Archbishop Checchio Invites Us to "Live the Consecration"

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we continue to give thanks for the grace of the Consecration of the Archdiocese of New Orleans to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I write to encourage all of our parishes to enter intentionally into the period of formation and evangelization that has now begun.

This consecration was never meant to be only a single moment, but a grace to be received, lived, and shared. The Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of God’s intense love for us and invites us to bring that love more deeply into our homes, our parishes, our schools, and our daily lives. My hope is that the days ahead will help us grow not only in devotion, but also in mission — becoming more deeply a people who know the love of Christ and share it with others.

In his encyclical on devotion to the Sacred Heart, Pope Pius XII speaks of three great gifts given from the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the world: the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother, and the Priesthood. These gifts will help guide our formation and evangelization in the weeks ahead. To assist our parishes in this effort, several aids and initiatives have been prepared.

Devotion to the Blessed Mother
First, I encourage all of the faithful to renew their devotion to the Blessed Mother, especially through the Rosary. I have already asked my brother priests to join me in renewing our filial devotion to Mary through a renewed daily commitment to the Rosary, and I would be grateful to see more of our faithful join in this too. The Blessed Mother offers us her love and protection, and she always brings us closer to Jesus. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Mary’s Assumption will both take place during this period of the consecration.

Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood
Second, I continue to ask all of us to pray for more vocations to the priesthood, so that we may have enough shepherds for all our parishes. If you know someone whom you think would be a good priest, please ask him. That personal invitation may be the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to open his heart to discernment. I also ask our parishes to include our homebound parishioners in this effort by inviting them to pray for vocations and to offer their illnesses or sufferings for an increase of vocations to the priesthood. A prayer card has been prepared for this purpose and is available through the website and through our pastors.
 
Devotion to the Eucharist
Third, I ask our parishes to help foster increased devotion to our Eucharistic Lord.  Obviously, a recommitment to Sunday Mass and keeping His day holy is at the top of the list, while attending Mass during the week if able, is wonderful too. The Sacred Heart Apostolate compiled a full list of adoration chapels and times of Eucharistic Exposition in parishes across the archdiocese and can be found on our website at nolacatholic.org/eucharisticadoration. I encourage the faithful to consider making a personal commitment to spend more time before the Blessed Sacrament. A one-page guide for prayer in Eucharistic Adoration has also been prepared and is available on the consecration website. If you are able, please help ensure that open hours for adorers in Eucharistic Adoration chapels throughout the archdiocese are filled.

Catholic Schools
Fourth, our Catholic schools will be invited to take part in this grace in a particular way. At the beginning of the new school year, our schools will be asked to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at their first school-wide Mass. This will be a beautiful opportunity to entrust our students, families, teachers, administrators, and school communities to the Heart of Christ, asking Him to renew them in faith, hope, and love.  I have enjoyed hearing from some of our schools on what they did to prepare for the consecration.  Grateful to have our young Catholics learning about the Sacred Heart more!

Welcome Home Sunday
Finally, I ask every parish to begin preparing now for Welcome Home Sunday, which will be celebrated the weekend of August 15 and 16. This Sunday is an invitation to those who have not returned to Mass since the pandemic, those who have drifted because of hurt, scandal, or division, those who have felt unseen or unwelcome, those who quietly stopped trying, those who are searching, and even those who have never stepped inside a Catholic Church.
On that weekend, I ask that we open wide the doors of our churches and our hearts. We do not simply wait — we go out and invite. With the Sacred Heart as our model, we receive each person not as a stranger, but as a beloved son or daughter of God being welcomed home.
To help parishes prepare well, I encourage the following practical steps: invite and challenge every parishioner to personally bring someone to Mass that weekend; promote Welcome Home Sunday through homilies, bulletins, email, and social media; ensure that greeters are intentional, present, and joyful; provide a simple parish guide with Mass times, key ministries, and clear next steps for involvement; consider offering a simple reception after Mass to foster conversation and connection; include a petition in the Universal Prayer asking the Lord to draw His people home; and create an easy way for visitors to share contact information so that a personal follow-up can take place within the week.

The Office of Evangelization for the Archdiocese will be sending sample bulletin blurbs, mass announcements, Facebook posts, next-step pathways for deeper parish involvement, etc.
It is my hope that these initiatives offer ways to help the grace of the consecration take root in our communities. The Lord desires to renew us, strengthen us, heal us, and draw our whole archdiocesan family more deeply into His love. I am grateful for all that our parishes have already done, and I ask each parish to consider how best to make use of these aids in the weeks ahead.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus assist us and our parishes to be people and places of prayer, mercy, welcome, and mission. May we share Jesus with all we encounter each day and help renew the face of our archdiocese according to the image God desires it to be.

Know of my love, prayers, and gratitude for you, and please, pray for me.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on all of us and on the whole world!

With renewed best wishes, I remain

Yours in Christ,
 
Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
 Archbishop of New Orleans