This coming Thursday, July 19, marks the one year anniversary of the death of former pastor of Sacred Heart Church and beloved servant of God, Monsignor Bernard Malone.  It is hard to believe that it has been a year since the Lord called Monsignor Malone home after over 65 years of priestly life and service to God's people here in the Diocese of Little Rock.  There is much that I could reflect on when it comes to Monsignor Malone, as I was blessed to know him since I was an altar server for him at St. Mary's in Hot Springs when I was 13 years old.  I feel truly blessed to have seen him close-up on so many occasions in the time after he retired (at the age of 86).  Even as his body started weakening and eventually failed him, his spirit remained ever strong and ever committed to doing the Lord's work in whatever way he could and was asked of him. He supported, encouraged and was an inspiration (and confessor) to many of our seminarians which I know had an immediate AND I believe, long-term impact on them and their priesthood.  His faithfulness to the Lord and longevity in ministry, will hopefully mean that our priests (like me) and like our newly ordained, will be inspired to serve the Lord and His people well past the normal age of retirement for priests (75 years) until we can no longer do it physically, mentally, or both.  When we are long gone from this world, many of our young priests will still be administering the Sacraments and bringing Christ's love and mercy to those in need for many years to come; thanks, in part, to the great example given by Monsignor Malone.

While I (and I know many of you) miss him greatly, we are comforted by our confidence that we have an advocate in heaven who is ready to intercede for us.  One of the wonderful blessings of being your pastor for the past eight years is the opportunity to see Monsignor Malone so often as he was welcomed back to be with us here at Sacred Heart for ministry and to enjoy social time with us.

On the one-year anniversary of his passing from this world, I ask you to join with me in saying a prayer of Thanksgiving to God for Monsignor Bernard Malone and for all that God did through him in his life, especially in his priestly life in our diocese.

WE MISS YOU, MONSIGNOR MALONE!!!