My mother's birthday is coming up in July and once again I ask myself; "What can I get her?" Like many people, she is a hard one to "buy for," especially at this point in her life. One thing that I can get her that is truly "priceless" is a Mass offered for her intention. I know many of us think of offering a Mass for someone who is deceased, which of course is a good thing to do and is always appreciated by the family members of the deceased (and no doubt, the deceased person as well who possibly or probably will benefit from a Mass offered for them). Since the Catholic Church has always taught and encouraged intercessory prayer, and the Mass is the source and summit of the Church's prayer life, it follows that offering a Mass for a living or deceased person is the highest form of prayer that can be offered for a person. The priest who celebrates the Mass is the one who is lifting up the person to the Lord, so it is not necessary for the person who is asking for the Mass to be offered, to be present for that Mass, though it is certainly good for the requestor to be there.
The Diocese of Little Rock has set the Mass stipend (which goes to the material support of the priest in his ministry) to be $10. Please know that this is a suggested donation and is not required when one asks for a Mass to be offered here at Sacred Heart Church.
Mass Intention request envelopes are avalable in the narthex or in the Church office during office hours. Linda will try to oblige requests for specific days for a Mass to be offered for someone, and Mass cards are available for you to send to the deceased person's family member or the person for whom the Mass is offered. If, your requested date is already taken (especially for an anniversary or say, a birthday), an attempt will be made to schedule that Mass as close to the date requested as possible. Right now, our calendar has quite a few openings, so we are going to do our best NOT to offer Mass for more than one requested intention. Be aware when more than one intention is offered at a Mass, the priest only gets the stipend for one intention and the other one goes to the Clergy Welfare Fund which cares for the needs of our sick and retired diocesan priests. Please know that if you have specific dates in mind for Masses, it's always best to tget these scheduled as early as possible.
The newly canonized, Pope Paul VI is quoted in his lifetime as saying: "The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!" It has immense power, and countless miracles and conversions have occurred through the centuries by offering Mass for a specific person or intention. I know my mother will appreciate the gift of a Mass for her more than any material gift I can give her. I hope you have the same feeling about it whether it is for you or for someone else!
The Diocese of Little Rock has set the Mass stipend (which goes to the material support of the priest in his ministry) to be $10. Please know that this is a suggested donation and is not required when one asks for a Mass to be offered here at Sacred Heart Church.
Mass Intention request envelopes are avalable in the narthex or in the Church office during office hours. Linda will try to oblige requests for specific days for a Mass to be offered for someone, and Mass cards are available for you to send to the deceased person's family member or the person for whom the Mass is offered. If, your requested date is already taken (especially for an anniversary or say, a birthday), an attempt will be made to schedule that Mass as close to the date requested as possible. Right now, our calendar has quite a few openings, so we are going to do our best NOT to offer Mass for more than one requested intention. Be aware when more than one intention is offered at a Mass, the priest only gets the stipend for one intention and the other one goes to the Clergy Welfare Fund which cares for the needs of our sick and retired diocesan priests. Please know that if you have specific dates in mind for Masses, it's always best to tget these scheduled as early as possible.
The newly canonized, Pope Paul VI is quoted in his lifetime as saying: "The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!" It has immense power, and countless miracles and conversions have occurred through the centuries by offering Mass for a specific person or intention. I know my mother will appreciate the gift of a Mass for her more than any material gift I can give her. I hope you have the same feeling about it whether it is for you or for someone else!
You may or may not have seen in the bulletin, a notice which says that I am going to start offering the Sacrament of the Anointing at least quarterly; and initially, I'm going to try doing it monthly. This Sacrament bestows the blessings of healing, peace, and courage to those who are ill or whose health has deteriorated due to age. The Sacrament was formally known as "Extreme Unction" and used to be given only to the dying as a preparation for a person passing from this life to the Lord. With the Advent of Vatican II, the Church broadened the reception of the Sacrament of Anointing to those with serious or chronic illness of mind, body, and/or spirit. The tricky category (especially in the Village) is the elderly whose health is getting fragile due to age. Rather than set an age minimum on who can receive this Sacrament, I will instead, read the prayer that is said after an elderly person is anointed in hopes that this indicates by its wording who among the elderly should approach this sacrament. I would ask you, in the Mass setting of administering the sacrament, that you receive it (if you qualify for it) no more than 4 times a year. The next anointing will happen this coming First Friday during the 9:00 a.m. Mass.
