40 Hours Devotion and Corpus Christi

Dear Parishioners,

Beginning Thursday night (6/19/25) with a 7 PM Mass in St. Thomas More Church, we will offer the opportunity for prayer and adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament around the clock, commonly known as the Forty Hours Devotion. We will have two Masses on Friday (6/20/25) at 9 AM and 7 PM and conclude on Saturday evening (6/21/25) at the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass for Corpus Christi with a Eucharistic Procession at the conclusion of Mass. I have asked Fr. Joseph Szolack, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Blackwood, to be the guest preacher. All Masses and Eucharistic Adoration will be in the church, not the chapel. 

This Forty Hours Devotion, which can be traced to Milan, Italy around the year 1530, is a formalized period of prayer and adoration centering on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Prior to this period in the Catholic Church’s history, there were times of exposition and benediction, Eucharistic processions and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle. However, both Saints Philip Neri and Ignatius of Loyola instituted the Forty Hours Devotion (with reference to Jesus’ 40 hours in the tomb and recalling other biblical citations in which the symbolic number 40 was specified) in reparation for sin.

Fr. William Saunders, whom I knew from my college seminary days, wrote a rather thorough article, “40 Hours with Jesus Christ,” originally for his diocesan paper (Arlington Catholic Herald) describing this devotion. I quote from a part of it here:

While the Mass is the central act of worship for us Catholics, an act which participates in the eternal reality of our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection, Vatican Council II upheld and encouraged the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass. Of course such devotion derives from the sacrifice of the Mass and moves the faithful to both sacramental and spiritual communion with our Lord (Eucharisticum Mysterium, #50). . . . Pope John Paul II has repeatedly "highly recommended" public and private devotion of the Blessed Sacrament, including processions on the Feast of Corpus Christi and the 40 Hours Devotion (cf. Dominicae Cenae, #3, and Inaestimabile Donum, #20-22).

It was the 4th Bishop of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann who was a strong promoter of this devotion in his diocese. The practice would also spread to our area of New Jersey and beyond.

After considering this brief history lesson and the official encouragement by saints, popes and church documents, I really think that the essence of this devotion comes down to our belief—our deep faith—in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. If Jesus is really there, why wouldn’t we want to spend time with Him in prayer?

I can simply relate to you from my own personal experience that spending time with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist has been for me my most fruitful times of prayer beyond comparison. I love the Holy Eucharist in all of its dimensions—from offering the Mass to the reception of Holy Communion to adoring and worshiping Jesus’ Real Presence in the tabernacle / monstrance. Jesus is present throughout—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

Those that I know (and have known) who have prayed in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament have overwhelmingly come to appreciate what a most precious gift we have. The Mass is so much more meaningful. The reading of the Sacred Scriptures becomes alive and motivating. The inspiration and wisdom that comes from sitting at the feet of the Master is beyond price!

I invite you to come to Mass and to spend some time during these days—June 19th to June 21st—with our Eucharistic Lord. Please sign up so that all the time slots are filled! Our Lord deserves nothing less.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

A Time of Grace for Our Parish

Dear Parishioners,

As you know, our parish is under the patronage of St. Thomas More. The church calendar honors him with St. John Fisher on June 22.

Once again this year, to celebrate our patronal feast day, we will include a celebration of 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion from June 20 to 22. I will be the celebrant for the 7 PM Mass on Thursday, June 20, after which we will begin solemn Eucharistic Adoration around-the-clock until Saturday morning.

On Friday, June 21 there will be two Masses: 9 AM (regular morning Mass), and 7 PM (part of the 40 Hours celebration).

On Saturday, June 22 there will be a special closing Mass at 10 AM with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament following.

The practice of 40 Hours of Eucharistic devotion can be traced to Milan, Italy around the year 1530. It is a formalized period of prayer and adoration centering on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Prior to this period in the Catholic Church’s history, there were times of exposition and benediction, Eucharistic processions and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle.  However, both Saints Philip Neri and Ignatius of Loyola instituted the Forty Hours Devotion (with reference to Jesus’ 40 hours in the tomb and recalling other biblical citations in which the symbolic number 40 was specified) in reparation for sin. It was St. John Neumann who promoted this devotion in the Philadelphia area as bishop.

