“Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.” - Bishop Robert J. McClory, leading the congregation in prayer at the Consecration of the Diocese of Gary to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 12
CROWN POINT – Beginning with Eucharistic Adoration at St. Matthias, continuing with a prayerful two-mile procession, and concluding with a joyful dedication service and fellowship, the Diocese of Gary joined the entire United States in consecrating itself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the sunny summer afternoon of June 12.
“It was incredible. The Catholic faith is alive in Northwest Indiana!” exclaimed a joyous Bishop Robert J. McClory as he left the stage at Bulldog Park to greet the hundreds of faithful from Lake, Porter, Starke and LaPorte counties who gathered to give witness to their faith.
That followed a June 11 observance as the bishops of the United States consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus during a special Mass in Orlando, Fla.
“We love Jesus,” said Kris Vetroczky, of Chesterton, as she and her husband, John Vetroczky, awaited the procession. “We walked in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage from Portage to Chesterton in 2024, so we knew we could make this prayerful walk.” She added that she is praying “that Jesus will take center stage more in this crazy world that we are living in. I am praying for Christin unity and that we prioritize what is important.”
John Vetroczky added, “We learned that this dedication had never been done before in the United States, and since it is the event of our lifetime, we wanted to participate. At the ordination Mass just last week, the bishop called us to attend, and in light of all the trivial things we do, we wanted to do something meaningful.”
After gathering at St. Matthias to expose the Holy Eucharist and pray, Bishop McClory carried the monstrance displaying the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Crown Point to downtown Bulldog Park for a prayer service that included praying for the nation, acts of reparation to the Sacred Heart, and the prayer of consecration.
“May your holy Catholic Church serve as a sign, pointing all people to your infinite love. Sacred Heart of Jesus, we now entrust and consecrate the Diocese of Gary to your loving care,” prayed the crowd. “Pour out your mercy upon our parishes, schools, ministries, clergy, religious and faithful people. Renew in us a missionary spirit, deepen our love for the Eucharist, and make our Diocese a living witness of your compassion and truth.”
“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know the Sacred Heart of Jesus, maybe because of the image in our home,” said Bishop McClory in his homily. “What is a consecration or dedication?”
The bishop explained that it represents setting aside the people of the four counties in the Diocese of Gary to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “In the Catholic tradition, have you given your life, family, community and church to Jesus?
“There is nothing better we can do on the 250th year as a nation,” he said. “As we circled the old courthouse (in our procession), we saw the many U.S. flags flying. Lord, give us your love.
“We don’t have a devotion to the brain of Jesus, we have a devotion to the heart of Jesus, and it happens when we turn ourselves over to the Lord,” added the bishop. “We plunge ourselves into that love.
“When the love of the Lord fills our hearts, we are called to action,” said Bishop McClory, announcing that in honor of the dedication, a diocesan-wide initiative has a goal of 250 Holy Hours and 250 works of mercy, explained in a journal distributed at the consecration and available through the Diocese.
The bishop closed his homily by imploring those gathered to “Make sure you have some sacred image of Jesus in your house - it meant so much to me in my life – as we honor and dedicate ourselves to Jesus.”
Ward Kook, a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Merrillville, joined friends at Bulldog Park to share food, fellowship and the dedication. “It’s wonderful to see a large crowd and know that in this day and age, the Church is still relevant and meaningful to so many people. It’s nice to have events like this to bring people together.”
Describing the Catholic Church “as alive and well,” Deana Johnson added that she hopes the dedication “will trigger something in someone who might not have been to Church in years” and compel them to return.
Sister M. Petra Nielsen, OSF, a Franciscan Sister and the vice president of Mission Integration for the Northern Indiana division of Franciscan Health, called the dedication “a beautiful event” and expressed pride in the image of Jesus on the cross, borrowed by the Diocese from the icon recently enthroned at Franciscan Health Michigan City’s hospital chapel, an oil painting by artist Andrea Bojrab.
“Trust in his heart and his love, which is powerful, and how we live out our faith, our vocations,” said Sister Petra, a Highland native and graduate of Our Lady of Grace School. “This dedication could mean a renewal in realizing whose (people) we are. With Christ as the true leader of us all, despite so much divisiveness and darkness in the world, this will bring light and show us that the victory has been won, by Christ.”
Trevor Kropp, a St. Patrick parishioner from Chesterton, termed the Eucharistic procession “so Catholic” as he prepared to walk. “It’s a public declaration of faith and I will be praying for more people to recognize the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.”
Sitting in front of the stage/altar at Bulldog Park, Sandy Litera, who lives in St. John and belongs to St. John the Evangelist, said she hopes that the wider community in the diocese will “see the faith of other people at this event and know they are welcome to join in it.
Ivette Ortiz, of Lansing, Ill., brought her three children, including Munster’s St. Thomas More School students Elias, 8, and Eva, 4, to the dedication “because I wanted them to have a good experience at their first pilgrimage and feel a part of the whole Diocese and spend an afternoon with like-minded people of faith.” Their smiles as they ate hot dogs and ice cream in the park pavilion were evidence of their mother’s success.
“It’s great to be able to gather as a community to pray to God, and (to meet) in camaraderie and friendship, too,” said Father Jacob McDaniel, chaplain of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center, in Valparaiso, as he mingled with parishioners at Bulldog Park. “It’s a good reminder to be better disciples and missionaries and be re-energized to share the Word of God with others.”
Learn more about the Diocese of Gary initiative to pray and serve at dcgary.org/sacred-heart.
