Keeping up with your Catholic faith can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be!

We all have busy schedules. Between work, school, responsibilities and social lives, where can we squeeze in the time to focus on developing a deeper relationship with Our Heavenly Father? That’s why Sacred Heart Parish has brought you the one spot where you can pray, learn and reflect!

Everything you need to Keep Up Catholic!

 

Prayer of the Day

  • Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, December 31, 2024 - O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our ... Continue Reading...
  • St. Theresa of the Child Jesus: Prayer of the Day for Monday, December 30, 2024 - O wondrous Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, who, in thy brief earthly life, didst become a mirror of angelic purity, of courageous love and of whole-hearted surrender to Almighty God, now that thou art enjoying the reward of thy virtues, turn thine eyes of mercy upon us who trust in thee. Obtain for us the grace to keep our hearts and minds pure and clean like unto thine, and to detest in all sincerity whatever might tarnish ever so slightly the luster of a virtue so sublime, a virtue that ... Continue Reading...
  • I Came to You Late: Prayer of the Day for Sunday, December 29, 2024 - I came to You late, O Beauty so ancient and new. I came to love You late. You were within me and I was outside where I rushed about wildly searching for You like some monster loose in Your beautiful world. You were with me but I was not with You. You called me, You shouted to me, You wrapped me in Your Splendour, You broke past my deafness, You bathed me in Your Light, You sent my blindness reeling. You gave out such a delightful fragrance and I drew it in and came breathing hard after You. I ... Continue Reading...
  • Litany to the Sacred Head of Jesus: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, December 28, 2024 - Lord, Have Mercy on Us. Christ, Have Mercy on Us. Lord Have Mercy on Us. Jesus, Graciously Hear Us. God the Father of Heaven, Have Mercy on Us. God the Son, Redeemer of the World, Have Mercy on Us. God the Holy Ghost, Have Mercy on Us. Sacred Head of Jesus, Formed by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary, Guide Us in All Our Ways Sacred Head of Jesus, Substantially United to the Word of God, Guide Us in All Our Ways Sacred Head of Jesus, Temple of Divine Wisdom, ... Continue Reading...
  • Glory be to the Father: Prayer of the Day for Friday, December 27, 2024 - Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Continue Reading...

 

Saint of the Day

  • St. Paul the Hermit: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - Also known as Paul the First Hermit and Paul of Thebes, an Egyptian hermit and friend of St. Jerome. Born in Lower The baid, Egypt, he was left an orphan at about the age of fifteen and hid during the persecution of the Church under Emperor Traj anus Decius. At the age of twenty two he went to the desert to circumvent a planned effort by his brother in law to report him to authorities as a Christian and thereby gain control of his property. Paul soon found that the eremitical life was much to ... Continue Reading...
  • St. Felix of Nola: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, January 14, 2025 - Felix was the son of Hermias, a Syrian who had been a Roman soldier. He was born on his father's estate at Nola near Naples, Italy. On the death of his father, Felix distributed his inheritance to the poor, was ordained by Bishop St. Maximus of Nola, and became his assistant. When Maximus fled to the desert at the beginning of Decius' persecution of the Christians in 250, Felix was seized in his stead and imprisoned. He was reputedly released from prison by an angel, who directed him to the ... Continue Reading...
  • St. Hilary of Poitiers: Saint of the Day for Monday, January 13, 2025 - "They didn't know who they were." This is how Hilary summed up the problem with the Arian heretics of the fourth century. Hilary, on the other hand, knew very well who he was -- a child of a loving God who had inherited eternal life through belief in the Son of God. He hadn't been raised as a Christian but he had felt a wonder at the gift of life and a desire to find out the meaning of that gift. He first discarded the approach of many people who around him, who believed the purpose of life ... Continue Reading...
  • St. Marguerite Bourgeoys: Saint of the Day for Sunday, January 12, 2025 - Marguerite had survived many threats in the twenty-six years she had been in wilderness of Canada. She had lived through Iroquois attacks, a fire that destroyed her small village, plagues on the ships that she took back and forth to France, but nothing threatened her dreams and hopes more than what her own bishop said to her in 1679. He told her that she had to join her Congregation of Notre Dame with its teaching sisters to a cloistered religious order of Ursulines. This was not the first time ... Continue Reading...
  • St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch: Saint of the Day for Saturday, January 11, 2025 - Abbot and founder. Born at Garissus, Cappadocia (modern Turkey), in 423, he undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and after meeting with the famed St. Simeon Stylites, he entered a monastery. Later, he was named the head of a church between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, but departed to live as a hermit near the Dead Sea. As he attracted a large number of followers, Theodosius established a monastery which was divided among the various nationalities of the monks (Greek, Armenian, etc.), each with ... Continue Reading...

