It is not unusual for newly registered parishioners who are visited by our welcoming committee to express their desire to get acclimated to the parish and Village for a while before getting involved in the parish's activities and ministries. It is, of course, hoped that they will get involved sooner than later and experience blessings for doing so.
Our V.I.P. for the month of August, Sara Pilgrim, didn't take very long at all to get involved after moving with her husband to the Village in 2019 and becoming a member of the parish. She added to her list of activities rather quickly. After joining St. Monica Guild in Sept. of 2019, she took on the position of secretary of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart for two years. Sara served as Vice President and then president this past year. In addition to accepting and doing well in leadership positions (including co-chair of the successful LOSH golf tournaments the last three years), she has been a HELPER in many activities. She helped with the two vaccine clinics that were held at our parish during the COVID outbreak. She helped on the ad-hoc kitchen committee to help organize and clean the parish kitchen, which was needed, and hers and others efforts were certainly appreciated! She helped to organize the cleanup and redo of the LOSH floral centerpieces which are used at LOSH and parish gatherings. She has assisted with most of the fundraising events of LOSH since 2019 (which have been many)! She headed up LOSH's hosting of the Parish Sacred Heart of Jesus Feast Day Dinner which involved coordinating the meal, procuring volunteers and setting up the event including obtaining some entertainment (Steve Gunton). She volunteers as a member of Guild 1 at the Village Loan Closet and making lunches at Jackson House. She is a regular exerciser at Linda Broome's Tuesday/Thursday class and is a fairly recent addition to the Sacred Heart Cemetery committee in charge of landscaping to keep the garden looking beautiful. She and Gary have been married for 33 years and have two children, a son who is a master sergeant in the United States Army, a daughter in Colorado Springs and 5 grandchildren. I have always been impressed by Sara's bright personality and her energy in getting things organized and done. I have no doubts that her involvement in the parish will grow to the benefit of our parishioners and I believe will be an inspiration to encourage others to get involved (which has already happened). Thanks, Sara for being who you are and what you have done in your fairly short time as a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church!
Our V.I.P. for the month of August, Sara Pilgrim, didn't take very long at all to get involved after moving with her husband to the Village in 2019 and becoming a member of the parish. She added to her list of activities rather quickly. After joining St. Monica Guild in Sept. of 2019, she took on the position of secretary of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart for two years. Sara served as Vice President and then president this past year. In addition to accepting and doing well in leadership positions (including co-chair of the successful LOSH golf tournaments the last three years), she has been a HELPER in many activities. She helped with the two vaccine clinics that were held at our parish during the COVID outbreak. She helped on the ad-hoc kitchen committee to help organize and clean the parish kitchen, which was needed, and hers and others efforts were certainly appreciated! She helped to organize the cleanup and redo of the LOSH floral centerpieces which are used at LOSH and parish gatherings. She has assisted with most of the fundraising events of LOSH since 2019 (which have been many)! She headed up LOSH's hosting of the Parish Sacred Heart of Jesus Feast Day Dinner which involved coordinating the meal, procuring volunteers and setting up the event including obtaining some entertainment (Steve Gunton). She volunteers as a member of Guild 1 at the Village Loan Closet and making lunches at Jackson House. She is a regular exerciser at Linda Broome's Tuesday/Thursday class and is a fairly recent addition to the Sacred Heart Cemetery committee in charge of landscaping to keep the garden looking beautiful. She and Gary have been married for 33 years and have two children, a son who is a master sergeant in the United States Army, a daughter in Colorado Springs and 5 grandchildren. I have always been impressed by Sara's bright personality and her energy in getting things organized and done. I have no doubts that her involvement in the parish will grow to the benefit of our parishioners and I believe will be an inspiration to encourage others to get involved (which has already happened). Thanks, Sara for being who you are and what you have done in your fairly short time as a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church!
