In this month of June, as we honour the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church also turns our gaze to Mary—His mother and ours. Through the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church and the celebration of her Immaculate Heart, we are reminded that Mary is both the tender mother who watches over the Church and the faithful disciple whose heart reflects the love of God.
June 9th – Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
“Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother.” (John 19:26–27)
As Jesus hung on the cross, He entrusted His mother to the beloved disciple John—and through him, to all of us. It is this act of love that the Church reflects upon today, celebrating Mary as Mater Ecclesiae—Mother of the Church.
This title was solemnly proclaimed by Pope Paul VI, and in 2018, Pope Francis instituted this day as an obligatory memorial on the Monday after Pentecost. Just as Pentecost marks the birth of the Church through the Holy Spirit, the next day reminds us that Mother Mary is present at this birth—not just as a passive witness, but as a mother whose heart beats in rhythm with her Son’s mission.
Mother Mary shows us what it means to be open to God’s Word, faithful in suffering, and prayerful in community. From the Annunciation to the foot of the Cross, she journeys with the Church—and continues to do so now, interceding for us and guiding us gently.
June 28th – Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“And Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is not merely a symbol of maternal affection—it is a heart formed by grace, pierced by sorrow, and set ablaze with love for God and for humanity.
This feast invites us to contemplate Mother Mary—her joys, sorrows, faith, and life with Christ. Her heart, free from sin, is receptive to God’s will. It is a heart that rejoiced in the Magnificat, and one that silently suffered beneath the cross. It is also a heart that rejoices in our smallest steps toward holiness.
Often depicted surrounded by roses and pierced with a sword, Mary’s heart mirrors the Sacred Heart of Jesus—offering mercy, consolation, and a mother’s unfailing love. In a world that grows increasingly indifferent, the Immaculate Heart calls us back to purity, compassion, and contemplation.
Let us entrust ourselves to her care through reciting the rosary and wearing the scapular as symbolic way to remind us of the power of faith.
– Louella Santimano e Dias