05/31/2026
The 250th Anniversary of the United States and the Parish Celebration of the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Semi quincentennial, that is, the 250th anniversary of the United States falls on July 4, 2026. It is a remarkable milestone event to mark 250 years of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Leading up to this date, and as an integral part of the celebration, the bishops of the United States will consecrate this nation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The act of consecration will take place on Thursday, June 11 in a concelebrated Mass in Orlando, Florida, during the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Spring Plenary Assembly. The consecration will be livestreamed on the USCCB YouTube channel. This initiative hopes to encourage broader Catholic participation in the commemoration.
As Catholics, we are all encouraged to join the bishops in praying for the unity and healing of our country. Reflecting on this epochal consecration, Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, Chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty states that “This anniversary and consecration will be a great opportunity to promote the beautiful devotion to the Sacred Heart and to encourage the laity to offer their lives in service to God and their country.”
Parishes and individual Catholics are being invited to make use of the resources provided by the USCCB to participate actively by preparing for the consecration with a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We are also encouraged to take part through 250 Hours of Adoration and/or 250 Works of Mercy to prepare for the consecration.
The novena begins on June 3 and ends with the consecration on June 11. As a parish, we shall do the novena after weekday Masses. On the weekend of June 6 and 7, it will be before each Mass. On the June 11, we shall do the consecration during the 6.30am and 5.30pm Masses. We shall also honour our Lord with a Eucharistic Adoration same day by 4.00pm. Let’s put these dates in our diaries and participate actively.
Some copies of the novena are available at the north entrance and central west door for individuals and families. Novena for each day will also appear on our parish Facebook. The entire novena and consecration prayer are posted on our parish website. You can also visit the USCCB website for more: https://www.usccb.org/consecration-united-states-sacred-heart-jesus
Fr. Kenneth Ahanonu
https://stfrancissolanus.com/from-father-ken-consecration-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/
