Welcome Friends! Welcome Brothers and Sisters in Christ! Welcome all those who have linked their lives with the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, choosing Divine Love at the center of their lives! And welcome to those who are just beginners in the spiritual journey. That includes me!

This is the first edition of Sacred Hearts Beat, a blog that I have begun in order to promote an outreach of our Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary to those who surf the Web.
Today, as I write this column, it is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the last Sunday of this Christmas season. In the Gospel today, Jesus did what was totally unexpected. He asked John the Baptist to baptize him, though He rightfully could have taken a position of superiority, baptizing John the Baptist. Why did Jesus act in this way? For all of us who personally know the love that comes from the Heart of Jesus, the answer becomes obvious when we hear it. Jesus entered the waters of the Jordan river to bring the transforming Love of His heart to the culture and environment of His time, just as He became part of your life when you were baptized. It is similar to the way the new snow is falling on this cold wintry day and letting us see everything around us in a fresh, new, and beautiful way. May I show you some photos of what I see?

The small building in the center of the photo is the place where, as a vocation director, I have chosen to be based. The sign along the path that leads to my office says, “The Damien of Molokai Center.” Here amid photographs and mementos of the life of Blessed Father Damien of Molkai, I sit and dream of a future in which followers of Damien will come forth to dedicate themselves to God, the Church, and to the poor of God, who need His love the most.

In the case of Father Damien, the poor ones he was called to serve were victims of Hansen’s Disease, the modern name for leprosy.

Damien was only just 33 years old, a handsome, strong, lively, young man, when he began his mission to the victims of Hansen’s disease. Because the victims of leprosy were exiled on the island of Molokai. Damien chose to be exiled with them. Thus,he responded with loving obedience to a personal call of Jesus’ Heart, We are able to respond in a similar way, when Jesus’ Heart is our center.

Young Damien

For brothers and sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts who follow in Damien’s footsteps, the poor of God can be any and all who come to us, but especially the poor and unevangelized that we encounter. Readers, please look around you and beyond your comfort zone to see the ones who most need what is inside the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Through what we do with our hands, feet, tongues, and hearts, we can help bring Jesus’ and Mary’s hearts to them. Being ministers of the Church, we, of course, include the teachings and sacraments of the Church. There are so many riches that come from His Heart!
What a beautiful vocation! What a wonderful life! There is so much to share and give. So give whatever you can! And, please, please come and visit this website again!

See you later!