Hereunder the message and attached files in English members of the Emmanuel Community and of the Fraternity of Jesus we have been celebrating the 350 years Jubilee of the apparitions of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary More and more pilgrims are coming here to the source I would especially like to thank Etienne Kern and our brother chaplains for their involvement and generosity in the spiritual and practical organisation of the service of hospitality The annual governance seminar for all our Councils was also held from July 21-27 This seminar was particularly dense and rich and you will find attached a summary of what we experienced the setting up of monitoring groups which will work on the steps that the Community needs to take we are also going to spread the intuition received and worked on for several months on a community pastoral exhortation: “Heart to Heart” which is intended to nourish our community grace for the months and years to come to take hold of it and feed on it abundantly in this time of the Jubilee of the Heart of Jesus we entrust each and every one of you to Him; we entrust all your families to Him so that they may be irrigated by God’s infinite mercy Michel-Bernard de VregilleGeneral Moderator of the Emmanuel Community We are filled with great joy today as we learn that Pope Francis has approved the publication of the decree from the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints recognizing the “heroic virtues” of Pierre Goursat Emmanuel Music releases a typically American album covers with new arrangements… Bas Suijkerbuijk shares his experience of the album as it is released on streaming platforms Click here to access our Child Safety Policy As the Vatican announces the October 24 release of Pope Francis' encyclical Dilexit Nos on the Sacred Heart rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paray-le-Monial reflects on the history and modern relevance of this devotion Father Etienne Kern: The devotion to the Sacred Heart is a spirituality entirely focused on the heart of Jesus It not only involves meditating on his physical heart The passage from John 19:34 – “One soldier thrust his lance into his side and immediately blood and water flowed out” – refers to Jesus’ heart followed by the verse: “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.” In this sense particularly identifying the heart of Christ as a “source of living water.” The devotion then developed in the Middle Ages through many mystical writers and later through modern authors like Saint John Eudes in the 17th century it was an elite form of piety within the church almost exclusively reserved for religious orders The Sacred Heart became a popular devotion thanks to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque a nun of the Visitation Order who had two mystical experiences in 1673 and 1675 in Paray-le-Monial asking her to promote devotion to His heart She dedicated herself to this cause with the help of her spiritual advisor and their efforts were remarkably successful the city of Marseille became the first to be consecrated to the Sacred Heart to save it from a plague outbreak Pope Pius IX instituted the feast of the Sacred Heart for the entire church in 1856 while pilgrimages to Paray-le-Monial became more frequent and massive The construction of Montmartre from the 1870s onward was also a significant moment At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a decline, lamented by Pius XII in a 1956 encyclical. However, in the 1970s, enthusiasm returned, particularly due to the Emmanuel community's revitalization of the Basilica of Paray-le-Monial when the group settled there in 1975 we are witnessing a gradual return to the devotion which I attribute to three factors: the rediscovery of the heart of Jesus and the rediscovery of others within the heart of Jesus We were only expecting an apostolic exhortation but it seems that Pope Francis wants to summarize the spirit of his pontificate by writing an encyclical We anticipate more frequent pilgrimages to Paray-le-Monial and are preparing to welcome them Thieves fired shots and took parts of 1904 work by goldsmith Joseph Chaumet from Hiéron Museum Armed robbers snatched jewels worth millions from a work by the famed Parisian goldsmith Joseph Chaumet classed as a national treasure The thieves arrived on motorbikes at the Hiéron Museum in Paray-le-Monial, in central France Three entered the building and one stood guard outside France’s culture ministry classes Via Vitae as a national treasure Photograph: Patrick Forget/AlamyThe group fired several shots and headed for the museum’s star exhibit a 3-metre (10ft) work made in 1904 depicting the life of Christ in precious metals it was classed as a national treasure by France’s culture ministry with an estimated value of up to €7m (£5.8m) The gigantic piece comprises 138 figures encrusted with diamonds and rubies set in marble of various shades The intruders used a power tool to saw through armoured glass protecting the piece and took gold and ivory figurines as well as emerald decorations the gang sowed spikes across the road to hobble two pursuing vehicles Nesme said: “This is a great loss for Paray-le-Monial and for national heritage.” He said staff and about 20 visitors present on the museum’s ground floor had been “traumatised” by the violent intrusion and there was an attempted robbery in 2022 On Wednesday several precious objects including ornate snuffboxes were stolen from a central Paris museum Thieves broke into a display case with axes and baseball bats in full view of visitors and staff in broad daylight at the Cognacq-Jay Museum thanks to sisters and the EucharistAvec l'autorisation de Rodrigue Tandu Rodrigue Tandu's life is far from ordinary Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo Rodrigue Tandu arrived in France at the age of six Rodrigue went to elementary school in peace and he fell into a spiral of violence.  