I must admit that I waited to the end of my reflections on the four commissions that comprise our parish ministries and activities to speak about Parish Life because I knew it would be the hardest for me to do, since it involves so many opportunities to grow in fellowship and relationship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord here at Sacred Heart Church. Someof them also include opportunities to grow in witness to Jesus Christ through acts of service to others. The Knights of Columbus gives Catholic gentlemen the chance to come together and be in union with Knights all over the United States and world in fellowship and charitable actions and projects which help many people in need. Call Tom Donnelly at 915-0880 for further information. The Ladies of the Sacred Heart also meet for fellowship and to do charitable projects that benefit people of all ages who have various needs that can't be met on their own. Please call Mary Lou George at 922-0065. Last, but certainly not least among our large groups, is the Men's Club which meets monthly for prayer and fellowship and who also get involved in a few charitable endeavors like the Chicken and Fish Bakes (the latter of which is coming up on March 3). I must sadly report that our Singles Group, which is open to anyone who is not married due to choice, or death of a spouse, is without leadership and is therefore not very active right now. I am certainly open to a person or persons stepping forward for this role. Please call me at 209-2502 and we'll talk about it. Parish Life also offers fun gatherings like Spades and other card games every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in the Upper Hall. Come even if you don't know how to play Spades, and I'll personbally instruct you. Our Church Bowling League has a Fall and Winter season, and possibly a shorter Summer Season if there's enough interest. Call Ann Bowman at 922-6619 for more information. Finally, we have a Hand and Foot card-playing group that meets and plays in parishioners' homes in a scheduled fashion. Call Cathy Bertrand at 204-9088 if you want to join in the fun and fellowship. Our Parish Life Commission also sponsors various receptions during the year including the upcoming Marriage Anniversary Celebration on February 21 and our Holy Thursday Dinner on April 13. Cathy Silk at 908-938-5545 and Joan Prockup at 915-8422 are always looking for people to help with some of these activities. It's a good way to meet new people and "enjoy" time spent helping to set-up, clean-up or serve at a parish activity. We have much to offer here at Sacred Heart, but we are alway open to more ideas on activities that can bring our parishioners and others together. Call me, Cathy or Joan, with any ideas you might have. Before I forget, we also have a group of people (mostly couples) who meet, greet and welcome new members through our Welcoming Committee. Call Marna Morissette at 915-1821 if you are interested in this ministry to newcomers. I ask you to please get involved in SOMETHING that our parish offers.
When many of us hear of Catholic religious education, we think immediately of religious education for youth, which most of us participated in through Catholic schools or religious education programs at our parish church. While most of Catholic education classes for children and teenagers through their high school years, the fact is that many Catholic parishes are still woefully lacking in regular and various ADULT religious education offerings. Thankfully, I can say that we are not among those parishes, as we offer adult religious education offerings at least twice a year.
In the encouragement for you to participate in our latest offering, "Conversion: Following the Call of Christ" by Bishop Barron that is in our bulletin, it speaks of conversion as a "life-long process" that turns our attention and energy toward an ever-deepening relationship with Christ. I am very proud of our Education Commission for continually coming up with adult religious education offerings for us, and putting them together with material and facilitators to make it happen. We just need more of you to join us, even if only once a year. Our parish is educating our youth on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening under the leadership of Rose Harrigan and the time, talent and faith of our catechists. (We are, in fact, in need of one or two more catechists for our elementary students, so please call Rose at 915-0314 if you are interested). In addition to what I've already mentioned, we are always ready to educate and inform people who are currently not Catholic in the Catholic ways and to prepare them to receive the sacraments of initiation. While, sadly, we don't have anyone in formation now, we can get anyone started right away. Please call me or have any interested person call me at 209-2502. Please remember that we have a well-stocked library with reading materials, as well as DVDs, that can be checked out at any time.
Finally, we are blessed to educate and help our bereaved adults through our bereavement ministry. Whether it is through readings, material and/or group sessions, Deacon John seeks to assist those who have lost loved ones, wtih knowledge and skills that are helpful during and after the grieving process.
I am happy and proud that we offer so much to so many through our Education Commssion. Please let me know if you have any ideas of things we are not doing or offering - that we might be able to provide in the future.
