December Happenings

19 December during the 9:45 and 11:45 AM Masses there will be the anointing of the sick.

Las Posadas   20, 21, 22 and 23 December at 7:00 PM in the church

Christmas Masses   24 December at 10:00 PM (bilingual) 

                                      25 December at 10:00 AM (English)

1 January Mass will be at 12 noon (bilingual).

6 January at 7 PM we will have the celebration of los tres reyes 

(the three kings) for the children with goodies afterwards.

Bake sale

The aroma from the Sacred Heart bake sale invited parishioners and passers by in from the cold November wind on Sunday, November 21. Cookies, cakes, bread, green chili and tamales - who could resist!

top photo, Atreya and Michael survey the selection.
middle photo, Joanna and Cindy handle ticket sales. Anthony seems interested in the money.
bottom photo, Rose and Virginia greet the customers.

Dia de los Muertos

More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered Aztecs practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, natives saw it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it, believing the dead come back to visit and share in the celebration. In their attempts to convert native people to Catholicism, the Spaniards tried to kill the ritual. But like the old Aztec spirits, the ritual refused to die. To make the practices more Christian, the Spaniards moved it to coincide with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (November 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today.

As it is known today, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, was celebrated at 10:30 am on Saturday, October 30th, at Sacred Heart Church with Mass as well as a traditional Dia de los Muertos altar. Everything on the altar has significance.

1. Photos of saints that hold a particular importance to the congregation sit on the altar.
2. Candles are present and families light them to honor the dead.
3. Pan de Muertos, Bread of the Dead, will be eaten by the dead when they visit loved ones.
4. Flowers, particularly marigolds, symbolize the shortness of life.

The Mass was celebrated by the children and parents in religious education classes. Afterward, everyone enjoyed a delicious meal of homemade chili, burritos and dessert.

Top photo, traditional altar for Día de los Muertos

Middle photo, Ramon Quezada explains the Aztec origins and symbolism behind each item

Bottom photo, David Solano and Sonya Simental cook up green chili for the feast. All photos Mary Lou Egan

Works by David Morones

As you enter Sacred Heart Church, you will notice the work of David Morones. According to a December 19, 2002 article in Westword, David walked into Sacred Heart asking then pastor, Father Marcus Medrano, if he would baptize his children. Father Medrano said. "David walked in one day, wanted to know if I could baptize his kids," Medrano remembers. "Apparently he went somewhere else and they gave him a hard time, so I said sure. In my office, he saw a drawing, and he said he could do that. It was lucky." Medrano had been looking for someone to paint the Ascension of Mary on a wall high above the altar, but couldn't afford an established religious artist. Morones, who lost a leg in an industrial accident and had an ill-fitting prosthesis, hadn't been able to find work and was willing to paint for very little money. Morones spent the next six months on a scaffold near the church ceiling, creating his portrait of Mary. Morones also painted scenes from Christ childhood that grace the entryway - the Virgin baking bread, Jesus learning carpentry skills from Joseph.

Father Medrano has retired from Sacred Heart but the paintings recall his special relationship with a gifted artist.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart

There are 15 churches in Colorado named for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, reflecting a devotion that is centuries old. General prayers to the Sacred Heart were popular in Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries, but specific devotions became even more popular when St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), a Visitation nun, had a personal revelation involving a series of visions of Christ as she prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote, "He disclosed to me the marvels of his Love and the inexplicable secrets of his Sacred Heart." Promises were made to those who would consecrate themselves to His Sacred Heart, chiefly, "to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months, the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in His disgrace, not without receiving their sacraments."

The devotions attached to these promises include:

• Receiving Communion frequently
• First Fridays: going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month for nine consecutive months. Many parishes offer public First Friday devotions
• Holy Hour: Eucharistic Adoration for one hour on Thursdays ("Could you not watch one hour with me?"). Holy Hour can be made alone or as part of a group with formal prayers.

