Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Spiritual DirectionPaula Doyle, a certified spiritual director since 2001 and Sacred Heart parishionher, is again offering to accompany you on your spiritual journey, now in a private practice from her home.  There is no charge for the first visit, and subsequent sessions are subject to a nomimal fee.  If you are interested or have questions, please call Paula at 922-5771 or transmit an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ministry FairCommissions/Committee informational sessions will be held after Masses this weekend to introduce parishioners to the wide variety of activities and ministries that happen in our parish through the Commissions of Education, Liturgy, Parish Life and Social Justice and Charitable Outreach.  Refreshments will be served during the sessions - wine and cheese on Saturday evening, coffee and doughnuts on Sunday morning.  Pleae join us.
church library 1Please - no more book donations!  The library is overrun with donations that can't be used.  The local thrift stores are a much better place to donate books.  Thank you.

Christmas Reading:
The featured book shelf, second shelf on the free standing book case in the library, has books for Advent and Christmas reading.  Please check them and all items out before removing them from the library.
RosaryThis is one of the most rewarding ministries in our church.  We send rosaries all over the world, and put them into hands of people who probably would not have a rosary.  We have, for example, supplied rosaries to Father Nestor's entire village in Tanzania.  In our country, we send rosaries to the homeless, street people, prisoners, children, and newly converted families.  Won't you please consider joining our group making rosaries?  We meet all year long, every Thursday after Mass in the classrooms,  Call Marge Newburn at 922-9047.
DvdA parishioner kindly donated eight DVDs to our library:  Book Thief, I Am David, The Keys to the Kingdom, The Letters, Little Boy, Stolen Summer, War Room, When the Games Stand Tall.  Please check the DVDs out before taking them from the library, and return them with two weeks.
BabyThe babies we "spiritually" adopted back in April, are due to be born January 9, 2017. To welcome them into the world, we are planning a "Parish Baby Shower."  All parishioners are invited to participate.  Please purchase a baby item and bring it to the church, UNWRAPPED, beginning Saturday, January 7, and no later than Monday, January 16.  The Ladies of the Sacred Heart can consider this their "something extra" for January and bring the gifts to the general meeting.  A display area will be set-up in the narthex where the gifts can be left.  Items needed include:  diapers (preemie size included), crib sheets, blankets, clothing up to 18 months, bath items, diaper bags, formula (Enfamel Gentlease or Similac Sensitive).  The donated items will be sorted and then delivered to Catholic Adoption Services in Little Rock and local Pregnancy Help Centers in Hot Springs, Benton and Malvern, based on need. Please help us sort baby items on January 16 at 9:45 a.m. if you can.  We need more hands.  Call Edie Gray at 922-4694 if you have questions or need additional information.  Your donations are appreciated.
2017 GreaterCome and join the Knights of Columbus on Wednesday, January 25, as they present the movie "Greater" at 6:00 p.m. in the Lower Hall.  Brandon Burlsworth is perhaps the greatest walk-on in the history of college football.  Brandon dreamed of playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but was told he wasn't good enough to play Division 1 ball. Undeterred, Brandon took a risk and walked on in 1994.  Written off by fellow teammates and coaches, Brandon displayed dogged determination in the face of staggering odds.  The awkward kid who once was an embarrassment to his teammates and an annoyance to his coaches, ended up becoming the most respected player in the history of the program, changing the lives of all he touched.

The Knights will serve a hearty soup/salad dinner at 5:30 p.m.  Sodas, beer and wine will be available for a donation. Popcorn will also be available.  Please sign-up on the sheet in the narthex if you plan to attend and eat dinner.  See you there!
ProLifeThe 2017 Mass for Life will be celebrated by Bishop Anthony Taylor on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 12:05 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, 7th & Louisiana Streets, Little Rock.  Preceding the Mass, a Rosary for LIfe will be prayed beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The Vigil for Life at the Cathedral will begin with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, and will continue with Adoration throughout the night until 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  Please join our prayers for an end to the grave evil of abortion and for an increased respect for the dignity of each person.

January 22 marks the anniversay of the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion on demand.  Since then, almost 60 million babies have lost their lives.  After the Mass for Life, Arkansas Right to Life will sponsor the 39th annual march for Life at 2:00 p.m. behind the Capitol.  Please promote and support this annual pro-life event.