Frequent and violent fights with youths from the housing opposite the school deterred him and his friends from attending classes they spent their days on the streets of Bondy Rodrigue was getting ready to go clubbing after collecting the day's takings he and his friends saw three religious sisters arrive we thought they were cops," Rodrigue Tandu tells Aleteia "We thought they were setting a trap for us so we searched them!” But the young people found neither weapons nor microphones on them "When we found out they really were religious sisters because I was the only Catholic among my friends but get out of here right away.' So they left and I went on my way.” These nuns belonged to the Emmanuel Community and had settled in the neighborhood Rodrigue did everything he could to avoid them and Rodrigue had been afraid that someone would die and he would go to prison he decided to go into the church and pray with her and there he felt great peace and found real comfort Rodrigue accepted the sister’s invitation to go to the shrine of Paray-le-Monial "I wanted to thank her for praying with me that day I hadn't gone to prison," he says with a smile so I had to bring enough to last the five days," he jokes I thought they were actually laughing at me." Rodrigue was immediately drawn to the Blessed Sacrament, exposed to welcome pilgrims "I didn't know about the Blessed Sacrament and through that round thing I felt a great force calling me Rodrigue heard an inner voice encouraging him to throw away everything he'd brought with him I thought I could sell it to the guys who were there That grace that enabled him to make a radical choice Rodrigue went from confessional to confessional praying long hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament attending Mass and being filled with an immense joy I was singing hallelujahs all over the neighborhood but they thought I was starting to lose it." Rodrigue began to feel out of step with them pay off his debts ,and get out of the world of crime he began the Emmanuel Community's School of Charity and Mission he became a specialized educator with the Apprentis d'Auteuil Thanks to his life's journey and his professional experience he co-founded an association called "Réseau des deux cités" (“Network of the Two Cities”) The goal is to bring together people from different backgrounds—big entrepreneurs and people from underprivileged neighborhoods—to help hundreds of young people from the suburbs to radically change their lives Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you Please make a tax-deductible donation today Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news Pope Francis announced June 5 that a text on the Sacred Heart of Jesus a spirituality born in 17th-century France would be published by the Vatican in September Before concluding his weekly general audience June 5 Pope Francis announced that a new papal document dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was being prepared and due to be released in September.  “I am preparing a document to repropose today this cult rich in spiritual beauty,” he said in front of thousands of faithful gathered in St Francis had already announced the document during a meeting with Spanish bishops at the end of May The pope took the opportunity to announce the document as the church commemorates the 350th anniversary of the birth of this spirituality, which originated in France and fell into disuse in the 1950s. Its origins lie in the mystical experience of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque at Paray-le-Monial (Saône-et-Loire) on December 27 The French nun received visions of the heart of Jesus surmounted by a cross on a throne of flames The nun recalled how Jesus took her heart and returned it to her "ablaze." This spirituality developed notably through the Society of Jesus, particularly the Jesuit priest Saint Claude La Colombière, who accompanied Saint Margaret. Today, the same is true of the Jesuit-led Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network whose mission is "to pray and work" for the "challenges facing humanity and assists the mission of the church." This pontifical organization is responsible for publishing the pope's monthly “prayer intentions” and distributing them around the world Margaret Mary Alacoque was canonized by Pope Benedict XV on May 13 Pope Francis' announcement comes as the Paray-le-Monial shrine organized three days of celebrations from June 6 to 9 to mark the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 7 The meaning of reparation in the Church is the focus of an international conference organized in Rome to mark the 350th anniversary of the Apparitions of the Heart of Jesus to St Margaret Mary of Alacoque in Paray-le-Monial,  in the French Bourgogne region Margaret Mary is known for introducing this devotion in the late 17th century which was later formally recognized and approved by Pope Clement XIII Gathered in Rome from 1-5  May around the theme “Repairing the irreparable”  the some 150 participants are discussing the relevance of the practice of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  especially in the present  context of the Catholic Church marked by the abuse scandals that have shaken the faith of many faithful and created a deep need for reparation Pope Francis welcomed the conference as he met with the participants on Saturday In his speech he recalled that the concept of reparation is often found in the Scriptures but in the New Testament it takes the form of a spiritual process within the framework of the Redemption brought about by Christ and His sacrifice on  the Cross “The novelty here – he said - is that it reveals the mercy of the Lord towards the sinner Reparation therefore contributes to the reconciliation of men among themselves because the evil committed against one's neighbour is also an offense against God.” Pope Francis went on to note that the title of the conference encourages us to hope that every wound can be healed even if it is deep: “Complete reparation sometimes seems impossible when possessions or loved ones are permanently lost or when certain situations have become irreversible But the intention to make amends and to do so concretely is essential for the reconciliation process and the return of peace to the heart.” For reparation to be truly Chistian and "not just a simple act of commutative justice" he remarked,  it must presuppose "two demanding attitudes: recognizing oneself guilty and asking for forgiveness." Indeed begins with the recognition of one's sin." “It is from this honest recognition of the harm done to the brother and from the deep and sincere feeling that love has been wounded “reopens the dialogue and manifests the desire to re-establish the bond in fraternal charity” or the even the simple desire to make reparation guarantees the authenticity of the request for forgiveness if the irreparable cannot be completely repaired Pope Francis expressed his wish that the conference "may renew and deepen the meaning of of the practice of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus introduced  by Saint Margaret Mary and which  today  is somewhat forgotten or wrongly considered obsolete Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here which removes all temporal punishment due for sin The indulgence is part of the Sacred Heart Jubilee Year taking place in the Church from December 2023 to June 2025 The jubilee commemorates the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St Margaret Mary Alacoque that took place in Paray-le-Monial the date of the solemnity of the feast of the Sacred Heart