Of all the feasts of the Lord that we celebrate throughout the year the one that appeals to me most, is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a feast that brings out the wonderful characteristics in the human life of Jesus, His love, His compassion, His forgiveness, His friendship.

We joyfully celebrate the Feast of one of our patrons today, St. Francis De Sales, ‘The Gentleman Saint’ What do we know of this holy man of God? Francis was born into a noble French family in France on 21st August 1567. He was educated at the Capuchin College in Annecy and the University of Padua.

Augustine was born in Thagaste, in eastern Algeria in 352. He was a searcher always asking questions about life and the meaning of life.

I have always loved the title of Sr. Rosemary’s book on the history of the Congregation: ‘A Heart for Others’  It certainly sums up the life of Fr. Braun   

This is indeed a special year for us as a Congregation and as Federation as we celebrate 150 years since our Foundation. Father Victor Braun made it very clear that we, as a Congregation, were to “belong entirely to the Sacred Heart” and if we ever forgot that, we would have no reason to exist.