The babies we "spiritually" adopted back in April are due to be born January 17, 2013. 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 5, and not later than Monday, January 14. The Ladies of the Sacred Heart may consider this their "something extra" for January, and bring the gifts to the general meeting on January 14. A display area will be set up in the narthex where the gifts can be left. The donated items will be sorted and then delivered to the local Pregnancy Help Centers in Hot Springs, Benton, Malvern and Little Rock, based on need. Disposable diapers, all sizes, are always welcome. Also, crib sheets, blankets, clothing for preemies and up to 18 months, powders, bath items, bottle, and just about anything else that parents would need for a newborn baby. Please DO NOT WRAP your gift. For information, call Mary Costello (501-922-3915) after January 2. A flyer, listing the needs of each agency will be available at that time. 
A few reservations are still available for the pilgrimage "Pray, Hope and Don't Worry" scheduled for April 10, 2013 hosted by Father Bill Elser. The trip will focus on the places and life of St. Padre Pio, the popular modern-day saint known to many Americans during World War II. Sightseeing includes the American Cemetery, Anzio Beach, Nettuno, Shrine of St. Maria Goretti, Monte Cassino, Benedictine Abbey, and the Polish Cemetery. Visit Pietrelcina birthplace of the saint, Cave of St. Michael the Archangel, and finally San Giovanni Rotondo with many sites related to the saint including his tomb. An optional extension is offered in Rome. For details, call Fran Boudreaux at 501-984-1519. 
During Advent and the Christmas season come into our church library and browse through our selection of suitable books, tapes and DVD's. You will be pleasantly surprised at the number of items available to expand your enjoyment and understanding of these periods of the liturgical year. Go into the chapel and turn left - we are in the room marked Conference Room/Library. Welcome! 
God our Father, Giver of Life, we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care. You are the Rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for Your glory and dwell among Your people. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation's leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind Your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing Your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the "culture of death." Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. 
The weekly cards and games gathering in the Lower Hall on Wednesdays has been changed (yet again) to 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Hopefully, this time will stay the same and more of you will choose to join us for Spades, other card games, or other games like Mexican Train dominoes. We take turns providing a dessert treat, so come for the fellowship and fun. Come and join in the fun. See you tomorrow afternoon! 
The Sacred Heart of Jesus High School Youth Group, Caroline Eisenhauer, Camille Eisenhauer, Jonathan Semmler and Jacob Vasquez-Berg, chaperoned by Alia Berg, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catechist, attended the Stand Up Youth Rally sponsored by the Diocese of Little Rock on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Little Rock. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Youth Group interacted with guest speaker Steve Angrisano, director of Young Adult Ministries in York, PA and one of the most popular and effective Catholic youth evangelists. Thank you to Caroline Eisenhauer, Linda Good and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Knights of Columbus for organizing and supporting the High School Youth Group. The High School Youth meet every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart. Click here to view more pictures in the photo gallery.  |
| LOSH Members who modeled Lagniappe Boutique fashions: Back row l-r, Toni Phillips, Pat Becker, Darlene Barta, Vinnie Calvey. Front row l-r, Mary Duffy, Phyllis Melenson, Elsa Naeger, Dotti Asten. |
Home Plate catered a very tasty chicken/spinach salad with pecans and mandarin oranges and raspberry vinaigrette dressing which was served by the “guys in bow ties”, members of Sacred Heart’s Men’s Club and the Knights of Columbus local council. The ladies were expertly pampered by these waiters, as well as by more “guys” who acted as bartenders serving mimosas or a selection of wines to satisfy the ladies’ tastes.
Fashions by Hot Springs Lagniappe Boutique, presented by owner Marcia Dobbs-Smith, proved that elegance and fun could be merged in fashionable clothing for all sizes, shapes and occasions. Models for the fashion show were all members of the Ladies of Sacred Heart. They graced the stage and then circulated among the tables so all attendees could get a close up look at the lovely clothing and jewelry they modeled.
The fashion show was interspersed with awards of door prizes, donated through the generosity of local businesses, and ended with the results of the raffle and winners of the silent auction bids. The beautiful raffle prizes and auction items were all the artful creations of very talented SHJ parishioners.
Fashion show chairwomen Nancy Froning and Joyce Field, with a whole lot of help from their committee members, can be proud of their highly enjoyable and very successful event.
 |
| Deacon Larry Lipsmeyer gives blessing over pets. |
Attending on this cool Sunday afternoon were quite an assortment of God’s canine creation. Elegant poodles pranced, and laughing terriers danced. Some felt the urge to “sing” God’s praises, some just barked out several well-timed “amens”, and some just sat stoically and contemplated the holy occasion in silence.
While Deacon Larry read the scripture and prayers, tails wagged, itches were scratched, and much sniffing ensued. And when it was time for the sprinkling of the holy water, some of these well-loved companions tried to hide from the holy “rain drops”, others frolicked in this very pleasant diversion, and a few just sat and worried whether this sprinkling of water might mean a bath would soon follow.
