JOIN YOUR PARISH FAMILY THIS ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS

Transcription

1 Issue 6 November 2015 The Pulse of Sacred Heart Parish, Moline, Illinois JOIN YOUR PARISH FAMILY THIS ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS COOKIE WALK SUPPORTS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY SHM_Heartbeat_vol6.indd 1

2 ADVENT IS JUST THE BEGINNING Dear Parishioners, The Advent-Christmas Season is a wonderful time of the year at Sacred Heart. There are many beautiful liturgies. We have a time to spiritually prepare for Christmas and then we have a time to spiritually recover. Unfortunately, we tend to get caught up in the secular celebration and we do not prepare as we should and do not unpack the experience in a beneficial way. Now seems like an appropriate time to reflect on the events of the past year and to think about what the next year may bring. The last year has been full of activity. One of the main things that has taken our energy is our strategic planning initiative. This has involved many hours of time and our parish leadership has taken the process very seriously. This next year we will start implementing the plan. I feel that it has been very important to listen to all of you to get an idea of where the Spirit is leading us. It has been enlightening. 1 SHM_Heartbeat_vol6.indd 2 One thing we want to do is all try to work for the same goal of strengthening our parish community. We have many different constituencies in our parish. We have people of different ethnic groups. There are many senior citizens and retirees and also youngsters who are just learning about the faith. We have people who have lived in the

3 EPIPHANY PARTY INVITE FROM FATHER MARK One of the things that it is always necessary is to say thank you. One of the traditions of our Catholic Heritage is that we open our houses on the Feast of the Epiphany to visitors. We remember that the Holy Family entertained the Magi in their home as they brought gifts to Christ Child. In that spirit the rectory will once more be opened to all those who engage in any kind of service in our parish. Last year we had a wonderful time as we kept the spirit alive and remembered that there are at least twelve days of Christmas. The Epiphany party this year will be on January 3rd from 1 p.m. -2:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Fr. Mark and Fr. Sebastian s house. Hopefully, everyone can be there. It is an openhouse so if you can stay five minutes or an hour we want you to come. We would love to see you. parish their whole life and we also have families that are new arrivals who are trying to find their niche. We must try to come together for the good of the parish. Bridging the divide is no small task. There are people who are active in the day to day life of our church and there are many more who are present only occasionally. Communication is a challenge. Sometimes, as the old saying goes, it is like herding cats. We need to engage everyone. I do not claim to have all the answers about how to strengthen parish life. I do know some of the dreams that many of you have for our parish due to the planning we have done in The task is daunting, but the graces are many. I can only pray that when asked everyone will be generous with their talents and abilities. I thank all of you who have been so kind to me over the past year. It is a privilege to be your pastor. I thank our staff who serves with such dedication. Jesus came to be one with us. That is what we commemorate on the Feast of the Incarnation. He gave us the template of what kind of people we are supposed to be. If we all strive to imitate him Sacred Heart s future will be bright. I look forward to growing in faith together in the New Year. Let us continue to pray for one another. Blessings, Fr. Mark DeSutter Pastor 2 SHM_Heartbeat_vol6.indd 3

4 GET INVOLVED WITH OUR BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY Within our sizable parish community, many of you experience the loss of a person special to you. The death, which may have occurred recently or not so recently, can cause an emptiness, a lingering pain and loneliness. Each of us grieving persons has a unique timeline and spiritual/emotional needs in response to the death of a loved one. Area hospitals offer us grief support processes. Family members and friends help us after a personal loss. At Sacred Heart there have been grief support and bereavement sessions offered through the years. Are you desiring a process in the parish now? Do you want to be part of a group for a six-week series? Is daytime or evening best for you? Do you have other ideas? Please contact Sr. Kathleen Mullin at or kathymulli@sacredheartmoline.org. THE JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY In 2014 Pope Francis published a book, The Church of Mercy, a collection of his homilies, addresses and other sources. His message emphasized a vision for the Church, inviting all of us to be full-time Christians desiring to come together for the common good. Pope Francis stated that it is not possible to attain a better world until our idols of power, money, corruption, careerism, selfishness and indifference are demolished. From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis has focused on and lived the virtue of mercy. We just observed that during his events and experiences in the United States. Now we enter the Jubilee Year of Mercy, which opens on this December 8th, the feast of Mary s Immaculate Conception and continues to the feast of Christ the King, At Sacred Heart Parish, a committee formed this summer to plan events and actions which coordinate with the Jubilee Year of Mercy, has launched two projects so far. The request for funds to create Thanksgiving baskets for local families in need evoked generous contributions from parishioners. Area school administrators identified recipients. Committee members purchased hygiene items and paper products as well as food and grocery gift cards appropriate for each family. Another parish endeavor being organized is the book discussion groups to begin after the holidays. Some already have volunteered to host a group. A goal is to have at least ten groups meeting in homes. The hosts will determine days and times for the six to eight sessions, and all groups will read and discuss the same book. The chosen book will be announced soon. SHM_Heartbeat_vol6.indd 4

