SALISBURY — The night was filled with fireworks, food and fun at Sacred Heart parish’s ninth annual Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus celebration held on June 27.
Friday night's Mass was standing room only, with more than 800 parishioners attending one of Father John Eckert's favorite occasions – the parish’s patronal feast day.
Earlier that morning, Father Eckert spoke as the guest spiritual director on Relevant Radio’s program, “The Best of the Week,” and explained the devotion of the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
In the 17th century, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque pushed for the implementation of a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for humanity to appreciate the intensity of the Lord’s love, he said.
“This is real, we have this gift, through Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Lord showing her saying, ‘Look, this is My Heart. This is what I want you to show people. This is how I want you to depict it,'’’ said Father Eckert. “And there it is in all its reality and all its wounds, and yet on fire with love for us. So, it’s huge and divine and beyond our comprehension, yet accessible and tangible and real in its humanity, and it all comes together, and He is offering it to each and every one of us.”
During his homily, Father Eckert reemphasized the devotion’s importance.
“Our Lord's heart is on fire with love for us,” he said. “He loved us so much, He poured out everything.”
Father Eckert shared some of the 12 promises the Lord told Saint Alacoque to expect through devotion to the Sacred Heart, including the ability to touch hardened hearts, finding the source of infinite mercy, sinners becoming fervent and fervent souls quickly mounting to perfection.
“No matter what state you are in coming here tonight, He is after us. He loves us. That heart is fully divine and truly human and is loving us so fully,” he said. “Stay close to Him, know that He is in the midst of all of us, know that He loves you. Pray for that grace and keep growing and being fervent. Keep moving to that highest perfection.”
Father Eckert presided over the Mass alongside parochial vicar Father Matthew Dimock and newly ordained Father Nicholas Kramer, assisted by Deacon Robert Bauman and Deacon Maximilian Frei.
After Mass, the church steps remained crowded as people lined up to receive a first priestly blessing from Father Kramer.
Parishioners ate barbecue, danced, conversed and played their favorite games, all the while anticipating the eveving's fireworks display. Families took pictures in front of pop-outs of Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, and adults sipped some local brew while the children cooled down with snow cones.
Father Eckert unwound from the long day by mingling. Deacon Bauman eliminated language barriers, easily conversing in Spanish, English and even sign language, and the children found a new role model in Father Kramer, smiling as he bent down and joked with them.
Although everyone felt the camaraderie, the real cause for celebration was that endless love within the Sacred Heart that Father Eckert had discussed earlier.
“This is our first time bringing our grandchildren with us to church,” said parishioner of 10 years, Alice Reynolds, noting that it was a great way for them to experience the community of faith. “It is the center of our faith, and I love that the month of June is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I am explaining to them (the grandkids) that Jesus loves them so much. It is such a joyful event.”
Another parishioner, Megan Osborne, came to the celebration for years, but this is her first year coming as a Catholic. She and her husband were received into the Church in February.
She is 30 weeks pregnant, her husband is serving in the U.S. Army until October and she has another small child, but that did not keep her away.
“This is a true testament of God’s love for us, and I can enjoy it as a Catholic now and understand what it means because beforehand, I just came out here for the fireworks,” said Osborne. "It is amazing to know God’s mercy. He went to the cross and died for our sins, and His love was poured out for us."
The fireworks began promptly at 9:30 p.m. The night sky sparkled with dazzling shapes and vibrant colors, and just like Father Eckert previously told his flock, the Sacred Heart of Jesus was in the midst of them.
— Lisa M. Geraci, Photos by Troy C. Hull