Save the Date

Downtown Denver bustles with life: advertising agencies, small businesses, urban dwellers and night life. For weeks, a different kind of excitement has been building at 28th and Larimer as parents have been bringing their children to Sacred Heart to register them for the religious education program for 2010-2011. The number of children has classrooms filled to capacity, and has the parish is asking parents to volunteer one Saturday to help. Those still wanting to enroll their children should bring an original copy of the Baptismal Certificate. Fees for parishioners are $35 for First Communion and $45 for Confirmation. Persons outside the parish pay $50 and $60, respectively, for First Communion and Confirmation.

The year will begin with Mass and a meeting with all parents and students at 9:30 am, Saturday, September 11th.

Call 303-294-9830 for more information.

Start Here

Many of us begin the day by reviewing our lists of things to do - projects at work, errands, chores and plans for the days ahead, with each task arranged in order of importance and convenience. We devote a lot of mental energy to organizing our time. If all goes well, we may reward ourselves with a moment of quiet at the end of the day. What if we reverse the order of events and start the day with quiet and contemplation?

The chapel on the ground floor at Sacred Heart Church is a good place to start with Mass at 8 am each weekday, as well as Saturday. The small congregation and intimate space increase the sense of fellowship, and Father Gene Emrisek's short homily gives focus to the busyness of the day.

Treat yourself to daily Mass.

Sacred Heart Parish Picnic

Any successful family picnic would include great food, entertainment, something for the kids and time for the grown-ups to relax and visit. When the family is the congregation of Sacred Heart Church in Denver, the gathering begins with the celebration of Mass by Father Gene Emrisek. Afterward, the tables and grills were set up and the food miraculously appeared. The dancers entertained while the grill masters labored over hamburgers and hot dogs; folks had an opportunity to catch up while the children let off steam. The weeks of hard work and preparation made for a memorable parish event.

Top photo, Matachines (Nuestra Senora de Guadaleupe)

Third photo, grill master Jerry Sena endures the heat to cook

Fourth photo, Father Gene Emrisek, Brother Augustine Rhode and Russ Markowski

Sacred Heart Parish Picnic

The lot behind Sacred Heart Church on Lawrence Street will be the site of the parish picnic on Sunday, June 27, from 11 am to 5 pm. The celebration will begin with a bilingual Mass at 12 pm and will be followed with food, fellowship, entertainment and games for the children.

Come worship and socialize with your fellow parishioners this Sunday. Bring a plate to share, such as a salad, beans, pasta or fruit.

Contact the parish at 303-294-9830 for directions or more information.

Celebration of Corpus Christi

The afternoon of June 6 saw a dedicated group of parishioners gather to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, commemorating the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Body of Christ, made present in the Mass. The celebration began with a procession led by Father Gene Emrisek who carried the Holy Eucharist in a Monstrance. The group walked while reciting the Rosary in both English and Spanish, pausing at each of four altars to pray and sing in adoration of the Holy Eucharist. The procession returned to the church, concluding the celebration with Benediction and the singing of hymns. It is hoped that this beautiful ceremony will become an annual event.

Milestones at Sacred Heart

On a sunny morning in September, some 200 children, parents and teachers gathered at Sacred Heart Church in Denver to register for religious education classes. Throughout the year, students and teachers have met to learn about and to grow in their faith, their love of God and relationship with each other. The result of all this work is evident as 83 children received their First Communion on Sunday, May 16th, and another 59 will receive the Sacrament on Sunday, May 23rd.

79 people will be confirmed on Saturday, May 22nd at 5 pm. Imagine the difference in the lives of 221 Catholics who spent time and effort to grow in their faith.

Prayer Garden in Place

Living and working downtown can be both invigorating and overwhelming. Yet there is an oasis of peace on the 2700 block of Larimer - the Prayer Garden at Sacred Heart is open. Drop in for a moment of spiritual refreshment.

Blessing of the Prayer Garden

Just in time for the month of May, the month dedicated the Blessed Virgin Mary, the prayer garden at Sacred Heart will be blessed after each Mass on Sunday, May 2nd. Masses in English are at 8 am and 11:30 am; in Spanish at 9:45 am.

Work Progresses on Prayer Garden

It was a beautiful, Friday afternoon in lower downtown Denver on April

9th for the Colorado Rockies home opener. Many people walked past

Sacred Heart Church on their way to a tailgate party or to meet friends

at an outdoor patio. Perhaps some of those fans noticed the flagstone path,

the heart-shaped planter and the restored statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary

in the prayer garden gradually being built south of the church. Soon

many people who enjoy the excitement of living and working downtown

can find a moment of solitude and peace from the busyness of life.

