Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament started in the sanctuary of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Malabar with a few parishioners in 1995. It was on the inspiration of the then parish priest, Fr Michael Moses that a small area in the church was converted into a chapel and adoration continued there for many years.

A few months ago Msgr Michael de Verteuil visited our church and suggested to Fr Gregory that the sanctuary, as it existed, could be subdivided and a remodelled sanctuary built.

The remaining space to the back could then be converted into a new Adoration Chapel. Fr Mc Lawrence and his building team immediately accepted this inspired idea. Work on remodelling of the sanctuary started early in 2006 and was completed in time for our feast day, Pentecost Sunday.

Work on the new Adoration Chapel was started immediately after the sanctuary was completed. We were promised the new chapel for the end of August but there were the typical delays that plague construction these days. However, by the end of October the contractor was ready to hand over the chapel to us.

This new chapel is a big improvement on the old one. It is spacious, fully air-conditioned and has its own washroom. All this in addition to a beautiful décor. Our official opening was set for Friday, November 3, and it turned out to be a very significant day for all of us at the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Malabar parishioners stand proud in their new prayer room

The evening’s programme started with Mass concelebrated by Msgr Michael de Verteuil and our parish priest Fr Gregory Mc Lawremce.

This day was also the feast of St Martin de Porres. In his homily Msgr deVerteuil developed the idea of the Church building as a community centre because it is where we meet, where we assemble.

We however have so many more experiences in our “Community Centre”. We are made into children of God here and receive so many important sacraments here that this “Community Centre” must be a very special place for us.

After Mass we processed into the chapel for the blessing. It was surprising that almost everyone who attended Mass was able to be accommodated in the chapel.

Msgr de Verteuil told the parishioners that truth is an expression that God is God and he comes in a special way to us. When we come to God in prayer we are responding to that expression as a people of faith. Father said a prayer during the blessing with holy water. He asked our Blessed Mother to intercede as we prayed the Hail Mary. We then sang a few hymns and then proceeded back to the Church for a sharing.

After the sharing, there was Benediction with Fr Mc Lawrence and some parishioners returned to the chapel for the monthly first Friday vigil. “Auntie Babsie” Bleasdell gave a short talk, after which adoration continued until 5.00 a.m. on Saturday morning.

May we continue to thank God for his numerous blessings and miraculous deeds that continue to take place in our chapel. Jesus is always alive and he is present to his people. 

Thanks to Msgr de Verteuil for being with us on this special evening. Thanks to our parish priest Fr Mc Lawrence for his commitment to improving, not only our spiritual lives, but the infrastructure at the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Special thanks to our contractor, Peter Balkaran and his team, the members of the Adoration Committee and to all our dear parishioners who supported this venture with their prayers and contributions.