I'm sure that it's just coincidental that the Republican National Convention (in Milwaukee Wisconsin) and the 10th National Eucharistic Congress (in Indianapolis, Indiana) are meeting on some of the same days this week. There is no doubt that one will have to look much harder and longer to find out what's going on at the Eucharistic Congress versus the happenings in Milwaukee. By the time most of you read this, both events will be over and there will be a strong push toward looking to the future. Before speaking about this, let me ask and answer a couple of questions about these events and reflect upon the answer to each. (Realize that when it comes to the political convention, the same could be said about the democratic convention with names being the obvious difference).
Firstly, who is the focus of these two events. In the case of the convention it is of course Donald Trump, the nominee on the Republican side of the presidential ticket. There will be much said about him that is meant to build up a strong fervor among those attending and all voters throughout the country to support and elect him to be the next President of the United States. In the case of the congress the focus will be on Jesus Christ, as the Savior and Lord of heaven & earth and on his REAL PRESENCE in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. It is hoped that a fervor for Christ will be stirred up and carried on and back to Catholic dioceses throughout our country as we begin the third year of renewal where emphasis will be on "Mission". Unlike Trump or Biden or any other candidate, Jesus Christ does not have to prove himself worthy of ours and others support. His presence in our world over 2,000 years ago, what he taught and did, and his greatest act of love, going through his passion, death, and resurrection solidifies his worthiness to receive our greatest allegiance to him not for four years (as would be asked for an elected president of this or any country), but for the rest of our lives. Voting in political elections should, in my opinion, always be about who (among those offered) will best promote the ways and goals of Jesus Christ for the glory of God and the benefit of the common good.
Secondly, both of the events will stress the importance of unity (among citizens and Catholics respectively). I know I can say with confidence that the unity that is the work of the Holy Spirit and "Spirit-filled" believers is much more possible among believers in Jesus Christ than between people on either side of the political spectrum. When we ask for and cooperate with the Holy Spirit individually and in groups of people, we can be confident that the results will bear fruit for us now and potentially for many in the future.
I would ask and encourage all of you to begin saying the "Prayer for Eucharistic Renewal" that is found in the back flap of your missalette/hymnal either before or after Mass and in your homes as well. Renew and strengthen your focus on Jesus, especially in the Eucharist, and en-courage others to find their way to the Lord. Both events mentioned seek to produce hope for those who attend and for others as well. While some might find their hopes dashed or strongly lessened if their candidate loses in November, our hopes in and through Jesus can be strengthened for the rest of our lives and reach their ulti-mate fulfillment in the joy and peace of heaven where we will all be winners for all eternity!
Firstly, who is the focus of these two events. In the case of the convention it is of course Donald Trump, the nominee on the Republican side of the presidential ticket. There will be much said about him that is meant to build up a strong fervor among those attending and all voters throughout the country to support and elect him to be the next President of the United States. In the case of the congress the focus will be on Jesus Christ, as the Savior and Lord of heaven & earth and on his REAL PRESENCE in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. It is hoped that a fervor for Christ will be stirred up and carried on and back to Catholic dioceses throughout our country as we begin the third year of renewal where emphasis will be on "Mission". Unlike Trump or Biden or any other candidate, Jesus Christ does not have to prove himself worthy of ours and others support. His presence in our world over 2,000 years ago, what he taught and did, and his greatest act of love, going through his passion, death, and resurrection solidifies his worthiness to receive our greatest allegiance to him not for four years (as would be asked for an elected president of this or any country), but for the rest of our lives. Voting in political elections should, in my opinion, always be about who (among those offered) will best promote the ways and goals of Jesus Christ for the glory of God and the benefit of the common good.
Secondly, both of the events will stress the importance of unity (among citizens and Catholics respectively). I know I can say with confidence that the unity that is the work of the Holy Spirit and "Spirit-filled" believers is much more possible among believers in Jesus Christ than between people on either side of the political spectrum. When we ask for and cooperate with the Holy Spirit individually and in groups of people, we can be confident that the results will bear fruit for us now and potentially for many in the future.
