VIRDEN — Sacred Heart Parish in Virden recently celebrated 40 Hours of eucharistic adoration, held in advance of the just-opened Jubilee Year of Mercy that was officially proclaimed by Pope Francis.

According to Sacred Heart Parish Secretary Marcella Rosier, the devotion was well attended by parishioners from Sacred Heart and others from the surrounding area. Father James Palakudy, SAC, who is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish as well as Holy Cross in Auburn and St. Patrick in Girard, concelebrated the opening Mass along with Father Brian Alford, director of the Office for Vocations and priest secretary and master of ceremonies to Bishop Thomas John Paprocki.

In all, three Masses were celebrated and confessions were available. Traveling to Virden to assist with confessions were Father Alford; Father Gerald Bunse, parochial administrator of St. Mary in Farmersville, St. Maurice in Morrisonville and St. Raymond in Raymond; Father Michael Haag, pastor of Ss. Mary and Joseph in Carlinville, Ss. Simon and Jude in Gillespie and St. Joseph in Benld; and Father Scott Thelander, SJC, parochial vicar at St. Katharine Drexel in Springfield. Deacon Patrick O'Toole, who serves with Father Bunse in Farmersville, Morrisonville and Raymond, gave the reflection.

"The devotion would not have been possible without the support of our pastor, Father James," said Rosier. "He was so beautifully present throughout the 40 hours. In the homily during the closing Mass, he reflected on how adoration of the Blessed Sacrament changes us by opening our hearts to God's mercy and drawing us nearer to our Lord."

Rosier said the devotion, which was good preparation for the Year of Mercy, was so well-received in Virden that plans are under way for another devotion to be held in 2016.