The Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal (CASA) was created in 1990 to provide critical funding for pastoral, educational and social needs of our diocese. CASA supports numerous diocesan, parish and school ministries and programs.For the past ten years CASA has helped fund countless diocesan programs and offices, offer grants to Catholic schools and religious education programs, and renovate buildings at St. John Center in Little Rock. Visit www.dolr.org/casa for more information on CASA programs.
The coronavirus pandemic has placed additional financial pressure on many of the programs funded by CASA. Donations made this year will have an especially significant impact across Arkansas. The 2020 CASA goal for the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is $83,900. As of June 1, $70,288 has been donated by Sacred Heart of Jesus parishioners. Thank you to all who have contributed.
If you have not yet made a donation to CASA this year, please consider joining the 248 parishioners who have already provided their support for this vital program. Donations may be made on-line at www.dolr.org/casa or by using the CASA envelopes available in the narthex.
Please take a few minutes to listen to our Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) music artists and composers sing Bob Dufford's "Be Not Afraid." This video will put faces to the names of our composers that we sing in church every weekend. Click on the following link and sit back and enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF0DIpFOoBg&feature=youtu.be&mc_cid=0e84211798&mc_eid=d3f7e7b16e
Bishop Taylor has allowed the resumption of public Mass to be celebrated, however, with specific restrictions. The staff at Sacred Heart are diligently working to abide by these restrictions. We are asking ALL participants of Mass to adhere to the following requirements:
- Wear a mask or other covering of mouth and nose, anyone ages > 10 years old.
- Use hand sanitizer upon arrival at church.
- Keep to a distance of 6' between family groups and individuals by sitting at the ends of the pews.
- If you are feeling ill or have been exposed to someone that has tested positive for COVID-19, please stay home.
- Bishop Taylor continues to dispense everyone from the Sunday Mass obligation.
- Missalettes have been removed from the pews, please bring your own Liturgy aids.
- Hand made face masks continue to be available by ordering from the church office, Monday-Friday (8:00 am-12noon); $5.00 per mask money collected is donated to Jackson House food pantry.
- Mass will continue to be recorded for "live" participation www.facebook.com/FrBillElser or access at a later time from the Sacred Heart website www.hsvsacredheart.com under the tab, "Weekend Homilies."
Prior to our Pastoral Council meeting on Friday, June 26, please call me, email me or text me with any suggestions, comments or questions you may have concerning the parish. Also, if you are a newcomer, please let me know. This method of communication is in lieu of having parish council representatives in the narthex. Than you.~ Rebecca Huber, Chair, Parish Pastoral Council
Phone/text: 501-844-7656
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. ~
Through God all things are possible.I wanted to give everyone an update on the mask project that began in mid-March by a call by CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs for protective cloth masks. What started out to be a need for 500 cloth masks has turned into an effort of over 2,500 masks made by a wonderful team of men and women involved with Tiny Angels, Community of Joy Church members and LOSH of Sacred Heart, as well as, other community members of Hot Springs Village.
These original masks went to CHI St. Vincent, CHI St. Vincent Clinics in HSV, the Police and Fire Departments of HSV, Mt. Carmel, Good Sam's, Brookshire's, HSV Sanitation Department, VA Hospital in New Orleans, Habitat/Restore, a local Women's Shelter and Food Bank, WalMart, UAMS, and others. We then made the decision to provide masks to Community of Joy Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and many friends/family members for donations to two local charities. The results were more than any of us ever dreamed! Tiny Angels, $870 and to date Jackson House (Food Pantry) in Hot Springs, $3,876. Words cannot express my sincere gratitude to each of you who made monetary donations to feed the hungry and dress the stillborn babies, as well as, all who worked so tirelessly to make these masks. Please know your donation, time and effort made a huge impact to these two organizations.
A HUGE thank you to the following people who made this possible. This was a multi-Church effort in our community. If I left someone off, my sincere apologies. I tried my best to keep up with the involvement.
Material/Monetary Donations: Alliance Rubber Company, Colleen Angel, Jane Blankenstein, Kim Carver, Anne Dierks, Colleen Dimetry, Liz Edwards, Rose Farrell, Karen Feckler, Cheryl Fiorendino, Debbie Garrett, Dee Kapple, Sheila King, Sharon Marzec, Sherrie Nichols, Bonnie Norell, Vikki Powell, Reta Osmond, Susan Read, Charlene Reinsch, Linny Rohrer, Marty Schnoebelen, Patti Sheppard, and Leesa Sikes.
Fabric Cutters: Colleen/Steve Angel, Mary/George Cupstid, Anne Dierks, Colleen Dimetry, Liz/Frank Edwards, Mary Ann Farner, Karen Feckler, Becky Finegan, Dee Kapple, Vikki Powell, Susan Read, and Randy/Marty Schnoebelen. And last, the ones who brought it all together......
Our Sewers: Colleen/Steve Angel, Jackie Beaumont, Jane Blankenstein, Theresa Clay, Mary Cupstid, Anne Dierks, Colleen Dimetry, Liz Edwards, Rose Farrell, Jan Folstad, Suzy Gieringer, Dee Kapple, Sheila King, Sherrie Nichols,Charlene Reinsch, Bobbie Rhodea, Cheryl Robertson, Marty Schnoebelen, Patti Sheppard, Leesa Sikes, Jan Timmerman, and Robin Williams.
