At some point during my trip to Florida to visit some of my family and baptize my great-nephew, James, I couldn't help but look ahead to James' future life, wondering what the world will be like when he is my age (which, for those who don't know, is 58 years). Given the situation of our world today, one can only imagine how challenging things will be for him and others - 58 years from now. It would indeed, be easy to be negative, and even skeptical about the future - given so much in this world that he and others of his generation will have to deal with that is beyond what any of us can imagine. I am, however, optimistic for him (and I hope many others) because I know that he will grow up in a loving Catholic home where he will come to know Jesus Christ and grow in faith, hope and love through God's grace and the efforts of his biological and faith family. I pray that he and many of his contemporaries will keep their focus on Jesus Christ and His love and mercy, and celebrate the reality that the future is always bright when we put our faith and hope in Him.
When Jesus is the rock and foundation of one's life, then a person (of this or any time) can live each day in hope, and strive to bring that hope to the world, no matter what is happening, good and/or bad. It is for those of James' generation, and ours, who do not live with faith in Jesus Christ and do not follow Him as the Way, the Truth and the Life, that I especially feel for, and pray for, every day.
One our our baptismal responsibilities (and that for James when he grows up) is to bring Jesus and His message of hope to others. I might challenge you this week to spend time pondering those who helped bring you to faith in Jesus, and consider who you need to go to now in your life to help you grow even closer to Jesus and to living His truth and spreading it in one way or another, every day. With Lent right around the corner (Ash Wednesday is February 14), a number of opportunities will be offered to all of us. Let's pray for the grace and strength to say yes to one or more of these, and know that the Lord has more and more blessings ready for those who put greater and greater trust in Him.
When Jesus is the rock and foundation of one's life, then a person (of this or any time) can live each day in hope, and strive to bring that hope to the world, no matter what is happening, good and/or bad. It is for those of James' generation, and ours, who do not live with faith in Jesus Christ and do not follow Him as the Way, the Truth and the Life, that I especially feel for, and pray for, every day.
One our our baptismal responsibilities (and that for James when he grows up) is to bring Jesus and His message of hope to others. I might challenge you this week to spend time pondering those who helped bring you to faith in Jesus, and consider who you need to go to now in your life to help you grow even closer to Jesus and to living His truth and spreading it in one way or another, every day. With Lent right around the corner (Ash Wednesday is February 14), a number of opportunities will be offered to all of us. Let's pray for the grace and strength to say yes to one or more of these, and know that the Lord has more and more blessings ready for those who put greater and greater trust in Him.
I would like to start this pastor's column with some good news. Last year 299 families from Sacred Heart Parish gave to the "Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal" which led us to reach and easily surpass our parish goal for 2017. I must admit that while I'm tempted to focus firstly on the fact that we got "so close" to 300 or more families who made a gift to help fund a LARGE variety of ministries and activities that are happening throughout the state of Arkansas, instead, let me say a loud (or at least a "strong" since you can't hear me) THANK YOU VERY MUCH to those who were so thoughtful and generous to this great cause.
I'm sure some, if not many of you, receive throughout the year, solicitations to help a large variety of causes and needs. While most of us don't even try to give something to all of them, it takes thought and reflection before deciding which causes we will help.
The good thing about the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal is that the money I give goes to a great variety of peple in need from the poor (Catholic Charities), to the Unborn (through the efforts of the Respect Life Office), to needy students (in Catholic Schools, religious education, and College Campus Ministry Programs) to our seminarians (who are being prepared to be our future priests in Arkansas), to our adults and youth who use diocesan facilities (that have recently been renovated) for retreats (like our own parish men's retreat February 26-March 1, and opportunities for formation and education (like our future permanent deacons). The list is so long, I might mention more of them in future columns. The bottom line is THEY ALL need our support and will get it through our gift to the Arkansas Sharing Appeal. While we, thanks be to God have reached and surpassed our goal this past year and in previous years, the overall goal has not been reached for quite a few years, so some hard decisions have to be made when it comes to who might not get as much as they need.
PLEASE have an open mind and heart to what you hear next weekend, and especially if you haven't given anything to this appeal in the past, consider doing something this year. I am happy to say, our parish has, in the last number of years, had some of the highest numbers of total givers, and I hope and pray that trend continues and goes even higher this year.
Praise God for all the work that's being done in the name of Jesus Christ and all of us who give to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal!
I'm sure some, if not many of you, receive throughout the year, solicitations to help a large variety of causes and needs. While most of us don't even try to give something to all of them, it takes thought and reflection before deciding which causes we will help.
