Did You Know?

Leading up to America’s 250th birthday this July, that the Bishops of the United States will consecrate our Nation to the Sacred Heart of JESUS. The Novena -nine days of prayer- leading up to the Consecration began on 3 June and concludes on the 11th on the Eve of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. The Bishops are encouraging all American Catholic laity and their families to participate in what is hoped will begin a spiritual renewal of our Country. Here in our Parish, the Novena is being prayed at Masses and all are encouraged to use one of the prayer cards during these days of prayer at home. We are also encouraging all of our families to ‘enthrone’ an image of the Sacred Heart in your homes. There are many beautiful ‘versions’ of the Sacred Heart of JESUS as this is one of the favorite subjects for Catholic artists. (The image of Divine Mercy is, of course, one of the depictions of the Sacred Heart!) Enthroning the image of JESUS’ Heart in our homes gives a spiritual focal point for the ‘domestic church’: our family! (You can find everything that you need for an Enthronement on the Catholic Information Service website -shopcatholicinfo.com!) Two of the twelve “Promises” given to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the apparitions she received are: “I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored” and “Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out. . . My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in their last moment.” As we see and lament the spiritual collapse of our Country in so many ways, this is a unique moment of grace and opportunity given to the Church in the United States to lead a true renewal – and all of us, who love our Country, need to be part of this unique moment! Join us this coming Friday evening at 7:00PM for our Parish Holy Hour of the Sacred Heart, which will be led by our newly Ordained, Fr. Carlos Nagore!

A very special “thank you” to all who worked so hard to make this past week’s Vacation Bible School such a tremendous success! What a blessing to have so many happy, Spirit-filled kids enlivening the Parish campus this past week! Again, the teamwork and the focus on the Lord was evident in every aspect of one of our best Vacation Bible School experiences ever!