The Archdiocese Celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

June is a month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is a time of spiritual meditation on Christ’s Sacred Heart, a heart full of endless love and mercy. 

The devotion started in the 17th century with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a simple nun to whom Jesus appeared. During those visions, Jesus told St. Margaret “I ask of you that the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi be set apart for a special feast to honor my heart…”. 

Today, this feast is celebrated, and the devotion is practiced by Catholics worldwide. 

Therefore, throughout the month, the sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus led the Sacred Heart chaplet at Mar Elia Church every evening, along with the blessing from the Blessed Sacrament (following Corpus Christi), as they prepared for the Solemnity. 

Thus, on Friday, June 16th, Archbishop Bashar Warda along with Fr. Janan Shamil celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Mar Elia Church, with the presence of the Archdiocese’s clergy, religious sisters, and the lay faithful.

Moreover, H.G. spoke about the verse from Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

H.G. Emphasized the weight and burden placed by the worldly pleasures on the human heart, tricking us into thinking that by gaining material pleasures, we earn peace. 

The archbishop emphasized the story of the rich young man who, goes away sorrowful, for he had great possessions; the young man was not able to let go of his material goods and thus he leaves rather than following Christ’s words. 

Looking at the story of Mary and Martha, as we find it in St. Luke’s gospel “But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;  one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” the Archbishop encouraged the lay faithful to know that “one thing is needful”, that is the good portion, Christ Himself.

After the celebration of Mass, a charity shop was organized by the sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and its opening was headed by Archbishop Warda.