Clergy Assignments 2024
Bishop Francis Kalabat announces the following clergy assignments effective August 1, 2022.
Feast Day of The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Feast Day of The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today is the Feast Day of The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Observed on the Saturday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, in close proximity to the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this feast honors the purity, love, and maternal compassion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, symbolized through her immaculate heart. The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary highlights her unique role in the salvation history and her exemplary model of discipleship.
In the 20th century, the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima in 1917 significantly boosted the devotion to the Immaculate Heart. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal, and emphasized the importance of prayer, penance, and devotion to her Immaculate Heart as a means of securing peace and converting sinners. This message resonated deeply with the faithful, leading to a renewed focus on this devotion.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary symbolizes her pure love for God and humanity, her maternal compassion, and her sorrows and joys as the mother of Jesus. Unlike the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which represents divine love, the Immaculate Heart emphasizes Mary’s human love and her perfect response to God’s grace.
This devotion invites the faithful to contemplate Mary’s virtues and to seek her intercession. It highlights her role as a model disciple, who listened to God’s word, pondered it in her heart, and responded with unwavering faith and obedience. By imitating Mary’s heart, we are encouraged to grow in our own love for God and neighbor, and to trust in Mary’s maternal care and guidance.
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, intercede and pray for us!
Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Feast Day of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Today is the Feast of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! Observed on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, this feast honors the physical heart of Jesus Christ as a symbol of his boundless and passionate love for all of humanity. The devotion to the Sacred Heart is deeply rooted in our Church’s history and spiritual life, reflecting the core of Christian faith: the infinite love and mercy of God.
The devotion of the Sacred Heart gained significant prominence in the 17th century, primarily through the revelations of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitation nun. Between 1673 and 1675, Saint Margaret Mary reported a series of visions in which Jesus expressed his deep love for humanity and his sorry over the indifference and ingratitude shown to his sacrificial love.
In these visions, Jesus revealed his heart as a symbol of his divine love, surrounded by thorns representing the sins and ingratitude of humanity. He requested that a feast be established in honor of his Sacred Heart, promising blessings to those who practiced this devotion. The message spread quickly, and by 1856, Pope Pius IX formally instituted the Feast of the Sacred Heart for the universal Church.
This devotion calls the faithful to respond to Jesus’ love by embracing his teachings, engaging in acts of reparation for sins, and striving to embody his love in their daily lives. It underscores the intimate relationship between God and humanity, inviting believers to trust in God’s unending love and to seek comfort and strength in the heart of Christ.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart serves as a powerful reminder of God’s enduring love for all humanity, encouraging the faithful to trust in Jesus’ mercy and to spread his love in a world in desperate need of healing and unity. As the Church celebrates this feast, it renews its commitment to living out the love of Christ, inviting all to experience the peace and joy that comes from resting in the heart of Jesus.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us!