Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Now that we have completed our Lenten journey and the celebration of Easter Triduum, it might be natural for us to take a "breather."  The reality, though, of the 50 days of Easter, tells us to take a new breath, the breath of the Holy Spirit to lead us to rejoice ever anew in the Resurrection of the Lord, and grow in our identity and witness as hope-filled disciples who are living in this time of salvation history.

In addition to the reading materials that we gave as a gift on Easter Sunday weekend, (the Little White Books and the book:  "Beautiful Mercy"), we are also pleased to offer a wonderful opportunity this Easter season to grow in the Lord through a series of presentations by Father Mike Hinken on spirituality and ways to grow in the spiritual life.  I know our women, who participated in a one-day "Day of Recollection" as presented by Father Mike, were very pleased with what he offered, and I, too, recommend Father Mike as one who is well-read and spoken in the are of spiritual growth.

His presentations will begin this Wednesday, April 6, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., and will be offered on the succeeding Wednesdays of April: the 13th, the 20th and the 27th.  A break and refreshments will be offered at each session halfway through the presentation.  You will need to eat your supper before you come.

Please come and prepare to be enlightened and I pray, be motivated in your spiritual life by Father Mike's presentations.  In so doing, you will be ready for the high point of the Easter Season, the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (May 15), and appreciate anew, the gift of the Holy Spirit that is given by the risen Lord to all.
The time of celebration began at the Easter Vigil when we sang the alleluias for the first time in over 40 days.  Another word for alleluia is REJOICE.  We have now begun the season of rejoicing.  We rejoice that the Lord has risen from the dead, lives among us, and lives forever.  We rejoice that there is now new life in Christ's Body through the Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion of the Elect (who are now called neophytes).  We rejoice that we, too, have died with Christ (through our Baptism) and live with the power of the Resurrection ready to inspire our thoughts, words and actions, and help us to live hope-filled lives.

I encourage you to come to Mass during the Octave days of Easter (Easter Monday through the second Sunday of Easter), and be strengthened in the kinowledge that Jesus Christ crucified is risen and is eager for more and more people to come to know Him and know the power of His redeeming love and mercy.  The stronger we are in the Lord, the more we can be daily witnesses to Jesus and bring others to Him and to His Church.  These 50 days of the Easter Season are special days of recognizing the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst as we prepare to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost (which the Church celebrates this year on May 15).

PLEASE consider coming to the four-night (once a week) seminar by Father Mike Hinken on spirituality starting Wednesday, April 6.  Father Mike's presentations will speak to us on how we can continually satisfy the hunger which we all have for God, and lead others to know the power of God of His Spirit of love, mercy and peace that is available to all.  HAVE A BLESSED AND SPIRIT-FILLED EASTER SEASON!
On the day I was going to write this Pastor's Corner, I looked through my mail which contained letters of solicitation from more than a few charities.  While they are all worthy of support by me, you and everyone, I also came upon the annual solicitation for supporting the Catholic Church in the Holy Land through the collection taken up on Good Friday as well as the annual collection to support our diocesan seminarians that is taken up at the Holy Thursday evening Mass.

One can be overwhelmed by the various needs that present themselves to us.  I also was made aware today of the effort on April 7, 2016 called "Arkansas Gives" that offers the opportunity to give to a list of charities in Arkansas through credit card online donations from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. that day.  The list is LONG of the non-profits that included themselves on this list.  Now I am overwhelmed in a positive way that here are so many organizations out there who are helping people who are in a variety of needy situations.  They remind me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached and promulgated not only in churches like ours, but daily through these organizations and charities.

I am asking here that even if you don't make it to church on Holy Thursday and/or Good Friday, that you use the envelope in your stewardship packet to support the Church in the Holy Land and our seminarians and put it in the collection basket whenever you come to weekend Mass over the next few weeks.  While many non-profits I mentioned solicit and get support throughout the year, the two collections I mentioned are annual and ask our support ONLY ONCE A YEAR.  Please give and give generously if you can.