Buddy Dixon with the Arkansas Travelers team mascot, Shelley.

108 Sacred Heart Men's Club members, wives and friends participated in the second annual Take Me Out To the Ballgame trip.  The attendees gathered at the Sacred Heart Church parking lot on Monday, June 17, 2013 and boarded two buses from the Ouachita Bus Line Co., leaving at 4:30 p.m. headed for North Little Rock.  Along the way the attendees received a package of "in the shell" roasted peanuts that went along with the song "Take Me Out To the Ballgame, Buy Me Some Peanuts, etc.".  Upon arriving at Dickey-Stephens Ballpark, home of the Arkansas Travelers baseball team, a dinner consisting of hamburgers and hot dogs and all the fixings was waiting.  After a prayer, led by Fr. Bill, the attendees ate their fill and were ready for the ballgame which started at 7:10 p.m.  The Travelers were playing their arch rivals, the Naturals from Northwest Arkansas, and unfortunately lost 5-2.  After the game the attendees again boarded the buses for the trip home, arriving at 11:30 p.m.  A good time was had by all and the Men's Club thanks Buddy Dixon, and his wife Martha, for all the hard work they put in to plan and execute a great outing.

Click on Photos for more photos of this event.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Essay Winners: (l-r) Jacob Semmler, Jonathan Semmler, Ashley Bonilla and Chloe Calhoun.

The following are winners of the writing contest sponsored by the Arkansas Catholic newspaper:  Ashely Bonilla, Chloe Calhoun and Jonathan Semmler, all of the ninth grade; and, Jacob Semmler of the fifth grade.  They each answered the question, "How do you counter inappropriate TV shows and movies contrary to your faith?"  I am proud of our winners and grateful to all the students in our Sacred Heart religion classes who made the effort to submit an entry.  Be sure and look for the winners' pictures and articles in the newspaper section "Youthspeak" of an upcoming issue of your Arkansas Catholic.

The Knights of Columbus, with the cooperation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Right-to-Life Committee, will soon conclude the Baby Bottle Campaign for the Pro-Life support of our parish, the Pregnancy Centers in Garland and Saline Counties, and the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Fund that is saving the lives of babies every day.  Please give generously.  If you have not returned your Baby Bottle, please do so this coming week by placing it in the playpen in the narthex.  We need to have all bottles returned to cut costs of this campaign.  Thank you.

Fortnight for Freedom, a two-week period of prayer, study and action called for by the United States Bishops to address many current challenges to religious liberty, will come to a close Thursday, July 4. The daily 9:00 a.m. Mass will be followed by the recitation of the Patriotic Rosary.  For those who have never experienced this, it is inspirational.  Please plan to come Thursday, July 4, for Mass, the Patriotic Rosary and a reception immediately following in the Lower Hall.  Refreshments will be provided by members of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Respect Life Committee.  God bless America.

Please also go to the http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/fortnight-for-freedom-reflections.cfm for more ways to enter into this 14-day observance with Catholics, and hopefully others, throughout the United States.  

Helping Hands Coordinators - Cathy Wedwick and Pat Widlowski

On April 29^th approximately 80 people gathered in the Lower Hall of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church to have dinner and to receive thanks for their efforts over the past year as Helping Hands Volunteers.  The Helping Hands ministry of the church is a volunteer activity to provide a variety of services as well as support to parishioners in need. There are over 170 active volunteers that provide transportation, visits to the homebound, respite breaks for caregivers, provide meals, operate a buddy phone chain, and send greeting cards to those on the parish prayer list.

The Helping Hands Coordinators are Cathy Wedwick and Pat Widlowski and together they served as the hostesses for the dinner that was catered by Home Plate along with a beautiful decorated “Thank You” cake from Cranford’s. Cathy and Pat thanked the volunteers for their enthusiastic responses to all the needs over the past year. This included over 5,575 miles driven taking people to doctor appointments or grocery shopping or whatever special need someone might have. There were almost 900 volunteer hours logged in providing assistance and more than 2,000 greeting cards sent by volunteers. 

