Heart of the Ark

The still, small voice of calm - Intentional practices of stillness in prayer and the habits of contemplation for communal discernment.

Originally recorded in the fall of 2024, Jen speaks with Milissa Else about her experience of deep prayer and contemplation as the necessary foundational work for communal discernment. In the Fall of 2024, Milissa joined a group of students who were able to travel to the Synod on Synodality and spoke with delegates in order to witness the spiritual practice of being Church. Milissa's first hand experience of witnessing the fruits of this spiritual practice which brings joy, gratitude and a deep sense of unity in the midst of diverse perspectives and experiences. Her insight continues to shape the work she does at the Archdiocese whether in parish life or within the tasks set forth in the pastoral conversion process.

This conversation also gave birth to the idea of approaching "Dilexit Nos" from a deep prayer and contemplative framework which Jen embarked on last year.

Milissa Else currently works for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey and serves as Assistant to the Chancellor for Pastoral Projects. Milissa and the Chancellor provide ongoing training and support for pastors, parish staff and Parish Pastoral Councils. Since 2021, their work has focused on the Synod on Synodality. Milissa also serves as a part-time Director of Religious Education in a parish. Previous to her work with the Archdiocese, Milissa spent nearly five years directing adult faith formation and managing small Christian communities. Milissa provided training to small group facilitators in 20 dioceses across the country. Prior to serving directly in parish ministry, Milissa was Vice President for a consulting firm. Through the consulting firm, Milissa served the Catholic Church for nearly 20 years in parishes, dioceses, and religious communities across the country.

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind by John Greenleaf Whittier

Loyola New Orleans students attend Global Synod

Synod on Synodality final document

Dilexit Nos - Apostolic Exhortation on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

"Still, Small Voice of Calm" - by Thomas Enwright, The Way

Office for Evangelization website: www.rcan.org/evangelization

Our original theme music is "Meditation" by Eric Hunter. - www.erichuntermusic.com

Jen sits down with Fr. Cesar Jaramillo, JCL and Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock New Jersey (Diocese of Paterson) to discuss what it Evangelization is, and how it may be lived out in a parish context.

Fr. Cesar Jaramillo is an Adjunct Professor for the Catholic Studies Program at Seton Hall University and for Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology’s Center for Diaconal Formation. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Paterson on July 1, 2017. Fr. Jaramillo currently serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, New Jersey. He also serves as the Defender of the Bond for the Ecclesiastical Tribunals of the Diocese of Paterson and the Archdiocese of Boston. He is a member of the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors for the Diocese of Paterson. Fr. Jaramillo has taught as an Adjunct Professor at St. Elizabeth University in Madison, NJ in the Evangelization Certificate Program, which is a collaboration between St. Paul Inside the Walls and St. Elizabeth University to equip lay leaders with the necessary tools for the efforts of the New Evangelization.

In 2013 he earned a B.A. in Catholic Studies from Seton Hall University. Father Jaramillo earned the S.T.B. (Theology) and the J.C.L. (Canon Law) degrees from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2016 and 2019 respectively. He also earned a Diploma in Administrative Canonical Praxis from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy in 2018. Fr. Jaramillo is a member of the Canon Law Society of America.

Watch Fr. Cesar's Homily on YouTube

Letter of Diognetus - from New Advent

Readings from Ascension Sunday 2026

Julianne Stanz - author, Consultant for USCCB on Evangelization

Office for Evangelization website: www.rcan.org/evangelization

Our original theme music is "Meditation" by Eric Hunter. - www.erichuntermusic.com

Pope Francis ends Dilexit Nos with a final word about the importance of mission as the visible embodiment of our response to the relationship with God. Mission cannot be accomplished apart from God's love, and a Christian can not live God's love without loving his neighbor. Pope Francis final prayer for the love of Christ to be known through the work of every Christian active in his or her own vocation, is the universal task that we are born into at our baptism. Chapter 5 Paragraphs 212-220

Each session of Dilexit Nos in a Year begins by breaking open the scriptures and topics covered in order to outline the themes of Pope Francis, and frame our conversations for the weekly discussion for the year ahead. For the next 50 weeks, we will work through four to five paragraphs reading of the text of Dilexit Nos, with opening prayer, and short reflection based upon the paragraphs covered and the prayerful discussions of the questions to ponder together as we reflect on the work of spiritual and communal formation and mission in this Jubilee Year of Hope.