I truly believe that when we take the time to be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, it is a time of tremendous blessing not only for us as individuals but also for our families and for our parish family. I do not ever want us to take for granted the great gift of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Time spent with Him is a grace-filled time. We can express our love and adoration for Jesus, thankfulness for our blessings, and contrition for sin (our own and the sins of others). We can also intercede for one another and petition the Lord for our various needs. It is precious time to spend with the One Who loves us beyond our imagining and Whom we should love above and beyond everything else!

What I am requesting from you, my parishioners, is that you dedicate one hour sometime during these three days to spend with the Lord in adoration. (This should ideally be in addition to any time attending Mass.) I intend to continue this devotion both nights—around the clock—but I need your help and cooperation in order to do this. Could you please think about taking an hour to pray? Why not encourage members of your family to pray as a family for just an hour?  Perhaps a group or organization within the parish can make a holy hour together (choir, Knights of Columbus, Faith and Justice Team, Small Christian Communities, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion, religious education teachers, etc.). I especially need a few insomniacs or night owls to cover the late hours!

Sign-up sheets will be available at the doors of the church so that we can be sure that there is always someone keeping watch with our Lord.

Please assist me in making this a special time for our parish as we adore our Eucharistic Lord.

Could you not keep watch for one hour? (Mk. 14:37b) 

The choice is always yours.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

St. Thomas More, Martyr

Showing Our Love for the Holy Eucharist

 

Dear Parishioners,

Our nation is being encouraged to grow in our love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. We use terms like Eucharistic Revival. National events are in process. Currently there are four walking pilgrimages (May 17 to July 16) taking place throughout the United States which began from the east (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route), west (St. Junipero Serra Route), north (Marian Route) and south (St. Juan Diego Route). These four pilgrimages plan to converge in Indianapolis, Indiana this summer for a National Eucharistic Congress (July 17 to 21).

I invite you to go to the web site (eucharisticrevival.org) to see the route of the pilgrims passing our area this weekend. Saturday (June 1) the path includes the St. John Neumann Shrine, while Sunday they will converge on the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, both locations right over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in neighboring Philadelphia.

This pilgrimage motivated me to remind all of you what we have available right here in our own parish to show the importance of the Holy Eucharist and to encourage love and devotion to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Let’s begin with daily Mass at 9 AM. From Monday to Friday, Mass is followed by Eucharistic Adoration until 12 noon at which time there is Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. This weekend (as we celebrate Corpus Christi), we planned a small procession with the Holy Eucharist around our parish property with Benediction in three locations after the 4:30 PM Mass. Later in the month of June, we have three days of around-the-clock Eucharistic Adoration—typically known as 40 Hours—scheduled for June 20-22. This devotion is purposely designed to occur around the feast of the patron of our parish, St. Thomas More (June 22).

I must also remind all of us to take our reception of the Holy Eucharist most seriously. We should never receive the Holy Eucharist when conscious of mortal sin in our lives. Go to confession first to be reconciled to God and the Church. We should always receive the Holy Eucharist with utmost reverence and respect. This is not ordinary food and drink, but we are being fed with the Bread of Life—Jesus Himself! Be aware of when we pass the tabernacle. Genuflection is most proper (or a profound bow, if we are physically unable to genuflect). Unnecessary or frivolous talking should be avoided in the presence of Our Lord, allowing people to pray, adore and worship the Lord in the tabernacle or on the altar. A proper thanksgiving after receiving our Lord is also essential. Remember to express your love and adoration for the Lord, to give Him thanks, to beg forgiveness for your sins from the Lord and to petition Him for all of your spiritual and temporal needs. Please realize you have just received Jesus, the Son of God—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Finally, leaving Mass early (habitually) is never proper—especially after just having received Our Lord—unless someone is dealing with health issues, etc.

I want us all to realize the great gift we have been given by the Lord Himself and to take the command of the Lord to “Do this in memory of me” most seriously. Too many Catholics have fallen away from the requirement to worship God each week by attending Holy Mass in person.

How much do we really love the Lord in the Holy Eucharist?

