March 12, 2023

Dear Parish Family: 

Next Sunday (March 19) we will begin our Annual Solemn Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotions. This is our first one since the COVID Pandemic started and we want to make it extra special.

The exact origin of the Forty Hours Devotion is not completely known. We can trace it back to 1527 in Milan, Italy as a time of special prayer asking God’s protection during a war. The practice of celebrating Forty Hours Devotion spread rapidly from this point.  In Rome, periods of forty hours of Solemn Exposition of the Eucharist were scheduled to form a continuous time of adoration from church to church. Saint John Neumann was influenced by this devotion while growing up in Bavaria and promoted it in the U.S.

The Forty Hours Devotion holds a special place in the spiritual life of our parish and is an opportunity to gather as a community before the Blessed Sacrament and to pray before the Lord in solemn adoration. It gives us time to deepen our appreciation of the importance of the mystery of the Eucharist in our lives.

“Forty” is a significant number. Noah was on the ark for 40 days. The Israelites spent 40 years in the desert. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Jesus laid in the tomb for 40 hours from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Ascension Thursday occurs 40 days after Easter. So in the middle of these 40 days of Lent we will offer 40 hours of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The structure of the Forty Hours Devotion is fairly straight forward. It’s time spent in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (including overnight Monday to Tuesday) and Evening Prayer each night. This year’s schedule is below. 

Sunday, March 19, 2023

11:30 a.m.  Solemn Opening Mass

12:30 p.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins

7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer and Benediction (Confessions follow)

Monday, March 20, 2023

8:30 a.m.  Mass for Saint Joseph Day

9:00 a.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins

7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer and Benediction (Confessions follow)

Special Saint Joseph Day Reception after Service

8:00 p.m. Adoration continues overnight.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

8:30 a.m.  Mass

9:00 a.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins

7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer and Benediction

We need to make sure that Jesus is not left alone. Adoration Sign-ups sheets are at the entrances to the church. Please take an hour to spend some special time with Jesus.

We welcome back Father Samuel Miller to Good Shepherd who will offer the homily Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evening. 

Love and prayers,

Father Neil Sullivan