Summer With the Sacred Heart

Jun 24

Hawthorne Dominicans Fourth of July and their home in Philadelphia. — The Hawthorne Dominican Sister’s Fourth of July celebration at their home in Philadelphia.

I’ve written before about the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and their ministry to the sick and dying. The Sisters were founded by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s daughter, Rose, in 1900. She took those suffering from incurable cancer into her home and her heart, comforted them, restored their spirits, and helped them to live out their days in dignity and peace. From 1930 to 2018, the Sisters ran a hospice in North Philadelphia called “Sacred Heart Home.” The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales served as chaplains to the sisters and residents for nearly the entire duration of the home's operation.

Besides the Oblates, my other connection to Sacred Heart Home was my family. My mother and two of her sisters found a home at Sacred Heart as members of the support staff. Over the years, other family members volunteered in some capacity. When I was stationed in Philadelphia, I also got involved and celebrated Mass at Sacred Heart when longtime chaplain, Fr. Neil Kilty, OSFS, needed assistance.

One of my favorite memories of the home was the annual summer picnic. Every year, the sisters held a huge cookout on the Fourth of July. Residents, families, friends, and neighbors gathered on the grounds for food, music, laughter, and love! It was a time to relax and forget about medical issues or family problems. It was an opportunity for all the members of the Sacred Heart community to come together as a family.

Every year, as the Church celebrates the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I think of the Hawthorne Dominicans and their home in Philadelphia. I recall the Fourth of July picnic and the joy it brought to so many. I always thought it was appropriate that an institution dedicated to the Heart of Jesus - a heart that welcomed saints and sinners, a heart that offered comfort and support – was opening its home to everyone on a hot summer day.

As the Church celebrates the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we recall the words of our Lord: “Come to me, all who labor and find life burdensome, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:28-29).” This feast and devotion emphasize the love, mercy, and compassion our God has for those who are suffering in any way. Just as the wonderful home run by the sisters was a place for the sick to find rest and comfort, so the Sacred Heart of Jesus provides us with a sense of comfort and hope in the midst of our daily problems and struggles.

May this summer be a time for all of us to find rest, relaxation, and renewal. May this feast of the Sacred Heart give us the grace and inspiration to help others do the same. Whether at the beach, on the mountains, at a pool, or picnic, may we open our hearts and homes to one another. May we share the promise of the Sacred Heart: a promise of salvation and love: A hope for rest, mercy, and peace.