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi and 40 Hours

 

The Holy Trinity

Dear Parishioners,

Trinity Sunday focuses on the mystery of the Triune Godhead as revealed to us by Jesus. Recall that the Jewish people were strict monotheists. It must have been quite a startling revelation for them that the One True God is a unity of three Divine Persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus made known the mystery of the Trinity for us. The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #261) This teaching is not something that we would be able to figure out for ourselves without God’s revelation.

Next week, we will celebrate Corpus Christi (which is celebrated in the universal Church on a Thursday—the day of the Last Supper —but moved to Sunday in the United States). This solemnity is all about the gift of the Holy Eucharist. How can the Son of God be truly present under the form of bread and wine? The Catechism instructs us:

It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he wanted to give us his sacramental presence; since he was about to offer himself on the cross to save us, he wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us "to the end," even to the giving of his life. In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that express and communicate this love. (CCC, #1380)

Volumes have been written and countless sermons preached over the centuries on both of these topics. From a pragmatic point of view, why not take time during the next few weeks to reflect on the wisdom of the Catechism as it tries to enlighten us about our Catholic faith? We should continually seek greater understanding and clarity as we try to delve more deeply into the precious mysteries of our faith that have been revealed to us.

I plan to have an outside Eucharistic Procession with Benediction around our grounds (weather permitting) at the end of the 4:30 PM Mass on Saturday, June 1^st. This will be an opportunity to give special honor to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, especially during this time of Eucharistic Revival taking place in the United Sates.

Also in a few weeks (June 20 to 22), our parish will spend 40 Hours in adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. We will add two additional evening Masses at 7 PM on Thursday and Friday evenings (June 20-21) and close the 40 Hours at a Mass on Saturday (June 22) at a special 10 AM Mass. This day is fittingly the feast of the patron of our parish, St. Thomas More. Please take the time to sign-up with a commitment to spend an hour or more of your time in His divine presence. May we always realize Who we have before us on our altars and in our tabernacles and Who we are privileged to receive in Holy Communion: Jesus, the Son of God.

With the beautiful spiritual days ahead, may God grant the necessary graces to our parish to remain ever faithful to Him and to grow in the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The Most Blessed Sacrament

40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration at St. Thomas More Parish

Dear Parishioners,

Next week, we celebrate the feast day of our patron saint, St. Thomas More (Wednesday, June 22). The date is shared with another English martyr, St. John Fisher. At that time, our parish will observe 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration from Wednesday evening, June 21 to Friday morning, June 23. 

Following an evening Mass at 7 PM on June 21, the Blessed Sacrament will remain continually present on the altar in the church for private prayer and adoration. We will add an extra evening Mass at 7 PM on Thursday evening (in addition to our regular morning Mass at 9 AM). Fr. Nicholas Dudo, the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Camden, will be the guest homilist during the two evening Masses. The closing Mass on June 23 (9 AM) will be followed by a Eucharistic procession and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. 

I truly believe that when we take the time to be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, it is an opportunity for tremendous blessing not only for us as individuals but also for our families and for our entire parish family. I do not ever want us to take for granted the great gift of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Time spent with Him is indeed a grace-filled time. We can express our love and adoration for Jesus, thankfulness for our blessings, and contrition for sin (our own and the sins of others). We can also intercede for one another and petition the Lord for our various needs. It is an invaluable time to spend with Jesus Himself, truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

When we come into the Lord’s presence, Jesus can transform us. Come sit or kneel before the Master and open your hearts to Him. By our very presence there, we give Jesus permission to change our hearts and our lives. We may think that we go to pray, to petition and to worship, or even that we are doing God a favor by spending some of our precious time with Him. Our Lord Jesus truly desires that we spend time with Him, listening to Him. Remember, we are created to spend eternity with God and we can foster that precious relationship now before Jesus' Real Presence. We do not need to worry about what prayers we should say, what spiritual readings we should be reading or what we should be doing in His Presence. Just being with the Lord can be life-changing. He can soften our hearts, heal our wounds, inspire us and guide us. He can give us an inner peace that nothing in this world can match. Making the commitment to spend time with Him is part of the process of falling in love with Him. (Many parishioners have already experienced various spiritual gifts and blessings by spending time with Our Lord daily, during our established adoration time in chapel from 9:30 AM to Noon, Monday-Friday.)

