168 hours per week X 52 weeks X 15 years = 131,040 hours - counting only one person per hour). Often there are two, three or more persons at one time, which accounts for the estimated total of approximately 250,000 hours. Unfortunately, many do not sign in when they arrive, so an accurate count isn't possible.

Father Jeffrey Shannon, son of Terry and Gerry Shannon, attests that his vocation to the priesthood was solidified during his time spent each week in prayer in the chapel during his last year of university studies. He celebrated his eighth year of ordination in June and is very happy in his priesthood. He continues to make visits to this special chapel each time he is in Sudbury.