Local speakers to highlight Sacred Heart Congress

Sacred Heart Columbus will host its seventh annual Sacred Heart Congress on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Worthington St. Michael Church, 5750 N. High St. Sacred Heart Columbus is an apostolic organization of priests, deacons and laity dedicated to bringing Our Lord’s Sacred Heart into every home, school, parish, organization and business.

Frank Hartge, director of this year’s congress, said, “We have a terrific lineup of speakers this year.  We feel we are reaching a broader audience by presenting both Emily Jaminet and David Karam, local favorites who are well known throughout the diocese.  And of course, Father Stash Dailey,  our spiritual director, speaks every year at the congress and never disappoints.”

Jaminet is a Catholic author, speaker, radio personality, wife, and mother of seven children. She co-authored the book Divine Mercy for Moms and recently wrote a  second book The Friendship Project, published by Ave Maria Press. She serves on the leadership team of the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference and blogs at www.catholicmom.com. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She offers a daily segment titled A Mother’s Moment on St. Gabriel Catholic Radio. 

Karam is the chief executive officer of the Sbarro restaurant group. He previously was the president of Wendy’s International and of Cedar Enterprises, one of the largest franchisees in the Wendy’s system.  He serves on the board of directors for The Catholic Foundation, the Pontifical College Josephinum, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Logan’s Roadhouse, and Henny Penny Corp. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 34 years and have three sons and four grandchildren.  

The congress will include Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the rosary,  inspirational talks, and the Litany of the Sacred Heart. There will be vendor tables,  and free refreshments will be available.  There also will be an opportunity for participants to sign up to have the Sacred Heart enthroned in their homes and businesses.  

More than 75 teams of laypersons known as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSH) are part of Sacred Heart Columbus. They have witnessed more than 1,500 enthronements and work tirelessly throughout the year to bring Jesus into as many homes, schools, parishes, organizations and businesses as possible through enthroning his Sacred Heart, a public acknowledgement that Jesus is king of the place where he is enthroned.

Missionaries Jo Ann and Chuck Wilson, co-hosts of the Sacred Heart Hour on St Gabriel Radio from 8 to 9 a.m. on the first Friday of each month, said, “We are finding that parents are in desperate need of help in raise children in today’s culture.  Each time we see families invite Jesus into their home and start praying together, we see the strength start to build.  With Jesus at the center, they begin to reclaim what was lost.”

Business owner Charles Mifsud recently enthroned his business to the Sacred Heart.  “Over the last few years, I have entered into many new business ventures.  While there are many uncertainties in the business world, I thought it would be a good idea to make sure that Jesus was at the center of all my undertakings,” he said. “It gives me peace of mind to acknowledge God as head not only of my personal life, but my professional life as well.”

Columbus Bishop Watterson was the first high school in the diocese to enthrone the Sacred Heart.  Deacon Frank Iannarino helped ensure that more than 100 images of the Sacred Heart are prominently placed throughout the school.  

Columbus Bishop Hartley is the most recent high school in the diocese to have an enthronement. During the first-all school Mass of the year, Deacon Frank Sullivan, along with the faculty, staff and students, made a public declaration that Jesus is the king of their school.  A large image of the Sacred Heart is in the school’s lobby.

Other high schools to have enthroned the Sacred Heart are Columbus  St. Francis DeSales and Lancaster Fisher Catholic. They have been joined by several diocesan grade schools. A goal of Sacred Heart Columbus is to have all schools in the diocese make this powerful statement. 

If you would like more information on enthroning the Sacred Heart of Jesus in your home, school or business, visit www.sacredheartcolumbus.org.