By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — For nine months, a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus drew Catholics to Holy Family Parish on the first Friday of the month.
This devotion will culminate with talks by author and Catholic radio contributor Father James Kubicki each night June 1-3 at 5:30 p.m. in the church. Father Kubicki wrote “A Heart on Fire: Rediscovering the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus” and is a regular contributor to Relevant Radio.
Father Nicholas Akindele, pastor of Holy Family Parish, said the Catholic Church has had a long devotion to the Sacred Heart, inspired by Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque of France. From 1673-1675, Sister Margaret Mary believed Jesus appeared to her in several visions to “show her his heart,” Father Akindele said. The heart of Jesus is the symbol of his eternal love for people, the priest added.
In one vision, Jesus urged Sister Margaret Mary to begin a personal devotion to his divine heart by receiving Communion every first Friday and spending an hour in prayer the night before, focused on seeking his pardon and making prayerful reparations for humankind’s desertion of his love. Father Akindele said he believes Jesus was telling the nun that people had forgotten his death on the cross, God’s love for them and the consolation they receive from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Although she faced skepticism when she shared her visions, Sister Margaret Mary, who died in 1690 and was canonized in 1920, had support from her spiritual advisor, who recognized her holiness. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus spread through the efforts of St. Colomboiere and St. John Eudes. The Vatican officially approved devotion to the Sacred Heart in 1765 and Pope Pius IX made the feast a universal solemnity. Pope Leo XIII dedicated the human race to the Sacred Heart (Word on Fire, https://tinyurl.com/3j73cdw6).
Father Akindele, Holy Family’s pastor since 2022, said he was inspired to offer the First Friday devotion specifically to the Sacred Heart of Jesus after a pilgrimage to Rome. That devotion began on Sept. 6, 2024 and concluded May 2. All Catholics were welcome to participate and many did from other parishes.
Father Akindele contemplated various ideas to celebrate conclusion of the devotion. While preparing for a parish volunteer dinner in January, a regular First Friday participant mentioned that she was on a waiting list for a retreat. He encouraged her to attend, if the opportunity became possible.
During the retreat, her spiritual director was Father Kubicki. The two talked about the Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion and she asked whether he led parish missions, which he did. She told Father Akindele about her meeting with Father Kubicki. “I need him,” Father Akindele responded. By chance, Father Kubicki had an opening between talks in Illinois and Wisconsin and scheduled his Davenport presentation for June 1-3.
“This is an opportunity to listen to Father Kubicki and discover the devotion to the Sacred Heart,” Father Akindele said. He noted that the late Pope Francis’ last encyclical letter was “Dilexit nos” (on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ).
Father Kubicki’s talks are “The True Love Story” (June 1); “Encountering the Heart of Jesus in the Word and Sacrament” (June 2) and “Uniting our Hearts with the Sacred Heart One Day at a Time” (June 3).
For more information, contact Holy Family Parish office at 563-322-0901.
