Firstly, I want to take time to thank all those who took a service roll in our Christmas Masses, especially our music people led by our organist and choir director, Lynne Border. Those who partiipated in the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass or 10:00 a.m. Christmas Mass were treated to the beautiful opera-quality voice of Bill and Kathleen Nosek's grand daughter, Natalie. She was simply wonderful in the two songs she sang solo. I also want to thank those who helped in ALL that went in to our Angel Tree efforts to help needy families. I applaud and thank you for your efforts. Ed and Claudia Keearns coordinated this effort and along with others, make it run seemingly like clockwork. Thanks to all! Lastly on things related to Christmas, I thank all those who donated to the Clergy Welfare Fund that provides the funding to support our diocesan priests in their retirement as well as our sick and infirmed priests.
I also really appreciate those who take the time to bless me at Christmas with beautiful Christmas cards, novena prayers, material gifts, and kind, supportive words of thanks. You are such a special blessing to me.
As I had in mind what the rest of my pastor's column would be about this week, I noticed that right across from where my column would be when it is finished, are images of the Holy Family and another picture of a baby. My topic was to be, and still is, about the importance of the most innocent and fragile of human beings, babies both inside and outside of their mother's womb. As we contemplate Jesus when He was born to Mary and the earliest times of His life during the Christmas season, we give thanks and praise to God for His life and what He ultimately did for us (through His passion, death and resurrection), we are urged and encouraged to keep the focus on babies, especially those of our time, and protect and support them in ways that we can. To that end, I would encourage not only attendance at the March for Life on January 21, (see announcement to the right of this column), but also to consider giving to "Arkansas Right to Life" which advocates for legal protection of children in their mother's womb. Thier address is 1515 South University Ave, Little Rock, AR 72204. I also ask everyone to participate in our parish baby shower by bringing baby items to church (see announcement to the right of this column). These will be given out to moms who need help to care for their children. Please don't just look at the babies on this page and smile. Do something for them in your name and in the name of Jesus Christ, the author of all life!
I also really appreciate those who take the time to bless me at Christmas with beautiful Christmas cards, novena prayers, material gifts, and kind, supportive words of thanks. You are such a special blessing to me.
As I had in mind what the rest of my pastor's column would be about this week, I noticed that right across from where my column would be when it is finished, are images of the Holy Family and another picture of a baby. My topic was to be, and still is, about the importance of the most innocent and fragile of human beings, babies both inside and outside of their mother's womb. As we contemplate Jesus when He was born to Mary and the earliest times of His life during the Christmas season, we give thanks and praise to God for His life and what He ultimately did for us (through His passion, death and resurrection), we are urged and encouraged to keep the focus on babies, especially those of our time, and protect and support them in ways that we can. To that end, I would encourage not only attendance at the March for Life on January 21, (see announcement to the right of this column), but also to consider giving to "Arkansas Right to Life" which advocates for legal protection of children in their mother's womb. Thier address is 1515 South University Ave, Little Rock, AR 72204. I also ask everyone to participate in our parish baby shower by bringing baby items to church (see announcement to the right of this column). These will be given out to moms who need help to care for their children. Please don't just look at the babies on this page and smile. Do something for them in your name and in the name of Jesus Christ, the author of all life!
I can honestly say that I, and more than a few of our parishioners, received an early Christmas present in attending the Ordination and/or First Mass of "Father" Nelson Rubio. In the beautiful setting of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock, some witnessed Nelson receiving the priesthood through prayer and the silent "Laying on of Hands" by Bishop Taylor than by all the priests who were concelebrating the Ordination Mass. We watched the bishop anoint his hands with the Sacred Chrism and be vested with a priest's stole and chasuble. Finally, Father Rubio joined with other priests in praying the words of consecration along with Bishop Taylor and took a solo part of the Eucharistic Prayer. At the end of the Mass, Father Rubio offered his first blessing to the bishop who knelt before him and then to the rest of the congregation.
Speaking of "Consecration," those who participated in Father Rubio's First Mass were touched, and will long remember Father Rubio's cracking and tears coming down his eyes as he spoke the words of consecreation with the priests concelebrating, saying the words with him. His long journey to the priesthood that was delayed for awhile in Venezuela and which brought him to Arkansas to be a priest for our diocese and included a serious sickness which still weakens his body at times, has ended, and his new life as a priest of God has begun. He thanked everyone, especially you, our parishioners, for your love and support these past few years as his adopted parish family.
I also thank you for helping to get Father Nelson to this "life-changing" point in his life. Continued prayers for him as he begins serving the people of God with Father Rueben Quinteros in Marche and North Little Rock are needed and will be appreciated.
