A number of people recently asked if I heard the story of the person in Missouri who was in a car wreck. While waiting to be rescued from her vehicle, a priest seemingly appearing out of nowhere, anointed her, and disappeared without much notice. Cameras and videos on the scene never could spot the priest - either before, after, or during the anointing. People of faith quickly concluded that God had sent an angel to the scene of this accident. If you think about it, God sends angels to many disaster scenes. In some cases, they are unknown and largely go unrecognized by the people they help.
While the story I told may, in fact, be a miraculous way of God intervening in a difficult situation, we should recognize and celebrate the fact that God inspires many people to act as angels who bring comfort, strength and hope to people in need. All of us should pay attention. God is calling on all of us to do His work of love and mercy on a regular basis. Our positive response may lead to someone giving thanks to God for the gift of angels in our midst.
While the story I told may, in fact, be a miraculous way of God intervening in a difficult situation, we should recognize and celebrate the fact that God inspires many people to act as angels who bring comfort, strength and hope to people in need. All of us should pay attention. God is calling on all of us to do His work of love and mercy on a regular basis. Our positive response may lead to someone giving thanks to God for the gift of angels in our midst.
The work of Catholic Charities of Arkansas is varied and far-reaching in its scope as it reaches out a helping hand daily to the poor, the dispossessed, and those who are victims of natural disasters. Because of recent federal mandates with regard to adoptions, mandates that we, as Catholics, could not in conscience follow, we have lost needed financial help for our Adoption services, which makes the annual Bishop McDonald Catholic Charities Golf Tournament such an important fundraiser.
The Tournament will be held on Monday, September 16, at the Maumelle Country Club in Maumelle, Arkansas. We need our parish golfers to step-up and play in this tournament. There is a choice of a morning or afternoon tee time. The cost for each individual person is $75 (as the parish will co-sponsor each person by paying the remaining cost of $75, for a total of $150). Our hope is to have as many as 12-15 players from our parish. You can put together your own team (four people) or be put on a team. Please call me (209-2502) or come to the parish office to get a registration form. Those who turn in their registration to me or to the staff at the church office with your $75 check made payable to Sacred Heart Church (memo line: Catholic Charities Golf Tournament) will assure your participation on one of our teams. I hope and pray that we have the largest contingency at this great fundraising (and fun) tournament. By the way, it will pay-out first, second and third places for a least two flights. It will be a memorable day for Catholic Charities and for those who play. Please join me for this worthwhile endeavor to help so many who are in need.
The Tournament will be held on Monday, September 16, at the Maumelle Country Club in Maumelle, Arkansas. We need our parish golfers to step-up and play in this tournament. There is a choice of a morning or afternoon tee time. The cost for each individual person is $75 (as the parish will co-sponsor each person by paying the remaining cost of $75, for a total of $150). Our hope is to have as many as 12-15 players from our parish. You can put together your own team (four people) or be put on a team. Please call me (209-2502) or come to the parish office to get a registration form. Those who turn in their registration to me or to the staff at the church office with your $75 check made payable to Sacred Heart Church (memo line: Catholic Charities Golf Tournament) will assure your participation on one of our teams. I hope and pray that we have the largest contingency at this great fundraising (and fun) tournament. By the way, it will pay-out first, second and third places for a least two flights. It will be a memorable day for Catholic Charities and for those who play. Please join me for this worthwhile endeavor to help so many who are in need.
I will be out-of-town from Monday through Thursday as I attend the Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus as state chaplain in San Antonio, Texas. This is my fourth Supreme Convention and I expect, once again, to come back ever thankful that I am a Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus. It is heartwarming to spend time with Catholic gentlemen and their wives from all over the United States and beyond, as we celebrate the charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism that is promoted in the Knights of Columbus.
If you are a Knight, and even if you are not, I invite those who get the EWTN television station to tune in for the opening Mass of the Convention on Tuesday, August 6, and 9:30 a.m. and the Masses on Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00 a.m. In addition, the keynote address by the Supreme Knight Carl Anderson will be broadcast at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday and the States Dinner at 7:30 p.m. This last convention event has Archbishop Dolan as it's primary speaker. Look for me at the Masses and especially at the States Dinner as they usually pan to each state's delegation as they play our state song. I'll be the one waving the Arkansas flag.
If you are a Knight, and even if you are not, I invite those who get the EWTN television station to tune in for the opening Mass of the Convention on Tuesday, August 6, and 9:30 a.m. and the Masses on Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00 a.m. In addition, the keynote address by the Supreme Knight Carl Anderson will be broadcast at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday and the States Dinner at 7:30 p.m. This last convention event has Archbishop Dolan as it's primary speaker. Look for me at the Masses and especially at the States Dinner as they usually pan to each state's delegation as they play our state song. I'll be the one waving the Arkansas flag.