which falls on the Friday after the Corpus Christi octave in the Church each year The indulgence can be obtained by making the pilgrimage to Paray-le-Monial Bishop Earl Fernandes will lead a diocesan pilgrimage to France from May 31 to June 9 The pilgrimage includes a visit to Paray-le-Monial the site of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St four churches in the Diocese of Columbus also will be pilgrimage sites: Cardington Sacred Hearts Coshocton Sacred Heart and New Philadelphia Sacred Heart The faithful can receive the plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year by visiting one of the local pilgrimage sites and assisting at Mass; reciting prayers such as the Litany of the Sacred Heart; making a Holy Hour of reparation; and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father An indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints an individual must have complete detachment from sin receive the sacraments of reconciliation and Holy Communion within a reasonable time period and pray for the Holy Father’s intentions Two opportunities to receive a plenary indulgence which removes the temporal punishment due for sin will be offered for the faithful beginning in December the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary the feast of the Presentation in the Temple of Our Lord Jesus Christ a plenary indulgence can be obtained by visiting a church run by the Franciscan order and praying in front of the church’s Nativity scene Thomas the Apostle churches are run by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars The faithful can receive the plenary indulgence by praying in front of the Nativity scene at either church The usual conditions to receive an indulgence also must be met: detachment from all sin including venial sin (sins pertaining to a less serious matter); sacramental confession and Holy Communion within a reasonable time period; and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father The plenary indulgence for praying in front of a Nativity scene at a Franciscan-run church was granted by Pope Francis to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Christmas in Greccio Francis of Assisi created the first live Nativity scene in Greccio in 1223 People who are ill or unable to participate physically can receive the plenary indulgence by offering their sufferings to the Lord or through practices of piety A plenary indulgence can also be obtained during the Jubilee Year lasting December 2023-June 2025 The Jubilee commemorates the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St an indulgence can be obtained by making a pilgrimage to Paray-le-Monial Bishop Earl Fernandes will lead a diocesan pilgrimage to France For people who cannot make the diocesan pilgrimage a plenary indulgence can be obtained locally Four sites in the diocese will be places of pilgrimage during the Sacred Heart Jubilee year: Cardington Sacred Hearts Church Coshocton Sacred Heart Church and New Philadelphia Sacred Heart Church The faithful can receive the plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year after meeting the following conditions: visiting one of the local pilgrimage sites; assisting at Mass; reciting prayers the usual conditions – detachment from sin sacramental confession and Holy Communion within a reasonable time period and prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions – also must be met "How many tears still flow down God's cheeks while our world experiences so much abuse against the dignity of the person even within the people of God," Pope Francis said as he spoke to people attending a conference focused on spiritual reparation and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The spiritual practice of reparation "may be somewhat forgotten or wrongly judged obsolete" today but it is essential for the promotion of justice and healing including on behalf of those who have suffered abuse in the church the hope is that even "if the irreparable cannot be completely repaired Pope Francis met May 4 with participants in a conference marking the 350th anniversary of the 17th-century apparitions of Jesus to French St which included his call to promote devotion to his sacred heart and to make acts of reparation or penance for the times people have not recognized Christ's love Reparation is a concept found throughout the Bible it takes on a social dimension of compensation for evil committed," being a matter of justice such as returning something that had been stolen or repairing something that was damaged within the framework of the redemption brought about by Christ," the pope said "Reparation is fully manifested in the sacrifice of the cross The novelty here is that it reveals the Lord's mercy toward the sinner." "Reparation therefore contributes to people's reconciliation between themselves because the wrong done to our neighbor is also an offense to God," he said "Do not the tears of the widow fall down the cheeks of God?" "how many tears still flow down God's cheeks while our world experiences so much abuse against the dignity of the person even within the people of God," the church "Full reparation at times seems impossible such as when goods or loved ones are definitively lost or when certain situations have become irreversible," he said "But the intention to make amends and to do so in a concrete way is essential for the process of reconciliation and the return to peace in the heart." must include "recognizing oneself as guilty and asking for forgiveness," because it is from an "honest acknowledgment of the wrong done to one's brother or sister and from the profound and sincere sentiment that love has been harmed The explicit request for forgiveness "reopens dialogue and manifests the will to re-establish the bond of fraternal charity," he said And a commitment to reparation -- "even a beginning of reparation or simply the will to make amends -- guarantees the authenticity of the request for forgiveness bringing consolation and inspiring the other to accept the request for forgiveness." Margaret Mary for acts of reparation for the offenses caused by the sins of humanity indicate that "these acts consoled his heart," the pope said "this means that reparation can also console the heart of every wounded person." Pope Francis prayed that the conference would renew and strengthen "the meaning of this beautiful practice of the reparation to the sacred heart of Jesus" and that it would find "its rightful place in the penitential journey of each baptized person in the church." Catholic News Service has been providing complete in-depth coverage of the popes and the Vatican for more than 70 years faithful and informed connection to the Holy See While people around the world are praying for the cardinals who will enter the