A FANTASTIC JOB! May God bless each and every one of you who participated in this project and may we all continue to keep safe and healthy.
~ Liz Edwards ~
Now that is a load of diapers! Want to take a guess on how many? On behalf of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart "LOSH," we want to thank everyone who donated to the diaper drive. We asked and you certainly delivered! These diapers were delivered to Catholic Adoption Services and New Beginnings in Benton. We were able to deliver 6,149 diapers and 5 packages of diaper wipes thanks to everyone's generosity. THANK YOU! 
The 2020 Arkansas Catholic Charismatic Conference has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus in our country. The conference was scheduled for July 24-26 at the Wyndham Riverfront in North Little Rock. Next year will be the 50th Anniversary of the Charismatic Renewal in Arkansas. The 2021 conference is scheduled for July 23-25, 2021 at the Wyndham and in celebration of the 50th Anniversary, three wonderful speakers are lined up for the program. The ACCC committee is saddened that the cancellation had to take place this year, but look forward to seeing everyone in 2021. Further information can be found at www.ARKCC.ORG. 
Congratulations to Father Bill Elser for the celebration of his 34th Anniversary of Ordination to Priesthood and to Deacon Larry Lipsmeyer for the celebration of his 22nd Anniversary of Ordination to Permanent Diaconate. Sacred Heart is truly blessed with your leadership and Godly service, dated May 31st. 
Subscriptions are now being taken in the Narthex for the daily missals: "The Word Among Us" and "Give Us This Day." The subscription runs from August 2020 thru July 2021. Both subscriptions cost $20 annually. In the narthex, there are sign up sheets and envelopes labeled with either "The Word Among Us" or "Give Us This Day." Please insert your payment of $20 (check payable to Sacred Heart or cash) in the envelope that matches your desired subscription. If you do not have the required payment at the time you are in the narthex, please write your name on the sign up sheet for the desired subscription and you may pay later. The deadline to subscribe is Sunday, July 19. As a reminder, there is no public liturgical reading material in the pews. This is your chance to have your own personal liturgical reading material for Mass/daily use. 
The Confirmation Mass which was scheduled for Saturday, May 23, has been postponed to a later date which, at this time, has not been confirmed. A variety of factors weighed in to making this final decision of which all families and confirmants were included. The biggest factor was the lack of celebratory vocal rejoicing during Mass with family/friends/sponsors and after Mass with any type of reception. These are time of uncertainty but with God's Grace of the Holy Spirit, positive outcomes will result. Please stay alert to the announcement of the rescheduled date and time for these beautiful confirmants to make the sacrament of Confirmation.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus's Disaster Response Team was called to action on Monday, May 18, after trees surrounding the complex of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church were hit by lightening in a recent storm. Parishioners and team members Ray Ambrozich, Bob Bowman, Danny Elser, Dave Witchger and Gary Wolfer together worked for many hours to make our parking lots safer. These trees were weakened and had the potential to fall on parked cars or maybe even a parishioner. Thank you, Men, for your devotion and dedication. KUDOS! 
Although public Masses are currently suspended, Father Bill Elser celebrates a private Mass on a daily basis. Sacred Heart currently has daily Mass Intentions available for the dearly departed, a friend that may be ill or to celebrate a special day in a loved one's life. Please contact the front office, 501-922-2062, ext. 10 to inquire on reserving a Mass in honor of a loved one. A card will be given to share this special Mass with that special honoree or loved one. 
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor is encouraging everyone to participate in the U.S. Census. Every person living in your home April 1 needs to be counted. That includes children and newborn babies, citizens and noncitizens, relatives and nonrelatives and even those staying with you temporarily. Census data guides how more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to state and communities each year for schools, health care facilities, roads and social services. Your responses to the census are safe and secure. The law requires the U.S. Census Bureau to keep your information confidential and your responses cannot be used against you in any way. You should have already received Official Census mail with detailed information on how to respond. You can complete it however is easiest for you: online at www.my2020census.gov or by phone 844-330-2020. If you do not respond, you can expect a questionaire to be mailed to your house.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 precautions and health restrictions, the Parish Life/Knights of Columbus cosponsored picnic will be postponed. We are planning for the picnic to be Labor Day weekend. More details will be forthcoming. God Bless America! 
Next week, July 11/12, we wil take up the Peter's Pence Collection, which provides Pope Francis with the funds to carry out his charitable works around the world will be collected. The proceeds benefit our brothers and sisters on the margins of society, including victims of war, oppression, and disasters. Please be generous. For more information, vist www.usccb.org/peters-pence. 
With gyms being closed and our parish not being able to partake in its usual activities, we miss our Wellness classes. It is important that we keep our body in motion. Linda Broome, 'Fit n' Balanced' instructor, has made videos which you may easily participate in from the comfort of your home. These videos are sure to put a smile on your face and a "hop" in your step. You may access them by clicking here and exercise away! Or, you can contact Linda Broome at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 870-995-2797. Be well! Be healthy!