My subject for this pastor's column was influenced by the Gospel that was proclaimed for Tuesday, July 9 and a meeting that was held right after that Mass. In the Gospel, (Mth 9:32-38), Jesus was busy teaching, preaching and healing people. As he went from one place to another, he may have felt somewhat overwhelmed by the task in front of him. He said "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few, so ask the harvestmaster to send out laborers for his harvest." (Mth 9:32). This passage has often been quoted over the years when encouragement is given to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The meeting I attended after Mass that morning addressed the upcoming annual fundraising dinner for our Arkansas seminarians (August 9) that is sponsored by our local Knights of Columbus (Council 10208). Much effort has already been put in to make this the most enjoyable (and hopefully successful) nights that we have ever had for this important and worthy cause to prepare through educa-tion and formation the future "laborers for the harvest" in the fertile field of the state of Arkansas. Through cooperation and coordination with the vocation office of our diocese we will have the most seminarians EVER who are able to attend our meal and program (around 19)! We will have some seminarians perform some music for us, and one seminarian share about the journey of faith that has led him to this point in his formation. In addition, we have the vocation director, Fr. Jeff Hebert, the new spiritual formation director at the House of Formation, Fr. Mauricio Carrasco and Bishop Taylor speaking to the attendees and a DELICIOUS dinner prepared by Chef Johnna. (See the bulletin announcement for the menu). I will have plenty of homemade ice cream made for dessert to top off a wonderful meal! The cost of the meal is $25.00 a person, I am happy to tell you that due to the generosity of Karen Feckler (who is underwriting the cost of the food and caterer) all $25.00 will be going to the seminarian fund.
I hope you will join me in making a generous donation at the dinner when invited to do so, and even make a sacrificial gift toward the process of preparing these men to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass countless times, and for many years to come, in addition to other ministries that will build the Kingdom of God in Arkansas beyond what we can imagine. I especially encourage those who have not participated in this unforgettable evening and cause to join us this year. Tickets can be purchased online or if you can't do that by calling Jerry Kordsmeier at (501 282-2030).
Please don't wait to get your tickets as we only have room for around 170 paid participants. God is indeed in-spiring men to participate in the harvest of souls for the Lord and his kingdom in an ordained life. Our participation in this calling is, in part, a way to thank the Lord for the priests of our past (and present) who are bringing the Lord to us in the Eucharist, the other sacraments and in many other ways! I hope to see you on the evening of August the 9th at 5:00 p.m.
I hope you will join me in making a generous donation at the dinner when invited to do so, and even make a sacrificial gift toward the process of preparing these men to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass countless times, and for many years to come, in addition to other ministries that will build the Kingdom of God in Arkansas beyond what we can imagine. I especially encourage those who have not participated in this unforgettable evening and cause to join us this year. Tickets can be purchased online or if you can't do that by calling Jerry Kordsmeier at (501 282-2030).
Please don't wait to get your tickets as we only have room for around 170 paid participants. God is indeed in-spiring men to participate in the harvest of souls for the Lord and his kingdom in an ordained life. Our participation in this calling is, in part, a way to thank the Lord for the priests of our past (and present) who are bringing the Lord to us in the Eucharist, the other sacraments and in many other ways! I hope to see you on the evening of August the 9th at 5:00 p.m.
How time flies! We are already halfway through the year 2024 and before you know it, we will come to election day (November 5). It is not too early to review our United States Bishops document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (which can be read online by going to USCCB/Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship).
Pope Francis said the following in a morning meditation: "We need to participate for the common good. Some-times we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader may govern."
The statement of our American bishops (mentioned above) represents their guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. They go on to urge all Catholics (clergy, religious and laity) to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care, to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue, and to shape political choices in the coming election year in light of Catholic teaching.
This is quite a challenge in all ways including the way we dialogue with others. We can allow ourselves to hear dialogue and statements from candidates, their supporters, the media and others that is anything but respectful and civil and be tempted to respond in kind. Hopefully, in striving to be and stay close to Jesus, we will always seek to act as he did with compassion, mercy and Christ-like love in this and in others areas of our lives.
I would also encourage you to join with me in prayer for our country's leaders and those who strive to be elected to government positions. Please join us when-ever we pray the patriotic rosary, which asks for the intercession of our Blessed Mother for our country's leaders and people, and provides patriotic songs to sing, especially verses that speak of the connection between God and country.
In one of those songs (America the Beautiful) we ask God to mend our every flaw. While there are many ways that our country has been (and still is) great in what it stands for at home and abroad, we have to acknowledge that conversion needs to take place to make our leaders, peoples, and institutions more Christ-like and ever ready to reach out a helping hand to those who are truly unable to provide even the basic needs of life for themselves and their families.
Soon Catholics in this country will be entering into the 3rd and final year of Eucharistic Revival which especially stresses the mission of bringing our love of Jesus in the Eucharist to others (especially non-practicing Catholics). We will have more about this in the weeks and months to come.