The prayer I spoke of goes as follows:
God of mercy,
Look kindly on your servant
Who has grown weak under the burden of years.
In this holy anointing
He/she asks for healing in body and soul.
Fill him/her with the strength of your Holy Spirit.
Keep him/her firm in faith and serene in hope,
So that he/she may give us all
an example of patience
And joyfully witness to the power of your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Remember, the influence of a sacrament on us starts with God's power but also includes a faith-filled disposition in the recipient!
The prayer I spoke of goes as follows:
God of mercy,
Look kindly on your servant
Who has grown weak under the burden of years.
In this holy anointing
He/she asks for healing in body and soul.
Fill him/her with the strength of your Holy Spirit.
Keep him/her firm in faith and serene in hope,
So that he/she may give us all
an example of patience
And joyfully witness to the power of your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Remember, the influence of a sacrament on us starts with God's power but also includes a faith-filled disposition in the recipient!
One thing that is NOT on my bucket list is attending the Summer Olympic Games, mostly because I do not normally enjoy the idea of a long trip; and also, I'm sure the expense of going to the Olympics would turn me off as well. Fortunately for me, I have been blessed to attend the Arkansas "Special Olympic Games" in Searcy, Arkansas the last number of years and am looking forward to going again this year on Friday, May 25.
It is enjoyable, certainly, to watch "Special" athletes perform in various sporting activities and experience the joy of competing and some - winning a medal. It is, however, even more impressive and heartwarming to experience the "spirit" of all who attend, from the volunteers (including a strong contingency of Knight of Columbus from our Council 10208), to the parents and caregivers of the participants in the games, to the participants themselves who seem to always enjoy themselves whether they win a medal or not. I bring all this up as we celebrate Pentecost in the Church this weekend.
While the Spirit of God comes alive and is alive in so many people individually and shows its power and fruits in the Church and in the minds and hearts of the baptized and confirmed, I believe the Spirit manifests Himself in the clearest way when people are gathered for a wonderful purpose, like the Special Olympics, or when we gather to give worship to God, or the many opportunities that present themselves for us to be "together" in the Lord. If you are not currently much of a "team player" for the Lord, let the Holy Spirit lead you to one or some of the opportunities that are available in our wonderful parish (i.e. Knights of Columbus, Men's Club, Ladies of the Sacred Heart, Helping Hands, ligurgical ministers etc.) or, out in the larger community. The blessings can indeed be many for those who do so!
It is enjoyable, certainly, to watch "Special" athletes perform in various sporting activities and experience the joy of competing and some - winning a medal. It is, however, even more impressive and heartwarming to experience the "spirit" of all who attend, from the volunteers (including a strong contingency of Knight of Columbus from our Council 10208), to the parents and caregivers of the participants in the games, to the participants themselves who seem to always enjoy themselves whether they win a medal or not. I bring all this up as we celebrate Pentecost in the Church this weekend.
While the Spirit of God comes alive and is alive in so many people individually and shows its power and fruits in the Church and in the minds and hearts of the baptized and confirmed, I believe the Spirit manifests Himself in the clearest way when people are gathered for a wonderful purpose, like the Special Olympics, or when we gather to give worship to God, or the many opportunities that present themselves for us to be "together" in the Lord. If you are not currently much of a "team player" for the Lord, let the Holy Spirit lead you to one or some of the opportunities that are available in our wonderful parish (i.e. Knights of Columbus, Men's Club, Ladies of the Sacred Heart, Helping Hands, ligurgical ministers etc.) or, out in the larger community. The blessings can indeed be many for those who do so!