In light of the celebration of Priesthood Sunday which was last Sunday (September 29), I spent some time giving thanks to God for the ways he uses priests as instruments of his grace, especially through the sacraments, but also the way the laity are instruments of grace for the priests in many wonderful and different ways.
We lost from our sight (but not from our minds and hearts ) a dear parishioner, Connie Cody Wilson. Connie was a blessing to many with her infectious smile and her Christ-like love for all, which included for many a "Connie Hug" which said to many including me, that firstly God love you....and so do I. She was an ambassador of the Catholic faith who among a number of things, sought to lead those who had left the faith back to the Church and the sacraments.
I must say I was a little surprised when more than a few parishioners after Connie died were unfamiliar with her when I brought her name up as a dear lady who was "a live wire" in many good and beautiful ways. It reminded me that being in such a large parish there are almost always many more who did not know people whom I have been blessed as a priest to know and minister to (and be ministered to) as pastor or this wonderful parish.
While priests do, in reality, minister to people in difficult situations like sickness and the death of a loved one, (and admittedly, at time, people who are a challenge for one reason or another), there are also people who priests encounter on a regular and an even personal way that are mother, father, brother or sister figure for us in our lives. Connie was one of those "motherly" people to me and I will truly, sincerely miss her in my life as obviously Gordon her husband and others no doubt will.
We lost from our sight (but not from our minds and hearts ) a dear parishioner, Connie Cody Wilson. Connie was a blessing to many with her infectious smile and her Christ-like love for all, which included for many a "Connie Hug" which said to many including me, that firstly God love you....and so do I. She was an ambassador of the Catholic faith who among a number of things, sought to lead those who had left the faith back to the Church and the sacraments.
I must say I was a little surprised when more than a few parishioners after Connie died were unfamiliar with her when I brought her name up as a dear lady who was "a live wire" in many good and beautiful ways. It reminded me that being in such a large parish there are almost always many more who did not know people whom I have been blessed as a priest to know and minister to (and be ministered to) as pastor or this wonderful parish.
While priests do, in reality, minister to people in difficult situations like sickness and the death of a loved one, (and admittedly, at time, people who are a challenge for one reason or another), there are also people who priests encounter on a regular and an even personal way that are mother, father, brother or sister figure for us in our lives. Connie was one of those "motherly" people to me and I will truly, sincerely miss her in my life as obviously Gordon her husband and others no doubt will.
When I return on Tuesday to my work desk after the weekend and my day off, I usually face the largest collection of mail of any day of the week. This Tuesday's pile was unusually large and consisted of many solicitations to me, some of which was already their "Christmas Angel" for help, which included Christmas Cards for my use. (I'm sure many of you have received similar solicitations already as well). In addition, I've been asked by mail and e-mail for our parish to participate in an Advent program to help some of the poorest families in the world (in Haiti) to have a home to live in. Finally, an organization called "Food For The Poor" is asking that one of their priests come one weekend in the year 2020 to preach and ask for assistance in their ministry to feed the many hungry people in Central America.
All of this came before me as I was preparing to write my pastor's column on the subject of the Catholic Sharing Appeal 2019 which kicked off in early February of this year. I am inclined to start out by saying "charity begins at home" as I appeal to many of you who have not given anything to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal this year. Since however, this is a year-long appeal, and the need is so great to help so many people and programs that cannot support and sustain themselves without the help of Catholics throughout Arkansas, I prayerfully and sincerely ask that you consider giving generously or at the very least SOMETHING soon and certainly before the end of this calendar year. To this point our number of donors is around 220 families which is down from our total givers last year (around 275). Please use the envelopes provided at Church and either mail it in yourself with your donation or put it in the collection basket and we will be sure and get it to the diocese.
The readings from last weekend and this weekend are strongly about generosity to those in need. I thank God for those who are giving regularly and generously to so many causes, including our parish needs, and a prayer that we ALL become cheerful givers who recognize that it is in giving that we receive and in dying that we're born to eternal life. (Prayer of St. Francis)
All of this came before me as I was preparing to write my pastor's column on the subject of the Catholic Sharing Appeal 2019 which kicked off in early February of this year. I am inclined to start out by saying "charity begins at home" as I appeal to many of you who have not given anything to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal this year. Since however, this is a year-long appeal, and the need is so great to help so many people and programs that cannot support and sustain themselves without the help of Catholics throughout Arkansas, I prayerfully and sincerely ask that you consider giving generously or at the very least SOMETHING soon and certainly before the end of this calendar year. To this point our number of donors is around 220 families which is down from our total givers last year (around 275). Please use the envelopes provided at Church and either mail it in yourself with your donation or put it in the collection basket and we will be sure and get it to the diocese.
