Last weekend we had two wonderful homilies from Deacon Wally at the 4:00 p.m. Mass and Deacon John at the Sunday morning Masses.  Deacon Wally talked about respect for life and Deacon John about prayer.  Both prayer and action for unborn children and others, are key ingredients for living a balanced and healthy Christian life.

Next weekend (January 28-29), we will offer for sale after Mass "Prayer" candles that you can purchase and use in your homes.  The candles will be blessed on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (February 2) which is also known as "Candlemas Day".  You can pick up your candles on that day after Mass or on the weekend of February 4-5.  Candles, as many of you know, are a visable reminder to use that Christ is "Our Light" and the lights of the world. 

It was truly a team effort.  The team was the Knights of Columbus (10208), the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, the Sacred Heart Men's Club, and other parishioners who followed the lead of our coach Ed Keearns in bringing Christmas joy to so many people.  The money that was collected and used to buy food, shoes (to children) and presents, totaled $11,305.  A total of 54 families received food and 148 children received presents of toys and clothes that many parishioners bought and wrapped.  I thank the Lord for the inspiration and motivation that led so many people to give so much for the sake of those in need.  God bless you all.

Our new Church calendar lists January 23 as a "Day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life."  This day of penance and prayer has been decreed by our American Bishops on the day after the anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision in 1973 that legalized abortion in our country.  I ask you to be thoughtful about a penance you could do on January 23 and then make plans to participate in Mass that day at 9:00 a.m. and/or stop by the Church sometime that day and spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Monstrance after Mass until benediction at 4:00 p.m.  Sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex to see that we have every hour covered during our day of prayer.  We will pray the patriotic rosary that day immediately after Mass.  Please also consider going to Little Rock for the Mass and March for Life on Sunday, January 22.  Sign-up sheets for a ride on a bus (provided free of charge) are in the Narthex.