` wcr:06/05/2006 — Adorers find new spirit at Corpus Christi

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Week of June 6, 2006

Adorers find new spirit at Corpus Christi

Distance, darkness fail to deter devout praying cyclist

- WCR photo by Bill Glen

Andrew Wolikowski reads his Bible in his apartment while 10 kms. away, the Blessed Sacrament is adored in Corpus Christi Chapel.

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Andrew Wolikowski had to change his weekly hour of adoration of the Eucharist recently.

Since the inception of perpetual adoration a year ago, Wolikowski, 81, faithfully rode his bicycle across the city in the middle of the night to his 4 to 5 a.m. hour at the Corpus Christi Chapel at St. Andrew's Church.

"He had some heart trouble so his doctor told him he could no longer ride his bicycle at that time. It wasn't safe," said Margaret D'Agostini, who has helped spearhead perpetual adoration.

Come rain, snow and certainly the dark of night, Wolikowski rode his bike from his modest apartment in the Ritchie area on the south side, across Edmonton to the chapel near Westmount, a distance of 10 km each way.

Wolikowski was one of the first to sign up when perpetual adoration was launched at St. Andrew's.

"We had no idea he was riding his bike until he rescheduled his hour," D'Agostini said. "Now he comes later when the buses are running."

A retired geophysical engineer, Wolikowski says his devotion is his way of preparing for heaven.

"If they'll have me," he modestly told the WCR while sitting in his small living room filled with shelves and cabinets filled with religious books. Small tables are stacked with folders containing years of correspondence with clergy around the world. His walls are draped with icons.

Yet, nearest to him rests his soft-covered Bible.

The world is too noisy, he said. Noise separates us from God in heart and mind. It makes us forget that Jesus is the divine master.

"Quiet adoration in the chapel is the refreshment of spirit," Wolikowski said. "There is no light to be found except in the Lord."

On June 13 at 7 p.m., St. Andrew's will mark one year of perpetual adoration in the archdiocese with Archbishop Thomas Collins celebrating Mass.

Collins sparked the establishment of perpetual adoration and the building of Corpus Christi chapel.

He asked that the adorers pray for all of the people of the archdiocese, especially those who have drifted away from the faith, for our families, and for those whom the Lord is calling to the priesthood and consecrated life.

In a series of articles in the WCR last year, the archbishop wrote, "Eucharistic Adoration is a kind of prayer of vigil, where a person spends time 'watching with the Lord,' and often this kind of prayer involves praying for extensive periods throughout the day or throughout the night."

D'Agostini said adorers can now be found in the chapel 24 hours every day. She spends four hours a week praying in the chapel herself. There are 228 people committed to spending at least one hour a week in prayer at the chapel, as well as numerous individuals and groups who drop in.

Faith is stronger

"I think it's been very successful but we always need more people," she said. "For each person, there is a different healing. For me, my faith is stronger especially in the real presence of Jesus and the Blessed Sacrament."

Collins said perpetual adoration at St. Andrew's is a flourishing treasure in the archdiocese, but there is room for growth.

"In every hour of the day and night there are people praying for God's blessings on all of us. It is so important," he said.

He is pleased that an increasing number of parishes are making time available for adoration, but he would like to see perpetual adoration widely found in the archdiocese.

"We need to base our apostolic activity on prayerful adoration. It is very closely connected to - and flows out from - the celebration of the Eucharist. It is not distinct in any way."

Wolikowski immigrated to Canada from Poland in 1947. He is a bachelor who has been on a personal mission to seek spiritual richness through the teachings of the Gospel for more than 40 years.

"The least bit of knowledge of God is worth more than all natural knowledge," he said.

His home parish is Our Lady Queen of Poland only a few blocks from his home. He thought St. Andrew's was at most a 5-km ride.

"I found my feet were fair and my bike was operating. It was nothing exceptional."

Profound richness

Like everyone else, Collins was unaware Wolikowski had been riding a bicycle all that time.

"Andrew is a wonderful man," the archbishop said.

D'Agostini says Wolikowski's devotion is a witness to Jesus and an example of the profound richness that can be gained through adoration.

"Andrew simply says it is a wonderful privilege for him to be there - and it is," she said. "But his suffering to get to the chapel in the middle of the night has been a tremendous inspiration for all of us."

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