THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. This sounds a little like what Gomer Pyle said more than a few times on the Andy Griffith Show and the Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. series except I added one more THANK YOU to acknowledge four gatherings of people that celebrated my 35th anniversary as a priest (and my eleven years as pastor of Sacred Heart Church).
It started at the LOSH meeting in May, continued at the Men's Club that month, then the Knights of Columbus who sponsored a Mass (with Bishop Taylor con-celebrating and preaching) and a dinner that took place on the actual anniversary of my ordination and included many nice gifts and a large monetary gift from the Knights and finally the parish life commission dedicated part of the program at the dinner for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to acknowleding my anniversary with some presentations of gifts like a t-shirt (signed by parishioners) and a chef's apron both of which said "Father Knows Best" on them and a very generous monetary gift from the parish. Over this time, I received cards with nice expressions of appreciation and other gifts from parishioners that, all added together, leaves me overwhelmed with gratitude for such thoughtfulness and love that makes this an ordination anniversary one that I will never forget.
It also leaves me ever determined to give my best to the people of this wonderful parish, knowing that I am blessed to have so many people working with me to do the Lord's work in this parish and in this community. In a parish now without an active deacon on the altar (though Deacon Larry is still working behind the scenes), I know that we have dedicated and competent people in all areas of ministry there and I hope and pray more step up to make their gifts known and offer to use them in ways that will bless others, and themselves, and of course give glory to God. Just as may coaches who are acknowledged for their work, say that it is a team effort for success that involves assistant coaches, players and others, so I give thanks to God for the team effort of this parish to do God's work in the name of and in imitation of Christ and for the glory of God!!
I truly look forward to whatever time I am given to serve as pastor going forward and ask for your continued prayers, as I continue to pray for all of you !!
It started at the LOSH meeting in May, continued at the Men's Club that month, then the Knights of Columbus who sponsored a Mass (with Bishop Taylor con-celebrating and preaching) and a dinner that took place on the actual anniversary of my ordination and included many nice gifts and a large monetary gift from the Knights and finally the parish life commission dedicated part of the program at the dinner for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to acknowleding my anniversary with some presentations of gifts like a t-shirt (signed by parishioners) and a chef's apron both of which said "Father Knows Best" on them and a very generous monetary gift from the parish. Over this time, I received cards with nice expressions of appreciation and other gifts from parishioners that, all added together, leaves me overwhelmed with gratitude for such thoughtfulness and love that makes this an ordination anniversary one that I will never forget.
It also leaves me ever determined to give my best to the people of this wonderful parish, knowing that I am blessed to have so many people working with me to do the Lord's work in this parish and in this community. In a parish now without an active deacon on the altar (though Deacon Larry is still working behind the scenes), I know that we have dedicated and competent people in all areas of ministry there and I hope and pray more step up to make their gifts known and offer to use them in ways that will bless others, and themselves, and of course give glory to God. Just as may coaches who are acknowledged for their work, say that it is a team effort for success that involves assistant coaches, players and others, so I give thanks to God for the team effort of this parish to do God's work in the name of and in imitation of Christ and for the glory of God!!
I truly look forward to whatever time I am given to serve as pastor going forward and ask for your continued prayers, as I continue to pray for all of you !!
Among the many blessings that have come to many through the Pontificate of Pope Francis is his stress on Jesus love for the poor and our call to follow his example in this and in all that he said and did. Pope Francis has also encouraged us to ALWAYS look outward in all that we do as members of a parish to the larger community that we are called to serve in the name of Jesus Christ. This month's V.I.P.'S of Sacred Heart Parish definitely have followed the encouragement of Pope Francis and were in fact active in these areas long before the Pontificate of Pope Francis. They have also inspired many to join them in multiplying what has been and is being done for those in need. They are Ed and Claudia Keearns who are best known as the faces of our charitable outreach to families in need both inside and outside the gates of Hot Springs Village at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and during the summer time. They coordinate the "Basket Program" that feeds the needy of our area through the time, talent and treasure of many parishioners, as well as gifts at Christmas that are provided for "angels" (children and young people in this area of the state). In addition to all the good that has come from these programs, Ed has coordinated the "Village Outreach" program that provides shoes to children at Christmas and has participated in the "Senior Food Program," served as a Court Appointed Advocate for abused and/or neglected children for 10 years, and has coordinated the weekend Jackson House food collection and delivery in our parish. Claudia has worked with Ed in the Basket Program (coordinating the angel tree through the help of LOSH members), has been active in the All Saints Guild, and worked with a number of parishioners who price items for our Treasure Sale whose proceeds help support our local Catholic Schools. She has provided food for the homeless men at Samaritan Ministries with other couples through the Men's Club.
