Faithful invited to 40 Hour Eucharistic Devotion at St. Mary Mother of God Parish, Freeport

FREEPORT – In his pastoral letter, Donum Veritatis: The Gift of Truth, Bishop Larry J. Kulick called on the faithful in the Diocese of Greensburg to increase their devotion to the Lord by encouraging  every parish to provide opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration over the next three years. (Donum Veritatis, 51). As part of that devotion, Bishop Kulick has called for the institution of the practice of Forty Hours Devotion in each of the seven deaneries in the Diocese.

As part of the 175th anniversary of its church building, St. Mary, Mother of God Parish in Freeport, which is in Deanery 3, is following  Bishop Kulick’s request by holding  a traditional 40 Hours Devotion Sept. 3-5.

Father Richard J. Kosisko, pastor, said the 40 Hour Devotion of continuous prayer is steeped in tradition.

“The devotion comes from the 40 hours that Christ’s body traditionally rested in the tomb. The number 40 is also a significant number in the Bible, as the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years and Jesus was tempted in the desert for 40 days prior to the start of his ministry,” Father Kosisko said. “For many, this will be the first time they will experience this continuous devotion, including some of the younger priests in our Diocese.”

Longtime parishioner Jeff Palona, who serves as coordinator of facilities, planning and events at St. Mary Parish, said the monstrance that will be used for the 40 Hours Devotion was a gift to the parish in 1914.

“The church was built in 1849, and the monstrance is over 100 years old itself, so we are very excited to be able to utilize that,” Palona said.

The 40 Hour Devotion will begin with an opening Mass Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. celebrated by Father Kosisko and includes an indoor procession. The rosary will be prayed at 9 p.m. At midnight, Eucharistic Taizé music will begin the night adoration.

Palona said the Wednesday schedule is focused on youth in the Diocese and is designed to help them understand the Eucharist. Father Andrew J. Hamilton, Parochial Vicar at the Roman Catholic Churches of Southern Fayette County, will travel to the Armstrong County parish to celebrate Mass at 6 p.m. and to serve as a guest speaker for the evening.

“The Mass will include youth readers and altar servers, and if there are other young people from other parishes who would like to come and participate, they are welcome,” Palona said.

Father Kosisko said families are encouraged to attend, too.

“Parents should feel welcome to bring their kids,” he added.

Father Hamilton will conduct a Eucharistic procession within the church.
The three-day devotion will end when dozens of priests from around the Diocese and from other dioceses join Bishop Kulick for Mass. They will process from the church to the Allegheny River for prayer and then will return to the church for Mass. 
Palona says the procession to the river is historic in nature, commemorating events that happened two centuries ago when St. Mary Parish was founded.

“Two hundred years ago, priests would arrive on horseback near the river, and word would go out that the priest was in town. He would stay all day, celebrating Mass and hearing confessions,” Palona said. The original table used by those priests for Mass 200 years ago and the historic monstrance will be used.

While the parish will have staff on hand for the entire 40 hours, the faithful are invited to register to spend time at the parish over the three days. For a complete itinerary and to sign up, visit www.stmaryfreeport.com.