Shrine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus a parish Eucharistic Revival initiative

In 2022, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops launched a three-year Eucharistic Revival initiative to renew the American Church “by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.” The first year was focused at the diocesan level.

On June 11, 2023, the Year of Parish Renewal began on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ to inspire grassroots creativity in parishes to encourage and reawaken devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist.

In response, St. Ann Parish, Hampton, considered a number of ideas to establish a tangible response to the USCCB’s call for creativity during the year of parish renewal. The concept that was chosen was the construction of a shrine to the Sacred Heart on the parish grounds.

Bishop James F Checchio dedicated the newly constructed Shrine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Oct. 16, 2023. The Shrine was the result of a parish vision to create, “A lasting symbol of (the) parish’s faith and Christ’s invitation to come to him when we find life burdensome,” said Father Michael C. Saharic, pastor, reflecting on the Gospel of the Mass that day.

In discussing the design of the shrine it was suggested that a wooden structure similar to the framework Father Saharic had designed for the church’s bell tower porch in 2005 would be perfect. After modifications were made to the original design to provide for a freestanding structure, work on the shrine commenced.  Using the talents of a number of the parishioners involved in the construction industry, masons, carpenters and other craft workers, the shrine was constructed.

On one of his pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Father Saharic collected small pebbles from a number of the major biblical sites associated with Jesus Christ.  As the concrete was being mixed for the foundation, these pebbles were incorporated into the structure, tying the shrine closer to the Lord.

During the planning and creation of the shrine, a long-time parishioner, Dr. George P. Polachak, died suddenly.  In recognition of his many contributions to the parish and parishioners, both personally and professionally, Father Saharic commented that Dr. Polachak was never too busy to provide whatever assistance he could to anyone referred to him.  Father Saharic thought that the shrine would be a fitting memorial to the doctor and his life.

The Feast Day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was chosen for the dedication of the shrine because she was the person most responsible for the spread of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist. A member of the Visitation order in France, Margaret Mary began in 1673 receiving a series of private revelations from Jesus Christ in which he disclosed his divine love and compassion.

Jesus expressed his desire that devotion to his Sacred Heart should consist of reception of the Holy Eucharist on the first Friday of every month, Eucharistic Adoration and the establishing of a Feast of the Sacred Heart. Although initially met with doubt and resistance, the saint persevered and today devotion to the Sacred Heart is a worldwide practice, especially the nine consecutive monthly First Friday Devotions.

In his homily at the dedication, Father Saharic said “The new parish shrine in honor of the Sacred Heart was built during this Year of Eucharistic Renewal as a lasting witness to the divine love and compassion that comes to each of us in our reception of Holy Communion.”

While the Bishop’s dedication Mass was the first one celebrated at the shrine, future liturgies are expected, with the next Mass on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 8.

Father Saharic hopes that the shrine will be, “a place of prayer and solace, a place of rest and refreshment, a place of comfort and peace, but ultimately a place where Jesus Christ is found.”

Deacon Patrick Cline serves in St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bernardsville.