Prayer

Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, embrace my heart.

Fire of the Heart of Jesus, inflame my heart.

Charity of the Heart of Jesus, fill my heart.

Strength of the Heart of Jesus, sustain my heart.

Mercy of the Heart of Jesus, pardon my heart.

Patience of the Heart of Jesus, do not forsake my heart.

Reign of the Heart of Jesus, establish Yourself in my heart.

Wisdom of the Heart of Jesus, teach my heart.

Will of the Heart of Jesus, guide my heart.

Zeal of the Heart of Jesus consume my heart.

Jesus, make our hearts more like your own.

Dilexit Nos - Chapter 5, Paragraphs 212-220

Office for Evangelization website: www.rcan.org/evangelization

Our original theme music is "Meditation" by Eric Hunter. - www.erichuntermusic.com

"Mission, as a radiation of the love of the heart of Christ, requires missionaries who are themselves in love and who, enthralled by Christ, feel bound to share this love that has changed their lives." Pope Francis examines the innate connection between discipleship and missionary outpouring, as a desire to unite oneself with the pattern of self-donation, Jesus Christ. He elucidates the character of evangelization by recognizing the attractiveness, and invitation to marvel at love. Chapter 5, pp 205-211

Each session of Dilexit Nos in a Year begins by breaking open the scriptures and topics covered in order to outline the themes of Pope Francis, and frame our conversations for the weekly discussion for the year ahead. For the next 50 weeks, we will work through four to five paragraphs reading of the text of Dilexit Nos, with opening prayer, and short reflection based upon the paragraphs covered and the prayerful discussions of the questions to ponder together as we reflect on the work of spiritual and communal formation and mission in this Jubilee Year of Hope.

Prayer

Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, embrace my heart.

Fire of the Heart of Jesus, inflame my heart.

Charity of the Heart of Jesus, fill my heart.

Strength of the Heart of Jesus, sustain my heart.

Mercy of the Heart of Jesus, pardon my heart.

Patience of the Heart of Jesus, do not forsake my heart.

Reign of the Heart of Jesus, establish Yourself in my heart.

Wisdom of the Heart of Jesus, teach my heart.

Will of the Heart of Jesus, guide my heart.

Zeal of the Heart of Jesus consume my heart.

Jesus, make our hearts more like your own.

Dilexit Nos - Chapter 5, Paragraphs 205 - 211

Letter of St. Pope John Paul II - On 100th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII conscration to the Sacred Heart

Meditation of St. Bonaventure

A reflection on the Sacred Heart from St Bonaventure

Take thought now, redeemed one, and consider how great and worthy is he who hangs

on the cross for you. His death brings the dead to life, but at his passing heaven and

earth are plunged into mourning and hard rocks are split asunder.

It was a divine decree that permitted one of the soldiers to open his sacred side with a

lance. This was done so that the Church might be formed from the side of Christ as he

slept the sleep of death on the cross, and so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'They

shall look on him whom they pierced'. The blood and water which poured out at that

moment were the price of our salvation. Flowing from the secret abyss of our Lord's

heart as from a fountain, this stream gave the sacraments of the Church the power to

confer the life of grace, while for those already living in Christ it became a spring of living

water welling up to life everlasting.

Arise, then, beloved of Christ! Imitate the dove 'that nests in a hole in the cliff', keeping

watch at the entrance 'like the sparrow that finds a home'. There like the turtledove hide

your little ones, the fruit of your chaste love. Press your lips to the fountain, 'draw water

from the wells of your Saviour; for this is the spring flowing out of the middle of paradise,

dividing into four rivers', inundating devout hearts, watering the whole earth and making

it fertile.