The good thing about the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal is that the money I give goes to a great variety of peple in need from the poor (Catholic Charities), to the Unborn (through the efforts of the Respect Life Office), to needy students (in Catholic Schools, religious education, and College Campus Ministry Programs) to our seminarians (who are being prepared to be our future priests in Arkansas), to our adults and youth who use diocesan facilities (that have recently been renovated) for retreats (like our own parish men's retreat February 26-March 1, and opportunities for formation and education (like our future permanent deacons). The list is so long, I might mention more of them in future columns. The bottom line is THEY ALL need our support and will get it through our gift to the Arkansas Sharing Appeal. While we, thanks be to God have reached and surpassed our goal this past year and in previous years, the overall goal has not been reached for quite a few years, so some hard decisions have to be made when it comes to who might not get as much as they need.
PLEASE have an open mind and heart to what you hear next weekend, and especially if you haven't given anything to this appeal in the past, consider doing something this year. I am happy to say, our parish has, in the last number of years, had some of the highest numbers of total givers, and I hope and pray that trend continues and goes even higher this year.
Praise God for all the work that's being done in the name of Jesus Christ and all of us who give to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal!
While the numbers attending and participating in the annual March For Life have certainly dropped over the years, my hope is that the number of people praying for an end to abortion and for the legal protection of the unborn has increased - especially on January 22. That is the day that our United States Bishops have asked us to pray privately and in public, for legal protection of unborn children.
PLEASE join with millions of Catholics in our country to flood heaven on this day for this life-saving cause. We will pray the patriotic rosary this Monday, January 22 at 8:30 a.m. as this special rosary prays particularly for our elected and appointed officials who make and preserve the laws of our land. The Mass that follows at 9:00 a.m. is a special Mass for the legal protection of the unborn. If you cannot join us for the patriotic rosary and/or Mass this Monday, please say a rosary for life on your own (especially in our Perpetual Adoration Chapel if you can) and/or pray the prayer penned by then Pope Benedict XVII, which follows in this pastor's column.
Lord Jesus: You who faithfully visit and fulfill with your Presence the Church and the history of men; You who in the miraculous Sacrament of your Body and Blood render us participants in divine Life and allow us a foretaste of the joy of eternal Life; We adore and bless you.
Prostrated before You, source and lover of Life, truly present and alive among us, we beg you.
Reawaken in us respect for every unborn life, make us capable of seeing in the fruit of the maternal womb the miraculous work of the Creator, open our hearts to generously welcoming every child that comes into life.
Bless all families, sanctify the union of spuses, render fruitful their love.
Accompany the choices of legislative assemblies with the light of your Spirit, so that peoples and nations may recognize and respect the sacred nature of life, of every human life.
Guide the work of scientists and doctors, so that all progress contributes to the integral well-being of the person, and no one endures suppression or injustice.
Give creative charity to administrators and economists, so they may realize and promote sufficient conditions so that young families can serenely embrace the birth of new children.
Console the married couples who suffer because they are unable to have children and in Your goodness provide for them.
Teach us all to care for orphaned or abandoned children, so they may experience the warmth of your Charity, the consolation of your divine Heart. Together with Mary, Your Mother, the great believer, in whose womb you took on our human nature, we wait to receive from You, our Only True God and Savior, the strength to love and serve life, in anticipation of living forever in You, in communion with the Blessed Trinity.
PLEASE join with millions of Catholics in our country to flood heaven on this day for this life-saving cause. We will pray the patriotic rosary this Monday, January 22 at 8:30 a.m. as this special rosary prays particularly for our elected and appointed officials who make and preserve the laws of our land. The Mass that follows at 9:00 a.m. is a special Mass for the legal protection of the unborn. If you cannot join us for the patriotic rosary and/or Mass this Monday, please say a rosary for life on your own (especially in our Perpetual Adoration Chapel if you can) and/or pray the prayer penned by then Pope Benedict XVII, which follows in this pastor's column.
Lord Jesus: You who faithfully visit and fulfill with your Presence the Church and the history of men; You who in the miraculous Sacrament of your Body and Blood render us participants in divine Life and allow us a foretaste of the joy of eternal Life; We adore and bless you.
Prostrated before You, source and lover of Life, truly present and alive among us, we beg you.
Reawaken in us respect for every unborn life, make us capable of seeing in the fruit of the maternal womb the miraculous work of the Creator, open our hearts to generously welcoming every child that comes into life.
Bless all families, sanctify the union of spuses, render fruitful their love.
Accompany the choices of legislative assemblies with the light of your Spirit, so that peoples and nations may recognize and respect the sacred nature of life, of every human life.
Guide the work of scientists and doctors, so that all progress contributes to the integral well-being of the person, and no one endures suppression or injustice.
Give creative charity to administrators and economists, so they may realize and promote sufficient conditions so that young families can serenely embrace the birth of new children.
Console the married couples who suffer because they are unable to have children and in Your goodness provide for them.
Teach us all to care for orphaned or abandoned children, so they may experience the warmth of your Charity, the consolation of your divine Heart. Together with Mary, Your Mother, the great believer, in whose womb you took on our human nature, we wait to receive from You, our Only True God and Savior, the strength to love and serve life, in anticipation of living forever in You, in communion with the Blessed Trinity.