If I were to ask you what significant event took place in Christianity 1700 years ago this year, I hope you would take time to do the math and come up with the year 325. That was the year that Church leaders gathered in Nicaea (near Constantinople) to discuss a number of matters including (most importantly) a Creed that sought to define the essential common foundations on which to build local Christian communities that would recognized each other as sister churches, each respecting the diversity of the other. Disputes and disagreements had arisen in previous decades over such things as the nature of Christ in relation to the Father, the question of a single date to celebrate Easter, and opposition to theological opinions that were considered heretical, and how to re-integrate believers who had abandoned the faith during the years of persecution before the Emperor Constantine declared Christianity to be not only allowed but favored by the empire. During the Council, a significant number of Council Fathers argued against belief in the divinity of Christ. These came to be called Arians after its original proponent, a priest named Arius. Due to the efforts of Church Fathers such as Athanasius and Nicholas, the divinity of Christ was ultimately accepted as dogma and was a key part of the Nicean Creed. The approved text originally (and for the longest time when we recited it at Mass) was in the first person plural as it started out: "We believe.... This form emphasized the unity of belief of Christians (something that we need to pray for always especially during the annual "Week of Christian Prayer for Unity" from January 18-25). We are all aware (I hope) that the Creed is divided into three parts dedicated to the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity. Interestingly, the original Nicene Creed concluded with condemnations of affirmations that were considered heretical. The Creed was revised and expanded at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD at which time the condemnations were removed. So what we often profess at weekend Masses should rightly be called the Nicene-Constantinople Creed.

I would encourage you to make the time (maybe before Mass) and reflect a little at a time on what we believe about God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the rest of what is contained in this most ancient and important document of the Church. Then pray that every baptized believer takes everything in it to heart and strives to share it with others with conviction, living out the hopes that it gives to us beyond the life we live in this world!

Before deciding the subject matter for this pastor's column, I gave some thought to the fact that this is the first column of the new calendar year. As such, I want this column to touch on an important topic that potentially speaks to almost all of you, and be both an invitation for some and an affirmation for others.
The topic is the ministry of Eucharistic Adoration here at Sacred Heart Church. I say it's a ministry because anything that we do that is a commitment to the Lord, and is focused firstly on giving praise and thanks to God with words and/or with our presence with the Lord, is doing God's work as a faith-filled disciple. It also is a great blessing to those who say "yes" to participating in this ministry as can be attested to by most of our adorers some of whom have been doing it as a regular or sub for up to 10 years.

I would like to share with you the testimony of one of our Eucharistic Adorers:
" Eucharistic adoration—a journey from intimidation to comfort."
When I first walked into the chapel for adoration, I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me. The stillness felt heavy, and I questioned whether I belonged there. Would I know how to pray? What if I just sat there, frozen? That sense of dread was palpable.

As I sat in silence, something remarkable happened. I began to realize that adoration isn't about perfection; it's about presence. It's not about saying the right words, but rather about being open to the love of Christ.

Slowly, the intimidation began to fade. I allowed myself to breathe, to listen, and to simply be. I found that in those moments of quiet, I could experience God's presence in a profound way. The chapel transformed from a place of anxiety to a sanctuary of peace.

What began as a daunting experience became a source of delight. I discovered that vulnerability is a gateway to deeper connection. As I opened my heart, I felt enveloped in God's love—a comfort that reassured me I was exactly where I needed to be.
Written by: Cindy Norlin

Please consider at the start of the new year joining so many in the parish in this ministry as a regular or sub and experience blessings that will be many for you, your family, your parish family and others that you can pray for in the presence of the Lord!! Call Mike Ritch 832 231-7469 to get started.

I am sure all of us, if asked, could come up with names of people (and even ourselves) who have a hard time saying no when asked to do something. A more positive way to look at this is that there are people who seem to always say yes when something is asked of them. Dwayne Garret, who along with his wife Debbie (or Deb as she is called), admits that he is one of those persons (and I would say Deb is as well). He says that after he and Deb were welcomed by Bill and Diane Patterson to the parish, through our welcoming committee ministry, that they, when asked, not only became part of that ministry as "Welcomers", in a short time they agreed to head up that ministry, which they did with wonderful results (including starting a newcomer's dinner which was held once or twice a year. Through the invitation of others (Bob Honzik, Tom Donnelly, and Bill Nosek), Dwayne became an usher at the 10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, a perpetual adorer and a 4th degree Knight. He felt blessed by helping in a variety of service projects of the Knights including Meals on Wheels, fundraising efforts to help people in need, soliciting sponsors for the St. John's Golf Tournament and the Campaign for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. He has joined others at the March for Life in Little Rock, helped at Special Olympics in Searcy, and has become a visitor of our homebound Knights of Columbus who appreciate someone visiting them in their homes. He has been inspired to get more and more involved with Jackson House and currently serves on the board of directors there.

Deb has gotten involved in both behind the scenes ministries such as Helping Hands (as a sunshine card sender to parish shut-ins) and leadership positions (as she is currently the President of LOSH. She is not only a faithful Eucharistic Adorer, but she is a division leader in our Eucharistic Adoration Ministry (in the 6 hour period in the mornings every day). She coordinates a Holy Hour among some members of her guild and is a Member of the National Eucharistic Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament. It is a blessing for her (and others) that she is a frequent participant in daily Mass.

From all that I've shared with you about Dwayne and Debbie, I hope you see as I do, a couple who puts the Lord first, in their spiritual lives and practices and from this flows their willingness to say "yes" to serving the Lord and others with a smile on their faces. One other thing that I have noticed and appreciate about them is their flexibility when it comes to working with me and others. They are always "up to the task" in a variety of ways! God bless you, Dwayne and Debbie. Though you've only been parishioners here for around 6 years, it seems like much longer and I pray with all that you do (and I'm sure will be doing going forward) that you continue to be a blessing and be blessed for years to come!