In some recent pastor's columns I have paid tribute to a number of parishioners:  Buddy Dixon, Lanny Mabus and former parishioner Jim Dyar.  The last two of these men have died in the last month or so, and Buddy and his wife Martha have relocated to Houston, Texas.  All of these men distinguished themselves in various way, including their service to the Lord at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.  Today, I am going to devote this column to a current parishioner who recently was named by our Parish Council as our first VIP (Very Important Parishioner).  Every two months we will acknowledge and give thanks to God for someone who has gone above and beyond in their commitment as a member of this wonderful parish.  They will be given exclusive rights to a special parking spot in our large parking lot that is labeled, VIP.  As their service not only benefits our parishioners but also me in my ministry, I may give them a gallon of my homemade ice cream (which many have said is a priceless treat).

Having said all that, I am happy to announce that Dave Witchger is our first VIP.  Dave and his lovely wife, Kathleen, have been married for 50 years.  They are long standing parishioners at Sacred Heart Church and have been extremely active, most often in "behind the scenes" ways.  Dave is an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council 10208 and Fr. Victor A. Bieberle Assembly and also participates in the Men's Club.  He has been chairman of the Finance and Administration Council in all of my time at Sacred Heart Church and before that when Msgr. Malone was pastor.  There is not nearly enough room on this page to list all that Dave has helped to do in this parish for the people, the facilities and entire grounds of our parish, as well as the wise counsel he has given to Msgr. Malone and myself on many inportant administrative issues in our parish over the years.  He is in charge of our volunteers who count the collections each week and is always there with each team of counters to see that things go smoothly.  His service goes beyond our parish to his extensive involvement in Habitat for Humanity in  helping to build homes for people in need of a decent place to live. 

While supporting Kathleen in her activities with the Ladies of the Sacred Heart and in our Helping Hands ministry, Dave is always ready to support his fellow parishioners and me whenever a need arises.  I am happy to recognize Dave's tireless efforts and the strong faith he has that I know is behind all that he has done and continues to do for Sacred Heart Parish.  As someone who is still with us (both alive and still in the parish), I invite you to acknowledge and thank him on your own either through a personal encounter, by e-mail or post mail.  I look forward to acknowledging and thanking future VIPs and your suggestions to me and Parish Council members for future recipients of this honor!

It is not an unusual thing for any of us who pass by something regularly to ignore or not fully appreciate what is before our eyes.  That may in fact be the case for some or many of you when it comes to the Narthex at Sacred Heart Church.  If I were to ask you to name everything that is on the walls of our Narthex OR at least the largest item on the walls, I would hope you would say our "Remembrance Tree."  Admittedly, I do not know how long it has been there, but I can tell you that the funds collected go into our parish "memorial fund" which is used to purchase needed liturgical items for our church.  The tree has names of both living and deceased parishioners.  Some do it in honor of someone or in celebration of a special marriage anniversary.  Some have a leaf engraved in loving memory of a deceased parishioner.  We ask for a donation of at least $50.00 for a leaf.  Requests go to Sheila our bookkeeper, who finds out what wording is requested and then sends that information and a blank leaf back to the company that we bought the tree from.  Once we receive the engraved leaf back from the company, it is placed on the tree where it will remain as a remembrance of that person or persons.  Something new for you to consider is that the First Saturday, 9:00 a.m. Mass, will now be offered each month for those living and deceased whose names are on the tree.  There are envelopes for the purpose of obtaining an engraved leaf for our Remembrance Tree in a designated spot in one of the slots on the credenza leading from the Narthex to the Education/Administration wing of our parish building.  The next time you are in the Narthex, stop by and look at the names of parishioners you know (or knew) and say a little prayer for them.  This parish was started and sustained by many wonderful people and I am glad we have a way of keeping their names and memories present for anyone and everyone who come into our Narthex to see!!

"Gone But Not Forgotten" are words that certainly applies to people who make an impact on someone or many people's lives and who have moved or passed from this life into the hands of the the Lord.  In the case of Jim Dyar it was both, as he and his dear wife, Libby of Sacred Heart Parish, moved to Louisville, KY a few years ago due to Jim's deteriorating health and now Jim, on Sunday, passed from this world peacefully with Libby close by.  For those who did not know Jim, you missed a devoted daily Mass Catholic who was doggedly pro-life in many ways including the "pro-life buttons" he provided and strongly encouraged people in the parish and people he encountered in the Village (and probably beyond) to wear as a statement of support, especially for the unborn child.  Those buttons can still be found in a basket on the credenza that leads toward the classrooms just off the Narthex.  Feel free to take one if you intend to wear it.  Jim never went anywhere without a button on his shirt and others in his pocket to give away.  Jim also served on othe parish council in the area of Adult Education and participated in many of our studies well into his older years as he was one who truly believed one is never too old to learn.  Jim was a craftsman who made many mosaic crosses as gifts (including one that I am happy to have) and he carefully "made" the stations of the cross that adorn the walls of our Eucharistic Chapel.  He and Libby were charter members of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our parish, and if I remember correctly, they took on of those "difficult to cover" overnight hours.  Jim was a faithful and proud Knight of Columbus in the 3rd and 4th degree in our council and assembly and pitched in on various projects, including "kitchen duty."  Jim loved the Lord and sought to grow in his relationship with the Lord in and through the activities and ministries I have mentioned and was a regular in the Friday morning prayer group.  It was indeed hard for many of us to see them move away from us physically but they never left our hearts.  As we pray for the happy repose of his soul, I have no doubts that in the future any of us can (and hopefully will) ask for his intercession as we journey to be with the Lord as he is (or will be).  Eternal rest grant unto Jim, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him!  May he rest in peace.  Amen.

Just a word of acknowledgement and appreciation to those who took the time and made the effort to congratulate our First Communion and Confirmation recipients with a card, note, and/or a religious article.  These young people have been supported in various ways by their "parish family" along with their immediate family members and I know they felt your love for them in the prayers, cards and words of encouragement that you offered and will hopefully continue to offer them.  They are indeed very few in number in comparison to our predominately older parishioners, and as such they need to feel special to all of us as they and we are special to the Lord.  After these past two weekends I am confident they do.