Just look at these numbers:
5,575 miles driven
861 hours of time given
2,000 greeting cards sent
542 hours of homebound or nursing home visits
These were reported at the recent Sacred Heart Helping Hands Appreciation Dinner. I give thanks to God that we have so many "helping hands" among our parishioners who reach out to assist fellow parishioners in need. In fact, more than a few who were "helping hands" volunteers in the past are now being helped by other fellow parishioners. What's the saying: "What goes around, comes around."
I ask, firstly, for all parishioners who need help with rides to doctor's offices or to the store, or who need respite from caring for a loved one, or other needs, to call Pat Widlowski at 922-1935 or Cathy Wedwick at 915-8456 to find out more of what Helping Hands can do for you. Also, we can certainly benefit from more volunteers in this important and gratifying ministry. Call one of the women mentioned above to get more information. You can get a volunteer application from the table in the hallway leading to our classrooms/offices. God bless you all!
5,575 miles driven
861 hours of time given
2,000 greeting cards sent
542 hours of homebound or nursing home visits
These were reported at the recent Sacred Heart Helping Hands Appreciation Dinner. I give thanks to God that we have so many "helping hands" among our parishioners who reach out to assist fellow parishioners in need. In fact, more than a few who were "helping hands" volunteers in the past are now being helped by other fellow parishioners. What's the saying: "What goes around, comes around."
I ask, firstly, for all parishioners who need help with rides to doctor's offices or to the store, or who need respite from caring for a loved one, or other needs, to call Pat Widlowski at 922-1935 or Cathy Wedwick at 915-8456 to find out more of what Helping Hands can do for you. Also, we can certainly benefit from more volunteers in this important and gratifying ministry. Call one of the women mentioned above to get more information. You can get a volunteer application from the table in the hallway leading to our classrooms/offices. God bless you all!
I received the following e-mail letter from a visitor to our parish and decided to print it for all of you to see as my pastor's column for the week. I appreciate so much about the parish including (and maybe firstly) the vibrant way Mass is celebrated and the hospitality that is offered to fellow parishioners and visitors alike. Here it is:
Father Elser, I just wanted to say thank you for providing me with such a wonderful church to offer Mass for me when I visited our cabin near the Village. I came in this past weekend for vacation and was very pleased to see there was a Catholic Church so close by. I was also very happy to see so many parishioners attend Mass on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The church itself is very beautiful and welcoming to all. As not all churches offer Confession on Sunday, I was very relieved to be able to receive the sacrament before Mass. The visiting priest was very enjoyable with his homily, too. Overall I felt that I got exactly what I needed while in town. Sometimes Catholic churches outside of south Louisiana are somewhat watered down and more Protestant than Catholic. Thank you again for giving me a home away from home when I am there in your area.
Father Elser, I just wanted to say thank you for providing me with such a wonderful church to offer Mass for me when I visited our cabin near the Village. I came in this past weekend for vacation and was very pleased to see there was a Catholic Church so close by. I was also very happy to see so many parishioners attend Mass on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The church itself is very beautiful and welcoming to all. As not all churches offer Confession on Sunday, I was very relieved to be able to receive the sacrament before Mass. The visiting priest was very enjoyable with his homily, too. Overall I felt that I got exactly what I needed while in town. Sometimes Catholic churches outside of south Louisiana are somewhat watered down and more Protestant than Catholic. Thank you again for giving me a home away from home when I am there in your area.
In my almost 27 years of priesthood (May 31), I have often been blessed by people thanking me for my prayers for them or their loved one. By asking me to pray for them or someone else, they recognized the power of intercessory prayer. Such prayer is a good and healthy part of a growing prayer life that includes prayers of praise, thanks, contrition and meditation. I recently have benefited from the prayers of those who found out I had shingles on my forehead. I thank those who lifted me up to the Lord. I truly believe that with the help of those prayers, my sickness was short lived and devoid of much pain or itching. To be on the receiving end of intercessory prayer strengthens me in the call to intercessory prayer to others.
Please don't hesitate to ask for prayers from others when there is sickness and/or other needs. Also, be quick to offer to pray for others who are in need and DO IT. You will continually see the hand of the Lord working in some wonderful ways.
Please don't hesitate to ask for prayers from others when there is sickness and/or other needs. Also, be quick to offer to pray for others who are in need and DO IT. You will continually see the hand of the Lord working in some wonderful ways.