By Eric Martin
Twenty years of dedicated service to God is no small accomplishment and for Fr Douglas Harris of St Bernadette’s Church, Glendalough Parish; his 20-year anniversary celebrates a legacy of sharing the joy and peace of the Sacraments in WA as a co-founder of The Apostles of Perpetual Adoration.
Fr Harris has helped open many chapels both in Australia and Indonesia as the moderator of the Apostleship and was appointed by Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey as the Chaplain in charge of promoting Eucharistic Adoration in the Archdiocese of Perth.
He is also the Chaplain of the Divine Will Movement, the Chaplain of the Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community, and a number of other religious groups.
Perpetual Adoration is a term used to describe “the practice of uninterrupted adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: the adoration is physically perpetual and if it is interrupted, then only for a short time, for imperative reasons or through uncontrollable circumstances, to be resumed as soon as is practically possible”.
“It comes from a natural devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, wanting to spend time myself before the Blessed Sacrament, more than anywhere else,” Fr Harris said.
“Growing up, I began to gradually spend more and more of my prayer time before the tabernacle in my local church and when the vocation to the priesthood started to take root in my life, I hoped to be a priest who would promote adoration at least in my parish, to share the love and what I received from spending time in his presence.”
The Apostles of Perpetual Adoration were founded by Fr Harris and Emeritus Archbishop Hickey in 2006 as a public Association of Christ’s Faithful – this was renewed in 2010 on a permanent basis by the then-Archbishop.
“It was in Perth that I heard that a religious order called Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament in the Philippines. An American priest came here to Perth and started Perpetual Adoration in 1988 in Geraldton and in Mirrabooka, two parishes here in WA,” Fr Harris shared.
“Three men were invited and went back with that priest to the Philippines and started studying there in that religious order – they went there in 1993 and I followed in 1994 and spent three years in the Philippines studying.
“Archbishop Emeritus Hickey invited me to come back to Perth to pursue my priesthood as a diocesan priest, giving me the opportunity to promote perpetual adoration as long as the parish was looked after,” he added.
“I was ordained in Perth and started Perpetual Adoration here at St Bernadette’s in Glendalough.”
The aim of the Apostleship, which is open to those 18 and above who agree with the charism of the association, is to promote Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, especially Perpetual Adoration in parishes and secondly, to strive that all peoples will attain the highest level of sanctity.
“Our members are found in many countries around the world and some of our priests and other members travel from country to country promoting Perpetual Adoration,” Fr Harris said.
“Some of the recent places our members have been working to establish chapels of PEA are Indonesia, Latvia, South Africa, Kenya and other countries in Africa, China and the US [as well as here at home in Australia].”
People interested in exploring this aspect of their Christian spirituality can join Fr Doug to participate in Perpetual Adoration at St Bernadette’s Church, 49 Jugan St, Glendalough Parish, or email an enquiry to: douglas.harris@perthcatholic.org.au