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Daily Reading

  • Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time - Reading I Hebrews 2:14-18 Since the children share in blood and Flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way,     that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. or: R.    Alleluia. Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;     make known among the nations his deeds. Sing to him, sing his praise,     proclaim all his wondrous deeds. R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. or: R.    Alleluia. Glory in his holy name;     rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength;     seek to serve him constantly. R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. or: R.    Alleluia. You descendants of Abraham, his servants,     sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God;     throughout the earth his judgments prevail. R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. or: R.    Alleluia. He remembers forever his covenant     which he made binding for a thousand generations--  Which he entered into with Abraham     and by his oath to Isaac.  R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. or: R.    Alleluia. Alleluia John 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 1:29-39 On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn,  he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons  throughout the whole of Galilee. - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses… Continue Reading...

Daily Reflection

  • Ripples in a Pond / Ondas en el laguito - Click here for daily readings There is something captivating about tossing stones into a pond or lake. Maybe it is the disappearance of the stone as it plops into the water, perhaps it’s the splash. If there are siblings or friends involved, often a contest quickly develops for who can throw their stone furthest or get the most skips on the surface. No matter what the game or number of players, the ripples in the water dance and spread out in wider circles. Even a single stone can create many ripples that disturb the surface of the water. In today’s Gospel, we can see in action the ever widening circle of Jesus’ effect in Capernaum and Galilee. First, Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law. It is personal and intimate. One of Jesus’ closest disciples had a family member in need. But no stone enters the water without a rippling effect. By the evening, Jesus was healing many who were sick and in need. The following day, even though Jesus had gone off on his own to pray, the disciples still sought Him out. Together, they continued on to the different towns and villages throughout Galilee. Ripples upon ripples.  Jesus was one person. He is God, so of course He was able to do anything. But He came to us as a defined human who still had to eat and sleep. He was one stone, splashing through the surface of the water. One stone, however, that is still creating new ripples and patterns in our lives today.  Jesus fundamentally changed the reality of humanity when he entered the world. His Incarnation, time on earth, and culminating in his Passion, death and Resurrection, restored humanity to right relationship with God. We are able to enter heaven because of Jesus. We are able to call God Father, to communicate intimately with Him in prayer, because of Jesus. We are able to receive the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit because of Jesus.  Just as a lake or pond changes when a stone is thrown in, the whole world changed when Jesus came into it. When we allow Him to enter our lives, we too, are fundamentally changed. And when we let Him move and work through us, we become another stone whose ripples can continue spreading out into the world around us.  Contact the author Hay algo fascinante en lanzar piedras a un estanque o lago. Tal vez sea que la piedra se desaparece al caer al agua, tal vez sea ver cómo salpica el agua. Si hay hermanos o amigos presentes, casi siempre se desarrolla rápidamente una competencia para ver quién puede lanzar su piedra más lejos o hacer que salte más en la superficie. No importa cuál sea el juego o el número de jugadores, las ondas en el agua bailan y se extienden en círculos más amplios. Incluso una sola piedra puede crear muchas ondas que alteren la superficie del agua. En el Evangelio de hoy, podemos ver en acción el… Continue Reading...