SH4 - The Sacred Heart and Schools - Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

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The Sacred Heart and Schools – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff tells us of Jesus’ desire to be present in our homes and schools through the Sacred Heart devotion. Jesus wants to enter our daily environments, starting with our homes, just as he did with Zacchaeus and Peter.

Msgr. Esseff highlights the significance of enthroning the Sacred Heart in schools, noting that this practice can transform the school environment by bringing love, peace, and justice. He shares a touching story about a handicapped boy named Justin, whose devotion to the Sacred Heart inspired his school to include him in a special way during a football game, showcasing the transformative power of Jesus’ love.

Msgr. Esseff calls for principals and educators to embrace the Sacred Heart devotion to address and heal various challenges, such as division and corruption, in their schools.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Jesus’ Desire to Enter Our Homes: How can we invite Jesus more fully into our homes and daily family life through the Sacred Heart devotion?
Enthronement in Schools: In what ways can the enthronement of the Sacred Heart transform the environment of a school?
Role of Educators: How can principals and teachers foster a culture that honors and incorporates the values of the Sacred Heart?
Overcoming Division and Challenges: What steps can be taken to address issues like bullying, division, and moral challenges in schools through the love and promises of the Sacred Heart?
Personal Transformation: How can our personal devotion to the Sacred Heart influence and inspire those around us, particularly in educational settings?
Living Out the Sacred Heart Devotion: What practical actions can we take to demonstrate the love, peace, and justice of Jesus in our interactions with others?
Impact of Devotion Stories: How do stories of transformation, like Justin’s, encourage us to deepen our devotion and faith in the Sacred Heart?
Jesus as King of Our Schools: How can we actively recognize and proclaim Jesus as the king of our schools and communities?

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical Missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and serves as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians and other religious leaders around the world.