The program is being expanded this year to included visits to care facilities in addition to the homebound visits. These visits to care facilities will be to provide a friendly face and will be in addition to the Eucharist Minister visits that also occur for Sacred Heart parishioners in these facilities.  Cathy and Pat thanked those attending for making the ministry very successful.  A few other Hot Springs Village churches that have become aware of the program have asked Cathy and Pat for information to help them begin a similar program.  The parishioners of Sacred Heart are very appreciative of the services that are available and benefit from the unselfish giving of time by the Helping Hands volunteers.

Thank you to all the parishioners who made a commitment to participate in the ADOPT A BABY PROGRAM.  Parishioners who have not already done so, still have an opportunity to "spiritually" adopt a child who is newly-conceived this month.  You see, not all newly-conceived babies are allowed to be born.  In fact, almost 4000 babies lose their lives to abortion each day.  It is these babies, who are in danger of having their lives ended before birth, that you are being asked to "adopt".

The "spiritual adoption" commitment cards are on the display table located in the narthex, and will be available through the end of April.  You will be asked to name the child for whom you will be praying, thereby giving the child the humanity he or she deserves.  Please take a card home, and pray a short prayer each day for the next nine months.

You will receive monthly reports in the bulletin describing your baby's development, and your child will be born in January, 2014.  At that time we will have a baby shower and all Sacred Heart of Jesus parishioners will be invited to bring gifts, which will be donated to local Pregnancy Centers.  Call Mary Ellen Costello at 922-3915 for more information.

On April 19, a Mass was concelebrated at the House of Formation in the Saint John Vianney Chapel by Father BIll Elser, State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, along with Monsignor Bernard Malone, Monsignor Richard Oswald, and Father Ruben Quinteros.

The Arkansas Knights of Columbus donated the Chapel and Sacred Heart of Jesus financed the dining room.

Parishioner Diego Miceli prepared an Italian menu for the evening.

Click here to view additional photographs in the Photo Album.

The Village Interfaith Council invites members of all churches in the Village to attend an ecumenical program, Gospel Without Borders.  This documentary film helps churches and participants rediscover the Bible's moral message and learn compelling stories about Christians of goodwill.  The event will be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Lower Hall of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.  Pastor, Father Bill Elser, welcomes all Villagers to come to the presentation.  Refreshments will be served.  The program will start with the viewing of a 31-minute film "Gospel Without Borders", followed by a panel discussion of prominent ecumenical leaders including the Most Reverend Anthony B. Taylor, Bishop of Little Rock and the Reverend Stephen J. Copley, Executive Director of Arkansas Interfaith Alliance.

Gospel Without Borders puts a human face on the issue of immigration.  It separates myth from fact, examines what the Bible says about treatment of the "stranger".  It provides information for people of faith as they continue their quest for understanding and resolution for this matter.   The documentary highlights stories in five states:  Arizona, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama and Iowa.  Each story has its own message, but they all come together and show that the Christian gospel is indeed without borders.  For more information about Gospel Without Borders, go to: 

Ann Bowman, League Secretary; (l-r) 1st Place Team The Travelers: Father Bill, Mary Eisenhauer, Diego and Teresa Miceli.

Sacred Heart Bowling League finished their session on Thursday, April 4, at Fiesta Bowl, ending the 26-week season. The League had 12 teams with 4 members to a team and plenty of subs.  Many of the members were more than a little rusty after many years of not bowling before starting up again in their retirement.  The purpose of the League when Fr. Bill started it: "Have Fun".  Indeed, that is what they do!  Each week on Thursdays at 2 p.m. at Fiesta Bowl, beginning back in September, the members shared in good camaraderie, a ton of laughter and a spirit of friendship.  They ended the season with their Bowling Dinner and Awards Banquet on April 10 in the Lower Hall with catering by Daily Dish from Hot Springs.  Click here to view more pictures in the photo gallery.

Do you have a busy schedule with no time for yourself?  Would you like some comfort and solace for today, and inspiration for tomorrow?  We have many books and DVD's in our church library to fulfill that need.  Watch or read on your own schedule...many of the books have short chapters (great for tired eyes and bedtime reading).  Fight off the negative news of the day, while bolstering your faith.  We will have many examples on display daily.  Come in and check us out.  You won't regret it!  Easy entry from the narthex, next to the Chapel.