Last week throughout the province people gathered in SCJ communities and ministries to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
At Christ the King church in Southaven, MS, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, SCJ, was once again with the Dehonians after a visit to Houston the weekend before to ordain Fr. Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ.
“[L]ove for the Sacred Heart and the Lord’s sacrifice cannot be contained within our churches, as sacred as they are,” said the bishop at Friday’s Mass with hundreds of parishioners from the six area parishes, as well as coworkers from Sacred Heart Southern Missions. “The charism of the Priests of the Sacred Heart is to transform the world we live in through acts of compassion, justice, and mercy. This labor of love on behalf of God’s Kingdom has been alive and well in the north of our diocese for over 80 years through the dedication of the Sacred Heart Fathers (SCJs).”
During the Mass, SCJs, as well as lay Dehonians, renewed their commitments; they are pictured at the top of the page.
“Jesus has a place in his Heart for every one of us,” said Fr. Jim Schroeder, SCJ, in his homily for the feast-day Mass at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. “We can savor this and let ourselves be held by him. We can spend a few moments each day just reflecting on how Jesus loves us. When we thus know the love of Jesus for us, we want to love Jesus in return and offer him our hearts. His love moves us to open our hearts to love his people and his earth as he does. Devotion to the Heart of Jesus today is not a bunch of devotions, or pious exercises, but an oblation, a return of love for love.” Fr. Jim is pictured below, after the Mass.
And to coworkers and other collaborators, Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, wrote: “As we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart, I pray that we see the ministry in which we partake as a sharing of our gifts from God and as a participation in God’s redemptive love for the world. As St. Francis of Assisi reminds us, it is in our giving that we receive.”
Click on the links below to access text and photos from the Feast of the Sacred Heart:
- Photos from the Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake.
- Fr. Jim Schroeder’s homily from the Mass.
- Bishop Joseph Kopacz’ homily for the feast-day Mass at Christ the King parish.
- Photos from the Mass in Mississippi
- Fr. Vien Nguyen’s letter to coworkers and collaborators.
- Fr. Vien’s letter to SCJs for the feast.
The letter of Fr. Carlos Luis Suárez Codorniú, SCJ, superior general, for the feast.