What I am again request from you, my parishioners, is that you dedicate at least one hour sometime with the Lord in adoration during these three days. (Ideally, this should be in addition to any time attending Mass.) This devotion will continue for two nights—around the clock—and I need your help and cooperation in order to accomplish this. Could you please think about dedicating an hour in prayer before the Most Blessed Sacrament? Why not encourage members of your family to pray as a family for an hour? Perhaps a group or organization within the parish can make a holy hour together (Small Christian Communities, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Faith and Justice Team, choir, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, etc.) I especially need a few night owls to cover the late hours! We are arranging to have added security at night.

Sign-up sheets will be available at the doors of the church so that we can be sure that there is always present with our Lord. Please assist me in making this a special time for our parish as we adore our Eucharistic Lord. This is certainly an important part of our parish's Eucharistic renewal. 

Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor

St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, Martyrs

 

St. Thomas More

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend, we conclude our 40 Hours Devotion with the vigil Mass for Corpus Christi. I am personally grateful to the many parishioners who participated in the 40 Hours. It is always edifying to me to come into the church and see people praying at all times of the day and night. My special thanks to those who kept vigil during the late, late night hours. May our Eucharistic Devotion be pleasing to the Lord and bring many blessings to our parish family!

Sunday (June 22) is the feast day of the patron of our parish, St. Thomas More.  I first was made aware of St. Thomas More by watching the 1966 film, A Man for All Seasons. At that time it won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Today in our "enlightened" culture, I wonder if it would be recognized at all?  I highly recommend its viewing. 

Thomas More (1478-1535), a lawyer and scholar, was most notably Lord High Chancellor to King Henry VIII. He staunchly defended his Catholic faith and was unwilling to recognize the king’s divorce and re-marriage and the king’s self-declared leadership over the Church of England. For this he was convicted of treason and was subsequently beheaded (July 6, 1535).

Many years ago, during a trip to London, I was able to tour the Tower of London where both St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were held before their executions. Little did I know that I would someday be pastor of a parish named for this saintly lawyer. (Saintly lawyer.  Is that an oxymoron?  Sorry to any honest, dedicated barristers who may read my letter. However, we do know at least this one made it to heaven. But I digress . . . .)

St. Thomas More risked everything he had—family, fortune, reputation, etc.,—to stand firm under pressure from the king. In the end he is reported to have said:  “I die the King’s good servant, and God’s first.”

St. Thomas More shares a feast day (June 22) with St. John Fisher, who was a bishop (cardinal), theologian and Chancellor of Cambridge University. Like More, Fisher refused to acknowledge King Henry’s divorce and re-marriage and his self-declared supremacy over the Church. St. John Fisher was beheaded on Tower Hill on June 22. He heroically went contrary to all of the other English Catholic bishops of the time and remained faithful to Rome. My question to all is:  Who in the end was the saint?

Martyrdom is certainly the bravest act that one can demonstrate in defense of one’s Catholic faith.  Living in an age of indifference, apathy and sometimes even hatred for the Catholic Church, our faith can be trivialized, disregarded, and held in contempt. It can be a continual uphill battle to remain faithful. Why bother?

Try telling that to the two aforementioned men whose undaunted faith led to their death. Try telling that to the countless others throughout history who stood firm in the face of torture, persecution, loss of family and fortune, and even death for the sake of Christ and their Catholic faith.

In the end, will we be one of the indifferent ones? Will we be one of the traitors? Or will we be one of the Saints forever praising God in Heaven?  

I pray that our choice will be to become the latter.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

St. John Fisher

Homily for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Restoring Belief in and Reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist

Dear Parishioners,

A headline from the Pew Research Center (August 5, 2019) stated the following:  "Just one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with their church that Eucharist is body, blood of Christ." While I was disappointed with the findings, I cannot say that I was completely shocked.  I have seen it coming for years now.

Let me share with you a some facts and incidents that accentuate and corroborate this conclusion in my own mind:

• We knew (before the pandemic) that only about one-fifth of our registered Catholics attend Mass each week.  Can people really believe in the Real Presence with such sparse attendance?
  