I would ask and encourage all of you to begin saying the "Prayer for Eucharistic Renewal" that is found in the back flap of your missalette/hymnal either before or after Mass and in your homes as well. Renew and strengthen your focus on Jesus, especially in the Eucharist, and en-courage others to find their way to the Lord. Both events mentioned seek to produce hope for those who attend and for others as well. While some might find their hopes dashed or strongly lessened if their candidate loses in November, our hopes in and through Jesus can be strengthened for the rest of our lives and reach their ulti-mate fulfillment in the joy and peace of heaven where we will all be winners for all eternity!
My subject for this pastor's column was influenced by the Gospel that was proclaimed for Tuesday, July 9 and a meeting that was held right after that Mass. In the Gospel, (Mth 9:32-38), Jesus was busy teaching, preaching and healing people. As he went from one place to another, he may have felt somewhat overwhelmed by the task in front of him. He said "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few, so ask the harvestmaster to send out laborers for his harvest." (Mth 9:32). This passage has often been quoted over the years when encouragement is given to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The meeting I attended after Mass that morning addressed the upcoming annual fundraising dinner for our Arkansas seminarians (August 9) that is sponsored by our local Knights of Columbus (Council 10208). Much effort has already been put in to make this the most enjoyable (and hopefully successful) nights that we have ever had for this important and worthy cause to prepare through educa-tion and formation the future "laborers for the harvest" in the fertile field of the state of Arkansas. Through cooperation and coordination with the vocation office of our diocese we will have the most seminarians EVER who are able to attend our meal and program (around 19)! We will have some seminarians perform some music for us, and one seminarian share about the journey of faith that has led him to this point in his formation. In addition, we have the vocation director, Fr. Jeff Hebert, the new spiritual formation director at the House of Formation, Fr. Mauricio Carrasco and Bishop Taylor speaking to the attendees and a DELICIOUS dinner prepared by Chef Johnna. (See the bulletin announcement for the menu). I will have plenty of homemade ice cream made for dessert to top off a wonderful meal! The cost of the meal is $25.00 a person, I am happy to tell you that due to the generosity of Karen Feckler (who is underwriting the cost of the food and caterer) all $25.00 will be going to the seminarian fund.
I hope you will join me in making a generous donation at the dinner when invited to do so, and even make a sacrificial gift toward the process of preparing these men to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass countless times, and for many years to come, in addition to other ministries that will build the Kingdom of God in Arkansas beyond what we can imagine. I especially encourage those who have not participated in this unforgettable evening and cause to join us this year. Tickets can be purchased online or if you can't do that by calling Jerry Kordsmeier at (501 282-2030).
Please don't wait to get your tickets as we only have room for around 170 paid participants. God is indeed in-spiring men to participate in the harvest of souls for the Lord and his kingdom in an ordained life. Our participation in this calling is, in part, a way to thank the Lord for the priests of our past (and present) who are bringing the Lord to us in the Eucharist, the other sacraments and in many other ways! I hope to see you on the evening of August the 9th at 5:00 p.m.
I hope you will join me in making a generous donation at the dinner when invited to do so, and even make a sacrificial gift toward the process of preparing these men to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass countless times, and for many years to come, in addition to other ministries that will build the Kingdom of God in Arkansas beyond what we can imagine. I especially encourage those who have not participated in this unforgettable evening and cause to join us this year. Tickets can be purchased online or if you can't do that by calling Jerry Kordsmeier at (501 282-2030).
Please don't wait to get your tickets as we only have room for around 170 paid participants. God is indeed in-spiring men to participate in the harvest of souls for the Lord and his kingdom in an ordained life. Our participation in this calling is, in part, a way to thank the Lord for the priests of our past (and present) who are bringing the Lord to us in the Eucharist, the other sacraments and in many other ways! I hope to see you on the evening of August the 9th at 5:00 p.m.