See if you can fill in the blanks to the following: "I am a ______Catholic." "I belong to the Diocese of ______ ____." "I am a parishioner of ______ _____ __ _____ ________ ______." (see answers below.) I hope you got all three right. I also hope you are proud to be counted among a large, larger, and largest group of faith-filled believers in Jesus Christ! We are blessed in many ways by our connection to one another in these groups of people. We are also called to be a blessing to the members and ministries that are offered to various people both within and outside of the Catholic faith. The "Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal" is the opportunity (and really, a calling) for every Catholic household in the Diocese of Little Rock to support ministries that have partial funding from various sources, and that NEED the support of ALL Catholics in Arkansas financially in order to fulfill their mission of doing the Lord's work in their area of ministry. I say "All" knowing that sadly less than twenty percent of all Catholic households in Arkansas traditionally have given something for the pastoral work that is going on, besides what their parishes are funding and doing. While our numbers at Sacred Heart Church are thankfully higher than that, we have quite a way to go to even be at the fifty percent level of participation. While I sincerely ask that those approximately 234 Sacred Heart Parish families who gave to CASA in 2023 be faithful in giving generously again in 2024, I strongly ask that those who did not give last year, will give SOMETHING this year and be counted as those who have a compassionate, caring heart for children, other youth, college students, seminarians, and many adults whose lives are being made more Christ-like and/or who are coming to know Christ through the help that is being given to them. Prayerfully consider what you will give and use the envelope you received in the mail or at church to make a pledge that can be satisfied over a ten month period this year or at least give a one-time contribution. Next week's bulletin will list all the ministries and groups of people that will be receiving needed help from Catholics all over Arkansas. My goal and emphasis this year will not only be on reaching and exceeding the financial goal the diocese has given us (which we thankfully have done almost every year) but to FAR EXCEED the numbers of households who give! PLEASE be one of those and know you are counted among the BLESSED in Arkansas for your gift! (Answers to the fill in the blanks above are Roman, Little Rock, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church)

  I was talking the other day with a parishioner about the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass and the reality that the altar servers prayed, (without any help from the congregation,) the "Confiteor" (I confess to almighty God....). I can  remember doing that in my early years of being an altar server, except I only did it in English. I feel sure that if any of our parishioners who were altar servers in those "Latin-Rite days were completely honest, they would admit that they prayed this prayer rather "speedily". It was more "said" and less "prayed" by many of the altar servers who did it.

  I think we all could recall a time when we just said our prayers and didn't really pray them slowly and with thought. Admittedly I have tried in praying the rosary both in private and in community to slow down and consciously speak to Mary the words of the "Hail Mary". I would encourage all of us to consider whether or not you are going slow enough where we are truly speaking to Mary, or Jesus, or the Father in the rote  prayers that  we pray. It is especially hard when one is praying 53 Hail Mary's in a rosary, but it is potentially much more meaningful and powerful to pray "thoughtfully" AND from the heart. I would like to present the Anima Christi prayer that many of us learned by heart growing up, which is a good prayer to pray, slowly and deliberately when we speak to Christ especially after receiving Holy Communion, or before him in the Monstrance or in the Tabernacle.

  If we truly pray this prayer (composed by St. Ignatius of Loyola 1491-1556), and properly observe the periods and commas, then we will be blessed in many ways.

  SOUL OF CHRIST SANCTIFY ME.
  BODY OF CHRIST,SAVE ME.

  BLOOD OF CHRIST, INEBRIATE ME.
  WATER FROM THE SIDE OF CHRIST, WASH ME.

  PASSION OF CHRIST, STRENGTHEN ME. 
  O GOOD JESUS, HEAR ME. 

  WITHIN YOUR WOUNDS HIDE ME. PERMIT ME NOT TO
  BE SEPARATED FROM YOU.

  FROM THE MALIGNANT ENEMY, DEFEND ME.
  AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH, CALL ME, AND BID ME
  COME TO YOU. 

  THAT WITH YOUR SAINTS, I MAY PRAISE YOU,
  FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN

In the world of professional sports it has been said over and over again that when a player who is known as an active and successful player on a previous team or teams joins a new team, even before they begin playing on a new team, his or her PRESENCE makes a positive impact on the team. I believe such can also be the case when people come into a parish with an active past in previous parishies. They can come to a new parish and their presence can, early on, make an impact that is felt by a few or many. Such is the case in people who have moved into this wonderful parish and certainly Deacon Gary Christoff and his wife, Doris (who moved here in December 2021). They made an almost immediate impact on me, and in a short time, others, by bringing their love for the Lord and His people to Sacred Heart Church from their previous experiences in Jefferson City, Missouri. When they started coming to daily Mass and revealed to me that Gary is a "senior" deacon from that diocese, both he and his wife of (almost 60 years) got involved beyond being a regular part of the 9:00 a.m. daily Mass community here and offering themselves as Eucharistic Ministers at that Mass. While indicating that he, in his "senior" status, did not want to resume serving as a deacon on the altar and preaching, he was open to doing other forms of mnistry that needed him. He too over the bereavement support ministry that provides a range of help immediately and ongoing to those in our  parish who have lost loved ones. He agreed to take turns with Deacon BJ in providing a monthly prayer service a Samaritan Ministries in Hot Springs before other members of our parish serve a meal to the homeless men who reside there. He and Doris became Eucharistic Adorers, with Deacon Gary taking on one of the latenight hours and Doris an evening adorer and now a co-division leader of the evening adoration hours. Gary became and is an active member of our Knights of Columbus and the Men's Club and Doris is active in LOSH and serves as co-captain of St Monica's Guild. Doris has been and still is an active participant in one of our physical fitness groups and recently, Gary has joined her. (I hope other men and women will give this a try in the new year) Doris has gotten involved through her guild in tutoring at Mt Pine School. I hope you realize by now that the Christoffs, though members of our parish for a short time, have been chosen our VIPs (Very Important Parishioners) for the month of January. They are almost a daily presence here and have already made an impact on parishioners and people outside of the parish as well. They have endeared themselves to our parishioners and me and I know that will continue in the future. Thank the Lord and then them for who thay are in our parish family!