As we celebrate Laetare Sunday this weekend with rose colored vestments and the allowance of some flowers in the sanctuary (altar area of the church), one can't help but remember that I wore rose colored vestments on the third Sunday of Advent (which is called Gaudete Sunday). In both instances these two Latin words mean "Rejoice" and they both mark the halfway point of the two seasons of Advent and Lent. The "rejoicing" comes from looking ahead to the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Christ the Lord (the Nativity) and the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter). They also tell us that there is still time for us to prepare the way of the Lord (Advent) and to repent and turn back to the Lord (or for some to turn closer to the Lord) with our hearts and with our lives. Unlike Advent when the challenge is to make room for the Lord amidst all the secular preparations for Christmas, in the case of Lent, not only is there more time to grow spiritually before we come to the "Great Three Days" (The Triduum), but there should also be less distractions from the secular world (though there are plenty of worldly activities that can distract us all the time if we let them) and more time for the practices of Lent that draw us into a deeper union with the Lord.
I spoke last weekend of those opportunities that some have missed out on in part or totally, and I shared the good news that there are more being offered in the second half of the Lenten season. These include a retreat day for the ladies of the parish (and anyone else who would like to come THIS MONDAY, March 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; a parish Lenten mission for four nights (April 3-6) at 6:00 p.m. each night with Fr. George Knab; our last Wednesday night video (this Wednesday) at 6:00 p.m. in the lower hall on the "Mystery of the Eucharist), Stations of the Cross on Friday, April 1 (Praying With Mary the Mother of Jesus) and Friday, April 8 (Stations of the Cross for Seniors) and MANY daily Masses. Making it a priority to participate in some or all of thse events and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the mission and even as late as Good Friday will help us all to surely come to Easter ready to Rejoice in the God who has not only won for us the joys of everlasting life through hs Passion, Death and Resurrection, but a God who has drawn us into a deeper union with him in our life's journey to him which will bring us a continual joy and peace that this world cannot give. Don't forget the blessings that come from logging in to the many offerings of the Augustine Institute (by logging into www.FORMED.ORG), as well as taking time to read and reflect on God's Word (through our Lenten daily reflections) and praying spontaneously and through the traditional forms of prayer (the rosary, the chaplet of divine mercy, and the stations of cross at home).
I spoke last weekend of those opportunities that some have missed out on in part or totally, and I shared the good news that there are more being offered in the second half of the Lenten season. These include a retreat day for the ladies of the parish (and anyone else who would like to come THIS MONDAY, March 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; a parish Lenten mission for four nights (April 3-6) at 6:00 p.m. each night with Fr. George Knab; our last Wednesday night video (this Wednesday) at 6:00 p.m. in the lower hall on the "Mystery of the Eucharist), Stations of the Cross on Friday, April 1 (Praying With Mary the Mother of Jesus) and Friday, April 8 (Stations of the Cross for Seniors) and MANY daily Masses. Making it a priority to participate in some or all of thse events and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the mission and even as late as Good Friday will help us all to surely come to Easter ready to Rejoice in the God who has not only won for us the joys of everlasting life through hs Passion, Death and Resurrection, but a God who has drawn us into a deeper union with him in our life's journey to him which will bring us a continual joy and peace that this world cannot give. Don't forget the blessings that come from logging in to the many offerings of the Augustine Institute (by logging into www.FORMED.ORG), as well as taking time to read and reflect on God's Word (through our Lenten daily reflections) and praying spontaneously and through the traditional forms of prayer (the rosary, the chaplet of divine mercy, and the stations of cross at home).
Some of our parishioners have been in the Village and in our parish for many years and have given of themselves in ministries and have been involved in activities for much, if not all the time they have been a part of this faith family.
