The Parish of St Ann's

St. Ann’s Adoration Chapel, for 12/21/2002 ShinnTimes by Mary Binegar

Obedience and faith are letters apart in the New World Dictionary, yet are very close when describing the attitude of the parishioners of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Obedience is "the willingness to obey", which in turn, means "to carry out the instructions or orders of." Faith is "to have complete trust, confidence or reliance."

In 1981, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, requested that adoration chapels be built by the Jubilee Year of 2000, which, in the Roman Catholic Church, was to be intensely Eucharistic. "

When, in 1997, Fr. Karl Wohinc, Pastor of St. Ann‘s, approached the committees within his parish about the idea of an adoration chapel, they agreed without hesitation. Their only question was "Why did we wait so long?

Father Karl Wohinc

The construction of a new rectory was put aside, making way for the necessary funds to start the chapel. Built without a blueprint, Fr. Karl met with the construction crew daily and told them what he wanted done that day. He said some days they would tell him it wouldn’t work, he would say "try it." Each time things would fall into place.

The theme of the chapel is based on the Book of Revelation. Fr. Karl said, "Practically everything in the chapel, including the way it was designed, brings out symbols of the Book of Revelation." On stones in the front exterior wall are inscribed two verses from this book. Chapter 21, verse three, reads, "Now at last, God has His dwelling among men" and Chapter 22, verse three reads "The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be there, and His servants shall serve him faithfully."

Front Exterior Chapel Wall

Serving faithfully is what this parish of 250 families has been doing since the chapel was dedicated on October 24, 1999. During perpetual adoration, someone is present in the chapel all the time. "It can never be left unguarded," said Fr. Karl. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, people of the parish and surrounding parishes, as well as some non-catholic residents, man the chapel for at least one hour a week. "We never figured the ecumenical aspects when we started," he said.

Reverend Robert Anderson, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Shinnston, who devotes one hour a week for a visit to the chapel, said "It’s a marvelous, wonderful place to go for quiet, peaceful meditation." He encourages the members of his congregation to make a visit to experience the peacefulness. Three or four members already make regular weekly visits. "It’s a marvelous place for private prayer," he said. "It’s a gift to the community that we need to avail ourselves to more than we do."

"We’re one of the smallest parishes to ever try this and have it work," said Fr. Karl. "The Parish committed itself and are following through." As the only adoration chapel in West Virginia, St. Ann’s is the only place in the entire state that a prayer is being offered every second of every hour.

There are more than 1,000 adoration chapels nationwide, which is more than in all of Europe. Catholics are turning to the Eucharist as an answer to their prayers. But, since it is open to all denominations, non-Catholics use the chapel as a place for prayer and meditation.

"There’s such a sense of peace and serenity that comes over one when he or she enters the chapel," said Fr. Karl. In a chaos-filled world the chapel offers a place of peace and loneness. "They’re craving this silence and that’s where they find it."

Blessed Margaret's Adoration Chapel

Though it is encouraged to sign up for an hour, it is not discouraged to stop in for a moment for a visit. Fr. Karl said children stop on their way to school, hunters stop to pray for safety and a good kill. "The more people we see over there the more our devotion becomes," he said.

People have shared with Fr. Karl that visits to the chapel have enhanced and deepened the sense of their prayer life. One such person is Shinnston resident, Jo Ducoeur, who had been a fallen away Catholic. When visiting Ducoeur’s mother one day, Fr. Karl mentioned the chapel, and she said that her daughter (Ducoeur) would sit an hour. Being obedient to her mother’s wishes, Ducoeur took a 4:00 a.m. slot.

Ducoeur shared that during one of the visits while having a talk with God, she heard him tell her that she would go to church that Sunday, and...she did. Ducoeur has increased her time at the chapel to three days a week and said, "I wouldn’t give up my four o’clock for nobody." She credits Fr. Karl for his "wisdom, vision and courage" to build the chapel. "Our priest gave us something that no other could, where we can go and pray," she said. "When my mother was dying, it was comforting to know someone was praying."

Describing the experience of the visits, Ducoeur said, "It engulfs you. You want to sit there and come back. I look forward to going to the chapel...How lucky can you be to sit in with God for one hour, one on one."
In the chapel, there are six kneelers facing the Blessed Sacrament. Benches also line two walls. There are two stands with candles that can be lit for special intentions. In the back of the chapel are two boxes, one titled, prayer requests, the other, answered prayers.

Monstrance, held by a pair of angels

Ducoeur said she didn’t feel the chapel could be more beautiful than it was when it was first built, but Father adds things to bring out more beauty. A pair of angels were added to hold the monstrance and recently, three perpetual candles were hung from the ceiling in front of the altar. "It’s simple, but it’s beautiful," she said. "There’s nothing fancy about it."

Also in the back, is a statue of Blessed Margaret of Costello, a little known saint to whom the chapel is dedicated. Born deformed and blind, she was not wanted by her parents and ended up on the streets where she became known for her generosity, kindness, and holiness. Aside from caring for the downtrodden, she also visited criminals in jail. She is the patroness of the handicapped, the unwanted and the unborn. Fr. Karl said this chapel is the only one in the country dedicated to the unborn.

Blessed Margaret of Costello

The chapel has received visitors locally as well as from California, Arizona, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and from as far away as Italy and the Philippines. As one of the great secrets of Shinnston, it has become quite an attraction.

Though it falls in the shadows of St. Ann’s Church, it’s meaning and purpose isn’t overshadowed. Going strong after three years, the chapel has become a haven for those with worries and fears. Ducoeur put it so well, when she said, "When something is done right, God isn’t going to let it fall on its face."