Lay Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Linwood, NJ
Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. June 12, 2026.
Foreword
The reflections gathered herein bear moving witness to the inexhaustible love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that Heart pierced for our salvation and ever open to receive the faithful in love and mercy, radiating consolation, and peace. Rooted in prayer, marked by suffering, and sustained by grace, these testimonies reveal the intimate and abiding way in which Our Lord draws souls to Himself and forms them in the school of His charity. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matt 11:28-29
In the Catholic tradition, devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is not merely a pious sentiment, but a profound contemplation of the mystery of Christ’s redeeming love, a love poured out for the life of the world and made present to us in the Church, in the sacraments, and in the daily offering of our lives. This is a Love that loved us even while we were still sinners. These reflections show how that divine love is encountered personally: in childhood faith, in trials borne with trust, in the quiet fidelity of prayer, and in the hope that springs from union with the Heart of Jesus.
May those who read these pages be led to a renewed confidence in the mercy of Jesus, to a deeper love for His Sacred Heart, and to a more generous response to His invitation: “Come to me.” In a world so often marked by fear, suffering, and uncertainty, the Sacred Heart remains our refuge and strength, calling each of us to place our burdens within His wounded and glorious Heart. May this collection serve not only as a witness to personal faith, but also as an invitation to draw nearer to Christ, to abide in His love, and to entrust ourselves ever more fully to His Divine Mercy flowing from His wounded heart.
“From my earliest days, my godmother taught me to seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. By age four, Jesus was already my closest friend. Decades later, that lifelong bond became my lifeline. At age 42, I was diagnosed with a severe neurological illness, enduring nine months of excruciating pain. Throughout the suffering, my constant prayer was for every breath and heartbeat to be a tribute to Him. The true crisis hit after major surgery, when a mismatched blood transfusion sent me into complete anaphylactic shock. As my body failed, I floated above myself and entered a space of absolute peace, encountering Jesus in a moment of unconditional love. Though I longed to stay, He called me back to earth because my mission wasn’t finished. Today, I live to share my testimony, rest in His Sacred Heart, and lift others up in prayer.”
Karen Stratotti
“My devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus has been a steady source of prayer, strength, and guidance throughout my life. It began when I was in high school at St. Ignatius de Loyola High School in the Philippines, where I would go to the school chapel to pray and ask Jesus for help in my studies. As I grew older, it became my habit to talk to Jesus whenever I had problems in my work and family. After my retirement eleven years ago, I devoted myself more fully to my faith by attending Mass daily, receiving Holy Communion, going to confession regularly, and signing up for Eucharistic Adoration every Friday morning throughout the year.
As my devotion deepened during retirement, I began to feel that Jesus was calling me to serve in a more active way. In response, I enrolled to become an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharistic and Lector so that I could be of greater service to the Church. I now serve as a regular Lector in my parish and bring the Holy Eucharist every Thursday to Catholic residents of a nursing facility.
My devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is my profound thanksgiving for the many blessings Jesus has given to me and to my family. Through prayer, worship, and service, I continue to entrust my life to His Sacred Heart with gratitude and love.”
Nollie Cadacio
“This is a personal testimony of faith, family, trials, and grateful service to our Lord. Growing up in the Philippines, I was inspired by my mother’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As I grew older, I migrated to the United States and eventually started my own family. Juggling work and family life was not easy, but despite everything, I tried to make sure that we attended Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation together.
My faith was deeply tested when I was diagnosed with cancer twice, but by God’s grace, I was able to overcome both times. These trials and tribulations strengthened my faith in God and drew my family even closer to our Lord through the Most Sacred Heart.
Now that I have been retired for about four years, my devotion and love for our Lord have grown even deeper, especially as I have more time to dedicate to Him. I keep myself busy in church by helping with the linens in our parish, leading our parish nurse ministry, and recently enrolling as an extraordinary Eucharistic minister.
Above all, I am truly grateful and thankful for the opportunity to serve and to give back, even in my own small ways, to our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Lolita Lacambra
“Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the center of my faith as a Catholic, a Lay Missionary of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, a catechist, and especially as a mother and wife. I draw daily grace for these roles with humility, patience, and love through the Holy Eucharist and time before the Blessed Sacrament, adoring the Sacred Heart, who bore the pain of our sins and continues to pour out his mercy.
As a Catholic and Lay Missionary, I ask Jesus for the grace to show others the greatness of His Sacred Heart through genuine kindness and care. As a Catechist, I pray that the Holy Spirit may use me as an effective instrument in nurturing the faith of the youth I teach in our parish. As a wife and mother, I care for and nurture my family not only physically, mentally, and emotionally, but above all spiritually. We pray the rosary together and consecrate our family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, asking for the grace to spread God’s love within our home and beyond.
My heart’s prayer is to live each day, as a Lay Missionary, catechist, and wife and mother, striving to return, in my own small way, the immense love that God has showered upon me through the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
Sofia Solomon
“Through my most painful trials and sufferings, He was revealed to my heart. From this came the greatest gift of all: knowing Him. I have come to know and love my Creator and Savior in a personal way.
By meditating on His Most Sacred Heart, I see how His suffering, death and Resurrection have renewed my vision of His love through my own trials and suffering. He is a God so great that He can turn darkness into light and bring good out of sorrow and pain, drawing redemption even from sin. From this comes love, rebirth, and true life. From death comes life.
Rising from such depths, I have united my heart to His suffering and found consolation in the midst of desolation. Knowing that He gave His life for me, I can humbly ask for His grace, for the consecration of my heart to Him and the sanctification of my soul. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my life in your hands.”
Joe Jerome
