Pictured (l-r): Msgr. Scott Friend, V.G. Karldy Hienz Isidor, Jose Luis Quijada, Luke Womack, Elden Labitad, Patrick Saint Jean, Thomas Johnson, Taryn Whittington, Father Ruben Quinteros, and Msgr. Richard Oswald.

At the May 1 Council meeting, Bob Honzik introduced guest speaker Monsignor Friend.  Acompanying Msgr. Friend were Prefect Msgr. Oswald and Vice Prefect Fr. Quinteros along with seven men currently in the discernment process.  They are currently housed on the first floor of Fletcher Hall on the diocese campus.

Msgr. was pleased to announce that there are currently 37 seminarians who are studying at eight seminaries in various United States locations and one in Rome.  There will be three ordinations at Christ the King on May 26 and one, Andrew Hart, at the Cathedral on July 21.  Little Rock Diocese ranks 12th out of 195 dioceses in the number of seminarians.

The ground has been broken for the $1.5 million new House of Formation on the Good Council Parish campus.  The original plan to renovate a former convent that was abandoned due to the cost and other considerations.

The benefits of having a House of Formation in the Diocese include: developing a relationship with parishes; providing a place where men interested in a vocation can discern and seek spiritual direction; studying closer to home at UALR for basic courses; taking advantage of the excellent ESL program at ULAR; and, reducing costs.         

The concept of a House of Formation is being well received by some dioceses which may also consider utilizing it for their men as an interim step before formal seminary training. 

Msgr. Friend also spoke about the quality and maturity of the current seminarians.  Of those in attendance, one has a PhD in philosophy and teaching experience, one was a 2nd year med student, and another will be receiving a degree from Seton Hall this spring. 

It should be noted that the Sacred Heart of Jesus Council 10208 is supporting four seminarians through the RSVP program, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Assembly 2316 has two. 

Click on www.houseofformation.org to follow the progress!

Helping Hands Ministry Co Chairs Cathy Wedwick (r) and Pat Widlowski greet Father Bill Elser, Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, prior to the recognition dinner for volunteers.

On Thursday, April 19, the Helping Hands Ministry of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church hosted a dinner to say “thank you” to the many volunteers that donate their services to the ministry.  Cathy Wedwick and Pat Widlowski, co chairs of the ministry, welcomed the 60 guests to the Lower Hall of Sacred Heart Church.  In remarks before the meal, they reported on the impact that the 145 volunteer members of the Helping Hands Ministry have in the parish.  Volunteers provide rides to medical appointments, visit the homebound, prepare meals, send greeting cards to the sick and shut ins, maintain a Buddy phone service, drive and assist in shopping and provide special needs when required.   Over the past year volunteers have logged over1, 100 hours of service as well as almost 5,000 miles driven.  Cathy and Pat also took time to give special recognition to those volunteers that have played and are playing a key role in leading the Helping Hands Ministry including Ann Bowman, Donna Brown, Marilyn Burke, Kathy Geske, Gail Harmeyer, A. J. Keating and Astrid Wolf.

Father Bill Elser, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, also spoke to the gathering.  He thanked the volunteers for their unselfish service noting that there are always new needs arising within the parish community.  Helping Hands volunteers Sissie Arnoult, Ed Cudworth, Mike Miller and Jack Widlowski served the dinner, catered by Home Plate.  Father Bill also brought along some of his homemade ice cream which the group enjoyed as dessert served with a special cake that had been made for the event which included a big “THANK YOU” decoration.

