As we draw near a new calendar year, it is normal for some people to come up with New Year's resolutions. This often involves activities or new routines that will hopefully improve the person mentally, physically, emotionally and, I hope, spiritually.
Now that we have the opportunity to be with Jesus at any hour of the day or night to praise Him, thank Him, and grow in His love through time spent at our Perpetual Adoration Chapel, I pray (if you are not already doing so) that you will commit some time each week to come by the chapel to be with The Lord. Perhaps you will be inspired to commit to one hour each week at the same time every week. We still need committed hourly adorers to join others so that every hour has, at least two people or more. The signup forms to become a weekly committed adorer, as well as sheets for those who would be willing to serve as substitutes, are on a table in the nartex. Please fill out the form and leave it in the glass bowl on the table.
If you make and keep such a commitment to The Lord, I believe it will make other New Year's resolutions (especially those which are directed toward the needs of others) easier to keep, and will bear fruit in your lives beyond what you could ever imagine.
A Blessed New Year to all of you!
Now that we have the opportunity to be with Jesus at any hour of the day or night to praise Him, thank Him, and grow in His love through time spent at our Perpetual Adoration Chapel, I pray (if you are not already doing so) that you will commit some time each week to come by the chapel to be with The Lord. Perhaps you will be inspired to commit to one hour each week at the same time every week. We still need committed hourly adorers to join others so that every hour has, at least two people or more. The signup forms to become a weekly committed adorer, as well as sheets for those who would be willing to serve as substitutes, are on a table in the nartex. Please fill out the form and leave it in the glass bowl on the table.
If you make and keep such a commitment to The Lord, I believe it will make other New Year's resolutions (especially those which are directed toward the needs of others) easier to keep, and will bear fruit in your lives beyond what you could ever imagine.
A Blessed New Year to all of you!
Though you will probably never see it, I can tell you that the chapel for our retired priests at Fitzgerald Hall in Little Rock, as well as the priests' living quarters there, are nice, comfortable, and adequate for their needs. They have three meals cooked for them a day, while they enjoy each others' company in the dining room.
The ongoing support for these and other retired priests who live elsewhere (like Father Rossi in Hot Springs), as well as priests who are sick or in need of round the clock care at a skilled care institution, is made possible through the annual Christmas Collection that is taken up as the only collection at Christmas Masses throughout Arkansas. Your generosity is never taken for granted, and I know it is ALWAYS MUCH appreciated by the 17 priests who benefit from it now and others who will need it in the future.
How would you feel if your birthday fell on the day after Christmas? (At least six of our parishioners do). St. Stephen (the first martyr) knows, as his Feast Day is on December 26. Then there's St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist (on December 27), and The Holy Innocents (on December 28). These all fall during the Octave of Christmas (which is the first eight days of the Christmas season) and include the feast of The Holy Family (on December 29) and the Solemnity of Mary The Mother of God (on January 1). PLEASE consider making the Octave of Christmas special by participating in Mass for all or some of these celebrations. We WILL celebrate Mass on Saturday, December 28 (Holy Innocents) at 9:00 a.m.
The ongoing support for these and other retired priests who live elsewhere (like Father Rossi in Hot Springs), as well as priests who are sick or in need of round the clock care at a skilled care institution, is made possible through the annual Christmas Collection that is taken up as the only collection at Christmas Masses throughout Arkansas. Your generosity is never taken for granted, and I know it is ALWAYS MUCH appreciated by the 17 priests who benefit from it now and others who will need it in the future.
How would you feel if your birthday fell on the day after Christmas? (At least six of our parishioners do). St. Stephen (the first martyr) knows, as his Feast Day is on December 26. Then there's St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist (on December 27), and The Holy Innocents (on December 28). These all fall during the Octave of Christmas (which is the first eight days of the Christmas season) and include the feast of The Holy Family (on December 29) and the Solemnity of Mary The Mother of God (on January 1). PLEASE consider making the Octave of Christmas special by participating in Mass for all or some of these celebrations. We WILL celebrate Mass on Saturday, December 28 (Holy Innocents) at 9:00 a.m.
Most of us are aware of the campaign to "Keep Christ in Christmas" which is supported strongly by the Knights of Columbus through billboards and decals for the back of our cars. This effort is clearly pointed at the secularism of Christmas that can easily distract us from the main reason we have this holiday, to commemorate and celebrate Christ's birth.
In recent years I have tried to promote "Keeping Christ ON Christmas" by encouraging parishioners to put Christ FIRST ON Christmas by participating in one of the Masses on Christmas Day. Since we are NOT planning to have a midnight Mass this year, our Masses on Christmas Day will be at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.
Due to the advent of Christmas Vigil Masses on Christmas Eve, due in large part to the shortage of priests, has led to more and more people participating in Mass on Christmas Eve. In many churches there is now only one on Christmas morning (and often it is poorly attended). Unfortunately, I am not courageous enough to have all of our Christmas Masses on Christmas Day. You will, as usual, have the chance to participate in Mass at Sacred Heart on Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m.
I challenge you to consider putting Christ FIRST ON Christmas Day by participating in one of our morning Masses (or a morning Mass wherever you will be for Christmas). It will put everything else you do on Christmas in proper perspective - as secondary to celebrating Christ's birth with fellow believers at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
In recent years I have tried to promote "Keeping Christ ON Christmas" by encouraging parishioners to put Christ FIRST ON Christmas by participating in one of the Masses on Christmas Day. Since we are NOT planning to have a midnight Mass this year, our Masses on Christmas Day will be at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.
Due to the advent of Christmas Vigil Masses on Christmas Eve, due in large part to the shortage of priests, has led to more and more people participating in Mass on Christmas Eve. In many churches there is now only one on Christmas morning (and often it is poorly attended). Unfortunately, I am not courageous enough to have all of our Christmas Masses on Christmas Day. You will, as usual, have the chance to participate in Mass at Sacred Heart on Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m.
I challenge you to consider putting Christ FIRST ON Christmas Day by participating in one of our morning Masses (or a morning Mass wherever you will be for Christmas). It will put everything else you do on Christmas in proper perspective - as secondary to celebrating Christ's birth with fellow believers at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.