Our Stories
Bob Woodard was already deeply involved at St. Patrick Parish in Grand Haven when he joined the Catholic Information Center’s Leadership Formation Institute (LFI).
He served on the finance council. He and his wife participated in several parish ministries, and their regular hour of Eucharistic Adoration was Sunday night, from 10:00 to 11:00pm.
LFI invited him to look again at the faith behind those commitments.
“We were looking at prayer. We were looking at sacraments. We were looking at things that we kind of take for granted over the years about our Catholic faith,” he recalls.
That reflection helped Bob consider his place in the parish more deeply. He describes it as “really enlightening,” adding that “it was also a spark.”
When the time came to develop a parish project, Bob and his fellow participants invited more parishioners to help. The ideas came quickly. Soon, they were imagining a project involving dozens of parish ministries.
“We were an enthusiastic group,” Bob says.
They prepared a draft presentation and met with LFI Program Coordinator, Mary Martin. She encouraged them to narrow their focus.
Bob remembers her advice: “Take a slice of that.”
A parish meeting helped them recognize that their broader ideas overlapped with renewal efforts already underway. They stepped back, met again, and chose a particular ministry they wanted to strengthen.
Perpetual Adoration.
For Bob, the need was familiar. The parish had sustained this ministry for more than two decades. Faithful adorers made it possible to keep the chapel open around the clock. The team wanted to thank them and invite others to make a regular commitment.
They also saw an opportunity for connection. People praying at different hours might rarely meet one another. Bob hoped an appreciation gathering would help those who shared this quiet ministry form relationships.
Together with fellow LFI participants Renie (Bob’s wife) and Jim, Bob helped develop “I Stand at the Door and Knock.” Supported by their pastor, Fr. Daniel Schumaker, the project included a September 14th appreciation gathering and an October 2026 prayer initiative asking the Lord to raise up faithful adorers.
Bob had already seen how such an invitation could work. After a conversation at an LFI meeting, several fellow participants arranged a visit and came to the parish’s Adoration Chapel.
Looking back on his formation, Bob speaks about both the renewed attention he gave his faith and the responsibility of inviting others to participate. The team’s willingness to accept guidance gave its enthusiasm a clearer direction.
Bob entered LFI already committed to a weekly hour before the Blessed Sacrament. He came away with a focused way to both celebrate current adorers and invite others into that same life of prayer.