I want to thank our Ladies of the Sacred Heart, our Knights of Columbus, and our Men's Club for the support they have given to Father Nelson, and our parishioners who gifted him. Finally, for those who were not at the First Mass reception, I want you to know that the parish gifted Father Nelson with four beautiful chasubels for him to wear as he celebrates Mass in the future.
Thanks to Parish Life coordinators Sherrie Nichols, Jennifer Rivera, as well as Cathy Silk, and all those who brought food for the reception. It was nicely set-up and the food was delicious.
Let's remember Nelson at Christmas as he celebrates his first Christmas Masses and rests before his new ministry begins.
Finally, a Blessed Christmas Season from me to all of our parishioners and your families. May God's love and peace fill your hearts in a special way on these special days.
Speaking of "Consecration," those who participated in Father Rubio's First Mass were touched, and will long remember Father Rubio's cracking and tears coming down his eyes as he spoke the words of consecreation with the priests concelebrating, saying the words with him. His long journey to the priesthood that was delayed for awhile in Venezuela and which brought him to Arkansas to be a priest for our diocese and included a serious sickness which still weakens his body at times, has ended, and his new life as a priest of God has begun. He thanked everyone, especially you, our parishioners, for your love and support these past few years as his adopted parish family.
I also thank you for helping to get Father Nelson to this "life-changing" point in his life. Continued prayers for him as he begins serving the people of God with Father Rueben Quinteros in Marche and North Little Rock are needed and will be appreciated.
I want to thank our Ladies of the Sacred Heart, our Knights of Columbus, and our Men's Club for the support they have given to Father Nelson, and our parishioners who gifted him. Finally, for those who were not at the First Mass reception, I want you to know that the parish gifted Father Nelson with four beautiful chasubels for him to wear as he celebrates Mass in the future.
Thanks to Parish Life coordinators Sherrie Nichols, Jennifer Rivera, as well as Cathy Silk, and all those who brought food for the reception. It was nicely set-up and the food was delicious.
Let's remember Nelson at Christmas as he celebrates his first Christmas Masses and rests before his new ministry begins.
Finally, a Blessed Christmas Season from me to all of our parishioners and your families. May God's love and peace fill your hearts in a special way on these special days.
The diary of St. Faustina, which was written by her from 1934-38, contained her thoughts, prayers and reported visions and conversations she had with Jesus on "Divine Mercy." In one particular excerpt she is told to write this: "I am Thrice Holy, and I detest the smallest sin. I cannot love a soul that is stained with sin; but when it repents, there is no limit to My generosity toward it. My mercy embraces and justifies it. With My mercy, I pursue sinners all along their paths, and My heart rejoices when they return to me. . . Tell sinners that I am always waiting for them, that I listen intently to the beating of their heart. . . when will it beat for Me." I thought this would be a good passage to quote and reflect upon in light of our upcoming Advent Reconciliation Service this Tuesday, December 19, at 4:30 p.m.
Whether we have sinned slightly or gravely, the Lord wants to be generous in forgiving us all of our sins. John the Baptist continues to cry out "Prepare the Way for the Lord. Make straight his paths." (Mk 1:3).
I pray that many of us will heed the call and give time to join "fellow sinners" in our communal Word service and consider going to individual Confession to the six or more priests who will be with us that day. If you cannot be there for the start of the service, please come when you can as our priests should be here until at least 6:00 p.m. The greatest gift you can give yourself BEFORE Christmas is an experience with our merciful Lord and rejoice in the peace that he gives to us through his forgiveness and that of his Body, the Church.
For those who can't join us on Tuesday, I will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Friday, December 22, and Saturday, December 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (and the normal times: 8:30-8:50 a.m. on weekdays, 3:15-3:45 p.m. on Saturday, and 7:15-7:45 a.m. on Sunday).
Whether we have sinned slightly or gravely, the Lord wants to be generous in forgiving us all of our sins. John the Baptist continues to cry out "Prepare the Way for the Lord. Make straight his paths." (Mk 1:3).
I pray that many of us will heed the call and give time to join "fellow sinners" in our communal Word service and consider going to individual Confession to the six or more priests who will be with us that day. If you cannot be there for the start of the service, please come when you can as our priests should be here until at least 6:00 p.m. The greatest gift you can give yourself BEFORE Christmas is an experience with our merciful Lord and rejoice in the peace that he gives to us through his forgiveness and that of his Body, the Church.
For those who can't join us on Tuesday, I will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Friday, December 22, and Saturday, December 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (and the normal times: 8:30-8:50 a.m. on weekdays, 3:15-3:45 p.m. on Saturday, and 7:15-7:45 a.m. on Sunday).