There will be an opportunity to participate in a carpool to the march (and/or the Mass at the Cathedral).  Pleas sign-up in the narthex if you want to ride with someone who is going.  Please also sign-up if you can help drive others to Little Rock.
Scrambled eggs sausage and biscuitsOn January 22, the Knights of Columbus invite all to a menu of sausage and eggs, biscuits, gravy, hash browns, and juice and coffee or milk after each Mass on that Sunday.  Newcomers will be guests of the Knights.  Breakfast is only $6.00 a plate and kids 12 and under are free.  All breakfast proceeds are used to help fund Knights of Columbus charitable activites throughout the year.  Your support is greatly appreciated.  See you there!
booksMountain Pine School and Community welcome new or used books for its libraries.  If you would like to donate, please bring your books to our church library (next to the chapel in the narthex) and put them in the labeled box or container.
Spiritual DirectionWhat you are is God's gift to you.  What you become is your gift to God.
                                                                                     -Hans Urs von Balthasasr


Are your struggling with issues of aging, with questions of mortality, with finding a passion for life?  A spiritual director is trained to help explore and clarify the challenges of being a faithful disciple of Christ in today's problematic word.  Paula Doyle, a certified spiritual director since 2001 and Sacred Heart parishioner, is again offering to accompany you on your spiritual journey, now in a private practice from her home. There is no charge for the first visit, and subsequent sessions are subject to a nominal fee.  If you are interested or have questions, please call Paula at 922-5771 or transmit to e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pastoral CouncilThe newest members of the Parish Council and the Commissions on which they will serve are:  
  
Sharon Board Education
Karen Feckler Liturgy
Joan Prockup Parish Life
Rebecca Huber Social Justice &
Charitable Outreach

This year there was only one nominee for each Commission Liaison position on the Council, therefore, parishioner voting was not held.  Congratulations and thanks to each new liaison for your interest in and acceptance of the nomination to the Pastoral Council for the 2017-2018 term.

The Parish Life Commission has, with regret, received notice that Anna Suttor will step down from the Pastoral Council for her final year of 2017.  Anna will begin travels overseas in 2017 with friends and family members.  We thank Anna for her dedication and work over the years in support of the Sacred Heart Community, and wish her happy and safe travels.  At the request of the Pastoral Council, Cathy Silk has agreed to take Anna's possition for 2017.
cid 5686E85A 984F 44E4 B743 8F4750CA2B0D
Photo by Rene Steinpreis
Our parish has won "Yard of the Month" for October, 2016, as presented by Garland County Master Gardeners!  The Memorial Garden which surrounds the Columbarium on parish grounds is a peaceful, tranquil garden.  Spotlights illuminate the tranquility every evening - surrounded, in part, by lush gardenias, Japanese maples, flowering shrubs and blue cedar trees.  The waterfall and pond are exquisite, and the newly-replaced path around the memorial garden is wheelchair and walker-friendly.  The garden is maintanined by Randy Schnoebelen, a Sacred Heart parishioner.

Buddy Dixon of Sacred Heart begam researching the Columbarium project during the year 2000, with our bishop approving the creation in 2005.  Two years later, the first interments took place on All Souls Day.  The currect cemetery has three granite and marble columbaria, each weighing 28,000 pounds, with space for seven more!

Congratulations to all for this welcomed award for our parish's creativity and hard work!  Please take some time to visit our peaceful Memorial Garden which is open daily until 9:00 p.m.
Spaghetti DinnerOn Sataurday, January 14, after the 4:00 p.m. Mass, the Knights of Columbus request the pleasure of your company in the Lower Hall at 5:00 p.m. for dinner.  The Knights will prepare and serve salad, bread and spaghetti for a requested donation of $8.00 per person.  Additionally, a refreshment center will offer wine, beer and soda for a separate donation to cover refreshment costs.  Sign-up sheets will be in the narthex until January 14.  Maximum capcity is 220 guests. Take-away (carry-out) will be available after 5:30 p.m. only.
2016 police headerThe next meeting of the 2016-17 year will be on Tuesday, January 10, at 5:00 p.m. in the Lower Hall of the church. There will be a short optional religious service in the Upper Hall conducted by Deacon Wally Gieringer and Mike Kerwin.  Social gathering in the Lower Hall follows from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m.  Dinner will be served before 6:00 p.m.  After dinner, our speaker for the evening will be Hot Springs Village Chief of Police Rickey Middleton, who will talk about "Safety in the Village."  After the speaker, we will have a short business meeting.  Remember to sign-up with Danny Murphy at the meeting to participate in our "Meals on Wheels" program during the month of February.

The dinner for the evening will be Pulled Pork Barbeque, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, rolls and butter, with ice cream for dessert.  The cost of the dinner is $10 per person and will be catered by Chef Johnna at the DeSoto Club.  Contact Bill Patterson by phone at 922-6965 or transmit an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 8, if you plan on attending and eating with us.
Blood Drive 1The next Blood Drive as supported by the parish Knights of Columbus and hosted by the Village United Methodist Church on Carmona Road, will be held Tuesday, January 10, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  New donors can go to www.redcrossblood.org for detailed information and to schedule an appointment.  Previous donors at this site with e-mail addresses have been sent an e-mail reminder.  Contact Scott Luchesi at 501-204-4101 with questions or to be place on the reminder list.