When celebrating a bilingual Mass at Sacred Heart, I pray the Collect and Pray after Communion in both Spanish and English. I pray it in Spanish first without the concluding phrase followed imminently by the prayer in English with which I conclude. Yesterday I prayed: Oh Dios, que por la Concepcion Inmaculada de la Virgen Mariapreparaste a tu Hijo una digna morada,y en prevision de la muerte de tu Hijola preservaste de todo pecado,concedenos por su intercesionllegar a El limpios de todas... Read more

Whenever I think of the great Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan and doctor of the church, I remember a piece of trivia I learned while reading the Confessions of Saint Augustine in college. Saint Ambrose is remembered for his great knowledge and wisdom.  Few of his contemporaries surpassed him in courage and astuteness.  His greatest student was Saint Augustine of Hippo who arrived to Milan in 384 to teach at an imperial school.  Augustine speaks of Ambrose, in particular the influence this great... Read more

The true Saint Nicholas, not the jolly Old Saint Nick Coca Cola has given us, was born in the year 270 and became bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. There are two famous stories linked to Saint Nicholas, one comes from ancient folklore, the other from historical accounts.  The first is depicted below in an ancient work at the Church of San Saba in Rome.  There was once a poor man with three daughters who was unable to afford a... Read more

  Este año el Sagrado Corazón se une a Santa Juliana en Fort Valley para la celebración anual de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en el Parque Ferial de Perry.  Esperamos más de 1,000 feligreses para celebrar esta fiesta que rinde honores a la Santa Virgen María, la Madre de Dios. Esta celebración es esencial en la identidad y fe mexicana.  A los inicios de la colonización del Nuevo Mundo, Dios no solo envió misioneros valientes a proclamar el evangelio, pero... Read more

This year Sacred Heart is joining Saint Juliana in Fort Valley for the annual celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Perry Fairgrounds.  We expect over 1,000 faithful to gather for this great feast which honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. The celebration of this feast runs deep in Mexican identity and faith.  At the beginning of the colonization of the New World, the Lord not only sent brave missionaries to proclaim the Gospel, but He... Read more

Durante las últimas semanas mis homilías han tratado siempre del mismo tema: la necesidad de estar preparados para la venida del Señor.Aunque las lecturas de hoy una vez más nos llaman a estar bien preparados para la venida del Señor, hoy ya no voy a hablar de esta necesidad. Pero si voy a hablar de otra necesidad que compartirnos como seres humanos: la necesidad de dar de nosotros mismos. De dar y compartir quienes somos y lo que tenemos.Imagínense la... Read more

When the king of Portugal requested missionaries for his colonies in India from Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Ignatius sent one of his best men: Francis Xavier.  Francisco Javier was a fellow Spaniard and good friend having roomed with Ignatius while they studied in Paris.  Francisco Javier became one of the first members of the Society of Jesus which Ignatius founded.  In 1541 Francisco Javier set out for the Orient and spent the rest of his life preaching the Gospel in... Read more

Four years ago I noticed a small brown sign on the Gray Highway between Macon and Gray.  It showed the way to Jarrell Plantation.  Since then I have wanted to visit this plantation, especially after reading the Georgia State Park’s summary of the site: “Nestled in the red clay hills of Georgia, this cotton plantation was owned by a single family for more than 140 years.  It survived Gen. Sherman’s March to the Sea, typhoid fever, Emancipation, Reconstruction, the cotton... Read more

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.  He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  At once they left their nets and followed him.  Gospel of Matthew 4, 18-20 This is the short yet powerful call of the brothers Peter and Andrew to follow Jesus.  Their response to a... Read more