I think you get the picture! When it comes to giving of themselves and encouraging others to do so, countless people have been helped in a variety of ways, through the ongoing efforts of Ed and Claudia. They have done all this (and more) while also being very involved in parish ministries and activites that serve their fellow parishioners and pastor.
Please look them up in the parish pictorial directory (if you don't already know them) and express to them your appreciation for what they have done and continue to do!
I thank them and God's continued blessings on them in their wonderful married life (59 years) and in their lives as dedicated disciples of Christ and members of our parish!!
I think you get the picture! When it comes to giving of themselves and encouraging others to do so, countless people have been helped in a variety of ways, through the ongoing efforts of Ed and Claudia. They have done all this (and more) while also being very involved in parish ministries and activites that serve their fellow parishioners and pastor.
Please look them up in the parish pictorial directory (if you don't already know them) and express to them your appreciation for what they have done and continue to do!
I thank them and God's continued blessings on them in their wonderful married life (59 years) and in their lives as dedicated disciples of Christ and members of our parish!!
As I compose this pastor's column, two upcoming events stand out in my mind. Firstly, there are five young men who are about to begin their lives as ordained priests in the Catholic Church for the Diocese of Little Rock. Secondly, I am celebrating the blessings of priesthood in my life for the past 35 years (as of this Monday, May 31). While it's obviously getting harder and harder to think back on the beginning of my priesthood in 1986, I do remember and give thanks I was blessed to work under three wonderful and diverse pastors in my first seven years, Msgr. Bill Galvin (who was the mentor for many newly ordained priests), Fr. Rossi, and Msgr. John O'Donnell. I was kept busy in all of these assignments with a diversity of ministry to people of all ages (except in Mountain Home which had mostly retirees from up North). As a pastor for the first time in Jonesboro, I was dealing with a parish that was land locked and needed more room for present activities and ministries and expected future needs as Jonesboro was growing significantly at that time. Unfortunately, the majority of parishioners at that time were not open to looking outward to a new location for the parish and its school to locate. Then and in the years following, I faced many challenges in the pastoral, administrative and personal sides of my life as a priest, AND many blessings through me and to me from the Lord and his people. I will wait and reflect in this column soon on my 11 years as pastor at Sacred Heart Church.
For the rest of this column I ask for your prayers for God's blessings and my openness to his guidance for whatever time he gives me to serve him and others through my priesthood. I also ask for your continued prayers for all our newly ordained and young priests who are facing some of the challenges I did 35 years ago and more than a few that I did not face way back then. For various reasons the newly ordained, at least in our diocese are becoming pastors much earlier than I did. They are seeking to minister to their flock using new linguistic skills. They are looking at a Church that is declining in membership and some in fervor for the Catholic Faith. Ask the Lord to make them priests who put prayer as "the" priority in their day to day life. Ask that there be a mutual respect between them and their parishioners and a laity that is willing to serve their parish and community under the direction and support of their pastor. Pray for priests and parishes that undergo change when pastors are reassigned. I know that both priests and their parishioners need to pray for each other and let the Holy Spirit lead the way. I have witnessed that in many ways, especially here at Sacred Heart Church and I look forward to more of it in the future!
For the rest of this column I ask for your prayers for God's blessings and my openness to his guidance for whatever time he gives me to serve him and others through my priesthood. I also ask for your continued prayers for all our newly ordained and young priests who are facing some of the challenges I did 35 years ago and more than a few that I did not face way back then. For various reasons the newly ordained, at least in our diocese are becoming pastors much earlier than I did. They are seeking to minister to their flock using new linguistic skills. They are looking at a Church that is declining in membership and some in fervor for the Catholic Faith. Ask the Lord to make them priests who put prayer as "the" priority in their day to day life. Ask that there be a mutual respect between them and their parishioners and a laity that is willing to serve their parish and community under the direction and support of their pastor. Pray for priests and parishes that undergo change when pastors are reassigned. I know that both priests and their parishioners need to pray for each other and let the Holy Spirit lead the way. I have witnessed that in many ways, especially here at Sacred Heart Church and I look forward to more of it in the future!