In my time as pastor here at Sacred Heart Parish, I have heard on numerous occasions from people outside of our parish that we are a "generous" parish when it comes to giving monetarily to meet various needs whether they are emergency needs or regular needs close by or far away. Whether it be the needs in Haiti for a local source of water or a building where students can gather safely for school or the needs of many people through the ministries that receive some or all of their support from money that comes in throughout the year in response to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal. The regular response of a good percentage of our parishioners shows me and others that they appreciate, to one extent or another, that they are called to be good stewards of the financial resources that they are "blessed to have". While there is nothing wrong with accumulating financial and other resources for current and future needs, it is clear that Jesus wants all of us (in our case all Sacred Heart Parishioners) to be giving to those whose basic daily needs are greater than ours and who are unable to meet their needs with their own resources as well as the needs of our parish. While I rejoice that it seems our glass is half full when it comes to people in our parish who give financially and in other ways from what they are blessed to have from God (including their time and talent), in the case of giving of time, talent, and treasure there may be more than a half who are not giving much (if anything) and need to be challenged to begin doing so. I hesitate to just agree when some say "Fr Bill, Sacred Heart Parish is really generous in so many ways". I sometimes add that we do have "more than our share of generous people" who gladly give and who know that our God can never be outdone in generousity.
Are there people in this parish and in all parishes who give little or even nothing to support the needs of the parish (i.e. ministries, salaries, utilities and maintenance)? The answer, of course, is yes! Are there people who justfy not giving or not giving much because they say or think something like, "They are getting plenty from others...they don't need my money". Yes. Finally, are there seniors who say, "I don't have much money coming in since I am retired, so I need to hold on to as much as I can for current and future needs?" The answer is yes. In the end there is no doubt that some need a change of heart, thinking, and action when it comes to giving and, honestly, most, if not all of us, who are giving could and hopefully will be inspired by the Lord and generous givers to give more. I would be interested to get feedback from those who are givers (in some or all ways of giving) as to why you do it and how you are blessed by it. I would like to share some of what is shared with me without putting a name to it. I hope your witness to giving AND the Lord will have an impact on all of us in wonderful ways. Again, my email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. As St Paul said "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). Thankfully, I see many such people here in this parish!!!
Are there people in this parish and in all parishes who give little or even nothing to support the needs of the parish (i.e. ministries, salaries, utilities and maintenance)? The answer, of course, is yes! Are there people who justfy not giving or not giving much because they say or think something like, "They are getting plenty from others...they don't need my money". Yes. Finally, are there seniors who say, "I don't have much money coming in since I am retired, so I need to hold on to as much as I can for current and future needs?" The answer is yes. In the end there is no doubt that some need a change of heart, thinking, and action when it comes to giving and, honestly, most, if not all of us, who are giving could and hopefully will be inspired by the Lord and generous givers to give more. I would be interested to get feedback from those who are givers (in some or all ways of giving) as to why you do it and how you are blessed by it. I would like to share some of what is shared with me without putting a name to it. I hope your witness to giving AND the Lord will have an impact on all of us in wonderful ways. Again, my email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. As St Paul said "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). Thankfully, I see many such people here in this parish!!!
I hope over time you have read small articles and even inserts in the bulletin which have been provided by Linda Broome, our parishioner who leads our exercise, as well as, our stretch and balance sessions that are held every Tuesday and Thursday in the lower hall. (There's still plenty of room for more to come and give it a try). If you took time to read them, you know that they often speak of the benefits of exercise for both our physical and mental health. I want to believe that these articles have influenced at least some to join with fellow parishioners and others in the Village community on these days for the benefits mentioned and for socialization. I also believe that some of our "regulars" could give witness to the difference it makes in their lives now (and in the long term benefits in the quality and even quantity of their lives).
The same kind of witness could be given, I'm sure, by those who make a weekday Mass or Masses and Eucharistic Adoration a part of their lives. As I continue to share with you what makes weekday Mass unique (from our weeknd Masses), I hope our weekday Mass goers will be willing to share verbally or in writing why they take the time and make the time for weekday Mass among other things they do weekly (and some daily). If you are a weekday Mass person, please send your reflections to me by emailing me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and be open to me sharing these verbally or in print with your fellow parishioners. Know that I can use your name or, if you wish, not do so when I offer these reflections. My prayer is that this "testimony" will be one grace from God that will lead some of you to give weekday Mass a try.
Recently, a parishioner who was giving their opinion on the change in the weekday Mass time also spoke about the "wonderful experience" she has when going to a weekday Mass. She commented that these Masses take a shorter amount of time to complete (30-35 minutes). Also, she appreciates the brief explanations I give at the start of the Masses that honor a certain saint or a group of saints of the day.
Please note that, starting this week and thereafter, our daily Mass will be normally celebrated at 8:30 a.m. with Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m. except the days when we pray the patriotic rosary at that time (like this Monday on Labor Day).