Paula Doyle (center) is welcomed to the Sacred Heart Men’s Club April meeting by Program Director Buddy Dixon (left) and President Bill Patterson.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Men’s Club held their April meeting on April 10^th.  The guest speaker for the meeting was Paula Doyle, a Sacred Heart parishioner and a Spiritual Director.  Buddy Dixon, the Men’s Club Program Director, introduced Paula and gave a summary of her background and education.  Paula is a trained, professional Spiritual Director having achieved her certification through a one-year internship that followed her receiving a master’s degree.  Since this is a relatively new field of spiritual activity for many of those attending the meeting, Paula explained what a person should expect from their sessions with a Spiritual Director and how the process works.  She explained that it is a “holy conversation” where the person tells his or her own story about the state of their faith journey.  It is not intended to be therapy, counseling, teaching, bible study or directive.  Rather it is an exploration to help the person explore what your life is all about and what it is that you want to achieve.  In many ways it is similar to what a personal trainer might do in a fitness center by encouraging you to achieve you best in your exercise routine to strengthen and tone your body.  Here the Spiritual Director will encourage you to achieve your best in strengthening your faith and your personal relationship with God.  It is done individually and confidentially and for Sacred Heart parishioners it is now done at no cost to the individual.  Sessions are usually held once a month.

Following her presentation, Paula answered many questions from the floor.  Paula also encouraged anyone interested in additional information or wanting to schedule an appointment to contact her at (501) 922-5771 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  The men attending the meeting were very appreciative of the time Paula gave to explain this new and interesting process.

Father Bill Elser, Pastor, greets guest at the Sacred Heart Men’s Club Fish Bake.

Over 400 people turned out on Friday, March 30, for the Sacred Heart Men’s Club Fish Bake.  Guests enjoyed an excellent dinner of baked fish, potatoes, vegetables, Cole slaw and bread.  Again this year, Father Bill Elser, Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, donated his now infamous homemade ice cream.  The young people from the parish took orders and served the ice cream to raise money for the CCD religious education program.  Men’s Club members spent much of the day preparing the dinners.  Guests arrived for two settings, at 5:00 and 6:30, seated by the maître d’ and waiters served their dinners.  The proceeds from the Fish Bake are donated by the Men’s Club to parish and community charities.

Check the Photos section of the Men's Club web site for more photos of this event.

Getting ready to serve the meal at the Samaritan Ministries’ facility are (l. to r.) Bob Heisler, Kathleen Nosek, Dick Hill, Janice Spaniel, Marvin Young, Milt Spaniel and Greg Rogers.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Men’s Club has been a financial supporter of Samaritan Ministries of Hot Springs.  Some Men’s Club members also volunteer at the ministries’ facility.  Samaritan Ministries serves homeless men in the Hot Springs community providing food, clothing, shelter, training and encouragement.  Recently the Men’s Club decided to take its’ support one more step and under the direction of Mike Kerwin will serve the dinner meal at the facility one day a month.  Club members and their spouses prepare the meal and bring it to the Samaritan Ministries facility in Hot Springs where it is served.  The March meal consisted of Cajun Chicken Jambalaya, a vegetable casserole, tossed salad, rolls, devil eggs and apple pie for dessert.  Participating for the Men’s Club in March were Bob and Colleen Heisler, Dick Hill, Bill and Kathleen Nosek, Greg and Rosemary Rogers, Milt and Janice Spaniel and Marvin and Lucy Young.

Check the Photos section of the Men's Club web site for more photos of this event.

Father Bill Elser (left holding a bible) and Mickey Townsend look at the flyer from Little Rock Scripture Studies to be distributed by Sacred Heart at Easter.

Father Bill Elser and Mickey Townsend of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church heard the call to get God's Word to all people in all situations.  Bible study is not limited to a building or a group.  While Mickey was leading the 'Gospel of John' scripture study, a man walked in and lovingly expressed, "My wife is too sick to come here but I know she would like to have a study to do on her own. Where can I get one?" This really touched Mickey’s heart and it was obvious that there are many people who could be in this situation.  Mickey approached the Little Rock Scripture Study organization and they have put a flyer together for our church promoting individual studies done in ones home.  The flyer will be provided in Sacred Heart’s Easter weekend bulletins.  Those interested can also find information at littlerockscripture.org or by calling Little Rock Scripture Study at 501-664-6102 to obtain bible studies you can do at home on your own.

