I went to venerate the heart of St. John Marie Vianney today at Cure of Ars Church in Merrick. I waited for about 30 minutes on a long line that wrapped around the front and side of the Church. Someone then said they were closing the doors and a Mass would begin and veneration would stop for about 90 minutes. I decided to go to the Mass but the Church was filled, so I watched it on a large screen in an adjacent auditorium. There was also a large white tent set up that was also filled. Since I waited in front of the Church for the procession, I was able to take a couple of pictures and venerate the heart in front of the Church instead of inside.

Click on the pics to enlarge.


The pictures above do not really show how many people were there since the line wrapped around bushes and the side of the Church. The crowd was huge!
Bishop DiMarzio from Brooklyn was the principal celebrant. The Bishop of Ars, France who brought the heart here concelebrated. In his homily, Bishop DeMarzio asked everyone to pray for two intentions, that holiness be increased in priests and that the use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation be increased amoung the laity. He quoted St. John Vianney as saying he only gave out small penances and would perform the rest of the penance himself on behalf of the sinner.


Fr. Mangano, the pastor of Cure of Ars.





The Catholic Heart website created for the occasion

Cure of Ars parish website

Fr. Charles and Laurie Mangano Music website

St. John Marie Baptist Vianney info