conclave May 7 to elect the next pope Cardinal Gugerotti urged electors to draw on Eastern Christian humility and let the Spirit A Rome tailor is hoping the new pope will appear on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica wearing a cassock he sewed himself The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB’s) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy ©2025 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Made possible by funding from  Encyclicals - a term of Greek origin meaning “circular” (ἐγκύκλιος / enkuklios) - are letters addressed by a pope to all the bishops or Catholics across the world They are the highest degree of papal documents titled “Dilexit nos - Encyclical Letter on the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ,” will be published on October 24 and presented at a press conference the same day Theologian and Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto (Italy) general head of the Disciples of the Gospel just a few days before the feast of the Sacred Heart - celebrated this year on June 7 the third Friday after Pentecost - Pope Francis announced that he would publish a magisterial text on this traditional devotion which has marked Catholicism for over three centuries “I am pleased to prepare a document that brings together the precious reflections of previous Magisterial texts and a long history that goes back to the Sacred Scriptures this devotion imbued with spiritual beauty,” Pope Francis had said at the time.  He explained that this initiative was part of a series of celebrations to mark the “350th anniversary of the first manifestation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St The commemorative events began on December 27 The Sacred Heart of Jesus is often depicted as a flaming and bleeding heart sometimes with a crown of thorns and a small cross The devotion to this symbol dates back to the Middle Ages and was popularized in the 17th century by the French saint after an apparition at Paray-le-Monial in central France.  “I believe it will do us great good to meditate on various aspects of the Lord’s love which can illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal and say something meaningful to a world that seems to have lost its heart,” Pope Francis emphasized during the general audience in June with the intention of making this document public next September,” he announced at the time The leaders of the Spanish Bishops' Conference had announced that Pope Francis was preparing an apostolic exhortation on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus the document will be published a few weeks later than planned but with the higher status of an encyclical The previous encyclical dedicated to this theme, Haurietis aqua, was published by Pius XII in 1956, to mark the centenary of the extension of this feast to the whole Church, decided by Pius IX in 1856. Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. It’s free! Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. Please make a tax-deductible donation today! Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more. What is the proper spiritual response to the abuse crisis in the Church? is the question raised at the “Repairing the Irreparable” conference in Rome. Father Étienne Kern, who initiated the event, discusses the aims of the conference. The Church must grapple with the spiritual repercussions and necessary reparations of the sexual abuse crisis, emphasizing the need to honor and support the victims and restore faith among the deeply shaken Christian community, says the rector of the Shrine of Paray-le-Monial in eastern France, who initiated a conference in Rome titled, “Repairing the Irreparable.”  Listening to and supporting victims on the psychological, financial, and legal levels  “is absolutely essential, but not sufficient. Some victims also ask the Church to honor the distinctly spiritual dimension of reparation because they have also been harmed in their souls,” Father Étienne Kern told La Croix’s Gilles Donada in an interview, discussing the aims of the conference. Participants at the May 1 – 5 conference in Rome are reflecting on the appropriate spiritual response to and reparations for the sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. What is the proper spiritual response to the abuse crisis in the Church? is the question raised at the conference. La Croix: Repairing the irreparable... What kind of reparation are you talking about? Father Étienne Kern: The CIASE report in October 2021 revealed the extent of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in France. Following this, the Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation was established to listen to and support victims on the psychological, financial, and legal levels. This is absolutely essential, but not sufficient. Some victims also ask the Church to honor the distinctly spiritual dimension of reparation because they have also been harmed in their souls. During the great apparition of the Sacred Heart in June 1675, Christ requested reparation for these offenses, especially through the institution of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, frequent communion, and Eucharistic adoration. The 19th century focused on the penitential dimension of reparation, even falling into a certain dolorism, which contributed to making it obsolete during the 20th century – before its value and relevance were rediscovered in light of recent scandals. What connection do you make between the reparation highlighted in the worship of the Sacred Heart and current events? The CIASE report revealed the systemic dimension of the abuses that were perpetrated. No one is outside the problem or above it. We are all affected, whether we want it or not, by this culture of abuse, to borrow Pope Francis's expression. Thus, many of the speakers at this conference belong to congregations or communities – including mine – involved in one way or another in scandals. None are immune, mine no more than the others. But it is from within that another movement can begin. 0$0.00 CV NEWS FEED // For the entire Sacred Heart Jubilee Year pilgrims have the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence which removes all temporal punishment for sins at four churches in the Diocese of Columbus The Sacred Heart Jubilee Year for the Diocese of Columbus began on December 27 and marks 350 years since the apparition of Jesus to St on the Solemnity of the Feast of the Sacred Heart The Catholic Times on December 27 shared information about how pilgrims can obtain the indulgence either through visiting one of the churches or by going on the upcoming dioceasan-offered pilgrimage to France Columbus diocese’ Bishop Earl Fernandes will be leading a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Paray-le-Monial The four churches in the Diocese of Columbus that will be pilgrimage sites are Cardington Sacred Hearts “The faithful can receive the plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year by visiting one of the local pilgrimage sites and assisting at Mass; reciting prayers such as the Litany of the Sacred Heart; making a Holy Hour of reparation; and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father,” wrote the Catholic Times: receive the sacraments of reconciliation and Holy Communion within a reasonable time period and pray for the Holy Father’s intentions… the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints.  