The readings from last weekend and this weekend are strongly about generosity to those in need. I thank God for those who are giving regularly and generously to so many causes, including our parish needs, and a prayer that we ALL become cheerful givers who recognize that it is in giving that we receive and in dying that we're born to eternal life. (Prayer of St. Francis)
In line with my homily on the power and impact of intercessory prayer, I wonder what you would answer to the question: "What is the greatest intercessory prayer that one could offer for someone?" If you answered "The Mass," you are correct. Having a Mass offered for someone living or deceased can show among other things, your love and concern for that person or persons. Whether you are able to participate in a Mass offered for someone or not, the Mass, which always offers intercessory prayer for a variety of people and situations at every Mass, does in fact have a special and particular intention, usually for a specific person.
It has been clear to me in the time I have been pastor here that many people here appreciate this great intercessory prayer and ask for Masses for both living and deceased people of the parish and sometimes outside of the parish. I feel sure you are not aware of the fact that we priests, at least in our diocese, have been instructed that if or when the Mass intentions that are requested back up to three months on the calendar, that we should send some off to be offered elsewhere. This is especially important when the Masses are offered for a person who is recently deceased.
Since I am the only priest in the parish, that means there is a limited number of Masses that can be offered here in a year's time. I would like in the future for you to indicate if you want a Mass for someone offered here or if it can be offered by one of our priests in the diocese who do not have Mass Intentions to offer at every Mass they celebrate, especially those in small communities. I would like to give priority here firstly to Masses for people who are recently deceased or dates that involve anniversaries of death or marriage anniversaries of those couple who are both alive. I realize that this might mean that there could be a limit on how many Masses a person can request for the whole year unless it involves people who are recently deceased.
Please remember again that we can only offer a limited number of Masses here at Sacred Heart every year and we have to allow as many people who want Masses to be offered here to have them done in a timely fashion. Multiple Masses that are asked for the same person (usually someone recently deceased) from a variety of persons may have to accept that their requested Mass may be sent elsewhere to be offered. Any that are sent off will be indicated as so in the bulletin.
All I can say is we will do our best to see that your desire to have this greatest of intercessory prayers, the Mass will be offered for someone, here or somewhere else within a reasonable time period. That, I am sure, will be appreciated most by the person for whom the Mass is being offered.
It has been clear to me in the time I have been pastor here that many people here appreciate this great intercessory prayer and ask for Masses for both living and deceased people of the parish and sometimes outside of the parish. I feel sure you are not aware of the fact that we priests, at least in our diocese, have been instructed that if or when the Mass intentions that are requested back up to three months on the calendar, that we should send some off to be offered elsewhere. This is especially important when the Masses are offered for a person who is recently deceased.
Since I am the only priest in the parish, that means there is a limited number of Masses that can be offered here in a year's time. I would like in the future for you to indicate if you want a Mass for someone offered here or if it can be offered by one of our priests in the diocese who do not have Mass Intentions to offer at every Mass they celebrate, especially those in small communities. I would like to give priority here firstly to Masses for people who are recently deceased or dates that involve anniversaries of death or marriage anniversaries of those couple who are both alive. I realize that this might mean that there could be a limit on how many Masses a person can request for the whole year unless it involves people who are recently deceased.
Please remember again that we can only offer a limited number of Masses here at Sacred Heart every year and we have to allow as many people who want Masses to be offered here to have them done in a timely fashion. Multiple Masses that are asked for the same person (usually someone recently deceased) from a variety of persons may have to accept that their requested Mass may be sent elsewhere to be offered. Any that are sent off will be indicated as so in the bulletin.
All I can say is we will do our best to see that your desire to have this greatest of intercessory prayers, the Mass will be offered for someone, here or somewhere else within a reasonable time period. That, I am sure, will be appreciated most by the person for whom the Mass is being offered.