We all need a prayer warrior in times of crisis - emergencies, surgery, imminent death or the loss of a loved one.

Fourteen people in our parish are prepared to offer prayers at these and other critical times.  All you need to do is call Kathy Oesterle at 922-3552, Suzy Gieringer at 915-9777, or Marcia Bresnahan at 922-9190 to get intercessory prayers started for you and/or your loved one.

You can also become a member of our parish prayer warriors by calling Kathy, Suzy or Marcia.

Many Sacred Heart parishioners attend End-of-Life presentation led by Deacon John.

On June 29^th in the Lower Hall 150 parishioners attended a presentation on End-of-Life Issues led by Deacon John.  The discussion focused on the Catholic Church’s teachings and principals with respect to how Catholics make decisions when faced with a terminal or incurable illness or disease.  Aspects of the Arkansas Rights of the Terminally Ill or Permanently Unconscious Act and their impact on an individual’s wishes at end of life were discussed.  Portions of the revised U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s 2009 Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services were presented and explained with respect to end of life decisions.  The distinction between the condition commonly called “Persistent Vegetative State” and a terminal illness was discussed and the implications regarding preparing a Living Will or Medical Advance Directives that conforms to Catholic teaching presented.  Time ran out as discussion concluded with a brief mention of the format of a Catholic Medical Advance Directive.  Because of the large response and the lack of time to focus on the actual preparation of a Health Care Proxy and a Medical Advance Directive it has been decided to offer the program again in September.  This next presentation will focus more on actual end-of-life cases and the decision making involved in them, hospice, and Medical Advance Directives and Health Care Proxies with examples.

The opening page of the new Sacred Heart website has a greeting from Fr. Bill Elser introducing the site along with links to connect users to the many functions of the site.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church recently launched a new website to improve communications both within the parish as well as with the community at large.  The effort to design, test and implement this new website began many months ago.  Fortunately, within the parish was someone very familiar with computer software applications.  Mike Miller, before moving to Hot Springs Village, owned and operated a software development company.  Mike accepted the challenge of helping to design and install a website but it was recognized that to be effective it would require close coordination and maintenance within the parish.  To accomplish this, in August 2010, Lynne Border joined the parish staff as Organist and Business Associate.

Lynne and Mike carefully evaluated the needs of the parish and set about designing the site so that it would be very user friendly, recognizing the many diverse users there would be.  Ultimately launched at the end of 2010, the website has met all of the goals that were originally set and continues to evolve.  In addition to the usual content found on a church website such as news, commentary from the Pastor and a copy of the church bulletin, the website has many unique features.  Visitors to the site can check the current Prayer List, read Today’s Scripture Readings, find other websites from the parish or diocese to explore and even email a greeting card to a patient in any one of the local Hot Springs or Little Rock hospitals.  One of the key features of the site is an interactive calendar.  Visitors to the site can check for scheduled activities by month and they can focus on one day or even focus on one specific activity to obtain the scheduling information they are seeking.  In addition, any information viewed on the website can also be printed.

The parish recently conducted a portrait photography activity where each parishioner had the opportunity to have their picture taken.  In the past, the pictures were then used by the church to publish a parish picture directory.  This time, in addition to publishing a picture directory, there will be a picture directory available on the website with plans to update it as new members join the church, a feature not available with a printed directory.

The usage of the new Sacred Heart website has been steadily increasing.  It has proven to be an excellent way to make communications timely and effective.  As usage continues to increase more and more innovations will be added.  Several innovations are already in the works.  Those interested in visiting the website are welcome to take a look at www.hsvsacredheart.com.

This past weekend, during which we joined the Church in celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord, I preached on UNITY, which I believed tied together, this Solemnity with that of Pentecost and The Most Holy Trinity that were celebrated in the last few weekends.

I spoke of the Holy Spirit who unified the apostles in their action (of coming out of the room they were in to proclaim Jesus Christ crucified and risen) and in their message of hope through Jesus Christ.  The Most Holy Trinity is a unity of identity and action as of the Body and Blood of the Lord is about the great "Sacrament of Unity" that is the Eucharist and the Eucharistic celebration.

I spoke of the unity at every Mass of people coming from different backgrounds, locations, and ages to join together in unity of giving praise and worship to God in our thoughts, words and in song.

I made the statement that the one aspect of the Mass in which we are the most unified is our posture.  At various time of the Mass we all stand.  At various times we sit and at various times we kneel.  Someone who had never been to Mass would certainly be impressed by our unity of worship, especially in our posture, EXCEPT perhaps at Communion time.

Around 2003, the bishops of the United States in teaching about our liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass, pointed out the uniform posture that we have during Mass and they stressed that that should be the case at Communion time. Those who grew up in the pre-Vatican II days remember that the common posture of the congregation during Communion was kneeling.  People received Communion kneeling and the rest of the congregation was kneeling throughout Communion.  With Vatican II came the change in our posture to receive Communion (standing).  Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be a corresponding change in the congregation's posture before and immediately after receiving Communion.  The Bishops of the United States in the year 2003 reemphasized unity of posture throughout the Mass including Communion time.  This means that we should all stand at the beginning of Communion and remain standing until everyone receives Communion.  During this "Communion Time" we are strongly encouraged to be in Communion of voice by singing the Communion Hymn or Antiphon.  Once everyone has received Communion, we all kneel (or sit if you can't kneel) and speak and listen to the Lord during a time of complete quiet, before we all stand for the "Prayer After Communion."

