The "Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal" begins this weekend and continues throughout this year. It is a year long endeavor in part because it is seeking the support of ALL Catholics in Arkansas to fund ministries, programs and needs throughout the Diocese of Little Rock, some of which do not have the needed ongoing financial income to fund the good work they are doing in the name of Jesus Christ. While there is good news to share, that this appeal, by the end of last year reached its goal of two million dollars (which may be a first and is somewhat surprising due to the impact that COVID-19 had on many people's income since March of last year) the fact is that the goal was reached with less people giving than the year before (and that number has traditionally represented only about 13% of registered Catholic households in Arkansas).
Our parish once again surpassed its goal of $83,000 which is reason to thank God for the generosity of about 265 families in our parish! In a parish of around 750 registered families the percent of givers to CASA this past year was under one-third of our total parish rolls which, while much better than the state-wide average, still means that there are many in our parish who gave nothing to CASA last year. I humbly ask those who have been giving to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal to do so again this year. Your generosity is always appreciated (by Bishop Taylor, the many of all ages and situations of life who benefit from your gift, and by me as well). To those who don't or haven't recently given to this appeal, I ask you to consider joining your fellow parishioners and Catholics throughout Arkansas in helping so many in need.
I know for sure that the amount that is traditionally given to Catholic Schools in Arkansas has stayed the same over the years even though the need for more than a few of our schools is great and the ability to keep those schools open is getting harder to the point that some (like one of my former parishes in Ft. Smith-St. Boniface had to close its doors after over 100 years of daily educating children in the Catholic faith). In a time when many younger folks and families have left the Catholic faith in disturbing numbers, our help to fund Catholic schools, religious education programs and campus ministry programs for college students is more important and needed than ever before.
Since this year every parishioner should have received a solicitation letter and envelope by mail, I am praying (and ask you to pray as well) that we can get the number of total givers in our parish up well over 300 families while reaching and surpassing once again our goal. With "stimulus money" coming from the government to most of us, I urge you to use some of that for the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal so as to stimulate more people in the ways of the Lord throughout the state of Arkansas this year 2021 and beyond. Thank you very much!!
Our parish once again surpassed its goal of $83,000 which is reason to thank God for the generosity of about 265 families in our parish! In a parish of around 750 registered families the percent of givers to CASA this past year was under one-third of our total parish rolls which, while much better than the state-wide average, still means that there are many in our parish who gave nothing to CASA last year. I humbly ask those who have been giving to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal to do so again this year. Your generosity is always appreciated (by Bishop Taylor, the many of all ages and situations of life who benefit from your gift, and by me as well). To those who don't or haven't recently given to this appeal, I ask you to consider joining your fellow parishioners and Catholics throughout Arkansas in helping so many in need.
I know for sure that the amount that is traditionally given to Catholic Schools in Arkansas has stayed the same over the years even though the need for more than a few of our schools is great and the ability to keep those schools open is getting harder to the point that some (like one of my former parishes in Ft. Smith-St. Boniface had to close its doors after over 100 years of daily educating children in the Catholic faith). In a time when many younger folks and families have left the Catholic faith in disturbing numbers, our help to fund Catholic schools, religious education programs and campus ministry programs for college students is more important and needed than ever before.
Since this year every parishioner should have received a solicitation letter and envelope by mail, I am praying (and ask you to pray as well) that we can get the number of total givers in our parish up well over 300 families while reaching and surpassing once again our goal. With "stimulus money" coming from the government to most of us, I urge you to use some of that for the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal so as to stimulate more people in the ways of the Lord throughout the state of Arkansas this year 2021 and beyond. Thank you very much!!
It was a good experience! I am referring to the experience I had of going to the Balboa Baptist Outreach Center on Wednesday, January 20 to volunteer with some of my brother Knights at an all day gathering to inoculate people with the vaccine to combat the coronavirus. I was also blessed as a volunteer to get my first shot (with my second being scheduled for February 10). Though I had never been in this facility before, I was welcomed and was made to feel at home. I wore my clergy shirt with a red pullover Knights of Columbus shirt to identify myself as belonging to that group of volunteers, but make no mistake, it was clearly seen that I was a Catholic priest. My duty for almost two hours was to collect the forms that the people who were getting their first shot filled out and make sure their form had their Medicare information on it and that they had the cards they needed in preparation for their next appointment. That part was routine, and I was pleasantly touched by the friendly comments and expressions of thanks to me as a volunteer who was doing this simple task. During the two hours I was there I was introduced to a number of people by Bill Nosek who was our Knights of Columbus "point man" for this effort and had nice encounters with these individuals including the "head honcho" from Health Mart who did a great job organizing this event and getting around 1,000 people vaccinated both Wednesday and Thursday. I offered our lower hall if they need another facility for future inoculations and he seemed to appreciate the offer.
I describe all this to you in my pastor's column because this took place during the annual "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity." Even as we pray for Christian unity in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord not just that week but continually, it is important that our actions give witness to our desire for Christian unity in what we do to give witness to to our faith. I was completely comfortable being in the "Baptist" facility I was in and felt no negativity coming from anyone there.
Since we just finished remembering the Roe v Wade decision of the Supreme Court legalizing abortion in our country, I am happy to recall the efforts of multiple Christian Churches in the Village including our own during the month of September through the crosses placed on Church grounds to recognize the many innocent lives that are lost each year through abortion.
