St. Joseph Catholic Church, Middletown, CA

06/08/2026

Day 6: Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena

A Union of Hearts

‘They have no wine…Do whatever he tells you’ John 2

Reflection:

Mary with her feminine sensitivity knows that Jesus would not want their hosts to be embarrassed. She goes to and tells the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you'. Whatever her Son does will be best; she trusts him unreservedly. She is not to be disappointed. What he does is beyond anything she could have dreamed of.

Prayer:

Mary, my mother, attune my heart to the heart of your Son. Open my heart to the needs of others. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, your heart was moved with love for the men and women who came for help in their need. You healed the sick, you fed the hungry, you forgave sinners, you cried over Jerusalem. Above all, you showed to those who were prepared to listen the way to true life, for you are the Way the Truth and the Life.

Lord, your heart is still moved today by your people and their many needs. Open our hearts to hear your word, to accept your love, and to respond to your call. In particular, I beg you to grant me the favour I ask during this novena (make you request), provided that it will contribute to my own eternal good and to the building up of your Kingdom of justice, peace and love here on earth.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Amen

06/08/2026

The Procession of the Blessed Sacrament
La Procesión del Santísimo Sacramento
In Middletown

06/07/2026

Day 5: Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena

A Peace-Giving Heart

……the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them and said ‘Peace be with you’…The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord. John 20:19-20

Reflection:

What relief and joy these words must have given to the eleven having deserted him during the Passion. Words that freed them from their guilt at having left him. Jesus gently restores them to his friendship. Now that Jesus has forgiven them, they too can forgive themselves and be forgiving to others. Admission of our own failings is the beginning of compassion.

Prayer:

Jesus, Prince of Peace, I do want to be at peace: peace with all that has been in my life, peace in my difficult relationships and peace with you. Jesus give me the courage to be a peace maker.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, your heart was moved with love for the men and women who came for help in their need. You healed the sick, you fed the hungry, you forgave sinners, you cried over Jerusalem. Above all, you showed to those who were prepared to listen the way to true life, for you are the Way the Truth and the Life.

Lord, your heart is still moved today by your people and their many needs. Open our hearts to hear your word, to accept your love, and to respond to your call. In particular, I beg you to grant me the favour I ask during this novena (make you request ), provided that it will contribute to my own eternal good and to the building up of your Kingdom of justice, peace and love here on earth.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Amen.

06/07/2026

06/06/2026

Day 4: Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena

A Childlike Heart

‘Unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’. Matthew 18:2

Reflection:

These words of Jesus may have fallen on deaf ears! Some did not understand that the dependency of children on their parents mirrored the dependency of us all on God. The Lord awaits our free response. There is no forcing, only a love that beckons and that never tires.

Prayer:

Lord, all I am and have is your gift. Help me learn from the spontaneity of children. Lord, grant me a childlike heart to allow you a free hand to create ever new possibilities for me even as I age.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, your heart was moved with love for the men and women who came for help in their need. You healed the sick, you fed the hungry, you forgave sinners, you cried over Jerusalem. Above all, you showed to those who were prepared to listen the way to true life, for you are the Way the Truth and the Life.

Lord, your heart is still moved today by your people and their many needs. Open our hearts to hear your word, to accept your love, and to respond to your call. In particular, I beg you to grant me the favour I ask during this novena (make you request), provided that it will contribute to my own eternal good and to the building up of your Kingdom of justice, peace and love here on earth.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Amen.

06/06/2026

Day 3: Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena

A Docile Heart

Reflection:

How inspiring that Jesus himself is docile to the Holy Spirit. He doesn't make decisions alone. No, he waits to be led, to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. That involved getting up before dawn and going off to lonely places to be alone with his Father so that silence in his heart could be in tune with the Holy Spirit. We too have received the Holy Spirit to guide our decisions. It is good to take time with the Lord and to ask for guidance to see whether the Spirit brings a sense of peace.

Prayer:

Lord, enlighten our minds to make good decisions, free from resistance, fear and self-preoccupation. May all we do give glory to God and be of service to others.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, your heart was moved with love for the men and women who came for help in their need. You healed the sick, you fed the hungry, you forgave sinners, you cried over Jerusalem. Above all, you showed to those who were prepared to listen the way to true life, for you are the Way the Truth and the Life.

Lord, your heart is still moved today by your people and their many needs. Open our hearts to hear your word, to accept your love, and to respond to your call. In particular, I beg you to grant me the favour I ask during this novena (make your request silently), provided that it will contribute to my own eternal good and to the building up of your Kingdom of justice, peace and love here on earth.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Amen.

06/05/2026

✨ SOLD OUT! ✨

Our Women’s Retreat is officially full! Thank you to everyone who registered. We look forward to sharing this beautiful day of faith, reflection, and fellowship with you.

06/04/2026

Day 2: Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena

A Forgiving Heart

Reflection:

After all Jesus has been through: the hatred of the Jewish leaders, the weakness of Pilate, the fickleness of the crowd, the cruelty of the soldiers, he pleads with his Father to forgive them. This is surely 'the breadth and the length, the height and depth' of love. We can only sit or kneel in silence letting gratitude well up from within.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I am too small, too weak to grasp your love. I am overwhelmed by your love that transformed evil by goodness. A goodness strong enough to defeat the spiral of violence. Help us, Lord, weak as we are, to unite our efforts to yours, so that so much that is good and joyful in life is not lost.

Novena Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, your heart was moved with love for the men and women who came for help in their need. You healed the sick, you fed the hungry, you forgave sinners, you cried over Jerusalem. Above all, you showed to those who were prepared to listen the way to true life, for you are the Way the Truth and the Life.

Lord, your heart is still moved today by your people and their many needs. Open our hearts to hear your word, to accept your love, and to respond to your call. In particular, I beg you to grant me the favour I ask during this novena (make you request), provided that it will contribute to my own eternal good and to the building up of your Kingdom of justice, peace and love here on earth.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Amen.

06/03/2026

America at 250: Also tune in to consecration Masses on EWTN.

06/03/2026

In his prayer intention for June, the month dedicated the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Leo XIV encourages us, “Let us pray together that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from His Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.” As we begin this Novena to the Sacred Heart, we join the Holy Father in that prayer.