August 26, 2026

By Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin
North Country Catholic

Bishop Terry R. LaValley is encouraging the promotion of the centuries-old devotion of 40 hours of Eucharistic adoration throughout the diocese of Ogdensburg for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

The Highway to Heaven team is sponsoring this traditional “40-hour period” commemorating our Lord’s burial until His resurrection at parishes throughout our diocese. Individuals, families, and groups are invited to join in these events on the Highway to Heaven.

The first event will take place at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. It will begin on Friday, September 18, with a special anticipated Mass at 5 p.m. followed by exposition of the Holy Eucharist, which will continue through Sunday, September 20, at 10:45 a.m.

Father John M. “Mickey” Demo, rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, highlighted the importance of Eucharistic adoration.

“This is one of the ways the Lord fulfills his promise to be present to us,” Father Demo said. “We take up the invitation ‘to adore’ him who is Lord of all and our personal savior as an act of faith. It needs to be intentional on our part if we are to experience the graces our Lord wants to give us. We can attain an inner peace and contentment from being in his presence that the world cannot give us.”

Deacon Bill O’Brien, who is steering the organizational team for the cathedral event, agreed.

“Adoration of Our Lord, truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, is vital to the spiritual growth of our parishes and our diocese,” he said. “We are in great need of priests, religious, and permanent deacons. Jesus invites each of us to take part in the mission of salvation by spending time with Him in prayer before the Holy Eucharist.”

“When a parish has 40 Hours of adoration of our Eucharistic Lord, it is a sacred event which involves the whole parish . . . one hour at a time,” noted Amy Schirmer, also an organizer and member of the Highway to Heaven team. “It is a whole and beautiful offering of sacrifice of 40 hours . . . one hour at a time. People will always be present, so that our Lord is never alone.”

Where did the number 40 come from?

“Forty hours is the traditional number of hours Jesus was in the tomb,” said Schirmer. “Forty years the Israelites were in the desert. Forty days Noah listened to a typhoon whirling around the Ark. Then came resurrection, the promised land, a new beginning. What will come forth for our parish after 40 hours of devotion? I can’t wait to see.”

Families are encouraged to sign up to spend an hour with Jesus during the event to grow closer to our Lord and one another.

“Praying before the Blessed Sacrament for vocations is especially important in our time. The need for priests, deacons, and religious is urgent,” Deacon O’Brien emphasized. “At the same time, we must not forget that the vocation of marriage and family life is also vital. The family is under profound pressure in our city, our state, our country and throughout the world. We must pray for marriage and family life, because the family is the seedbed of all vocations. Without strong families, vocations cannot flourish.”

“Making a commitment to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament allows us to show the importance of our relationship with God among all our relationships,” added Father Demo. “We can acknowledge that our life is in His hands. What better place to ponder God’s plan for us than in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. We come away renewed and refreshed as we continue to walk in faith.”

Deacon O’Brien and Father Demo said great fruit comes from spending time with the Lord in adoration.

“Praying before the Lord, present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, has become a priority in my week,” Deacon O’Brien. “I give thanks to the Lord for the blessings He bestows on me, my family, our parish, and our diocese. This time of wonder, contemplation, prayer and thanksgiving brings peace and wisdom that are worth every moment – and so much more.”

“Spending time with Jesus in adoration strengthens our ability to trust in his promise to guide and sustain us. It gives us a chance to truly reflect on the Bread of Life discourses in the Gospel of John,” added Father Demo.

Schirmer said people can participate in the event, and in adoration in general, in many ways.

There are many ways to spend time in prayer with Jesus during adoration and the minutes often go by quickly. “But what do we do??,” asked Schirmer, “Well. Jesus is there, looking for you and loving you. Some are happy to sit with that truth for an hour. It brings peace . . . so much inner peace. Others may choose to spend some time in devotional reading, meditation, rosaries, chaplets . . . those things that keep us quiet and focused on the Lord. Others use this time of encounter to bring heart-felt need to His Sacred Heart. Imaginative prayer can be very fruitful during this time. Perhaps your hour will be so wonderful you’ll come back for more.

“When I first began attending adoration before our Eucharistic Lord, I often sat in silence and brought before God my needs and the needs of others. At times, my mind would wander, and I wondered whether I was using the time well. Over time, however, adoration has become a place for spiritual reading, contemplation, intercessory prayer, silence, and conversation with God about my week. Now, one hour no longer seems like enough. Through faithful repetition, I have come to feel closer to God than ever before.”

“The 40 Hours of adoration for Vocations allow us to recognize and express that fostering vocations is the work of the whole Church of Christ. All of us together, baptized in the life of Christ, summon the Lord’s assistance in helping women and men recognize their call to serve our Lord. It could be a call to the ordained priesthood or diaconate. It could be a call to embrace married life or the consecrated religious life or the single life,” summed up Father Demo. “As members of the family of God, we take responsibility in fostering vocations and supporting those who seek to follow God’s will.”

To sign up for a Holy Hour as an individual, family or group, contact: Deacon O’Brien at 315-528-0461 or billob315@gmail.com

More locations for the 40 Hours devotion will be announced soon. For more information about hosting a 40 Hours devotion in your parish, or with any questions, contact: h2hcontinues@gmail.com