Of course the cry and prayers for unity need to continue as well within the Catholic Church as a whole as the recent election sadly highlighted a lack of unity among Catholics in the votes that were cast and sadly in the negative feelings that are expressed toward those that didn't vote the way they should have voted. Let's pray that the virtue of love will take root and grow in everyone, especially Catholics and show itself in the way we speak of and treat one another, including our Church and elected officials!
I describe all this to you in my pastor's column because this took place during the annual "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity." Even as we pray for Christian unity in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord not just that week but continually, it is important that our actions give witness to our desire for Christian unity in what we do to give witness to to our faith. I was completely comfortable being in the "Baptist" facility I was in and felt no negativity coming from anyone there.
Since we just finished remembering the Roe v Wade decision of the Supreme Court legalizing abortion in our country, I am happy to recall the efforts of multiple Christian Churches in the Village including our own during the month of September through the crosses placed on Church grounds to recognize the many innocent lives that are lost each year through abortion.
Of course the cry and prayers for unity need to continue as well within the Catholic Church as a whole as the recent election sadly highlighted a lack of unity among Catholics in the votes that were cast and sadly in the negative feelings that are expressed toward those that didn't vote the way they should have voted. Let's pray that the virtue of love will take root and grow in everyone, especially Catholics and show itself in the way we speak of and treat one another, including our Church and elected officials!
Jesus told us in Matthew 18: "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Our Parish Prayer Warriors began in 2011 with a group of 12 faith-filled parishioners "to pray to God for others in times of crisis." Thanks be to God, since then there have been hundreds who have become crisis-free!
In 2015 I wrote "Hopefully we all know prayer is powerful" and before Mass one day I announced that my brother-in-law Rick Stewart made it through lengthy open heart surgery Tuesday with doctors declaring it a miracle! I expressed "thanks for the prayers being offered for Rick and especially those of our Parish Prayer Warriors." Rick is currently doing well in retirement in Florida with his care-giving wife, Michele (my sister).
Today there are eighty-seven Parish Prayer Warriors who pray daily for those in crisis (a serious or emergency situation that needs prayers offered for someone). Thanks be to God, in last year alone, eighty of those for whom prayers had been offered reported having become crisis-free.
Ih His Sermon on the Mount the Lord also told us "Blessed are the merciful." Being a Parish Prayer Warrior is a special "Ministry of Mercy" and a blessing for those for whom we pray and for the prayer warrior too.
Your prayers are needed for those in crisis as a Parish Prayer Warrior! Membership is based upon personal commitment to pray daily for those in crisis for whom our prayers have been requested. Our warriors receive requests my email as soon as they come in as some are emergencies, and then a revised listing of people to pray for the first of each month. Follow ups are provided to Prayer Warriors so they can know the status of those who have been prayed for, as well as expressions of appreciation from them or their family members. The SHJPPW WEB SITE provides an up-to-the minute prayer list and other important information.
Marvin Young serves as Administrator for our Parish Prayer Warriors. You may become a member or get additonal information by calling one of the Team Leaders: Sharon Board, 922-6995; Mary Costello, 922-3915; Jim Goodson, 204-2494; Edie Gray, 922-4694; Chris Stein, 226-5015 or Lucy Young, 915-8028.
Your prayers are needed for those in crisis and is one means during these COVID-19 times to do the Lord's work from the comfort and safety of your home. Please join us!! I would love to see our Prayer Warrior Ministry grow to over 100 members so I can tell people who are asked if they want to be on our prayer warrior list, that they have that many parishioners of Sacred Heart praying for them!!
Our Parish Prayer Warriors began in 2011 with a group of 12 faith-filled parishioners "to pray to God for others in times of crisis." Thanks be to God, since then there have been hundreds who have become crisis-free!
In 2015 I wrote "Hopefully we all know prayer is powerful" and before Mass one day I announced that my brother-in-law Rick Stewart made it through lengthy open heart surgery Tuesday with doctors declaring it a miracle! I expressed "thanks for the prayers being offered for Rick and especially those of our Parish Prayer Warriors." Rick is currently doing well in retirement in Florida with his care-giving wife, Michele (my sister).
Today there are eighty-seven Parish Prayer Warriors who pray daily for those in crisis (a serious or emergency situation that needs prayers offered for someone). Thanks be to God, in last year alone, eighty of those for whom prayers had been offered reported having become crisis-free.
Ih His Sermon on the Mount the Lord also told us "Blessed are the merciful." Being a Parish Prayer Warrior is a special "Ministry of Mercy" and a blessing for those for whom we pray and for the prayer warrior too.
Your prayers are needed for those in crisis as a Parish Prayer Warrior! Membership is based upon personal commitment to pray daily for those in crisis for whom our prayers have been requested. Our warriors receive requests my email as soon as they come in as some are emergencies, and then a revised listing of people to pray for the first of each month. Follow ups are provided to Prayer Warriors so they can know the status of those who have been prayed for, as well as expressions of appreciation from them or their family members. The SHJPPW WEB SITE provides an up-to-the minute prayer list and other important information.
Marvin Young serves as Administrator for our Parish Prayer Warriors. You may become a member or get additonal information by calling one of the Team Leaders: Sharon Board, 922-6995; Mary Costello, 922-3915; Jim Goodson, 204-2494; Edie Gray, 922-4694; Chris Stein, 226-5015 or Lucy Young, 915-8028.
Your prayers are needed for those in crisis and is one means during these COVID-19 times to do the Lord's work from the comfort and safety of your home. Please join us!! I would love to see our Prayer Warrior Ministry grow to over 100 members so I can tell people who are asked if they want to be on our prayer warrior list, that they have that many parishioners of Sacred Heart praying for them!!