-
-
40 Hours Devotions October 25-27, 2020
Sunday, October 25
Monday, October 26
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins after 12:00pm Mass
- Evening reflection by Fr. Stecz at 7:00pm
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins after 9:00am Mass
- Evening reflection by Fr. Stecz at 7:00pm
- Confessions - beginning at 7:00pm
Tuesday, October 27
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins after 9:00am Mass
- Evening reflection by Fr. Stecz at 7:00pm
- Eucharistic procession inside following reflections -
Pictures from 40 Hours Devotions 2019
BackForwardPauseCaption
-
Join us for St. Jude Parish40 Hours Devotions
We are pleased to welcome Fr. Jeff Stecz to preach and lead us in our annual 40 Hours Devotion, which closes the nine-week Solemn Novena to our Patron Saint Jude Thaddeus.
Fr. Jeff Stecz will give a series of talks each night at 7PM. His talks will center on the theme “Our Universal Vocation - The Call to Holiness, the Call to Love in Union with the Saints.” See Father's bio below.
Please consider coming to spend time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament by signing up for 30 minute slots throughout the day and coming out to listen to the talks given by Fr. Jeff Stecz each evening. Sign-up sheets are available in the main narthex of the church.
Confession will be available on Monday night.
-
-
-
Homilist - Fr. Jeff Stecz
Fr. Jeff Stecz is currently the pastor in nearby Saint Agnes Church in Sellersville, PA. He has been a priest of Jesus Christ for 21 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He was born in Phoenixville, PA in 1970, attending Sacred Heart Parish and graduating from Phoenixville High School.
He studied at Millersville University receiving a Bachelor of Science in Education in History and Secondary Education before attending St. Charles Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity in Theology. He has served as a parochial vicar at SS. Philip and James (Exton), St. Maria Goretti (Hatfield), St. John Bosco (Hatboro) and St. Agnes (Sellersville). He also served as school minister at St. Pius X High School and as pastor of St. Ignatius and Our Mother of Sorrows in West Philadelphia for 3 years before returning to St. Agnes in Sellersville as pastor in 2013.
Some of his interests include Contemporary Christian Music, singing, going to Phillies games, and enjoying time with family at the beach. Some of his favorite books include Arise from Darkness by Fr. Benedict Groeschell, Life of Christ by Fulton J. Sheen, and Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. Important devotions in his life include the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Lectio Divina.
If he could give one reason to deepen devotion to the Eucharist is… “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
See below for the history of the 40 Hours Devotion.
-
-
-
What is 40 Hours?
40 Hours Devotion is a 40-hour period of continuos prayer made in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition. The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian Life." (CCC 1324)
The 40 Hours Devotion existed in Europe since the 1500s but was instituted in America in the 1850’s by our own St. John Neumann, fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. The purpose of 40 Hours Devotion is to deepen our personal relationship with Jesus through dedicated time of communal and individual Adoration and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
If you grew up in Philadelphia, you might remember that our churches were always filled for the 40 Hours Devotion. Families prioritized 40 Hours as an important devotion, making a conscious effort to attend as a family. To help foster that practice here, no other parish activities take place during these nights so that we are not competing with spending valuable time with Our Lord.
Please bring your families to pray before the Lord and grow in faith through our reflections and Confession.
-
