Renewing parish life with 40 hours of Adoration

The people of Newtownstewart in Co. Tyrone completed their annual 40 hours Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which was made continuous due to Covid-19.

The church’s choice of the number 40 has a biblical origin. The Old Testament and New Testament describe historic events such as the 40-day flood, the 40 years in the wilderness, Christ’s 40 days fasting in the Judean desert, the 40 days between the Resurrection and the Ascension, etc…. However, down the years, parishes have reduced the 40 hours to a less demanding period, sometimes just the hours between Sunday Mass and evening devotions.

In light of global anxiety about the Covid-19 virus, the pastoral forum in Newtownstewart decided to organise a lengthy period of Eucharistic Adoration. The result was 40 continuous hours with the Blessed Sacrament. Exposition began in the Oratory on Main Street at 3pm on a Friday afternoon on September 25 and continued for two days and two nights, ending on the Sunday morning.

There were at least two volunteers for every one of the 40 hours, and some hours had up to 20 adorers. Even throughout the nights, many people knelt in silent prayer. Bishop Donal McKeown of the Diocese of Derry drew the celebration to a close with Sunday Mass in St Eugene’s Church, Glenock. Praising the church’s tradition, he underlined the importance of Eucharistic Adoration for the renewal of parish life and thanked the people for their generosity in prayer and intercession for forty hours.