Sacred Heart Church will be the host church for the annual Village Interfaith Council Earth Day Service on Friday, April 22, at 10:00 a.m. This will be a service of Scripture, music and reflection on the gift of the creation that God has given for our use and care. In light of the recent Encyclical of Pope Francis "On Care for Our Common Home," we hope that you will make time to join your fellow parishioners and others in the Village for this service.A reception, hosted by Parish Life, will follow in the Lower Hall.
We are inviting all interested parishioners as well as our dedicated Helping Hands volunteers to attend our appreciation and informational dinner on April 21 at 5:00 p.m. in the Lower Hall. Dinner will be catered and served by Chef Johnna.There is no greater ministry than to fulfill Christ's command, "Love Thy Neighbor." Helping Hands has as its mission statement: "Caring for each other and extending a helping hand for the moment when a helping hand is needed." Our parish family is a family united in Christ's love to care fo each other. There are many opportunities to extend a helping hand and perform works of mercy here at Sacred Heart. Please consider attending this dinner and celebration of loving your neighbor.
Helping Hands is inthe process of revising application forms and our computer database. This process makes it necessary to every "Helping Hand" to submit a new application. The revised application will be available at the dinner for existing members of the ministry and any attendees who would like to answer Christ's call to "love your neighbor." Sign-up sheets will be in the narthex. Deadline for signing-up is April 18.
Tickets to the Ladies of the Sacred Heart Card Party are NO LONGER ON SALE. This yearly fundraiser is scheduled for Monday, April 18, 2016. Tickets are $7.00 each and are available from any Guild member.The party is held in the church Lower Hall and has been a sell-out for the last few years. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. for the silent auction. There will be a 50/50 raffle and our famous gift baskets will again be offered as door prizes. For more information or to reserve a table, call ticket chair Carol Barrett at 922-0071.
We are going to take orders one last tiem for this winter - now through April 10, and products will be delivered about April 14. Pick up an order form from the narthex or go to the Knights of Columbus website. We also maintian many products on hand, for istant sales, and a list of these products can be found on the Knights website under "Cheese Inventory," or call any of the sales staff listed. Additional information can be obtained from the sales staff: Ed Miller at 922-0501, John Meyers at 915-0746, or Al Bilgischer at 922-1047. 
On April 7, 2016 Arkansans will have the opportunity to donate on line from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to support their favorite charities. Besides local charities such as Jackson House, and Samaritan Ministries, Catholic Charities of Arkansas is also on the list and would appreciate your consideration. Your donations will no doubt help many people who are facing difficult times and challenging needs. The web address for making your credit card donations is www.arkansasgives.org. 
The Knights of Columbus Council 10208 invites all parishioners to join in recitation of the rosary as we have our annual procession to the monument of the unborn child (off to the side of our small parking lot behind our administration wing of our parish complex). This will happen THIS Monday, April 4, the Solemnity of the Annunciation (which had to be transferred this year from March 25 due to Holy Week), immediately following the 9:00 a.m. morning Mass.
In private revelation to St. Maria Faustina, Jesus asked that a Feast of the Divine Mercy be celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter. He told her: "On that day, all the divine flood gates through which graces flow are opened. The soul who will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment."Here at Sacred Heart, we will have a Divine Mercy Holy Hour on Sunday, April 3, at 3:00 p.m. with song, veneration of the Divine Mercy Image, adoration of the Blessed Sacament, the praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered throughout the Holy Hour. Those who wish to receive the graces attached to Divine Mercy Sunday (see above) can go to Confession anytime within a week or two before or after Divine Mercy Sunday.
An AARP Driver Safety Class will be available on a Saturday. There will be a class scheduled for April 23 at 9:00 a.m., and will be held at a location outside of Sacred Heart Church. Call Gene Widlowski at 922-5170 with questions. 
Auditions for our "Next of Kin" Dinner Theater production will be held in the Lower Hall on Wednesday, March 30th. The audition process will begin at 6:00 p.m. Numerous male and female roles are being offered. This production has cast parts with limited memorization. A total of eight (8) rehearsals will be conducted in advance of "show time." If you are interested becoming a part of the "Next of Kin" production, please provide your name and phone number on the sign-in sheet provided in the narthex. Any questions, please call Gary Wolfer (501-204-1192) or Bill Lamoureux at (914-643-6064). 
Join our parish community - and nearly 14,000 Catholic communities across the United States - in a life-changing Lenten journey with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl. We journey with Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl to the Central American country of Honduras where we meet students who are learning that it's better to help your neighbor learn and grow than to leave him or her behind. To whom are we called to extend a hand this week? Visit website www.crsricebowl.org for more. 
This Lent, Dynamic Catholic has a great opportunity for our parish - a free email program called "Best Lent Ever®." And guess what? The program is based on Matthew Kelly's new bestseller Rediscover Jesus - that's the same book you all received as you left Christmas Mass this past year!Each day you'll get an inspirational email with a short video featuring Matthew Kelly and a member of the Dynamic Catholic Team. Throughout Lent, they will guide you through each of the 40 chapters in Rediscover Jesus and share simple ways to bring Jesus into your everyday life.
I hope you will all join me for this free program! All you have to do is sign up at DynamicCatholic.com/BestLentEver or click here to be directed to the website.
Let's do something life-changing this Lent. Let's take a 40-day spiritual journey to encounter Jesus - and ourselves - in a deeply personal way.
Mi casa es tu casa. This hispanic saying holds a special meeting for us here in Arkansas. CASA, our Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal, is a way for all of us to make a difference right here at home. No matter your resources, your monthly support can fit your budget. It's not the amount of the git that is the most important. Become a CASA supporter today, return your gift/pledge in the envelopes provided. 
Mark your calendar for March 24, and plan to attend our Holy Thursday "Feast Before the Fast" parish family meal. This meal, prepared by Johnna's Catering and served by members of the Sacred Heart Men's Club, is at 5:00 p.m. in the Lower Hall. The menu includes Rosemary Chicken with cream sauce over Rice Pilaf, green beans, salad, rolls, butter and various cheese cake assortment for dessert. Coffee, tea and water will also be available. Donations will be accepted. After dinner, we will go upstairs into the churh and begin the Easter Triduum with Mass at 6:30 p.m. There will be sign-up sheets in the narthex beginning with this week. Please join us. 
It's time again! The Knights of Columbus will be selling our Easter Petit Jean hams on the weekend Masses of March 12/13 and March 19/20. The pick-up date is Tuesday, March 22. We will also be taking orders that can be shipped anywhere in the United States. You will find color brochures of the products, after Mass on the table in the narthex for you to look over. All proceeds, again, go to get Christmas presents for needy children in the area. With your support, we can truly "sow hope where there is despair." Call Al Bilgischer with questions. 
Members of the All Saints Guild will be offering yummy baked goods before and after Masses the weekend of March 19/20. Please stop by to help us with our last guild fundraiser for the year. Monies raised helps various charities that aid women and children. 
The weeks are rushing by and soon it will be March 20, time to go to the Montserrat Retreat House and spend quiet time with God. Call Tom today and reserve your spot for this important time to spend without distraction with your God. Perhaps you need some of your special undisturbed time with your Maker in order to get the special instructions that He has been waiting to whisper in your ear. I know, you still have a couple of weeks before you need to commit, but why not admit that Jesus wants to talk to you, make the call and let Tom know that you want to make a reservation. It will end the turmoil in your thoughts and get you on the road to getting that special message and help that you have been hoping for. You will be glad that you have made the commitment. Call Tom today at 922-3062.