Fifteen minutes later all pets followed their owners back to their cars for the trip back home. They moved proudly and joyfully next to their human caretakers, trusting in them and happy just to be in their company. The dogs had all been blessed, but each of the owners knew they too were blessed just to have one of God’s most wonderful creatures as their own special furry friend and companion. Click here for more photos.
The 2012 Treasure Sale was very successful with $16,595 raised in support of Catholic education at Our Lady of Fatima in Benton and St. John's in Hot Springs. Quite remarkably, the 2012 amount compares to $15,817 in 2010 and $16,668 in 2008. Thanks to all the parishioners who donated items and volunteered their time. A special thanks to those who have been working since May collecting, pricing, transporting and storing items. Co-chairs John Bodensteiner and Chris Gleason wish to recognize and than the other committee members for their tireless efforts: Mike Frantz, Kathy Geske, Mary Ann Honzik, Claudia and Ed Keearns, Gerald and Ann Krawczynski, Larry Lipsmeyer, JoAnn and Terry O'Brien, Dave Witchger, Tom Yerina and Marvin Young. Click here to view more pictures in the photo gallery. 
You are invited to nominate a parishioner for election to one of the following commissions: Education, Parish Life, Liturgy or Social Justice. Nominations open September 22 and close October 7, 2012. The term of office is two years. One would attend six commission meetings, and as the commission liaison, attend six pastoral Council meetings held on alternate months during the year. Workshops and Virtus training will be provided. The first year one would learn "how-to" and then oversee activities. Nominating forms and the ballot box are in the narthex. If you have questions, please call members of the Nominating Committee: Don Ritter at 224-659-5001, Mary Ellen Costello at 922-3915 or Mickey Townsend at 922-0705. 
Forty Days for Life is a peaceful, prayerful, pro-life campaign that has proven effective. From September 26 through November 4, our community is joining with believers in hundreds of other cities for 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion.You are invited to stand and pray peacefully in the public right-of-way outside the Family Planning Clinic in Little Rock. Our parish has adopted Wednesday, October 3, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sign-up sheets will be available in the narthex. If you have never prayed and witnessed in public before, please consider participating. We will arrange for you to ride with other prayer warriors. There will also be opportunities for private prayer and fasting, both at home and with fellow parishioners here at church. Join this worldwide movement to protect mothers and babies, which has also led to the conversion of abortion workers and the closing of abortion facilities. Call Mary Ellen Costello at 922-3915 for information.
We pray that everyone who can do so, will exercise their right and responsibility to vote in the November election. We are planning a voter registration drive at our church toward the end of the month. You can easily check to see if you are currently registered to vote by logging on to www.voterview.org or by calling 501-303-5630 (Saline County) or 501-622-3610 (Garland County). 
On Wednesday the 19th of September our third Columbarium, Sacred Heart of Jesus III, was delivered and placed on its foundation in our Cemetery and Memorial Garden. This now gives us a total of 240 double size niches for inurnment of the cremated remains of deceased church members and their immediate families. Our first inurnment was on All Souls Day 2005. We are accomplishing what was our first goal; that was to have a special place on church grounds for our cemetery.You can tell from the pictures, click here to view more photos in photo gallery, that this is not an easy thing to do. Each Columbarium weighs 28,000 pounds. A tremendous amount of planning and timing goes into this process to make it work. It takes a huge crane, two large trucks, cement labor and a lot of effort from our committee and volunteers to help get this done. Special thanks to all of those that came out to help with this huge project. The sidewalks, lights, benches and plants have to be completed before we can start selling niches in Sacred Heart of Jesus III. If you have any questions, please call Deacon Larry Lipsmeyer at 922-3283 or Buddy Dixon at 922-2811. Thanks to all for their help and support in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery.
We have a fine selection of books featured in our library on St. Padre Pio. You will want to read about his amazing life. Come into our library and browse among the many selections of books, DVD's, audio and video tapes for adults and children. Can't find the library? Just enter the chapel, make a quick left and go through the door marked "Conference Room/Library". You are always welcome. 
This year our parish will provide each family with two books of daily reflections: the "Year of Faith", published by Magnificat, and for Lent, "Little Black Book" as published by Little Books. These books can be purchased for your family members and friends not living in the parish. Order forms are in the A & E Hallway. Please place your order by Tuesday, September 25, 2012. 
Sacred Heart of Jesus invites you to join us for fun with "Church Fitness" a program consisting of lite cardio/tuning with pilates/yoga stretches on Thursdays at 9:45 a.m. in the Lower Hall. Classes will begin on September 4 and continue through October 30 (excluding September 27). The class is taught by Alia Berg, a licensed certified fitness instructor. The cost of the program is by donation per class. Call Alia at 209-2133 for more information.