For many parishioners of St. Mark Parish in Burlington, time spent in the Adoration Chapel is the best part of their day.

“I give credit to the many hours that I have spent in devotion to the Blessed Sacrament as leading me to where I am today,” said Diana Charboneau, who promotes the Adoration Chapel through her work in the parish office as well as in the community.

With 78 adorers, there are still 29 slots open.

The chapel is currently open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. “We would like to become a chapel of Perpetual Adoration again,” she said.

Most of the adorers sign up for one-hour slots; many take multiple hours a day, some up to six hours.

Charboneau has been an adorer since the chapel was opened through the efforts of Catherine Shea with the pastoral guidance of Father Francis Holland, the pastor at the time, in 2002. She originally was inspired to establish this chapel to increase vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese of Burlington.

“No doubt [it was] instrumental in encouraging the vocation of Father Robert Little,” a native of the parish who was ordained this year and now serves as parochial vicar of Corpus Christ Parish is St. Johnsbury, said the current pastor of St. Mark’s, Father Dallas St. Peter.

Other fruits of the adoration chapel are the peace and consolation people experience during their prayer time. “Our adorers look forward to their quiet time before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Numerous people have expressed their thanks to God for prayers answered,” Father St. Peter said.

Encouraging people to make adoration a part of their prayer life, he cites the words of the adorers, who “unceasingly remark, ‘It is the best time of my day.’”

He said time in adoration “brings peace to people struggling with personal difficulties” and is a refuge that provides peace, strength and renewed courage.

“Jesus is never outdone in generosity. When we give Him our time, He gives us Himself, and an encounter with Christ always brings a renewal of life,” Father St. Peter said. “Regular adoration opens us up to this intimate encounter with our resurrected Lord. When through the eyes of faith we see Him, we become joyful and courageous disciples convicted to live the Gospel message with love.”

For those who would like to become adorers, there are sign-up sheets in the back of the church and in the chapel.

St. Mark’s will host a Eucharistic Parish Mission Sept. 28 to Oct. 1.

For more information, email stmarksvt@gmail.com.