• People come to Mass looking like they are ready for the gym or even the beach.  Someone at one of my former parishes also came forward to distribute the Holy Eucharist (presumably to fill-in for someone who did not show up) dressed in gym shorts, athletic shoes and a t-shirt.  Really?
• A few years ago at a Mass for the religious education students, one of students took the Holy Eucharist in one hand and then began to give a high five with the other hand to the students in the first pew as he passed them.  Eventually, he did consume the Sacred Host.  I saw it happen as I was distributing Holy Communion.  Does he understand or even have a clue what (WHO) he had in his hand?
• On a far too regular basis I have had to follow someone down the aisle (usually at a funeral or wedding) to make sure that they have consumed the Sacred Host after they had taken it in their hands and then walked away.
  

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

What can we do about this disturbing trend?  In my mind, we must move in the opposite direction immediately and deliberately.  Personally show proper reverence for Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. 

This weekend begins the 40 Hours Devotion here in the parish. I have asked all parishioners for one hour of time to give worship and adoration to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to make reparation to Him for the lack of belief.  In addition, if your schedule permits, you could also take advantage of time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament we offer after the 9 AM Mass until noon, every Monday to Friday.  Moreover, the chapel and church are both open during office hours to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. 

Receive the Holy Eucharist with the utmost reverence.  Genuflect, bow or make a Sign of the Cross before receiving Our Lord.  I am truly edified when people kneel for Holy Communion.  While I personally believe that allowing the reception of Holy Communion in the hand was a serious mistake contributing to this lack of belief (and I have no authority to change this practice unilaterally), I can bring it to people's attention and request that they receive Our Lord much more reverently.

When you pass in front of the Tabernacle, please genuflect if you are physically able or bow.  Please do not gather to talk or socialize anywhere in the Sanctuary area.  And most importantly, always approach to receive the Holy Eucharist in the state of grace (not conscious of any grave or mortal sin).  This includes willfully and negligently missing Mass. One should always go to Confession first before receiving Holy Communion, if the person is in grave or mortal sin.

Each of us can show others what we believe by our reverence and actions.  We should never do things just for show or simply to gain the attention of others.  However, how we dress, how we approach the Holy Eucharist, how we receive, etc., can speak volumes in a world of unbelief.  Please do your part.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor         

“So You Could Not Keep Watch with Me for One Hour?”

Dear Parishioners,

The time for our 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration begins next Sunday (6/20/21) after the 11 AM Mass.  Our Eucharistic Lord will be present continually on the altar for prayer and adoration (except when there is a scheduled Mass) until 9 AM on Tuesday (6/22/21).  We conclude our devotion on the memorial of our patron, St. Thomas More.  Masses on Monday will be at 9 AM  and 7 PM.

I have asked all of you to consider spending at least one hour during these days before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

What are some of the things that we might possibly pray for during this time?

• For those in our family or among our relatives and friends who no longer practice their Catholic faith or who have abandoned it.

• For priestly or religious vocations in our Church.  (Remember our diocese is not scheduled to ordain any priests in 2023.)

•  In reparation for our sins.  (I know I need to spend a few hours myself on my knees with this intention in mind!)

•  In thanksgiving for the many blessings God has bestowed on us during our lives.  (Most of us probably do not say “thank you” quite enough.)

• For our Catholic Church:  for clarity in her teaching and doctrine; for holiness in her leaders;  for healing in those who have been hurt or abused;  that all of her members may walk the path to salvation and eternal happiness.

• For our deceased relatives and friends; for the forgiveness of their sins and lessening of any time in purgatory.

• For our enemies.  Didn’t Jesus remind us to pray for them?  (See Mt. 5: 43-48)

Maybe you just might need to spend some quiet time with Our Lord listening to what He might say to your heart.

During this time of year there are fans who will spend hours and hours watching game after game.  There are other people who will be fixated in front of their tablets, computers, televisions or phones for multiple hours.  There are still others who  will work out at the gym several times each week religiously.  How much quality time do you think is given to prayer by the average person?