Others have been here a relatively short period of time and have chosen to not only get involved but also take on leadership roles in various ministries and activities. This has shown itself when it comes to Murray and Kim Claassen, our March V.I.P's (Very Important Person or persons) of the month. They have been parishioners of Sacred Heart Church for only 7 years, and became involved early on in their time here and have only deepened that involvment as time has gone on (which has been a blessing to us AND they will attest to them as well).
As a gentleman says, "ladies first," I would like to start with Kim's involvement. She has been a participant in the ministry of Eucharistic Adoration and has been very involved in the Ladies of Sacred Heart and the St. Theresa's Guild as a participant in both and as LOSH treasurer and her guild treasure. Besides these activities, she is a wonderful support for her husband, Murray in his involvement as a Knight of Columbus especially with the "Taste of Faith" fundraising dinner to support our seminarians.
In addition to being a valued member of the Parish Finance Council for a number of years, Murray has distinguished himself as a member of our Knights of Columbus Council (10208) and the Fr. Victor A. Bieberle Assembly by his leadership of our Knights "Annual Campaign for Persons With Intellectual Abilities" (for 5 years) and as coordinator or our COVID vaccination clinics. He did a fine job coordinating volunteers for the Bishop McDonald's Arkansas Catholic Charities Golf Tournament that was held for the first time this year at Diamante Golf Course and has been the coordinator of the "Taste of Faith" seminarian fundraising dinner for the past 3 years. He has served as the "Grand Knight" of our local Knights Council for two years and navigated the Council through the difficult coronavirus outbreak without missing a monthly meeting (though at least one or two had to be done through a "zoom-like format). While the Knights of Columbus is not formally a parish organization, it is clear to me that people like Murray (and other Knights in the parish) are parishioners first (in name and in action) and bless our parish with the ways the Knights do the Lord's work within the parish and in the community and call men to be the best Catholic gentlemen that they can be.
I am confident that Murray and Kim will continue to step forward on their own and respond positively to what is asked of them and inspire others to do the same! God bless you Murray and Kim.
Others have been here a relatively short period of time and have chosen to not only get involved but also take on leadership roles in various ministries and activities. This has shown itself when it comes to Murray and Kim Claassen, our March V.I.P's (Very Important Person or persons) of the month. They have been parishioners of Sacred Heart Church for only 7 years, and became involved early on in their time here and have only deepened that involvment as time has gone on (which has been a blessing to us AND they will attest to them as well).
As a gentleman says, "ladies first," I would like to start with Kim's involvement. She has been a participant in the ministry of Eucharistic Adoration and has been very involved in the Ladies of Sacred Heart and the St. Theresa's Guild as a participant in both and as LOSH treasurer and her guild treasure. Besides these activities, she is a wonderful support for her husband, Murray in his involvement as a Knight of Columbus especially with the "Taste of Faith" fundraising dinner to support our seminarians.
In addition to being a valued member of the Parish Finance Council for a number of years, Murray has distinguished himself as a member of our Knights of Columbus Council (10208) and the Fr. Victor A. Bieberle Assembly by his leadership of our Knights "Annual Campaign for Persons With Intellectual Abilities" (for 5 years) and as coordinator or our COVID vaccination clinics. He did a fine job coordinating volunteers for the Bishop McDonald's Arkansas Catholic Charities Golf Tournament that was held for the first time this year at Diamante Golf Course and has been the coordinator of the "Taste of Faith" seminarian fundraising dinner for the past 3 years. He has served as the "Grand Knight" of our local Knights Council for two years and navigated the Council through the difficult coronavirus outbreak without missing a monthly meeting (though at least one or two had to be done through a "zoom-like format). While the Knights of Columbus is not formally a parish organization, it is clear to me that people like Murray (and other Knights in the parish) are parishioners first (in name and in action) and bless our parish with the ways the Knights do the Lord's work within the parish and in the community and call men to be the best Catholic gentlemen that they can be.
I am confident that Murray and Kim will continue to step forward on their own and respond positively to what is asked of them and inspire others to do the same! God bless you Murray and Kim.