In the encouragement for you to participate in our latest offering, "Conversion: Following the Call of Christ" by Bishop Barron that is in our bulletin, it speaks of conversion as a "life-long process" that turns our attention and energy toward an ever-deepening relationship with Christ. I am very proud of our Education Commission for continually coming up with adult religious education offerings for us, and putting them together with material and facilitators to make it happen. We just need more of you to join us, even if only once a year. Our parish is educating our youth on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening under the leadership of Rose Harrigan and the time, talent and faith of our catechists. (We are, in fact, in need of one or two more catechists for our elementary students, so please call Rose at 915-0314 if you are interested). In addition to what I've already mentioned, we are always ready to educate and inform people who are currently not Catholic in the Catholic ways and to prepare them to receive the sacraments of initiation. While, sadly, we don't have anyone in formation now, we can get anyone started right away. Please call me or have any interested person call me at 209-2502. Please remember that we have a well-stocked library with reading materials, as well as DVDs, that can be checked out at any time.
Finally, we are blessed to educate and help our bereaved adults through our bereavement ministry. Whether it is through readings, material and/or group sessions, Deacon John seeks to assist those who have lost loved ones, wtih knowledge and skills that are helpful during and after the grieving process.
I am happy and proud that we offer so much to so many through our Education Commssion. Please let me know if you have any ideas of things we are not doing or offering - that we might be able to provide in the future.
Last week's Pastor's Column was devoted to liturgical ministries that help make our Masses so beautiful, meaningful and functional. I hope you are considering offering yourself in one of these ministries in answer to your Baptismal call to serve the Lord and His people.
Another area of ministry that is so vital to our mission as "The Church of God" that is at Sacred Heart in Hot Springs Village, is our Social Justice and Charitable Outreach ministry. Actually, many of you are involved in this ministry even if you aren't consciously award of it through your stewardship of money to our local parish church. We are able, through your generosity, to help many worthy and needy people through Church and secular organizations, especially those close to home. Once a year we publish a listing of all those "charities" that are helped by our parish, and in case you don't remember, that list is long and diverse. We also have a social outreach committee that works together in assessing the needs of people in the area who come to us with various needs, and we try to help them with paying bills and in connecting them with ongoing services that can assist them. This commission also includes our Respect Life Committee, our Helping Hands Ministry that especially assists our parishioners who, due to age and deteriorating health, need assistance with transportation and other forms of care. We also have a group of "Rosary Makers" who get together weekly to make rosaries to send to "mission churches," and our Shawl Makers who use their talents to make "prayer shawls" for people who need to feel the warmth of God's love and the love of His people.
Everyone can be involved in social justice endeavors in which we "March for Life" as we did last weekend, and in legislative efforts like the one I urged last week, Senate Bill 112 that will give tax credits or breaks to those who are spending money to educate their children in various settings. Finally, I must not forget our "basket program" that always needs volunteers to help provide food (and at Christmas, gifts) to families at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
One of the greatest calls and blessings of our faith is to "help others" and our parish outreach, in the ways I have mentioned and through the Knights of Columbus, Men's Club and Ladies of the Sacred Heart, speaks strongly and regularly of Christ's compassion and love for those in need. Please consider participating in one of more of these ministries with your time, talent and treasure!
Another area of ministry that is so vital to our mission as "The Church of God" that is at Sacred Heart in Hot Springs Village, is our Social Justice and Charitable Outreach ministry. Actually, many of you are involved in this ministry even if you aren't consciously award of it through your stewardship of money to our local parish church. We are able, through your generosity, to help many worthy and needy people through Church and secular organizations, especially those close to home. Once a year we publish a listing of all those "charities" that are helped by our parish, and in case you don't remember, that list is long and diverse. We also have a social outreach committee that works together in assessing the needs of people in the area who come to us with various needs, and we try to help them with paying bills and in connecting them with ongoing services that can assist them. This commission also includes our Respect Life Committee, our Helping Hands Ministry that especially assists our parishioners who, due to age and deteriorating health, need assistance with transportation and other forms of care. We also have a group of "Rosary Makers" who get together weekly to make rosaries to send to "mission churches," and our Shawl Makers who use their talents to make "prayer shawls" for people who need to feel the warmth of God's love and the love of His people.
Everyone can be involved in social justice endeavors in which we "March for Life" as we did last weekend, and in legislative efforts like the one I urged last week, Senate Bill 112 that will give tax credits or breaks to those who are spending money to educate their children in various settings. Finally, I must not forget our "basket program" that always needs volunteers to help provide food (and at Christmas, gifts) to families at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
One of the greatest calls and blessings of our faith is to "help others" and our parish outreach, in the ways I have mentioned and through the Knights of Columbus, Men's Club and Ladies of the Sacred Heart, speaks strongly and regularly of Christ's compassion and love for those in need. Please consider participating in one of more of these ministries with your time, talent and treasure!