We pray that everyone who can do so, will exercise their right and responsibility to vote in the November election. We are planning a voter registration drive at our church toward the end of the month. You can easily check to see if you are currently registered to vote by logging on to www.voterview.org or by calling 501-303-5630 (Saline County) or 501-622-3610 (Garland County). 
On Wednesday the 19th of September our third Columbarium, Sacred Heart of Jesus III, was delivered and placed on its foundation in our Cemetery and Memorial Garden. This now gives us a total of 240 double size niches for inurnment of the cremated remains of deceased church members and their immediate families. Our first inurnment was on All Souls Day 2005. We are accomplishing what was our first goal; that was to have a special place on church grounds for our cemetery.You can tell from the pictures, click here to view more photos in photo gallery, that this is not an easy thing to do. Each Columbarium weighs 28,000 pounds. A tremendous amount of planning and timing goes into this process to make it work. It takes a huge crane, two large trucks, cement labor and a lot of effort from our committee and volunteers to help get this done. Special thanks to all of those that came out to help with this huge project. The sidewalks, lights, benches and plants have to be completed before we can start selling niches in Sacred Heart of Jesus III. If you have any questions, please call Deacon Larry Lipsmeyer at 922-3283 or Buddy Dixon at 922-2811. Thanks to all for their help and support in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery.
We have a fine selection of books featured in our library on St. Padre Pio. You will want to read about his amazing life. Come into our library and browse among the many selections of books, DVD's, audio and video tapes for adults and children. Can't find the library? Just enter the chapel, make a quick left and go through the door marked "Conference Room/Library". You are always welcome. 
This year our parish will provide each family with two books of daily reflections: the "Year of Faith", published by Magnificat, and for Lent, "Little Black Book" as published by Little Books. These books can be purchased for your family members and friends not living in the parish. Order forms are in the A & E Hallway. Please place your order by Tuesday, September 25, 2012. 
Sacred Heart of Jesus invites you to join us for fun with "Church Fitness" a program consisting of lite cardio/tuning with pilates/yoga stretches on Thursdays at 9:45 a.m. in the Lower Hall. Classes will begin on September 4 and continue through October 30 (excluding September 27). The class is taught by Alia Berg, a licensed certified fitness instructor. The cost of the program is by donation per class. Call Alia at 209-2133 for more information. 
Fr. Herald Brock sent a picture of the completed roof on St. Peter Claver Church in Lowoi, Diocese of Torit, South Sudan. The roof was completed in June with the help of financial assistance from the parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Fr. Brock is affiliated with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. This group has been supporting the people of South Sudan and plan on continued assistance in the future. Click here for more photos in photo gallery. 
Sacred Heart of Jesus has been invited by the Village Bible Church to join with them in sponsoring the Crosses for Life Memorial. This is a statewide outreach project of the Benton County Right to Life, and has been displayed in various locations throughout the state of Arkansas since January 2000. There are 4,000 white crosses displayed that represent the 4,000 pre-born children who die daily in the United States as a result of induced abortion. The purpose of the display is to memoralize those children and increase public awareness of the magnitude of what has been called by some, "The American Holocaust".The crosses will be displayed on the property of both churches, from Monday, August 20 through September 22. The Crosses for Life Memorial is available to pro-life organizations throughout the state, and the project is funded by individual donations.
The new Recycling Trailer has replaced the old Recycling Bin in our parish parking lot. This trailer is also used by the parish Disaster Response Team for pick-up and removal of debris after destructive storms. While it is not in use for disaster purposes, it serves as our means for collecting aluminum beverage cans. Parishioners can continue to bring their aluminum cans, tied in plastic bags, and deposit them into the trailer. The Ladies of the Sacred Heart arranges for the transport of the accumulated cans to recyclers in Hot Springs on a timely basis. The money collected for the cans is donated at the end of the year to nearby organizations assisting women and children in poverty. Please remember that the recycle trailer is only for aluminum cans. Thank you for your continued support of this fundraising activity by the Ladies of the Sacred Heart. 
Parish Hand & Foot members invite all parishioners to meet each month for a fun evening of cards. Hand & Foot is a great game that only takes a few minutes to learn. Transmit an e-mail to Ed Harrigan at hopharrigan@sbcglobal.net or call 915-0314 for more information. Current members are asked to transmit their e-mail addresses to enhance communication. We play September through May. Send $8 per couple; $4 per single, $5 per substitute couple, and $2.50 for single substitute to SHHFC, Ed Harrigan, 320 Maderas Drive, 71909, before August 15. Please include your e-mail address.  |
| Seated in front of 14 seminarians are (l-r) Monsignor Bernard Malone, Bishop Anthony Taylor, Monsignor Scott Friend, and Father Bill Elser. |
Following the dinner, the 200 attendees received special envelopes for their individual donations. The Hot Springs Village 300-member Knights of Columbus Council will conduct additional fundraisers to help equip the dining room. As a start, Grand Knight Bill Roe presented a $2,000 check to Bishop Taylor. He also gave a $1,000 check to Monsignor Friend to be used in assisting individual seminarians as needed. Again this fraternal year, the Council has committed $500 to each of four seminarians, and the 4th degree Assembly will do the same for two seminarians. It should be noted that the Arkansas State Knights of Columbus has already donated $187,000 for construction of the chapel.
