Eucharistic Adoration—Ask Father Wee

Father Damien Wee

Dr. & Mrs. Joel & Kathy Bessmer are parishioners at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Omaha. They have 12 children with ages ranging from 1-18 years old. They began doing Eucharistic Adoration nine years ago. Fr Wee asked them to share their experience with us.

1. How did you start?

Simon, our 7th child, was born very prematurely. They say that when a family faces a big challenge, they either grow closer or farther apart. For us, it was strong bonding for the family. That is how we started going for Eucharistic Adoration.

2. I think one of the challenges that people say they face is making time for Eucharistic Adoration. What do you have to say?

How do you do it with 12 children? It is just a priority. If it is important enough for you and your family, then you make time for it. It is also helpful that St. Robert’s does it where it is the same time every week.

3. What are some of the fruits you have received from Eucharistic Adoration?

The ability to listen and discern in the silence.

4. How did you introduce the children to Eucharistic Adoration?

At what age and how did you explain it to them? Simon started going at 7. If we make it something positive then it helps. Sometimes, the positive thing for the young kids is not Eucharistic Adoration but what comes at the end of it. When they are so young, you have to find a way to motivate them. Sometimes, it is the French Fries or milkshake at the end of the hour. You can’t expect a 4 year old or 5 year old to know what is Eucharistic Adoration. Then, when they grow older they start to understand what it really is.

5. What do you usually do during the hour?

Pray, read and discern. Do the Rosary in the beginning, then personal prayer time about half and hour, then spend time listening and spiritual reading.

6. How has Eucharistic Adoration brought you closer to Jesus?

At the agony in the garden when Jesus talked to Peter and the disciples about falling asleep – though I have fallen asleep a time or two, I continue to come back to the fact that Jesus asked them to stay awake with Him for an hour.

7. Choosing the Friday 9-10 p.m. slot, must mean making sacrifices like turning down invitations.

Absolutely. However, there have been times when important things have come up and we thought that we have to be there, so what we have done is trade hours with someone else.

8. Have you experienced the power of Eucharistic Adoration?

Yes. That’s the beauty of Eucharistic Adoration. It is a time not only when you do say your prayers but when you go there to listen.

9. How has Eucharistic Adoration influenced your marriage?

We do it together. It is time as a couple. Many times our prayers are together. It has been a part of our lives for so long it would be hard to know what it would have been like without it. Once you make the commitment to go, I don’t think it is something that you would want to give up, neither for yourself or for your marriage.

10. How has Eucharistic Adoration influenced your family?

Sometimes it is the kids who remind us that we have to go. Sometimes when we are struggling with something, that’s when we go. It is a good example for them, when you have questions or you need some guidance.

11. What advice would you give to a person or a family who is deciding whether to commit to an hour?

There absolutely can’t be anything more important to do with the hour than this. I often hear people say… they talk about doing things that really matter in your life. I think spending an hour doing this really will matter at the end of your life.

12. Do you have anything else you would like to say?

I think people sometimes think that Adoration has to be done individually. But we often do it as a family. We often have a number of kids with us. I think it is helpful to do it together as it helps keep each other accountable.

Read Fr. Wee's explanation of Eucharistic Adoration.