The same kind of witness could be given, I'm sure, by those who make a weekday Mass or Masses and Eucharistic Adoration a part of their lives. As I continue to share with you what makes weekday Mass unique (from our weeknd Masses), I hope our weekday Mass goers will be willing to share verbally or in writing why they take the time and make the time for weekday Mass among other things they do weekly (and some daily). If you are a weekday Mass person, please send your reflections to me by emailing me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and be open to me sharing these verbally or in print with your fellow parishioners. Know that I can use your name or, if you wish, not do so when I offer these reflections. My prayer is that this "testimony" will be one grace from God that will lead some of you to give weekday Mass a try.
Recently, a parishioner who was giving their opinion on the change in the weekday Mass time also spoke about the "wonderful experience" she has when going to a weekday Mass. She commented that these Masses take a shorter amount of time to complete (30-35 minutes). Also, she appreciates the brief explanations I give at the start of the Masses that honor a certain saint or a group of saints of the day.
Please note that, starting this week and thereafter, our daily Mass will be normally celebrated at 8:30 a.m. with Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m. except the days when we pray the patriotic rosary at that time (like this Monday on Labor Day).
When a priest begins his time as a new pastor of a parish, one unwritten rule or guidance that is recommended to such priest is try not to make any (or at least not too many) major changes for at least the first six months of his time in his new parish. Given my memory, I hope I followed that guideline when I arrived here at Sacred Heart Parish 12 years ago. In my 12 years as your pastor, I have normally sought the counsel of our commissions and/or some experienced members of our parish before making changes, especially if they affect more than a few people. Recently I asked the "daily Mass" crowd to give me their input on changing the regular daily Mass time to be earlier than what it has been since before I arrived here (though I am told it was 8:00 a.m. when Fr. Rossi, the first resident pastor of our diocese, was assigned here). I also consulted with the liturgy commission at it's recently held bi-monthly meeting.
We heard about the advantages of moving it earlier (either 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.). Perhaps the change in Mass time would encourage more people to consider coming to at least one daily Mass a week. For some people, having 9:00 a.m. Mass is doing it in the "middle of the morning" since they have already been up for awhile. For others, the current time is "too early" for their body clock to get going and get up here by then. As usual it is hard to please everyone.
An earlier time would, in fact, create more of a window for funeral Masses to take place at (10:00 instead of 10:30 or 11:00 as most of them are held now). An earlier time would probably alter the food served at a funeral reception to be less than a "luncheon" gathering which could be a blessing to our wonderful Ladies of the Sacred Heart Guilds whose membership has gone down as its members have gotten older.
I will share with all of you that, right now, I am leaning toward moving the daily Mass to 8:30 a.m. and if you have an opinion and reason for moving it earlier (to 8:00 a.m.) please email me as soon as you can (especially if you are or would consider being a lector, altar server or sacristan at daily Mass). I need to know from our current liturgical ministers at daily Mass if they have strong feelings about changing the daily Mass time as I count on them and appreciate the time they have been giving to their ministry at daily Mass.
Right now, I am looking to start the new time for daily Mass to 8:30 a.m. starting the first full week of September (5th-9th). I was so pleased to hear input from some of our current regulars at daily Mass that they will come whenever it is offered. Regardless of what time daily Mass is offered going forward, I will continue to suggest (and really urge) all of our parishioners who are physically able to come to at least one daily Mass a week. I can't help but think about some of our good Protestant brothers and sisters who go to services twice a week (Sunday and Wednesday) and most of them, sadly, don't have Jesus coming to them in Word and Sacrament at their worship services. We do, most every day of the year, "Thanks be to God".
We heard about the advantages of moving it earlier (either 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.). Perhaps the change in Mass time would encourage more people to consider coming to at least one daily Mass a week. For some people, having 9:00 a.m. Mass is doing it in the "middle of the morning" since they have already been up for awhile. For others, the current time is "too early" for their body clock to get going and get up here by then. As usual it is hard to please everyone.
An earlier time would, in fact, create more of a window for funeral Masses to take place at (10:00 instead of 10:30 or 11:00 as most of them are held now). An earlier time would probably alter the food served at a funeral reception to be less than a "luncheon" gathering which could be a blessing to our wonderful Ladies of the Sacred Heart Guilds whose membership has gone down as its members have gotten older.
I will share with all of you that, right now, I am leaning toward moving the daily Mass to 8:30 a.m. and if you have an opinion and reason for moving it earlier (to 8:00 a.m.) please email me as soon as you can (especially if you are or would consider being a lector, altar server or sacristan at daily Mass). I need to know from our current liturgical ministers at daily Mass if they have strong feelings about changing the daily Mass time as I count on them and appreciate the time they have been giving to their ministry at daily Mass.
Right now, I am looking to start the new time for daily Mass to 8:30 a.m. starting the first full week of September (5th-9th). I was so pleased to hear input from some of our current regulars at daily Mass that they will come whenever it is offered. Regardless of what time daily Mass is offered going forward, I will continue to suggest (and really urge) all of our parishioners who are physically able to come to at least one daily Mass a week. I can't help but think about some of our good Protestant brothers and sisters who go to services twice a week (Sunday and Wednesday) and most of them, sadly, don't have Jesus coming to them in Word and Sacrament at their worship services. We do, most every day of the year, "Thanks be to God".