On December 20, 2023, Central kicked off its first 24-hour eucharistic adoration. Taking place in the chapel, it offered students and teachers an opportunity to strengthen their relationships with God during Advent. Father John Pankratz said, “The idea was to start off Christmas break with prayer and adoration for the Lord, especially at Christmas time.”
Although Principal Nolan Trafton spearheaded the idea, it required communication and cooperation between many people. Fr. John played a significant role in sharing the message with students and said that the biggest challenge was, “signing everyone up and getting the word out.” The event was coordinated by the Committee of Mission and Catholic Identity, a small group on the school board that focuses on supporting teachers and students and providing resources and opportunities to promote Catholic culture in the school system.
Junior Annie Hanser said the 24-hour eucharistic adoration helped to center people on the true reason for the season. “It was very nice to sit in the quiet and just contemplate things in the chapel,” she said.