The Easter Season is a time to CELEBRATE the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and so many blessings that flow from the Risen Lord, like His real presence in Holy Communion (First Communions) and in our mothers (Mothers Day) to name a few. Last week we celebrated here at Sacred Heart, Christ present and acting through volunteers in our Helping Hands ministry. As we recalled the many people who were helped and the various ways they were helped, and recognized various people for their efforts in certain areas, we not only gave thanks to God for them and their efforts, but I also wondered if there are parishioners out there who need help, but who are not getting it for a number of reasons.
This week we are including in the bulletin an insert that details the services provided by Helping Hands. Please keep this somewhere even if you don't need any of our services now. You might benefit from the time and efforts of a volunteer in this ministry sometime down the road whether it be a month, a year, or years down the road. PLEASE don't hesitate to ask for help! In addition, we are hoping that some of you will consider making yourself available to help your fellow parishioners when they have needs that they are struggling with or can no longer do. There's a volunteer application that clearly indicates what you can do to help, and provides a place where you can indicate the days and times when you are normally available to lend a helping hand. Please mail this application to Cathy Wedwick at the address provided on the bottom of the application form. Call Cathy at 915-8456 or Pat at 922-1395 (after May 13) if you have questions. I recognize and rejoice in how many people in the Village and in our parish, are already lending a helping hand either short-term or long-term, to a neighbor or friend in need. Keep up the good work and let others be Christ to you if you are in need! If you know of a fellow parishioner who might benefit from some of our services, please give me a name and I or someone, will follow-up. Call me at 501-209-2502.
This week we are including in the bulletin an insert that details the services provided by Helping Hands. Please keep this somewhere even if you don't need any of our services now. You might benefit from the time and efforts of a volunteer in this ministry sometime down the road whether it be a month, a year, or years down the road. PLEASE don't hesitate to ask for help! In addition, we are hoping that some of you will consider making yourself available to help your fellow parishioners when they have needs that they are struggling with or can no longer do. There's a volunteer application that clearly indicates what you can do to help, and provides a place where you can indicate the days and times when you are normally available to lend a helping hand. Please mail this application to Cathy Wedwick at the address provided on the bottom of the application form. Call Cathy at 915-8456 or Pat at 922-1395 (after May 13) if you have questions. I recognize and rejoice in how many people in the Village and in our parish, are already lending a helping hand either short-term or long-term, to a neighbor or friend in need. Keep up the good work and let others be Christ to you if you are in need! If you know of a fellow parishioner who might benefit from some of our services, please give me a name and I or someone, will follow-up. Call me at 501-209-2502.
During the Easter season, as we read from the Acts of the Apostles, which chronicles from St. Luke's perspective, the growth of the early Church, it is good for us to ponder and give thanks that we are part of the "Body of Christ" that goes back almost 2,000 years.
Through our Baptism we became part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves. Those who have an individualistic mentality and who say they are spiritual, but not sharing in the life of encounter with Jesus in the sacraments and as an active member of His Church, are missing out on an important means of growing in holiness and in accomplishing much than they can do on their own for Jesus. Even as we celebrate the wonderful growth in the "Body of Christ" through people who received the Sacrament of Initiation at the Easter Vigil and in the Easter season, we are called to give witness to what we believe and how we live our faith within a community (or family) of believers and encourage those who are not to "Come and See" what the Lord has in store for them. Throughout our lives, we will continue to see (and hopefully help) His Church continue to grow as it has grown since the day the Spirit came upon the Apostles at Pentecost, and join with other faith-filled believers in doing Christ's work until our risen and ascended Lord comes again in His glory.
Through our Baptism we became part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves. Those who have an individualistic mentality and who say they are spiritual, but not sharing in the life of encounter with Jesus in the sacraments and as an active member of His Church, are missing out on an important means of growing in holiness and in accomplishing much than they can do on their own for Jesus. Even as we celebrate the wonderful growth in the "Body of Christ" through people who received the Sacrament of Initiation at the Easter Vigil and in the Easter season, we are called to give witness to what we believe and how we live our faith within a community (or family) of believers and encourage those who are not to "Come and See" what the Lord has in store for them. Throughout our lives, we will continue to see (and hopefully help) His Church continue to grow as it has grown since the day the Spirit came upon the Apostles at Pentecost, and join with other faith-filled believers in doing Christ's work until our risen and ascended Lord comes again in His glory.
During the Paschal Triduum, at the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper, the well-known hymn, "Where Charity and Love Prevail" is sung. The first words of the song say, "Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found." How true that is at Sacred Heart Church, especially during the days of the Triduum. We had many people offer the charity of their time and talents to prepare and participate in our liturgies in the ministries of singing (our beautiful choir directed by Lynne Border), our lectors, ushers, altar servers and sacristans who decorated and prepared our altar area for each service. I was also blessed to have two deacons on the altar with me during the Triduum, Deacon John Froning and Deacon Nelson Rubio, our seminarian. I believe overall (except for a smoke alarm going off at the end of our Holy Thursday Mass), that our liturgies went beautifully, and I'm grateful to God, our ministers, and those who were in the pews, for lifting us up to the Lord in these special liturgies. I also want to acknowledge the charity of those who contributed to various needs through our collections for the seminarians ($16,458), for the work of the Church in the Holy Land ($3,631), and Operation Rice Bowl that supports Catholic Relief Services which has incomplete financial numbers as Rice Bowls continue to come in. The amounts in both of the two collections were larger than the year before, which speaks so strongly of so many loving, charitable hearts reaching out to help our future priests in their formation and countless others, especially God's poor who are helped on a regular basis through Catholic Relief Services.
I am made ever confident, given all this, that charity and love will continue to prevail and inspire others within our community and beyond, to find God and rejoice in His presence and in the hope that comes to us from Jesus Christ crucified, risen and working in so many believers. God bless you all!
I am made ever confident, given all this, that charity and love will continue to prevail and inspire others within our community and beyond, to find God and rejoice in His presence and in the hope that comes to us from Jesus Christ crucified, risen and working in so many believers. God bless you all!