In June of this year Bishop Fernandes wrote a pastoral letter reflecting on the Sacred Heart of Jesus there has been a re-emergence of devotion to the Heart of Jesus,” Fernandes wrote:  re-consecrated the Diocese to the Sacred Heart Many families have begun once more to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus in their homes and the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network is based here An annual Sacred Heart Congress is held in the Diocese Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms and Conditions Dominique de Chanterac was one of the first priests of the Emmanuel Community he did his seminary at the Institut Catholique de Paris Dominique never ceased his missionary zeal throughout his life He was also committed to the education of all he recounted the beginnings of the Community with his sparkling eyes filled with the desire to pass on everything he had experienced on mission as vicar of the parish of Sainte Madeleine since 2009 he was able to welcome and accompany many parishioners The mission of accompanying catechumens was a particular source of joy for him he was committed to proclaiming Christ with a sense of humour 2009-2024 – Vicar at Sainte Madeleine Margaret Mary Alacoque has some profound insights.St the religious nun who received private revelations about Jesus’ most Sacred Heart Claude was a Jesuit priest in the 17th century who was appointed the spiritual director for the Visitation Sisters in Paray-le-Monial Margaret and would give her spiritual direction throughout the years when she experienced visions of Jesus Personally he had a deep spiritual life and a similar love of Jesus’ Sacred Heart a spirituality that he would try to foster among others Many of his profound spiritual insights were compiled in a book entitled The Spiritual Direction of Saint Claude de la Colombière and reveal simple tips that anyone can follow Thousands of pilgrims and participants are awaited during this congress there will be various prayer times and Holy Mass so that each one may realize more and more that the Eucharist is the the Spring for the Life of the World Some 200 Hungarians were also at the International Session in Paray le Monial, France This was a time for them to discover more profoundly the message of the Heart of Jesus and the depths of His love and mercy A good way to refresh themselves spiritually before such a huge event about receiving the joy of Jesus at the Eucharist It happened during a Mass in Paray-le-Monial when I knelt down to receive the Holy Communion As the deacon lifted up the Body of Christ surprisingly close to me when all of a sudden I heard Jesus speaking in my heart telling me that the joy I felt –  is His joy of meeting me in the Holy Communion “And I am going to be even more joyful if I can take you in my Country.” I knew that it was not just a promise that I would go to heaven that the Lord was also delighted to meet me during Communion and that He rejoices even more over a soul entering heaven A good way to share this joy back in Hungary After being renewed in the City of the Heart of Jesus, it’s their turn to say  – Üdvözöljük or Welcome to Budapest for this International Eucharistic Congress Here’s a preview of some of the Key Venues during the Congress: For all youths between 18 and 30 years old who want to participate in a session with other young people but also give a bit of their time and skills in the service of the session This volunteering work is made for those who are longing for a fun rewarding days of fun challenging physical volunteer work talks about God and the world and much more The volunteering work includes participating in creative workshops in film This invitations includes 2 weeks of fun and work where you can also visit the Black Madonna The Shrine of Altötting is a pilgrimage place since 1489 ESMs helped empower young men and women so that they could become missionary actors in our society It’s incredible how it all started from 1 ESM in one country to 7 ESMs in five continents The teams selflessly gave themselves to this mission Pope Francis mentioned in Christus Vivit: “The young make us see the need for new styles and strategies.” (204) Since we are at their service and like in Emmaus We strongly believe that we need to consider it in the pastoral of young adults The coming academic year 2020/2021 will be a transition stage: 5 out of 7 ESMs will open: ESM Bafoussam and ESM NYC will open with no changes• ESM in Paray le Monial and ESM Manila will take a break and thus are not opening next academic year• ESM Rome and ESM Altötting will welcome young missionaries and are building new and unique programs Interested? Just leave a feedback? Contact us at esm@emmanuelco.org “For I know the plans I have for you that’s what St John Paul II (who celebrated the centenary of his birth) said to the youth: “You are my hope.” And to better respond to the needs of today’s youth let us together ask Him to renew our hearts and minds to take this path of newness with Him let us ask him to continuously give us His burning love to spread His message to others Tomorrow we mark the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus   Permit me a meditation on the Sacred Heart and often derided as outmoded and old-fashioned can help the Catholic church address some of the factors behind the sexual abuse crisis a French Jesuit on his "tertianship" assignment (the last stage of formal Jesuit training) showed up at her convent to be a spiritual director to the sisters  To the young Jesuit she confided her astonishing experiences in prayer An aside: being the "faithful servant and perfect friend" of Jesus is not a bad way of expressing the goal of every Christian life.  (Perfect Friendis also the title of a now hard-to-find biography of St which made a huge impression on me as a Jesuit novice.) devotion to the Sacred Heart has been part of the mission and spirituality of the Society of Jesus But lately the devotion has been viewed by many in as "outmoded" in the post-Vatican II Catholic world Too many kitschy paintings of the Sacred Heart (see above) too many statues where Jesus has a dopey look on his face seemed to have doomed this devotion to spiritual obscurity and religious irrelevance But we neglect it at our peril: It is a powerful symbol of the Love of God that needs to be recovered in a world filled with hatred and bitterness And it can help us as we address a church riven by the scandal of sexual abuse Let me share two favorite meditations on the Sacred Heart.  The first is an essay from the magazine (later collected in a book on devotions called Awake My Soul) by Christopher Ruddy a theologian who teaches at Catholic University I did not grow up with any devotion to the Sacred Heart as I have struggled with vocation and the demands of family life that the practice has spoken to my own heart: the fearful heart that paralyzes me when I think of the future rendering me unable to open myself in trust to God; the cramped heart that refuses to admit my wife and infant son choosing to watch Peter out of the corner of my eye as I read the morning newspaper rather than get on the floor and play with him; the oblivious heart that holds forth at dinner on the recording history of The Beatles’s Abbey Road but forgets to ask Deborah how her class went that afternoon have I really let into my life those I love so much Are they part of my flesh or merely fellow travelers On a particularly difficult afternoon last summer We wound up at a church in our neighborhood almost unable to bear the despair and self-loathing that was consuming me I lit a candle before Mary for my wife and one for myself before Joseph Almost accidentally I stopped in front of a wood-carving of the Sacred Heart saw beyond the barbed-wire crown of thorns encircling it give me a bigger heart.” I looked at Peter in shame and in hope I continue to struggle with a stoniness that shuts out so many I know ever more clearly my deep sinfulness But in continuing to pray to the Sacred Heart I have also come to know God’s still deeper mercy I am strengthened by a heart pierced but unvanquished I am welcomed by a heart that knows only tenderness and so makes me tender The second is from Pedro Arrupe, SJ, the former superior general of the Society of Jesus from a beautiful talk on the Sacred Heart in 1981: In recent years the very expression ‘Sacred Heart’ has constantly aroused perhaps in part as a reaction against certain means of presentation and terminologies more suited to the tastes of an earlier time Therefore it seemed to me to be advisable to allow a little time to pass I have always entertained the conviction that the high value of this profound spirituality would not be long in reestablishing itself in the esteem of all For it is spirituality which successive Roman Pontiffs have classed as ‘a supreme spirituality’ moreover one which makes use of a biblical symbol I have spoken and written relatively little about this theme although I have often dealt with in more personal conversations and in this devotion I myself possess one of the deepest sources of vitality for my interior life I think that the image of the heart of Jesus has a great deal to teach Christians Especially today--in light of the sexual abuse crisis I was speaking with a Jesuit in my community about the idea of Jesus as a joyful person (part of a new book I’m working on) “Oh he must have been!”  I was surprised by his confidence in this “Because children wanted to be around him,” he said “To me that indicates that he was a joyful and gentle person Children don’t want to be with someone who is an ogre.”  Not surprisingly—since my friend mentioned children--I was put in mind of the sex abuse crisis  And I started to think about what the Sacred Heart can teach us  The two characteristics were: narcissism and grandiosity does not care how uncomfortable he makes a child—or anyone for that matter—even if a child expresses or indicates discomfort an emotionally healthy person would know when another person is feeling uncomfortable and so he persists in his abusive behavior the narcissist personality mainly feels sorry for himself (or herself) is the “Pied Piper,” the larger-than-life personality   The person who attracts children into his orbit through the sheer force of his personality The person in whom parents mistakenly place their trust because of his “gifts” with children   The person whom bishops and religious superiors give a wide berth Both of these characteristics—narcissism and grandiosity-- are devastating for anyone in ministry How much the Sacred Heart has to teach us still--especially today For narcissism and grandiosity are the opposite of the way that Jesus loved nor did he love to be seen as “more than” others And though Jesus naturally attracted people to himself it was never to fulfill his own needs for grandiose plans: indeed he rejected all of those plans in the desert The Sacred Heart is not narcissistic and grandiose The Sacred Heart is the model for the hearts of all in Christian ministry,and  for all who wish to be his “faithful servant and perfect friend.”  this “profound spirituality” of the “courageous and vulnerable” love of Jesus be our goal as we move ahead in our broken church Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important America’s voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. 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Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions This audience took place at the end of the annual sacerdotal meeting of the priests of the Community during the Easter octave the first meeting since the Clerical Association of the Emmanuel Community was established on August 15 500 members of the Emmanuel Community were present at this audience a beautiful assembly representative of the communion of states of life lived in the Emmanuel Community All continents were represented with Emmanuel members from Indonesia moderator of the Emmanuel Community and Fr the Pope personally greeted each of the 500 people present I am very happy to receive you during your annual meeting which is taking place in Rome this year This pilgrimage is a sign of the full participation of the Emmanuel Community in the communion of the whole Catholic Church It is also the occasion for me to thank you for your loyalty and your faithfulness to the Successor of Peter to tell you of my appreciation of your current missionary commitment on all the continents and to encourage you to persevere in the future This future is now marked by the recent recognition of the Clerical Association of the Emmanuel Community last August 15th a structure made timely by the many priestly vocations that Emmanuel’s charism has inspired and by a more fruitful evangelization Far from isolating the priests from the other members of the Community I express the wish that this recognition will encourage this