HONG KONG (SE): The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was observed by the Apostleship of Prayer in Hong Kong with a Mass celebrated by its spiritual director, Father Anthonius Reynolds Balubun, at Mary Help of Christians Parish, Kowloon, on June 13. The solemnity, comes on the Friday after the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, which fell on June 11 this year.
In his homily, Father Balubun said the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart is meant to remind us of the love of Jesus, who was willing to sacrifice himself for us. His sacrificial love invites us to share this love with people around us. His love could even change the heart of St. Paul who had been a persecutor of Christians, but became a great missionary.
A welcoming ceremony was held for new members during the Mass.
A Chinese prayer book, published in May by the group together with Bonfire, Praise and Prayer-Holy Rosary, was distributed among the participants. Father Balubun encouraged them to make good use of the book to meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary and pray more often.
The Apostleship of Prayer was founded in 1844 by Jesuit Father Francois Xavier Gautrelet, in Vals, France. The group promotes devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to make one’s daily life a holy offering in union with the sacrifice of Jesus in the Mass.
The Apostleship of Prayer has been present in the Diocese of Hong Kong for 75 years and has a membership of nearly 700. Around 300 among them are Filipinos.
