24 Hours for the Lord, March 9-10, 2018

24 Hours for the Lord - click here for Parish Celebrations


In his Apostolic Letter, Misericordia et Misera, concluding the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis requested that the Universal Church observe “24 Hours for the Lord” on the Friday and Saturday before the Fourth Sunday of Lent, calling it an initiative that “has great pastoral value in encouraging a more fervent experience of the sacrament of Confession.” (Misericordia et Misera, 11).

The two primary elements of the 24 Hours for the Lord initiative are (1) prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, either reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for adoration, and (2) the opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Penance.

Open Doors:  All parishes in the Diocese of Lansing, with due consideration for particular circumstances, are invited to open their churches for a period of twenty-four hours from Friday evening, March 9, through Saturday evening, March 10, 2018, concluding with the Saturday evening Mass. The clergy and faithful are encouraged to encounter the mercy of the Lord in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, either reserved or exposed, and with additional opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance during these twenty-four hours.

Particular Circumstances: In some instances it will be a hardship to open churches for the entire twenty-four hour period. Pastors, in keeping with the spirit of the observance, are encouraged to provide for greater availability for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation on March 9-10, 2018.

Multi-Parish Celebrations: Additionally, parishes are encouraged, if this is helpful to the observance, to join together and host this initiative at a single site, particularly for greater availability for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

Observance: The observance of 24 Hours for the Lord may be held either with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the entire period, with several times for reconciliation. Alternately, it may be held with exposition and confessions only at certain intervals.

The observance is to be determined by each location, as most suitable to provide greater availability for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Contact your local parish.