Right before His crucifixion, while Jesus was agonizing in the garden of Gethsemane about his impending suffering and death, He asked His disciples to take time to pray with Him.  Could you ever imagine His disappointment when He found them sleeping instead?  “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Mt. 26:40)

One hour of your time for the Lord who gave His life for us.  Is that too much to ask?

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

        

40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration

Dear Parishioners,

Next month, on Tuesday, June 22nd, we will celebrate the feast day of our patron, St. Thomas More.  At that time our parish will also observe 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration beginning after the 11 AM Mass on Sunday, June 20th until the 9 AM Mass on June 22nd.  Following the 11 AM Mass on June 20th, the Blessed Sacrament will remain continually present on the altar for private prayer and adoration, except when a Mass is scheduled.  We will also have an evening Mass at 7 PM on Monday, June 21st, (in addition to our regular morning Mass at 9 AM). 

On Tuesday, June 22nd, we will close the 40 Hours at 9 AM with Holy Mass and a Eucharistic Procession.  More information will be given in the upcoming weeks.

I truly believe that when we take the time to be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, it is a time of tremendous blessing not only for us as individuals but also for our families and for our entire parish family.  I do not ever want us to take for granted the great gift of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.  Time spent with Him is a grace-filled time.  We can express our love and adoration for Jesus, thankfulness for our blessings, and contrition for sin (our own and the sins of others).  We can also intercede for one another and petition the Lord for our various needs.  It is an invaluable time to spend with Jesus, truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

When we come into the Lord’s presence, Jesus can do something to us.  We may think that we go to pray, to petition and to worship, or even that we are doing God a favor by spending some of our precious time with Him.  Our Lord Jesus, however, can transform us while we spend time with Him.  We do not need to worry about what prayers we should say, what spiritual readings we should be reading or what we should be doing in His Presence.  Just being with the Lord can be transforming.  He can soften our hearts, heal our wounds, inspire us and guide us.  He can give us an inner peace that nothing in this world can match.  Making the commitment to spend time with Him can truly transform us.

What I am requesting from you, my parishioners, is that you plan to dedicate one hour sometime during these three days with the Lord in adoration.  (This should be in addition to any time attending Mass, when possible.)  This devotion will continue for two nights—around the clock—and I need your help and cooperation in order to do this.  Could you please think about dedicating an hour in prayer before the Most Blessed Sacrament?  Why not encourage members of your family to pray as a family for an hour?  Perhaps a group or organization within the parish can make a holy hour together (choir, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Small Christian Communities, Faith and Justice Team, catechists, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, etc.).  I especially need a few insomniacs or night owls to cover the late hours!  Sign-up sheets will be made available in the coming weeks so that all hours are covered and Jesus is never left alone.

Please assist me in making this a special time for our parish as we adore our Eucharistic Lord.

Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor

St. Thomas More

More About the Forty Hours Devotion

Dear Parishioners,

Beginning Sunday night (9/29/19) after the 6 PM Mass in St. Patrick Church, we will offer the opportunity for prayer and adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, commonly known as the Forty Hours Devotion.  This practice, which can be traced to Milan, Italy around the year 1530, is a formalized period of prayer and adoration centering on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Prior to this period in the Catholic Church’s history, there were times of exposition and benediction, Eucharistic processions and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle.  However, both Saints Philip Neri and Ignatius of Loyola instituted the Forty Hours Devotion (with reference to Jesus’ 40 hours in the tomb and recalling other biblical citations in which the symbolic number 40 was specified) in reparation for sin.

Fr. William Saunders, whom I knew from my college seminary days, wrote a rather thorough article, “40 Hours with Jesus Christ,” originally for his diocesan paper (Arlington Catholic Herald) describing this devotion.  I quote from a part of it here:

While the Mass is the central act of worship for us Catholics, an act which participates in the eternal reality of our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection, Vatican Council II upheld and encouraged the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass.  Of course such devotion derives from the sacrifice of the Mass and moves the faithful to both sacramental and spiritual communion with our Lord (Eucharisticum Mysterium, #50). . . . Pope John Paul II has repeatedly "highly recommended" public and private devotion of the Blessed Sacrament, including processions on the Feast of Corpus Christi and the 40 Hours Devotion (cf. Dominicae Cenae, #3, and Inaestimabile Donum, #20-22).

