The Feast of the Sacred Heart is a call to prayer—an invitation to deepen our devotion to the boundless love and compassion of Jesus. This special day encourages the faithful to participate in prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and acts of charity, renewing our commitment to live according to Christ’s teachings.

In response to this call, on Friday 27 June, parishioners from Lithgow and surrounding areas, led by Parish Priest Fr Reynold Jaboneta, gathered from 9.00pm to midnight in the Mary MacKillop Chapel at St Patrick’s Church, Lithgow. They came together in a spirit of devotion, uniting in prayer and worship before the Blessed Sacrament.

The evening included the recitation of the Holy Rosary, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, prayers of reparation, sacred hymns, and concluded with consecrations to both the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary—whose feast followed the very next day.

A night of adoration, reparation, and prayer is a powerful spiritual offering. It calls for sacrifice, contemplation, and a desire to intercede for others, ultimately leading to personal healing, spiritual growth, and a deeper understanding of God’s mercy and purpose.

A heartfelt thank you to all who generously sacrificed their time and comfort on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart—braving the intense cold, weariness, and even illness—to spend those still, sacred hours with the Lord. In choosing prayer over rest, they offered a beautiful witness of love and devotion to Him who gave everything for us.

Vera Butorac