Men of the Sacred Hearts spread God's love

By Christina Galeone | CFP Correspondent

In 2008, Joe Amaral was given the ability to walk again, apparently through a miracle. Then, less than four years later, his disability returned just as suddenly as it had vanished. But what didn’t vanish were his unwavering faith, joy, trust in and love for Jesus.  
“God loves you! We have to be able to understand what he has done for us,” said Mr. Amaral in his affable, booming voice. He added, “I must decrease, so he can increase.”
The jovial man said that he wants people to “keep the love of Christ” in them and to “spread his Word” while trusting in Jesus completely and putting God first in all things. For the past few years, he has been part of a ministry that strives to make that happen.  
The Fairhaven-based chapter of the Men of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary have been sharing the infinite love of Jesus and Mary with people throughout the state. They do so by spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart by enthroning Jesus in homes, parishes, businesses and schools.
Heather Barber, a resident of Gardner, recently had an enthronement that was facilitated by Joe Amaral and Ed Houde, who are both from New Bedford.
The national Men of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary ministry was started in 1964. It was inspired by the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart Apostolate that Father Mateo Crawley-Boevey founded around the beginning of the 1900s. That apostolate involved spreading “The Twelve Promises” that St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Its goal was to win souls for Jesus through his Sacred Heart that’s overflowing with love for humanity.  The ministry’s mission is to “bring forth Jesus Christ as the enthroned king of the world,” and its apostolate is “to spread the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to all mankind… .”  
And the Massachusetts chapter – founded by Father Francis Larkin – is devoted to fulfilling that mission and carrying out the apostolate. With around 24 current members and three groups among the members, the chapter formed the same year that the national ministry was founded. Its members attend a monthly meeting, and they participate in a Mass and Holy Hour on the first Friday of every month. They also participate in the Christ the King triduum, and the men and their wives go on an annual day-long retreat. Additionally, the chapter enthrones the Sacred Heart of Jesus in people’s hearts by doing enthronements in homes.  
Randy Rivet, the president of the chapter, said that taking part in the enthronement Masses in people’s homes is what brings him the most joy. It was after experiencing an enthronement in his home that he became a member, around 15 years ago. Although he hopes to see more men join them and he hopes more people will have enthronements, he loves the work that they do.
“It’s really helped a lot,” he said. “I would miss it if anything happened and it ended.”
While the number of enthronements has dwindled since the 1960s, the apostolate is still carried out regularly. A couple of weeks prior to an enthronement, one of the chapter’s groups visits the family. The group brings statues of Our Lady of Fatima and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, talks about the Sacred Heart devotion, and it leaves prayers for the family to say for two weeks.  Then, on the second Saturday of that month, the group joins the family and the family’s priest in a Sacred Heart Mass held in the home. A family consecration prayer is said, and Jesus is enthroned as king of the family’s home and their hearts.  
The Mass at Heather Barber’s apartment in Gardner was celebrated by retired diocesan priest Father Joseph J.  Jurgelonis. Ms. Barber, a mother of two teenagers, was inspired to have an enthronement done in her home after coming across a Sacred Heart portrait and after WQPH – a Catholic radio station where she volunteers – had one done at the station facility by Mr. Amaral and Mr. Houde.
“I knew this was something I needed to do for my family,” said Ms. Barber, who added that Mr. Amaral helped persuade her. She noted, “God was kind of guiding me in the direction where I needed to go.”
Ms. Barber described the enthronement as “a blessing” and was happy that her mom, Janet Perry, and some friends could join her. “Every ounce of my body and soul was filled by joy,” she shared. “I know that my heart and the hearts of Jesus and Mary and the hearts of my family are melded together.”
Mr. Houde hopes many more families will get the chance to experience that blessing. But since he and Mr. Amaral are the only members of the traveling group – and they book enthronements months in advance – he’s concerned that people might miss out on the opportunity.     “What we’re doing here, Jesus is not going to let this fail; we ask people to pray for us,” said Mr. Houde. He added, “If we could get more men to join in the Worcester Diocese, we could enthrone more homes.”
In the meantime, he said that the chapter feels good about doing God’s work. “We are just puppets,” said Mr. Houde. “The Holy Spirit is our puppeteer.”
Mr. Amaral couldn’t agree more. “You understand that Jesus loves you,” he said. “Faith will bring you where you need to be.”

– For more information on Men of the Sacred Hearts call Joe Amaral at (774) 510-8903.