May 06, 2026 | Katie Hollcraft | Catholic Herald Magazine - Sacramento, CA |
Noise has become a regular part of modern life. Car horns, radios turned-up and constant phone notifications keep us busy and moving. But at St. Lawrence Parish, the priests and religious sisters encourage a quieter rhythm — one that listens for Christ’s heartbeat. For the priests, religious and lay people who belong to Pro Ecclesia Sancta (PES), that heartbeat is the foundation for their mission.
Father Alvaro Perez, PES, provincial superior, and Sister Gracie Chuman, PES, the delegate for religious in the Diocese of Sacramento, are part of this religious family and have dedicated their lives to spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Founded in 1992 by Father Pablo Menor, the mission of PES was inspired by the revelations of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, to whom Christ appeared and revealed his Sacred Heart, burning with love for humanity.
“A lot of people believe God loves us as an impersonal god,” Father Alvaro says. “The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a reminder that God loves us with a personal love. Why else would you consecrate your life? Why would you choose to be a priest or a sister or a missionary? The only reason is because God wanted you to do it. God knows you, he chooses you and he sends you.”...