Through out the year, Mickey leads Little Rock Scripture Study Programs for women of all denominations on Tuesdays. The same study is held on Wednesdays for Catholic men and women. For more information call Mickey at 501-922-0705.

The Sacred Heart Singles, and interested couples, will be visiting Holly Springs, Mississippi on September 7 and 8.  This town was untouched by the Civil War and has over 50 ante-bellum homes.  We will visit the Walter Place Estate and gardens.  Walk through Hillcrest Cemetery where several Civil War Generals are buried.  We will eat some of the best "down home" cooking that this little town has to offer.

We will also visit the area where Hummingbirds migrate through Mississippi.  We will be able to witness banding and releasing of these tiny creatures.

Cost is $249 per person/double occupancy all inclusive plus 1 breakfast, lunch and dinner.

To reserve your space, please mail a $50 deposit to Eileen Boecher, 20 Vilafranca Lane, along with the name of your roommate by April 15.

Ray Ambrozich, far right, prepares the Men’s Club volunteer crew to begin litter pickup along Highway 7.

Volunteers from Sacred Heart Men’s Club met Saturday morning, March 17, at a parking lot along Highway 7 to pick up litter along the road.  In the drizzle, the ten volunteers collected over 10 bags of litter from each side of the highway.  Under the direction of Ray Ambrozich, the Men’s Club coordinator for this activity, volunteers assist in litter pickup on the Sacred Heart designated portion of Highway 7 a few times a year.  Sacred Heart Men’s Club meets monthly at Sacred Heart Church and is open to all men of the parish and men who are spouses of parish members.

Photo courtesy the Arkansas Catholic

The Diocese of Little Rock has raised $620,000 toward building its House of Formation for men who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood or for seminarians taking college courses in Little Rock.

The diocese announced in August that the house would be located in the former Sisters of Mercy convent at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock.  After further investigation, it was decided that it was more cost effective for the building to be torn down and a new building be erected on the site.

The 6,000-square-foot building will feature a kitchen, meeting room/library, dining room, common area, chapel, 10 student rooms with private baths and apartments for the vocations director, Msgr. Scott Friend, and assistant vocations director, Msgr. Richard Oswald.  The initial estimate for the project is $900,000, but that does not include site work, furnishings and architect fees.

Groups have come forward already to sponsor two of the rooms in the house.  The state Knights of Columbus council donated $187,000 to sponsor the chapel.  Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village pledged $50,000 toward the dining room.  Catholic Extension Society has committed a $100,000 matching grant to the project and will donate $50,000 more if another $200,000 can be raised by Sept. 30.

Demolition on the old convent, which was used until 2009 for religious education classes and offices, will begin this month.  Construction is expected to be completed this fall.

In his audio homily to promote the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal Feb. 4-5, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor said the diocese will borrow the remaining money needed for construction from the Seminarian Endowment Fund and repay it from CASA donations.

Msgr. Friend said he is hopeful the house will raise the profile of diocesan seminarians.  Currently, eight men are living in the temporary House of Formation at St. John Center in Little Rock.  When they are not attending classes at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock or studying, the men are able to participate in parish and diocesan events and get to know local Catholics, he said.

"It's been a great tool because I have a place (where they can come to discern)," Msgr. Friend said.  "I have had three more requests from people,  It's really sparked interest because we are here in the diocese.  It's been a real positive experience...It builds a sense of community."

Msgr. Friend said the diocese wanted the House of Formation to be based at a parish, and Good Counsel Church was chosen for the site because of its location near UALR and diversity of the parish and neighborhood.

"Good Gounsel represents well what the Church is," he said.  "We are universal.  Catholics are all over the world. This gives the guys the experience of seeing that.  I also think there is a benefit to being in that particular area because we need to be mindful of the fact that we are here to serve people.  Even though we don't take a vow of poverty, we are called to a simple lifestyle.  We want to make sure our surroundings are like that.  Having it based in a parish (is good because that is) where we work most of the time as priests.