The work continues with the hope that the garden will be finished

in time for May crowning the first weekend in May.

Prayer Garden Progress

View of the Prayer Garden at Sacred Heart Church on March 29, 2010.

A Prayer Garden for Sacred Heart

Years ago, Sacred Heart had a grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a place of solitude, peace and prayer. The parish wants to continue that tradition with the construction of a prayer garden in the area south of the church, with the restored statue of the Blessed Virgin from the original grotto. (You can see a portion of it in the fenced-in area to the back left of the rendering). The prayer garden will be open during the day for people to stop and pray and the parish hopes to have it in place for the May crowning, the first Sunday of May.

For information about contributions or helping with labor, call 303-294-9830.

Lent at Sacred Heart

Lent is a time to learn new ways to enrich ourselves with God and others with fasting, self-denial, penitence, and spiritual growth. There are many opportunities for spiritual growth at Sacred Heart, beginning with:

• Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 8:00 a.m. (English). and 7:00 p.m. (Bilingual) Both masses in the Church.
• Anointing of the Sick, Sunday, February 21, 2:00 p.m. (Bilingual) Christ heals by his touch and by his word. The Church continues that healing through anointing with oil.
• Recollection (Retreat) Day, Saturday, March 20, from 9:30 to 1:00 p.m. (English), March 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Spanish).
• Penance Service, Wednesday, March 24, 6:30 pm, four (4) confessors. Bilingual.
• Stations of the Cross, Fridays, February 19 and 26, March 5, 12, 19, and 26 at 7:00 pm. Bilingual.
• Holy Thursday, April 1, Mass 7:00 pm, Bilingual, no 8:00 am Mass.
• Good Friday, April 2, 7:00 pm, Bilingual, no 8:00 am Mass.
• Easter Vigil, April 3, 8:00 pm, Bilingual, no 8:00 am Mass.
• Other Confession times, Every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Call 303-294-9830 for more information

Las Posadas

The holiday known as Las Posadas re-enacts Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem and their search for a place to stay before the birth of Christ. The celebration includes a procession led by children, followed by adults and musicians who travel to a different house in the neighborhood each night looking for lodging. The people are invited into the home to read scriptures and sing Christmas carols. Soon after, the celebration begins, with music, food, candy, and treats for all. This tradition was celebrated at Sacred Heart on Sunday December 20, and continued each night until Christmas Eve on Thursday. Las Posadas is one of the many rich traditions celebrated at Sacred Heart Parish.

This story and photos courtesy of Ana L. Galván de Tiscareño.

Tres Reyes Magos

The celebration of the Epiphany, January 6, at Sacred Heart began with singing for the Christ Child and the entrance of the godparents, Teresa and Francisco Garay. (It is a custom in Mexico to find "padrinos," godparents or sponsors, for Baby Jesus, "Niño Dios," who are responsible for making new clothing for the infant and for dressing Him in front of all the people attending. This custom varies a bit from state to state in Mexico.) Then the gospel according to Mathew chapter 2:1-12 was read and the Wise Men made their entrance bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and prostrating themselves to honor the new-born king.
Jorge Reyes acted as a translator for questions from the children to the wise men. One little girl asked, "How did you know that this was the child you were looking for?" The man from the far east explained that they believed what had been written in the Sacred Scriptures, that a king would be born to be the Messiah. The Wise Men then followed the star that lead them to Bethelem.
After the Wise Men answered questions, they gave presents to the children, sang to Baby Jesus and then everybody enjoyed a Mexican hot chocolate and traditional "Rosca de Reyes," Three Kings Cake or Kings Day Mexican Sweet Bread.
Top photo, godparents Teresa and Francisco Garay dress Baby Jesus in the hand-knitted garment.
Middle photo, the Three Kings, Francisco Fabian in purple, Ruperto Mariscal in red, and Agustin Paez in silver, pay homage to the Christ Child.
Bottom photo, the children receive presents from the Wise Men.
This story and photos courtesy of Ana L. Galván de Tiscareño.