Back in 2003 when then Bishop Sartain of our diocese instructed our priests about this emphasis of common posture during Communion time, he stated that if anyone chooses to kneel after going back to their pew after receiving Communion that no judgement should be made by anyone about that person, and certainly nothing derogatory should be said to those who do this.  That should be the case here and at every Catholic Church that responds to the call for unity of posture throughout Mass, including the Communion Rite.

Reverend Robert Barron in his DVD presentation, EUCHARIST, explains the biblical roots of our Eucharistic celebration of the Mass as Sacred Meal, Sacrifice, and Real Presence.  It will be shown Thursday at 9:45 a.m. after Masses July 7, 14, 21 in the Lower Hall.  Mark your calendars!  Invite your friends. For more information, call Marcia at 922-9190.

A scripture study on "The Gospel of John and I, II, III John" will begin on Tuesday, July 12.  Apostle John calls himself the 'disciple Jesus loved' a total of four times in the Gospel of John.  Why is he the only one in all of Scripture who calls himself the 'disciple Jesus loved'?  As Jesus was dying on the cross, He gave the care of his beloved Mother to Apostle John.  Why?  Come to this Gospel study July 12, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, you will get answers to these questions.  Call Mickey Townsend at 501-922-0705.

This study will run for women in the Townsend home from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. every Tuesday from July 12 to August 30, and in the evening at church for anyone who would like to come from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on those same dates. Sign-up sheets are in the hallway of the Administration and Education Building.

St. Andrew Cathedral

On June 21, a 5:30pm mass at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Little Rock was concelebrated by Bishop Anthony Taylor and the priests who were being honored - those who had attained 25, 50 or 60 years in the priesthood and those who had retired.

In his homily, Bishop Taylor referenced the feast day of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, while both comparing and contrasting the saint's life with that of the priests in attendance.  One very obvious difference was the breadth of life experiences, since St. Aloysius died at the age of 23 from the plague contracted while serving in a hospital, only five years after he had joined the Jesuit order. 

The Assembly's Honor Guard was well represented at this mass as 11 of the 29 were from Hot Springs Village.  Including the Honor Guard and their spouses, there were about 40 Sacred Heart of Jesus parishioners in attendance to help recognize their priests Father Bieberle and Father Elser, as well as retirees Father Rossi and Monsignor Malone.  Father Bill had arranged for a 4:30 guided tour of the Cathedral, in which most of the Sacred Heart mass attendees participated.  

2011 Jubilee Honorees: Rev Vic Bieberle (60), Rev Eugene Luke, O.S.B. (50), Rev John Oswald (50), Rev Joseph L. Pallo (50), Rev David Bellinghausen, O.S.B. (25), Rev Frank du Preez (25), Rev William A. Elser (25), Rev James P. West (25 - unable to attend). 

Retired priests of the diocese (not all of whom were in attendance): Rev Joseph Enderlin, Rev Msgr John Kordsmeier, Rev Msgr Bernard Malone, Rev Milton Lange, Rev Msgr John O'Donnell, Rev Raymond Rossi, Rev James Savary, Rev Msgr Gaston Hebert, Rev Robert Dienert, Rev Richard Strock, Rev Msgr James Mancini, Rev Nho Duy Do, Rev Venantius Preske, Rev Ralph Esposito, and Rev Ed Graves.

Check out the Photo Gallery for a few photos provided by Renee Steinpreis.

"And God said What?" is the title for this year's Bible Institute July 8-10 at St. John's Catholic Center in Little Rock.  All adult Catholics are invited to come learn about puzzling Bible passages from Father Patrick Mullen of Camarillo, California. 

Click here to download a registration brochure or phone 501-664-6102 to request a brochure.  The $90 registration fee covers all events as well as meals on Saturday and Sunday.  Pre-registration is required.  Deadline is June 24.

Sacred Heart Men’s Club officers gather to celebrate Fr. Vic’s 60th anniversary. Included in the celebration (from left) were Msgr. Malone, Richard Birzer, Bob Heisler, Bill Patterson, Bill Hurley, Fr. Vic, Jim Schmidt and Jimmy O’Donnell.

On June 22^nd the Sacred Heart of Jesus Men’s Club treated Fr. Vic Bieberle to a dinner to celebrate his 60^th anniversary as a Priest.  Joining in the dinner were past presidents of the Men’s Club, current officers and Msgr. Bernard Malone, the previous pastor of Sacred Heart Church who is now retired.  Fr. Vic was ordained a Priest on May 21, 1951, in Bushton, Kansas, his home town.  He served in numerous parishes throughout Kansas as well as serving as Chaplin to the Kansas National Guard.  In 1961 he was called to active military service to be the Chaplin for the 101^st Airborne Division.  His military service took him to Korea, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic as well as several bases in the U.S.  He returned to Kansas to resume his pastoral duties in 1967.  In 1995 Fr. Vic retired and moved to Hot Springs Village.  In his retirement, Fr. Vic has been very active at Sacred Heart Church including officiating at masses whenever the Pastor was away or unavailable.

The Sacred Heart Men’s Club gathered to congratulate Fr. Vic on his anniversary.  He was presented with some gifts for him to enjoy as he relaxes in the years ahead.  Fr. Vic thanked the Men’s Club for their thoughtfulness to him and the group enjoyed a good dinner and great fellowship.