Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church of Whiteville, NC

09/15/2026

Nuestro boletín parroquial de Sept. 12-Sept. 18 📰🩶

09/15/2026

Here is our Parish bulletin for the week of Sept. 12th - Sept. 18th 📰🩶

09/15/2026

09/15/2026

DAILY MEDITATION | September 15, 2026

When God Intervenes
From: Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life

Life is God's initiative and can end or change suddenly, unexpectedly, and unpredictably. When we humans are ready to give up hope and resign ourselves to inevitability, God intervenes and reveals completely new beginnings. The resurrection of Jesus is God's sign breaking through every form of human fatalism and despair.
Henri Nouwen
Reflection Question: Recall a time when something unexpected happened that revived in you a sense of hope.

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
- Genesis 22: 13

09/14/2026

DAILY MEDITATION | September 14, 2026

When Prayer Descends
From: Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit

How do we concretely move from head to heart? When I lie in my bed, not able to fall asleep because of my many words and worries; when I am preoccupied with all the things that I must do or that can go wrong; when I can't take my mind off my concern for a needy or dying friend – what am I supposed to do? Pray? Fine, but how do I do this?
One simple way is by slowly repeating a particular prayer with as much attentiveness as possible. Focused prayer, first in the mind and then repeated in the heart, becomes easier the more you practice. When you know the “Our Father,” the “Glory Be to God,” or the “Lord, Have Mercy” by heart, you have something to start with. Just by praying those prayers repeatedly. You might like to learn by heart the Twenty-third Psalm (“The Lord is my shepherd…”) or Paul's words about love to the Corinthians, or the Prayer of St. Francis (“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace…”). As you lie in bed, drive your car, wait for the bus, or walk your dog, you can slowly let the words of one of these prayers go through your mind down to your heart by trying to listen with your whole being to what you are repeating. You may be distracted by your worries, but if you keep going back to the words of the prayer, you will gradually discover that your worries become less obsessive, your attention becomes more focused, and you really start to enjoy praying. As prayer descends from your mind into the center of your being, you will discover its healing power.
Henri Nouwen
Reflection Question: How will you make space today to practice a prayer of the heart and what words will you focus on?

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
- Isaiah 26: 3

09/13/2026

September 13, 2026

09/13/2026

DAILY MEDITATION | September 13, 2026

Prayer is Personal
From: The Road to Peace: Writings on Peace and Justice

Issues easily imprison; a person can set free. Issues easily divide us; a person can unite. Issues easily exhaust; a person can give rest. Issues easily destroy; a person can offer new life. Despair is caused by orientation toward issues, but hope emerges when we direct ourselves with heart and mind to the person of a saving God. That is prayer.
Henri Nouwen
Reflection Question: How might you exchange a preoccupation with issues for attention to your relationship with a saving God?

Apart from me you can do nothing; those who dwell in me as I dwell in them, bear much fruit.
- John 15:5