How many Stations of the Cross are found in every Catholic Church? How many times does Jesus fall in the stations of the Cross? Finally, how many of the stations depict events in the passion of Jesus that are not explicitly in the scripture but are part of the oral tradition that was handed down to us?
Even if you don't know the answers to all three of these questions, I hope my posing them at least led you to think for a minute or so about something that has long been a part of our Church's tradition in art form and as a means of prayer and reflection on the passion and death of the Lord.
Of course, the Lenten Season has always been seen as the best time to "pray" the stations, though it is appropriate and good to pray them throughout the year, either individually or in a group setting.
The Stations of the Cross are certainly meant to help us grow and be strengthened in our appreciation of what Jesus endured for us from the time of his trial before Pilate to his being laid in the tomb (which of course is the last of the 14 stations). You may be aware that some of the stations of the cross booklets now contain a 15th station, the Resurrection of the Lord. This reminds us that even as we meditate on the love of God for us in his Son's passion and death, that the final word for Jesus (and for those who follow him) is NOT defeat but glory!
Growing up in Hot Springs and being an altar server for the Stations of the Cross for many years, I came to the point of being able to repeat some of the stations by memory which, I think, was good since in those days the congregation did not have booklets to follow along with what the priest said. The reality is that the Stations of the Cross first came into existence at a time when people could not read or write, so the images of each station provided the means of recalling and reflecting on what happened to Jesus during his passion. As time has gone on many authors including saints (like Alphonsus Liguori) have penned reflections on the passion of Jesus and how what Jesus experienced can help us in the crosses we are called to carry in our lives.
We have accumulated a variety of reflections on the Stations of the Cross that we use on the Fridays of Lent at 4:30 p.m. (except next Friday, March 18 when they will be prayed at 4:00 p.m.).
While we often have people coming to the Stations every Friday of Lent, I encourage everyone to make it a priority to participate in at least one version before the Lenten Season is over.
The one for next week will reflect on the stations from what Mary, the mother of Jesus may have been thinking as her Son endured his passion and death. I have to say this is one of my favorites of the ones we present.
Even if you don't know the answers to all three of these questions, I hope my posing them at least led you to think for a minute or so about something that has long been a part of our Church's tradition in art form and as a means of prayer and reflection on the passion and death of the Lord.
Of course, the Lenten Season has always been seen as the best time to "pray" the stations, though it is appropriate and good to pray them throughout the year, either individually or in a group setting.
The Stations of the Cross are certainly meant to help us grow and be strengthened in our appreciation of what Jesus endured for us from the time of his trial before Pilate to his being laid in the tomb (which of course is the last of the 14 stations). You may be aware that some of the stations of the cross booklets now contain a 15th station, the Resurrection of the Lord. This reminds us that even as we meditate on the love of God for us in his Son's passion and death, that the final word for Jesus (and for those who follow him) is NOT defeat but glory!
Growing up in Hot Springs and being an altar server for the Stations of the Cross for many years, I came to the point of being able to repeat some of the stations by memory which, I think, was good since in those days the congregation did not have booklets to follow along with what the priest said. The reality is that the Stations of the Cross first came into existence at a time when people could not read or write, so the images of each station provided the means of recalling and reflecting on what happened to Jesus during his passion. As time has gone on many authors including saints (like Alphonsus Liguori) have penned reflections on the passion of Jesus and how what Jesus experienced can help us in the crosses we are called to carry in our lives.
We have accumulated a variety of reflections on the Stations of the Cross that we use on the Fridays of Lent at 4:30 p.m. (except next Friday, March 18 when they will be prayed at 4:00 p.m.).
While we often have people coming to the Stations every Friday of Lent, I encourage everyone to make it a priority to participate in at least one version before the Lenten Season is over.
The one for next week will reflect on the stations from what Mary, the mother of Jesus may have been thinking as her Son endured his passion and death. I have to say this is one of my favorites of the ones we present.