I want to start this Easter Sunday pastor's column by saying "He is Risen" Alleluia! As I compose this column on Palm Sunday weekend, I am pondering Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a "beast of burden" to the cheers of the crowd ("Hosanna!! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Mk 11:10), only to have many of them less than a week later jeer at him and call for his death in a most cruel and painful way. Jesus did not turn out to be the one who they thought would lead them in armed revolt against their Roman occupiers, so they turned totally against him and agreed with those who wanted to rid themselves of him. Having gone through the Triduum of the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord and now entering into the glorious 50 days of the Easter Season, it is appropriate for us to thank God for having the last say over sin and death. As we hear the stories of the early postResurrection communities of faith throughout the Easter Season in Acts of the Apostles, hopefully we will be inspired by their example to spread the Good News of Christ's life, death and Resurrection to others through our words and deeds and our hope-filled demeanor in the face of death!
Since this is the last weekend of the month, I want to take time to acknowledge and give thanks for our V.I.P. for the month of March, Janet Liszka. Janet (and her husband, Tom, of happy memory), moved to the Village and Sacred Heart Parish in 1995. She joined St. Anthony Guild and has taken on positions of responsibility in that guild. In the past she enjoyed her volunteer work at Mercy St. Joseph Senior-Net at McCauley Center AND as a tutor for 1st graders at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Benton. She has been chairman of ticket sales for the LOSH card party. She has been a Eucharistic Adorer since the inception of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our parish (2013) and continues in that ministry. She currently volunteers as a tutor at Mountain Pine school (through her guild) and volunteers to bring and serve food at funeral meals. She has been on the education commission since 2018 and was the representative from that commission to the pastoral council for 2 terms (4 years). She has been our FORMED.org point person and provides information on what is offered from FORMED (At. Augustine Institute) regularly in our bulletin. As you can see, Janet has been and still is a busy "behind the scenes" person with and for the Lord in our parish activities and in the community. I am pleased that she was nominated as a VIP and was chosen for this acknowledgement and recognition. She is a wonderful encouragement to fellow parishioners to get involved in activities that are quietly and joyfully doing the Lord's work and making an impact on people in a variety of ways. God bless you, Janet.
Since this is the last weekend of the month, I want to take time to acknowledge and give thanks for our V.I.P. for the month of March, Janet Liszka. Janet (and her husband, Tom, of happy memory), moved to the Village and Sacred Heart Parish in 1995. She joined St. Anthony Guild and has taken on positions of responsibility in that guild. In the past she enjoyed her volunteer work at Mercy St. Joseph Senior-Net at McCauley Center AND as a tutor for 1st graders at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Benton. She has been chairman of ticket sales for the LOSH card party. She has been a Eucharistic Adorer since the inception of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our parish (2013) and continues in that ministry. She currently volunteers as a tutor at Mountain Pine school (through her guild) and volunteers to bring and serve food at funeral meals. She has been on the education commission since 2018 and was the representative from that commission to the pastoral council for 2 terms (4 years). She has been our FORMED.org point person and provides information on what is offered from FORMED (At. Augustine Institute) regularly in our bulletin. As you can see, Janet has been and still is a busy "behind the scenes" person with and for the Lord in our parish activities and in the community. I am pleased that she was nominated as a VIP and was chosen for this acknowledgement and recognition. She is a wonderful encouragement to fellow parishioners to get involved in activities that are quietly and joyfully doing the Lord's work and making an impact on people in a variety of ways. God bless you, Janet.