Run with eager desire to this source of life and light, all you who are vowed to God's

service. Come, whoever you may be, and cry out to him with all the strength of your

heart. "O indescribable beauty of the most high God and purest radiance of eternal light!

Life that gives all life, light that is the source of every other light, preserving in

everlasting splendour the myriad flames that have shone before the throne of your

divinity from the dawn of time! Eternal and inaccessible fountain, clear and sweet stream

flowing from a hidden spring, unseen by mortal eye! None can fathom your depths nor

survey your boundaries, none can measure your breadth, nothing can sully your purity.

From you flows 'the river which gladdens the city of God' and makes us cry out with joy

and thanksgiving in hymns of praise to you, for we know by our own experience that

'with you is the source of life, and in your light we see light’.

Office for Evangelization website: www.rcan.org/evangelization

Our original theme music is "Meditation" by Eric Hunter. - www.erichuntermusic.com

In his concluding paragraphs, Pope Francis draws us back to the catechesis of St. Pope John Paul II, and gives a natural recapitulation of the major themes of this document. Through the five statements of Pope St. John Paul the Great, we see that the plan of salvation, to unite the human heart to the love of the Father is through the Sacred heart of Jesus and the action of the Holy Spirit. Our natural pattern for our hearts, in union with His heart is one of meekness, and lowliness... that we may imitate the true pattern of Love perfectly given through Jesus Christ. Chapter 5, paragraphs 200-204.

Each session of Dilexit Nos in a Year begins by breaking open the scriptures and topics covered in order to outline the themes of Pope Francis, and frame our conversations for the weekly discussion for the year ahead. For the next 50 weeks, we will work through four to five paragraphs reading of the text of Dilexit Nos, with opening prayer, and short reflection based upon the paragraphs covered and the prayerful discussions of the questions to ponder together as we reflect on the work of spiritual and communal formation and mission in this Jubilee Year of Hope.

Prayer

Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, embrace my heart.

Fire of the Heart of Jesus, inflame my heart.

Charity of the Heart of Jesus, fill my heart.

Strength of the Heart of Jesus, sustain my heart.

Mercy of the Heart of Jesus, pardon my heart.

Patience of the Heart of Jesus, do not forsake my heart.

Reign of the Heart of Jesus, establish Yourself in my heart.

Wisdom of the Heart of Jesus, teach my heart.

Will of the Heart of Jesus, guide my heart.

Zeal of the Heart of Jesus consume my heart.

Jesus, make our hearts more like your own.

Dilexit Nos - Chapter 5, Paragraphs 200 - 204

Catechesis at the General Assembly - 20 June 1979

Litany of the Sacred Heart - from EWTN

THE LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART

Presider People Respond:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

God the Holy Spirit,

Holy Trinity, One God,

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,

Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother,

Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God,

Heart of Jesus, of Infinite Majesty,

Heart of Jesus, Sacred Temple of God,

Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High,

Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven,

Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness,

Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,

Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium,

Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses,

Heart of Jesus, obedient to death,

Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,

Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,

Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,

Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,

Heart of Jesus, Victim for our sins,

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in You,

Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity,

Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love,

Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,

Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,

Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,

Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts,

Heart of Jesus, in Whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,

Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity,

Heart of Jesus, in Whom the Father was well pleased,

Heart of Jesus, of Whose fullness we have all received,

Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,

Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful,

Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke You,

Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You,

Heart of Jesus, delight of all the Saints,

Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. Jesus, meek and humble of heart. R. Make our hearts like Yours.

Let us pray Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Your most beloved Son and upon the

praises and satisfaction which He offers You in the name of sinners; and to those who implore Your

mercy do You of Your great goodness grant forgiveness in the Name of the same Jesus Christ, Your

Son, Who with You lives and reigns world without end. Amen.

Office for Evangelization website: www.rcan.org/evangelization

Our original theme music is "Meditation" by Eric Hunter. - www.erichuntermusic.com