beautiful communion of the states of life which you have had for more than 40 years in the complementarity of the various vocations I also invite your Communities to stay even closer to the rich reality of the parish where they live and to willingly integrate into the organic pastoral life of the local Church (see Evangelii Gaudium §29) The charism of the Emmanuel Community is embodied in its name It is in contemplating the mystery of the incarnation that you come to missionary dynamism in announcing the good news to all those to whom Jesus offers his friendship I encourage you to share with the people of our time the Mercy of God who has so loved us as to reside with us needs to be proposed with a new enthusiasm and through renewed pastoral action so that it penetrates the hearts of people and encourages them to find their way back to the Father (see the Bull Misericordiae Vultus §15) – that wherever your Community is present the Mercy of the Father should become manifest especially to the poorest – in heart or body – healing their wounds by the consolation of the Gospel through solidarity and attentiveness (ibid.) a real dynamism in announcing the Good News in a lively and joyful way who comes to help us in our weakness and who heals us of all that weakens our missionary commitment – keeping in heart the strong desire of transmitting the joy of the Gospel to those who do not know it or who are far from it by becoming fully involved in this ‘Church in the making’ that I wish for on your availability for service and on your witness of lives transformed by the Holy Spirit’ (Pentecost Vigil I give thanks with you for all the progress you have made through the Holy Spirit who wants us to remain always on the journey I invite you to listen to Him since there is no greater freedom than to be guided by the Spirit and to allow Him to enlighten and lead us wherever He wants I entrust you all to the intercession of the Virgin Mary asking her to guide your steps and support your efforts we are deeply grateful to you for agreeing to grant us this hearing priests and lay people from the Emmanuel Community from Europe The Emmanuel Community is an Association of the faithful in the practice of charity and by evangelizing together he experienced the “Outpouring of the Spirit” He discerned the urgent need to form a new generation of lay people and priests witnesses to authentic communion for mission like the ambitions for power on the part of the laity acted as a handicap for the evangelization of our modern societies He used to say that: “the only way to God is humility.” He guided the Community to Paray le Monial It was in Paray that he drew his missionary creativity that led the Community to many original creations: in cooperation with poor countries and in difficult suburbs in order to spread the Church’s social teaching there Pierre Goursat was consecrated in a celibacy for the kingdom He perceived that God’s call for him was the humblest personal commitment possible the first priestly vocations that were born from the earliest days of the Emmanuel Community As the priest in charge of the ordained ministers and seminarians of the Emmanuel Community I would like to evoke quickly some fundamental elements that animated Pierre Goursat’s vision of the priesthood: First of all he perceived the danger of individualism in priestly life he had a high esteem for gratuity in the Gift of self to God and to his brothers and sisters Pierre Goursat encouraged certain members of Emmanuel to live as permanent deacons He recognized the strength of service as fundamental to community life He liked to say that “we enter Emmanuel through the ‘Service Door!” priest of the Emmanuel Community to live a missionary Fraternity with so many families the Congregation for the Clergy established a clerical Association canonically linked to Emmanuel as a whole This clerical Association brings together the priests deacons and seminarians in the Emmanuel Community This canonical recognition is for us an expression of the trust that the Church has placed in us confirming the communion of states of life desired by our founder The date chosen for this hearing is providential: today is the 24th anniversary of the assassination of Cyprien and Daphrose Rugamba during the tragedy of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 who founded the Emmanuel ommunity in Rwanda always refused to collaborate in the scandal of ethnic divisions They witnessed to the enculturation of mercy in Africa and even gave their life for this They remain a strong model for the reconciliation in Rwanda and beyond we have come to renew the gift of ourselves to Christ as well as our attachment to the Church and to Your person We wish to “let ourselves be instructed” by your words in order to receive the gift of a language that the poor might understand and which “comforts those who suffer…”(Is 50,4) We would like to thank you for your urgent calls to go out to the peripheries and accompany all who suffer Thank you for encouraging and supporting families which enlightens our praises and helps us question our lifestyle We entrust to your prayer our work of communion with our Orthodox and evangelical brothers that will soon to be enlarged due to our contribution to the John 17 movement You can count on our joy in serving in the Shrine of the Trinita dei Monti that has been entrusted to us in the Diocese of Rome we beseech the Lord to give us a new missionary fervor throughout all the various cultures of the world we entrust you to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary In October 2020  we were talking about the reflexion year some of our Emmanuel School of mission are going trough ( see the article here) This work had started almost three years ago and the richness and fruits of ESM were not in doubt; however the context had changed a lot since the foundation of the first ESM in Paris and then in Paray-le-Monial The vision was clear and solid: “to form apostles for our time,” but the question arose as to whether the program and modalities of each school still corresponded well to the challenges of today’s young people in a rapidly changing world and whether the proposals should be the same everywhere (see our article from last year) we have organized an extensive consultation of young people and brothers in mission with young people in all the zones How can we better accompany them so that they become missionary disciples This work of listening and discernment was carried out and matured in prayer It confirmed a strong expectation of young people for a more intense social and missionary commitment The importance of allowing creativity to flourish encouraging young people to take responsibility and allowing them to be more involved and active in their formation