Pope Francis said the following in a morning meditation: "We need to participate for the common good. Some-times we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader may govern."
The statement of our American bishops (mentioned above) represents their guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. They go on to urge all Catholics (clergy, religious and laity) to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care, to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue, and to shape political choices in the coming election year in light of Catholic teaching.
This is quite a challenge in all ways including the way we dialogue with others. We can allow ourselves to hear dialogue and statements from candidates, their supporters, the media and others that is anything but respectful and civil and be tempted to respond in kind. Hopefully, in striving to be and stay close to Jesus, we will always seek to act as he did with compassion, mercy and Christ-like love in this and in others areas of our lives.
I would also encourage you to join with me in prayer for our country's leaders and those who strive to be elected to government positions. Please join us when-ever we pray the patriotic rosary, which asks for the intercession of our Blessed Mother for our country's leaders and people, and provides patriotic songs to sing, especially verses that speak of the connection between God and country.
In one of those songs (America the Beautiful) we ask God to mend our every flaw. While there are many ways that our country has been (and still is) great in what it stands for at home and abroad, we have to acknowledge that conversion needs to take place to make our leaders, peoples, and institutions more Christ-like and ever ready to reach out a helping hand to those who are truly unable to provide even the basic needs of life for themselves and their families.
Soon Catholics in this country will be entering into the 3rd and final year of Eucharistic Revival which especially stresses the mission of bringing our love of Jesus in the Eucharist to others (especially non-practicing Catholics). We will have more about this in the weeks and months to come.
Even before going through the information that was sent to me about our V.I.Ps for the month of June, Dave and Cherry Schwulst, I already knew what I wanted to share first about them. It is the fact that they are among the "regulars" who rarely miss a daily Mass here at Sacred Heart Church. At times they are in the pews and at times they are on the altar as altar servers (and sometimes Dave as a lector). Their participation in daily Mass started almost immediately after they came to Hot Springs Village and joined our parish. Their positive and uplifting demeanor is strengthened in their personal encounter with Jesus in Word and in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. They are also "social" people who connect with others after Mass and are blessed and are a blessing to others for doing so. This very day that I am composing this pastor's column they were altar servers at Mass and afterward, they shared with me that this same day (June 25) is (and now was) their 30th wedding anniversary. In the presence of other daily Mass regulars, I offered a prayer and blessed them.
Inspired by the Lord, Dave and Cherry are active outside of the many Masses they participate in. Cherry is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at Mass and she and Dave weekly take Communion and share fellow-ship with to one of our dear couples, Dick and Peg Birzer. They both share in the blessings of Eucharistic Adoration including once a month taking one of the early morning (1:00-2:30 a.m.) time slots. They both have a missionary zeal and were part of a parish group that were catechized on "Forming Intentional Disciples". Dave serves in the office of "lecturer" for our Knights of Columbus Council, is one of our facilitators for a COR group of men on Thursday evenings, and is quite active in the SOZO men's addiction treatment ministry in Jessieville. Cherry, since joining our parish, has completed a 5-year program and has been certified as a spiritual director, and is now assisting a number of men and women to grow in the Lord through spiritual direction for them. As far as I know she can accept more directees if you are open to it. Call her at 309-831-7230 or e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Cherry is faithful in participating in our Tuesday/Thursday 10:00 a.m. exercise group and encourages everyone to give it a try.
It is obvious to me and to others that Dave and Cherry take their faith seriously and feel blessed to support and be supported by so many fellow parishioners. Since I see them so often, it is hard to believe that they have only been parishioners for a little over 3 years! I hope and pray there will be many more years to come!
Inspired by the Lord, Dave and Cherry are active outside of the many Masses they participate in. Cherry is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at Mass and she and Dave weekly take Communion and share fellow-ship with to one of our dear couples, Dick and Peg Birzer. They both share in the blessings of Eucharistic Adoration including once a month taking one of the early morning (1:00-2:30 a.m.) time slots. They both have a missionary zeal and were part of a parish group that were catechized on "Forming Intentional Disciples". Dave serves in the office of "lecturer" for our Knights of Columbus Council, is one of our facilitators for a COR group of men on Thursday evenings, and is quite active in the SOZO men's addiction treatment ministry in Jessieville. Cherry, since joining our parish, has completed a 5-year program and has been certified as a spiritual director, and is now assisting a number of men and women to grow in the Lord through spiritual direction for them. As far as I know she can accept more directees if you are open to it. Call her at 309-831-7230 or e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Cherry is faithful in participating in our Tuesday/Thursday 10:00 a.m. exercise group and encourages everyone to give it a try.
It is obvious to me and to others that Dave and Cherry take their faith seriously and feel blessed to support and be supported by so many fellow parishioners. Since I see them so often, it is hard to believe that they have only been parishioners for a little over 3 years! I hope and pray there will be many more years to come!