In a few weeks, Bishop Taylor is going to give another audio homily in conjunction with the three-year Eucharistic Revival that has begun in the Church in the United States. We have gotten word that one subject he will be addressing and encouraging is Eucharistic Adoration. I hope you join me in giving thanks that we have Eucharistic Adoration going on in our parish twenty-one hours a day, seven days a week. This is, therefore, a great time for Catholics who are not doing so to start. It can be as a regular weekly Adorer (with another person there or covering for you when you can't come) or as a substitute (some of whom, thanks be to God, do more than once a week), or as one who stops by the chapel for 10, 15 or more minutes at any time (including before or after Mass). While coming or going, please check in the electronic pad (as regulars and substitutes always do). There is a place in the chapel for you to put prayer requests and another to write down favors received. What a blessing to know that not only you but others who come to the chapel are praying for the intentions and people you put there. I would also invite you to share the favors received from the Lord with me by email, either anonymously or by sharing with me who you are and I will find a place in the bulletin to share these. Blessings aplenty await those who prioritize this ministry to the Lord and for yourself and others. Consider contacting our new director, Kathy Clark 203-816-7737, to find out more and/or to sign up NOW!
I hope you will agree with me that it doesn't (or shouldn't) take much time to come up with specifics when giving thanks to God for blessings received from God through others. Sometimes saying "thank you" doesn't seem adequate to express appreciation for the many blessings received over a period of time. That, I believe, is the case when it comes to three people who have (or soon will) turn the reigns over to someone else to do what they have done so well. The first is Lynne Border, our now retired organist, choir director, website coordinator, and facility scheduler for our facilities. Lynne juggled the responsibilities she was given (the final two which were not familiar to her when she joined our staff) and put "her all" into what she did, especially with her music ministry, which included working closely with our Saturday and Sunday choirs, cantors, and our Resurrection choir that is such a blessing to bereaved families. The second is Tom Donnelly who coordinated our Eucharistic Adoration for the last 3 or 4 years. Tom worked with our division leaders (that I and I'm sure Tom has thanked more than a few times) and made sure our adorers were updated, and encouraged in the MOST IMPORTANT MINISTRY of Eucharistic Adoration. He was a leader who led by example by taking Adoration hours himself when something came up and an Adorer could not come. He saw that we observed the anniversary of Eucharistic Adoration here and spoke in encouragement of people to join this ministry in public gatherings and in private meetings. I always knew Tom was on top of things in this ministry and appreciated the fact that he agreed to stay on as coordinator longer than he planned until someone (Kathy Clark) took it over. The third and last person who deserves a thank you and appreciation from all of us is the soon to be retired office secretary, Marian LaVelle. Marian first came on board in the office as a part-time volunteer to assist Cathy Silk. She has always been a smiling, helpful presence for our parishioners and for me. She spent much time updating and organizing parish records and procedures and readily adjusted when Cathy left her position. Marian took on more while training Debbi Passaglia and worked with her to see that the office ran smoothly with two part-time people switching off during the week and covering days for each other. When I reflect on what these people did, and the adjustments that they had to make during the serious and lengthy period of COVID, I am doubly thankful that they all did a wonderful job of keeping their part of the parish ship going during unprecedented difficult times. Please consider sending them a card in the mail (they are all parishioners) or join me in thanking them when you see them around. (Next week, I'll probably use this column to introduce those who have replaced these three quality people)!!
Today I want to bring up a couple from our parish who were parishioners at that same church in North Little Rock when I was there over 30 years ago, Russ and Sheila Harrison, our VIPs for the month of August.
Though my memory from those many years ago is not great, I do recall knowing the Harrisons in that large parish, in part because their daughter Christy and their son Randy were school aged and involved in various ways, in imitation of, along with encouragement from Russ and Sheila, who were active in more than a few areas of ministry. I was, therefore, not surprised when I reunited with them at Sacred Heart Church and found out they were active in our parish and in the community of Hot Springs Village as well. They have both taken on leadership roles and participated in minitries and activities in the 21 years they have been living in the Village and as parishioners here.
Russ has served as president of our Men's Club, as Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator of our Knights of Columbus council and assembly. He has taken on various roles in each of these two men's groups and now serves as Secretary of the Men's Club. He has been an altar server here since he moved here (over 20 years) and has been our "Safe Environment" coordinator since Archbishop Sartain was our Bishop. He serves on our Columbarium committee, has been in charge of the effort to put our large creche figures outside for Christmas, the putting out of American flags around our parish campus on patriotic holidays and seeing, through our Knights of Columbus, that American flags are put out and replaced at all of our Village golf courses.
Sheila has been supportive of Russ in all of his activities AND has been a "busy bee" herself in the following areas (both in the Parish and in the community of Hot Springs Village and beyond).
Sheila served as president of Ladies of the Sacred Heart in 2010 and is currently co-captain of St Teresa of Calcutta Guild. She has been a lector for over 20 years, serves on the Family Assistance Committee and has served as a volunteer at Mt. Pine Elementary for 15 years . She has been a part of the tutoring program there. Sheila was also the president of the Lady Duffers Golf League 2006-2007 and has been a volunteer with the Oaklawn Race Track Chaplaincy for 17 years.
Russ and Sheila have served together on the Food Basket Committee for 10 years, which includes the Angel Tree. They are both Eucharistic Adorers. Russ and Sheila are wonderful examples of being continuing servants of the lord, not retiring from ministry as they have gotten older, but finding new and familiar ways to serve the Lord and their parish community and beyond that to other non-parishioners who benefit from their time, talents and treasure. Please join them (if you aren't already) in serving the Lord and others! The ultimate reward is heavenly!!