It was the 4^th Bishop of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann who was a strong promoter of this devotion in his diocese.  The practice would also spread to our area of New Jersey and beyond.

After considering this brief history lesson and the official encouragement by saints, popes and church documents, I really think that the essence of this devotion comes down to our belief—our deep faith—in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist.  If Jesus is really there, why wouldn’t we want to spend time with Him in prayer?

I can simply relate to you from my own personal experience that spending time with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist has been for me my most fruitful times of prayer beyond comparison.  I love the Holy Eucharist in all of its dimensions—from offering the Mass to the reception of Holy Communion to adoring and worshiping Jesus’ Real Presence in the tabernacle / monstrance.  Jesus is present throughout—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

Those that I know (and have known) who have prayed in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament have overwhelmingly come to appreciate what a most precious gift that we have.  The Mass is so much more meaningful.  The reading of the Sacred Scriptures becomes alive and motivating.  The inspiration and wisdom that comes from sitting at the feet of the Master is beyond price!

I invite you to come to Mass and to spend some time during these days—September 29th to October 1st—with our Eucharistic Lord.  Please sign up so that all the time slots are filled!  Our Lord deserves nothing less.  

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

  

40 Hours and the Solemnity of St. Joseph

Dear Parishioners,

As we once again prepare to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 19), our parish will observe 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration from March 17 to March 19.  Beginning with an evening Mass at 7 PM on March 17, the Blessed Sacrament will remain continually present on the altar for private prayer and adoration, except when a Mass is scheduled.  We will have an additional evening Mass at 7 PM on both March 17 and 18 (in addition to our regular morning Mass at 8:30 AM). 

On Saturday, March 19 there will be a Mass at 8:30 AM (regular morning Mass), and at 12:00 Noon we will have the closing of the 40 Hours with a procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.  Please note:  There will be no Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 18 while 40 Hours Eucharistic Adoration is taking place.

I have asked Fr. Larry Polansky, our former hospital chaplain, to return to preach during the 40 Hours evening Masses.

I truly believe that when we take the time to be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, it is a time of tremendous graces and blessing not only for us as individuals but also for our families and for our entire parish family.  I do not ever want us to take for granted the great gift of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.  Time spent with Him is indeed a grace-filled time.  We can express our love and adoration for Jesus, thankfulness for our blessings, and contrition for sin (our own and the sins of others).  We can also intercede for one another and petition the Lord for our various needs.  It is an invaluable time to spend with Jesus, truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament—especially during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.  Remember to ask for God’s mercy.

 

When we come into the Lord’s presence, Jesus can do something to us.  We may think that we go to pray, to petition and to worship, or even that we might be doing God a favor by spending some of our precious time with Him.  Our Lord Jesus, however, can transform us while we spend time with Him.  We do not need to worry about what prayers we should say, what spiritual readings we should be reading or what we should be doing in His Presence.  Just being with the Lord can be transforming.  Be quiet and listen.  He can soften our hearts, heal our wounds, inspire us and guide us.  He can give us an inner peace that nothing in this world can match.  Making the commitment to spend time with Him can truly transform us.

What I am once again requesting from you, my parishioners, is that you dedicate one hour in adoration of the Lord sometime during these days.  (Ideally, this should be in addition to any time attending Mass.)  This devotion will continue for two nights—around the clock—and I need your help and cooperation in order to do this.  Could you please think about dedicating an hour in prayer before the Most Blessed Sacrament?  Why not encourage members of your family to pray as a family for an hour?  Perhaps a group or organization within the parish can make a holy hour together.  I especially need a few insomniacs or night owls once again to cover those late hours!

 A sign-up sheet is available near the baptismal font of the church so that we can be sure that there is always someone keeping watch with our Lord.  Please assist me once again in making this a special time for our parish as we adore our Eucharistic Lord.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

What Goes Through the Pastor’s Mind?

Dear Parishioners,

Here we are, almost at the beginning of spring, and snow is still covering the ground.  Global warming I guess!