Each of the clergy involved in this event has a nephew who is either a priest or a seminarian. Monsignor Friend has two. The seminarians at the dinner included: David Aguilar, Joseph and Patrick Friend, Juan Guido, Kardly Isidor, Thomas Johnson, Jose Luis Quijada, Daniel Phillips, George Sanders, Emmanuel Torres, Taryn Whittington, and Luke Womack. Please click on Knights of Columbus to view photos of the House of Formation Dinner.
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| Pictured in the first row are Dianne Gleason, JoAnn O’Brien and Mary Ann Honzik; second row, Dave Witchger, Chris Gleason, Mike Frantz, and Terry O’Brien; and top row, John Bodensteiner and Larry Lipsmeyer. |
The parish Treasure Sale will be held on Friday and Saturday, September 28/29. To collect donations, the following dates have been scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon: August 8, 11, 22; September 8, 19, 22, 24, 25, 26. Call Chris or Mike Frantz at 922-5877 or Lucy or Marvin Young at 915-8028 for more information or to arrange a pick-up of donations. More information about the sale and volunteer sign-up forms are on a table in the hallway.
John Bodensteiner is once again coordinating the Treasure Sale with the assistance of new member and co-coordinator Chris Gleason. Financials will be handled by David Witchger. Terry and JoAnn O'Brien will oversee floor sales, while Tom Yerina and volunteers to his committee are in charge of setting up the church hall for the sale. Information regarding collection dates and requests for assistance in getting donations to the church is being handled by Mike Frantz and Marvin Young. The job or sorting and pricing donations is in the very capable hands of committee chairs Claudia Keearns and Mary Ann Honzik. Deacon Lipsmeyer juggles all the miscellaneous matters that fall to no specific committee's oversight, and Kathy Geske is handling publicity.
With 900 plus parish households assisting with their donations, as well as by their participation in the various Treasure Sale committee activities, the 2012 Treasure Sale is promising to be another resounding success. While the coordinators and committee chairs have a busy summer to look forward to, their dedication along with the support of willing parishioners will guarantee the end result of jobs well done.
Join others in your parish and throughout Arkansas on a pilgrimage to the magnificent Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of Angels Monastery in Alabama. Stops include Ave Maria Grotto at St. Bernard Benedictine Abbey and EWTN Studios in Birmingham. Enjoy Masses, spiritual talks and be on a live TV show. It's a great time to be refreshed in mind and soul. Cost is $220 which includes the bus trip and two night motel (based on double occupancy). Pay $100 deposit now to reserve your seat. Call Marj Hunecker at 501-568-5390. The bus will leave from St. Theresa's Church in Little Rock. 
The Rosary Makers had an outstanding year. They sent over 9,000 rosaries this year alone. This total is almost 2,000 more rosaries than last year and it brings their grand total since the group began to over 46,00 rosaries. The rosaries are sent to countless missions, schools and military groups in the United States and around the world. The Rosary Makers do not meet during the summer months and will begin again on Thursday, September 6 in classrooms C & D in the A & E Building. For more information about this group, call Delores Griffin at 915-0826.(Pictured l-r) Dee Griffin, Marge Newburn, Arlene Thompson, Rose Kutsch, Heidi Hubanek, Terry Heisler, Phyliss Zappala, P.J. Jendro, Mary Lucas, Barbara Shurtleff, Marguarita Butler, Betty Maier, Jean Krantz. Missing is Carol Cruz..
The Arkansas Knights on Bikes are part of the National Knights on Bikes Catholic Motorcycle Ministry. We are looking for new members to join us. The only requirements to join our group include the fact that you own, or anticipate owning, a motorcycle capable of highway speed; and, be a First-Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. For information, contact Michael Huber, President, Knights on Bike Arkansas, 479-387-4751. E-mail KonBArkansas@yahoo.com or go online for www.KnightsonBikesArkansas. 
Hello Everyone,I want to share with you some photos I recently received of the construction on the church in Lowoi, Diocese of Torit, South Sudan. These photos are already a few weeks old, and the work has likely been completed by now. The Diocese celebrated its patronal feastday on June 29 (Sts. Peter and Paul), and South Sudan just celebrated its one-year anniversary as a new nation on July 1, so it may be a little longer before I'm able to share with you photos of the completed project, which I will do as soon as I receive them. Check photo album for more pictures.
But as you can see the entire structure of beams to support the roof were already in place when the photos were taken, and seems to be very professionally done, praise God.
When I was in South Sudan in May, things were very peaceful, though the economy was noticeably depressed. Pressure from the international community helped both sides to back away from increasing tensions, though the north still has to comply with troop withdrawals from the Abyei region. International loans and promised investment has helped to shore up the economy a little, too. There are still many challenges for South Sudan to face, but they are an amazingly resilient people, loved and blessed by God in a special way.
Thank you again for all your assistance and collaboration in making this miracle possible for the people in Lowoi. It's a great gesture of encouragement for them and a reminder that God is still mindful of them, too.
God bless,
Fr. Herald
"I Corinthians" Little Rock Scripture Study at Sacred Heart will begin on Tuesday, June 12, for women only, from noon until 2:00 p.m. On Wednesday, June 13, for men and women, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. The Scripture Study is a nine week class, with no classes on June 26/27, or July 3/4. The last class will be on August 28/29. If you cannot make the class every week, we would still love to have you come when you can. Please call Mickey Townsend at 922-0705 or sign up in the narthex. Your study guide/commentary can be purchased at www.littlerockscripture.org/en/Studies.aspx?ID=106 or purchased at class on June 12/13.