By Olivia Obijiaku
The Association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary marked the 2026 Feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary with activities, beginning with a nine day ‘Novena to the Sacred Heart’ that ran from the 3rd to the 11th of June 2026. The Sacred Heart Week which was observed between 7th and 13th June, 2026 featured daily Talks, while the Feasts were celebrated on the 12th (Sacred Heart of Jesus) and 13th June (Immaculate Heart of Mary) respectively.
The National Promoter of the body, Prof. Edward Uyovbisere delivered the daily talks for the Week at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish Center, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. On Tuesday, 9th June 2026, he spoke on the topic, ‘Aims, Objectives and Obligations’ of the Association, defining aims, as the goal, intention or motive for establishing an institution, system or establishment; objectives as the target or purpose; and obligations as commitment, responsibility or requirement.
The devotee affirmed that aims, objectives and obligations control the actions, taken for smooth running of what has been established, in order to produce a lasting blueprint with which the activities of the establishment can be identified, intimating that the type and character of members matters a lot, adding that members “must not be inactive or passive. This applies to the religious associations like the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. They must be true communicants, with the fear of God to drive activities in a positive direction. Without these, things will be in disarray.”
The speaker listed the aims and objectives of the Association thus: propagation of the social reign of Jesus; encouragement and promotion of perpetual adoration and enthronement of the Sacred Heart in homes of members; offering of moral and financial support to the training of seminarians, the Youth Wing (Tarcisians) and infants (Benjsmins). He capped that achieving the aims and objectives of the Association requires committed operational members who are selfless.
Beckoning on members to keep their obligations of making half hour visit to the Blessed Sacrament each week; saying the rosary and the Hail Holy Queen; making Holy Hour Adoration every Thursday in group; offering prayers of reparation, especially on first Fridays; and attending the Holy Mass and other obligations of the Catholic faith, the promoter said that “These obligations define the activities of the Association and can only be carried out by asking His divine grace not to be distracted. This rests on the quality of members, more for those who seek that Love and peace pours out from His Sacred Heart.”
The feasts were wrapped up at St Augustine of Hippo Parish, Federal University of Education (FUE), Kongo Zaria, where members of the Association in the Diocese of Zaria, thanked God for a successful Week and celebrations.