also emerged After this long period of extended work and after discernment by the Community Council We thank God for all the experiences lived there for years all the brothers who have given themselves generously We entrust to your prayers all the young people the development of the mission of Emmanuel Campus and the continuation of this essential discernment for the formation of new young missionaries Opens in new windowOpens in new windowExpandEdmund Collins, pictured at Trois Pigeons restaurant in Paray-le-Monial last autumn By Neil LoughranJanuary 17, 2025 at 6:00am GMTTHE slightly anxious faces approaching the reception doors, leading towards crammed corridors inside, say it all. January, with its infinite possibilities, offers renewal and reinvigoration; resolutions steadfastly put in place, a silver bullet for the soul all that is asked in return. Yet for those about to make a huge leap in learning, and in life, January can look a little bit different. Open day season, when schools put on their best face to impress parents and pupils alike, offers a window into a brave new world. It can be a time of huge excitement and unrivalled anticipation. It can also be daunting, disconcerting, even downright terrifying. Change affects us all in different ways, and that transition from primary school’s embryonic embrace to big school’s great unknown can feel overwhelming when stood in size one shoes. Watching my 10-year-old daughter walk wide-eyed from one classroom to the next last weekend, processing an information overload, was a reminder of how precious primary school’s age of innocence truly is - and the indelible mark teachers leave on so many who pass through their hands. At St Joseph’s, Carryduff in the early 1990s, Edmund Collins saw us through the 11-plus years of P6 and P7 - but to distil his influence down to academic output would be to do him an almighty disservice. Because Mr Collins was something special; a quirky character who, although small in stature, had a towering imagination that opened up worlds and realms, granting him the gift of bringing learning to life every time he set foot in a classroom. Patsy Fitzsimons, principal of St Joseph’s back then, knew what he was getting before he even met the man. Made redundant by St Paul’s PS in west Belfast as fiscal reality bit hard on the education sector, Mr Collins was in search of work as the 1980s neared their end. Patsy sounded out Grace Cunningham, a St Paul’s teacher whose husband Martin worked at St Joseph’s, about the possible new recruit. “I remember exactly what Grace said,” recalls Patsy, “if you can get Edmund Collins, you move heaven and earth to make it happen.” St Pauls’ loss was very much St Josephs’ gain. Back then Carryduff was a little more isolated from Belfast than now and, with Downpatrick man Patsy at the helm, as well as teachers like Mr Cunningham from down the road rather than up, St Joseph’s was a city school with a country heart. Mr Collins couldn’t have been more at home. And while always attentive and encouraging when it came to the serious business of exam preparation, he sprung to life when eager young eyes were upon him. That’s why, over 30 years on, I can still see him standing behind his desk in the mobile just beyond the entrance gate – when his eyes narrowed, and he started nudging at his nostril with his knuckle, you knew something good was coming. From there our heads would be filled full of yarns about leprechauns, gremlins in the bin or elephants on the loose, roaming around the school’s bottom pitch, all delivered with just enough conviction to leave at least a little bit of doubt in impressionable minds. Football played a big part too. During Euro ‘92, with exams long behind us, Mr Collins organised a tournament on the top pitch that would run on for weeks – this was after the school day was done yet still he would occasionally join in, just to show he still had it, with the prize a gleaming trophy for the winners. And even when things didn’t run smoothly, there was often an unorthodox solution to be found. On one occasion, with a school trip to Edinburgh just weeks away, a class-mate punched another after an altercation during a football match. It was not his first such indiscretion. However, rather than send the offending party to the principal’s office, Mr Collins set up a court in class to decide if he would get to Edinburgh - playing out an OJ Simpson-style trial over the course of a couple of days. Eventually acquitted of all charges (some jurors may have been bought), he boarded the bus with the rest of us for an unforgettable trip to the Scottish capital – Mr Collins chanting the old scouts classic ‘kumala vista’, adapted to ‘kumala pizza’, to help pass the time. Another day, the entire class set digital alarms to go off at the same time, before secretly stashing the string of watches inside Mr Collins’ storeroom. It must have taken him 10 minutes to locate them and, across the entire two years, this was the only time his voice raised in anger. However, when we met years later - on a ferry to France with his beloved wife Fiona - he admitted a begrudging admiration for our ingenuity. For all the haze that has filled the intervening years, those days, those memories, remain crystal clear. And any time our paths crossed, whether at the annual American Tea or halfway across the Irish Sea, the glint in his eye remained. That’s why it made me smile when, five years ago, I was at my son’s playgroup to watch his nativity. When the last chorus of ‘Little Donkey’ was over, Santa bounded up from the back of the hall, ho-ho-ho-ing as he handed out selection boxes. Now, this Santa was a bit smaller than the regular Santa. The gait was familiar too, yet still nothing clicked – until Santa grabbed hold of the microphone. “Hello everybody,” he bellowed, hopping from one foot to the other, “you’ll never guess where I’ve just come from?! That’s right, all the way from Timbuctoo – except, on the way, a group of fairies tried to take down my sleigh…” The story took flight from there - adults laughing along as another group of children were held spellbound. The same sense of mischief, of fun, of make-believe madness; it was great to see him work his magic once more. Edmund Collins sadly passed away on Christmas Day. His is an unimaginable loss to Fiona, his wider family circle and the entire Carryduff community, as people travelled from far and wide to pay their respects - all arriving with stories of their own, leaving armed with even more. That kind of impact, and the affection in which he was held, can never be quantified; the significance of a teacher’s role, especially at that golden age, never taken for granted. Mr Collins just got it. Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feed@2025 The Irish News Ltd