Since the start of our VIP (Very Important Parishioner) monthly recognition of parishioners who go beyond the pews and even the parish to give of thier God-given time and talents to the Lord and others, we have been blessed to offer thanks to God and acknowledge them in a variety of ways (including their pictures on a billboard in the hallway from the Narthex and a wall in the lower hall). Today I wanted to give a BIG SHOUT-OUT to many VIPS who worked together, some behind the scenes, and others in the liturgies and activities that surrounded the Easter Triduum which gave praise to teh Lord and touched the minds and hearts of those who participated in our parish. The behind the scenes people were our decorating group (headed by Sandy Darnell), our banner group (headed by Fred and Linney Rohrer), our wonderful altar linen person, Betty Mierzwoiak (with helper Ed Pawelski), our wonderful sacristan, Mark Lukasavige (and his assistants), the Men's Clug (headed by David Banaszynski) who did the set-up, clean-up, and serving of the delicious parish dinner on Holy Thursday (prepared by Chef Johnna), the ladies (headed up by Susan Harrell) who did the set-up, serving and clean-up of the Good Friday lunch (prepared, again, by Chef Johnna) and Dave Witchger who provided the amterials and set-up of he Easter Fire. The music ministry prople (headed up by Kathleen Kinney) worked hard behind the scenes and at ALL the liturgies of the Triduum (including both Masses on Easter Sunday) and helped us in lifting up our minds and our singing voices to the Lord in thanks for the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the lord. I was blessed to have two deacons, BJ Bowen and Gary Christoff (both of our parish) covering all the liturgies starting with those for Palm Sunday.they certainly add greatly to the solemnity and importance of what we do up on the altar. Then there were the lectors whose efforts of practice were obvious in the wonderful way they proclaimed the important scripture passages of Palm Sunday and throughout the Triduum. Our  ushers came for practices and early for the liturgies and maeuvered beautifully the "unique" responsibilities they had for these special liturgies. The altar servers were also a blessing in what they practiced and did for our Holy Week liturgies. I dare not leave out our Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at the liturgies and those who took Communion to our shut ins. Finally, there were our scheduled adorers who came to church to pray in helping to keep the Triduum as one long vigil from Thursday night until Saturday night (especially Lori Vincent who covered at least 3 hours in teh wee hours of Good Friday morning). If I could add up all these people and list all of their names, I would need much longer than the normal Pastor's "column". I am humbly and sincerely grateful for them and for their patience with me in the practices and liturgies. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!

As I compose this pastor's column on Monday of Holy Week, anticipating the "Great Three Days" of commemorating, in a special way, the "Paschal Mystery", I am also preparing to go to LIttle Rock for the Chrism Mass and will be offering the daily invocation at the Arkansas State House of Representatives. The latter of these takes my mind to one aspect of the Good Friday liturgy that doesn't get that much attention or reflection. While the "Veneration of the Cross" by everyone who participates in this liturgy (communally and individually) is the highlight and is remembered the most by those who are blessed to do it, there is something that happens (or as you read this, recently happened) at the Good Friday liturgy that is both the same as what occurs at every Mass, but somewhat different as well. It is the "Solemn Intercessions" or what is popularly know as the "Prayer of the Faithful" that is offered up to God after the homily (and at Sunday Masses, after the "Profession of Faith"). The Solemn Intercessions on Good Friday (unlike the ones we normally offer at Mass), give us a set number (ten) and focus on who and/or what we are praying for. In this case, the entire Church throughout the world is lifting up its communal voice to God for the following: the Holy Church, the pope, for all orders and degrees of the faithful, for catechumens (who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil), for the unity of Christians, for the Jewish people, for those who do not believe in Christ, for those who do not believe in God, for those in public office, and finally for those in tribulation. These, when taken together, include prayers for many people from those within the Church and those outside the community of the Church. I wish I had the time and space to comment upon each of these. Since I don't, I ask you, going forward, to reflect on these, save them and lift them up to the Lord in your prayer time every day. While some these ten intentions are prayed for in every Mass, some are rarely , if ever, prayed for (except by the whole Church on Good Friday). These others are certainly worthy of and need our prayers throughout the year, expecially those who do not yet know God and his Son, Jesus Christ. As we enter into the glorious Easter season, having gone through the Lenten Season, with it spiritual and corporal disciplines, and renewing our baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil, I pray that we have been so invigorated and renewed in Christ and in who we are as God's adopted children that we all will be more focused on bringing our faith in Christ in word and deed to others, and be one inspriation (through the workings of the Holy Spirit) for people to come to faith in God, and in Jesus Christ and make the choice to be baptized, be welcomed into the Church of God (and for some, our parish community) and live as, hopefully, we all should do, rejoicing in the crucified and risen Lord and what that means for us and all believers in a fulfilling life in this world and life unending with the Lord in his glory.

As you probably know by now (if you've been in this parish during some or all of my almost 13 years as your pastor), I sturggle with the temptation to see the glass "half empty" in more than a few instances instead of seeing and rejoicing when the glass is at least "half full". Unfortunately, in the instance of the upcoming "Easter Triduum" (Holy Thursday evening until Easter Sunday evening) I have to acknowledge that our Church (and most, if not all other Catholic Churches) are not even close to half-full in the number of those seated in the church for the "One" liturgy that is stretched out in three or four gatherings of the "Faithful" over this three day period. It is most certainly and sadly the case that less than half of those who participate in Mass every weekend usually participate in no more than the Easter Sunday Mass. I try,during Lent and at other times of the year, to stress and explain how important the whole of the Triduum is for ALL the baptized (as well as those who are baptized at the Easter Vigil) as it happens in the extended liturgy (at Sacred Heart Church at 6:30 p.m. on Holy thursday, 3:00 p.m. on Good Friday, and 8:30 p.m. on Holy Saturday). For those of you who don't traditionally participate in any of these gatherings, I am, at first, inclined to strongly encourage you to participate in at least one of these and experience a liturgy that is unlike "regular" Mass in more than a number of ways, and which speaks so strongly of what Jesus Christ has done for us through his passion, death, and Resurrection which includes, of course, what he gave to the apostles and to us when he fed them at the Last Supper (and feeds us with His Body and Blood at every Mass). On further reflection, I am going to strongly encourage EVERYONE in our parish to participate in all three gatherings and prepare yourselves to be touched by the Lord in a powerful way. The highpoint, if you didn't know, will be the renewal of our baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil. If you traditionally participate in the church's main liturgical gatherings during the Triduum (see above), consider enhancing your experience by coming to our church on your own to pray (the rosary, the chaplet of diving mercy, and/or the stations of the cross, and read and reflect on the rich scripture readings of the Triduum) and/or join us for the additional opportunities we have for communal prayer in church and "food" gatherings on Holy Thursday (parish meaal) and maybe on Good Friday. I dare say your experience of the Triduum days will have the greatest impact on you spiritually and in your future life in the Lord, if you try to "disconnect" from all worldly activities and routines (including television and computer during the first two days of the Triduum, from Hly Thursday evening until the Vigil on Saturday evening) and make this time a true "retreat" that doesn't take us anywhere except to  and from church (refraining or cutting back on secular places and/or activities). While it is true that som many things in our time (diets, sleep, accessories, etc) are "advertised" as being potential "life changers" (and often are not), full participation in the Triduum by any Catholic who makes this time for Jesus, will potentially have their lives changed and/or renewed in the most special and everlasting way! I pray you are included in "many" who do so!!