On August 27th after the 12: 10PM mass, the Feast of St. Monica, Fr. Christy, members of the Cathedral, and local community gathered together in prayer and solidarity for all of those who have lost their battle with addiction and for their families who were impacted by the tragic loss of a loved one to a drug overdose. August 31st marks International Overdose Awareness Day, a Penington Institute Initiative, which is a global campaign to remember loved ones who have died, their loved ones left behind who grieve, and to bring community awareness about how they can help others who struggle with addiction.
In proclamation of God’s never-ending mercy, love, and desire to offer healing, the Cathedral held a mass for all of those affected by addiction and dedicated a newly erected statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in front of St. Francis Cathedral School, especially in honor of those who have lost their lives to addiction in the Cathedral Parish and School community.
The Sacred Heart devotion grew out of the apparitions of a 17th century saint, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, whom Jesus revealed his sacred heart as a symbol for His love for humanity. Jesus, in his messages to St. Margaret Mary said, “Behold this Heart which has so loved men that It spared nothing, even going so far as to exhaust and consume Itself, to prove to them Its love.”
In committing all of those affected by drug addiction to the Sacred heart of Jesus, those in attendance at yesterday’s dedication were reminded of how our faith and the work of the gospel compels each and every one of us to be messengers of the hope and consolation given by the Sacred Heart of Jesus to all of those affected by drug addiction. And for those impacted by drug addiction or loved ones who journey with them, the Sacred Heart devotion is a reminder that Jesus is always close and present to us in our sufferings and never abandons us in the darkness.
Fr. Christy, Rector of the Cathedral, who led the dedication for International Overdose Awareness Day shared:
“Today was an opportunity to respond to a deep need in our community that I have felt for a long time. That there are so many folks struggling in the shadows of silence and shame about the loss of a loved one through addiction. It’s also an opportunity to lift this up as a social problem so we can say in fact we’re responding to it in prayer and helping people turn to God’s mercy and love, especially with our young people, that with God all things are possible.”
The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi will be cosponsoring tonight’s candlelight vigil along with local church and nonprofits which is being hosted by the Borough of Metuchen in front of Borough Hall (500 Main St, Metuchen, NJ 08840) at 7PM.
f you or a loved one you know struggles with addiction, you are invited to contact the parish office at 732-548-0100, and one of our priests or ministry leaders can assist you on your journey or redirect you to available resources.
If you are in a moment of crisis, please contact emergency services at 911 or 988 for the NJ Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
St. Monica, patron of family life, pray for us!