Do you need a shot of patriotism and prayer in your life?  You can satisfy both by coming to church this Monday at 9:00 a.m. and praying the Patriotic Rosary on Veterans Day.  As you come to church for this purpose, you will see many American flags on our church property that are put up on various civic holidays throughout the year.  Our prayers for our country, its leaders, and its citizens in all fifty states, as well as the patriotic songs that are sung through out the rosary, will speak strongly to God of our need for His care and guidance for our country.  Please start your Veterans Day in this special way.

Also, please remember that our Bishop Anthony Taylor will be here next Saturday as the main celebrant of the Mass, and as the one who will carry the Monstrance with the Eucharist in it to our Perpetual Adoration Chapel for the beginning of Perpetual Adoration here at Sacred Heart Church.  All adorers are especially encouraged to attend this Mass.

I found it very interesting to read what was sent to me and all priests, about a new, nationwide collection that will be taken up next weekend at all of our Masses for the Archdiocese of the Military Services.  We were told that currently there are only 250 Catholic chaplains who now serve on active military duty and another 250 who serve at Veterans Adminstration Medical Centers.  This vast Archdiocese receives absolutely no funding from the government and has no parishes to provide weekly sources of funding.  The money generated through this special collection will assist in recruiting chaplains, training them in seminaries (most often in partnership with another diocese), and travel for the Archbishop and others who are on his staff.

I am happy that we have this opportunity to help those connected with the spiritual service of our men and women who serve in our military.  Please be generous to this need next weekend.  There are envelopes on the cabinets in the narthex and the hallway leading into our administration building, or you can just place a check or cash into the basket during the collection.

We are winding down the "Year of Faith" that was promulgated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI over a year ago.  
Jesus asked in the Gospel last Sunday: "When the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?"  Such a statement is first and foremost a challenge for each individual believer to grow in his or her knowledge of the faith, and in trust of Jesus who is the Messiah and Savior of the world.  If we haven't taken advantage of opportunities to grow during this "Year of Faith", we need not despair.  More opportunities will present themselves to us, starting with Jesus being present to us in the Monstrance in our Perpetual Adoration Chapel 24 hours a day, seven days a week starting after the 4:00 p.m. Mass on November 16. I believe it was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit during this "Year of Faith" that we were moved in the direction of having this great blessing for our parish and for all who take time to be with Jesus in prayer for an hour or any time we choose to stop by the chapel.  I truly expect a tremendous growth in faith here at Sacred Heart Church in the future.  THANKS BE TO GOD!