Our 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration is currently underway and will be completed by the time this message reaches the Sunday church bulletin.

I have had a lot of time to think and to pray.  I was edified by the people who took the time to attend an extra Mass or two or to spend some quality time in adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  Could you not keep watch for one hour? (Mk. 14:37) Thank God for you!  You are the backbone of our Church.

However, I continue to worry.  The overall numbers are dwindling.  The age of the active parishioners tends to rise significantly.  We have lost a few generations of Catholics somewhere in the middle (young adult to middle age) and I don’t know how or if we are going to get them back.  Jesus, we certainly need your help!

The simple reality, as I see it, is that there is a spiritual battle going on.  Spiritual warfare, if you will.  It’s a battle for souls.  It is a matter of life or death.  Eternal life is promised by following Jesus—I am the way and the truth and the life. (Jn. 14: 6)  Yet, we are surrounded by a culture of death.  Senseless violence is all around us—war, murder, abortion, euthanasia, infanticide.  We are a society plagued by multiple addictions—drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, gambling, materialism.  Yet, we must be a People of Life, promoting a Culture of Life:  “The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as ‘good news’ to the people of every age and culture.”  Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae.

It can seem overwhelming if we let it get to us.  Christians—followers of Jesus the Christ—have to be a people of hope.  I suppose that there wasn’t a more hopeless scene than to witness your spiritual leader mocked, rejected, beaten, spat upon, and crucified in front of your eyes.  Would I have the courage to stand at the foot of the cross like Mary, John or Mary Magdalene?  Would I deny Jesus like Peter?  Would I flee and hide like the vast majority of His apostles?  Would I be so influenced to follow the crowd—everybody’s doing it—to yell “Crucify him!  Crucify Him!” as well?

I know that I can only do my part each day.  I need to be as faithful to Jesus as I possibly can.  I need to keep plugging away and not lose hope.  Jesus loves me and sustains me.  I am so thankful for His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist: I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. (Jn. 6: 51)

Jesus has gotten me this far in life and I believe He will continue to take care of me.  I can’t live without Him.  I really can’t understand how anyone could.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Two Saints in the USA

Dear Parishioners,

This week we honor both St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Jan. 4^th) and St. John Neumann (Jan. 5^th).  I proudly admit that I have a personal devotion to both of these “American” saints.

Frequently, when I am in Philadelphia, I visit the church of St. Peter the Apostle (5^th St. & Girard Ave.) where the remains of St. John Neumann are kept in the lower church.  He was a remarkable man who came from Bohemia (currently the Czech Republic) to America because of an over-abundance of priests in his homeland during the 1830’s.  John was ordained a priest by Bishop John Dubois of New York and assigned to work with German immigrants, initially in the Niagara Falls and western New York state area.  He was a man gifted with languages and could hear the confessions of people spoken in at least six tongues.

Being lonely and seeking some fraternal camaraderie, he joined the Redemptorist Order (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer or C.SS.R.).  Later, when he was appointed the 4^th Bishop of Philadelphia, he established and organized the Catholic School system there, increasing their numbers from two to about 100 schools.  In addition, Bishop Neumann notably fostered the 40 Hours Devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist, established and built many parish churches and founded and/or invited various religious orders of sisters to work in his diocese.

As a seminarian, I completed my studies at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.  Buried in Emmitsburg are the remains of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.  Elizabeth, a native-born American, grew up in the wealthy part of New York society.  Married with five children, her husband died of tuberculosis while they were in Italy.  Influenced by her stay there and moved by an ever-increasing love for and belief in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, she converted to the Catholic faith (from Protestantism).

Elizabeth later became an educator of children, was instrumental in the establishment of free Catholic schools, and is the foundress of the Sisters of Charity—from which six separate religious congregations trace their origin.  She is honored by the Church as wife, mother, educator and foundress.  She was the first canonized American-born saint.

It is important that we know our local Catholic history.  I also find it invaluable to visit, whenever possible, the shrines where these saints are buried.  We can learn so much from them.

These two faith-filled people are part of our Communion of Saints whom we one day hope to join forever in Heaven.  Get to know them!  You will be glad that you did!

 

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The Remains of St. John Neumann