The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that draws us into the tender, burning love of Christ for all humanity. As this month begins, we are invited not only to contemplate His pierced heart but also to allow our own hearts to be shaped by His mercy.
The Sacred Heart is more than a symbol; it is the very center of our faith, offering consolation, healing, and renewal. In a world often marked by indifference and division, devotion to the Sacred Heart calls us to live with compassion. We are encouraged to see others through the eyes of Christ, especially the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten.
This year, Bishop Richard Reidy has asked the faithful of the Diocese of Norwich to enter into this season of grace with deeper intention. From May 30 to June 7, the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost, he invites us to pray a brief novena. Its purpose is to seek a deepening of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Pope Leo XIV and in all our bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful. The hope is that this novena will spark a new Pentecost in our diocese and strengthen all that is already good and growing within our local Church.
Let this June be more than a time of devotion. Let it become a mission of the heart. As we draw closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, may we be transformed into instruments of His mercy, bearing witness to a love that has no end.
By Andrea DePaola