5 COOKIE WALK PROMISES TO BE DELICIOUS December 12, 2015 Culemans Fellowship Hall 8:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. or until the cookies run out! Like a kid in a candy store, patrons to our annual Cookie Walk will have a chance to pick out their favorite cookies and best of all, it helps to support various social activities for our parish! But if you want the best selection, be sure to arrive early! There s typically a line waiting at the door before we open and in past years we ve sold out by 10 a.m.! Goodies to be found at the cookie walk include a wide variety of cookies, candies and breads. In the past we have even had Gingerbread Houses, which includes both those already decorated, or kits that families can take home to decorate themselves. After filling a box of cookies, the box is weighed for cost at a rate of $6/pound, with a few exceptions. Items that are priced separately usually include breads, specialty items such as the Gingerbread houses and the Belgian Lukken (or waffle iron) cookies, Belgian Rosettes and Italian Pizzelles. No social event is complete without at least a little bit of socializing! After you ve purchased your cookies, be sure to stop by the Coffee Corner and relax with a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or hot cider and visit with your friends and fellow parishioners. Last year we started a Cookie Walk Cook Book from recipes gathered in previous years. We ask that if you re dropping off cookies or candies, please bring your recipes to share with us! All of these recipes are being collected to be included in a book that is tied with a ribbon so that new recipes can be added each year. Updated Cookie Walk recipe books will be available, along with a selection of the recipes from last year for people to update books they already have. The books are $4 each and the additional packet of recipes will be only $1. If you d like to paricipate in this year s Cookie Walk there are several ways to get involved. First, share your cookies, candies, breads, and more with us: Cookies your favorites Candies the more the better Breads nut breads, fruit breads, small, medium, large sizes Gingerbread Houses either decorated or kits Lukken, Rosettes, Pizzelles these are a favorite of many of the customers Cookies, etc. should be dropped off at the Fellowship Hall on Friday, December 11, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. We are also in need of volunteers. Opportunities include making cookies, helping with set up on Friday 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., set up on Saturday morning at the sale, and tear down. During the sale itself we have different shifts available starting at 7 a.m. and running through however long our cookies last! If you would like to volunteer, or have any questions regarding this event, please contact Connie Morris at (309) or by at sixverybusypeople@mchsi.com. There is also a signup sheet for volunteers in the front vestibule of the church. The Social Committee is hoping to expand at least one of its sponsored events to include more people in the neighborhood that surround our parish. With the help of a successful Cookie Walk we ll be able to invite our neighbors to join us at minimal or no cost, So please come and purchase some delicious cookies and treats on December 12 and help support our parish! 4 SHM_Heartbeat_vol6.indd 5

6 POPE REMINDS US JESUS WAS A REFUGEE Pope Francis made a poignant appeal on behalf of the world s refugees during his November 18 general audience, reminding all listening that Jesus, too, encountered times of hardship and danger. We believe that Jesus was a refugee, had to flee to save his life, with Saint Joseph and Mary, had to leave for Egypt, Pope Francis said, according to Zenit. He was a refugee. Let us pray to Our Lady who knows the pain of refugees. The pope made his petition to the Church, which he defined as all of us, not limited to priests, bishops, or the Vatican. World Refugee Day is on June 20. The number of these brother refugees is growing and, in these past few days, thousands more have been forced to leave their homes in order to save their life. Millions of families, millions of them, refugees from many countries and different faiths, experience in their stories tragedies and wounds that will not likely be healed, said Pope Francis. Let us be their neighbors, share their fears and uncertainty about the future, and take concrete steps to reduce their suffering. 5 Source: Catholic News Service, Zenit SHM_Heartbeat_vol6.indd 6

7 ECUMENICAL ADVENT VESPERS Mark your calendars now for our 2015 Ecumenical Advent Vespers to be held every Sunday during Advent at 4:00 p.m. here at Sacred Heart Church. Come celebrate the anticipation of the Christ Child during the hyperactive month of December. Experience the prayerful music, the inspiring reflections and the quiet of these Vesper services amidst the busyness of holiday activities. Our Reflectors are: November 29: Fr. Robert McAleer, Bettendorf, IA December 6: Mary Lach, Sacred Heart Parishioner December 13: Rev. Roger Hungerford, Pastor All Saints Episcopal Church, Moline, IL December 20: Sister Johanna Rickl, President, Humility of Sisters, Davenport, IA RELIGIOUS ED CHRISTMAS EVENT OPEN TO ALL All parishioners are invited to join us on December 13 from 10:15 am. - Noon during our regular religious education time for our Christmas craft and prayer event! We will create Christmas crafts and share how to create them at home. We ll also share different prayer experiences that families can take home for this holy season. If you would like to join us, please RSVP just so we have enough materials. You may RSVP with Ivy at , ext. 210, or at ivygoes2church@gmail.com. COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE The season of Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Christ in both the final coming at the end of time and also as we prepare our hearts to receive Christ as He comes to us anew at this particular time and place. This preparation calls us to examine our conscience, identify our sinfulness, confess these failures, express our contrition, and to celebrate the forgiveness and love that God has for us. In our Catholic tradition, the great Sacrament of Reconciliation gives us a visible, tangible way to enter into this celebration. Please plan on joing us for our Advent Communal Penance Service on Monday, December 21, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. for a joyful celebration of God s love and mercy. MASS TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS & NEW YEARS Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve: There will be no 6:30 a.m. Mass on this day 8:30 a.m. ~ Daily Mass 3:30 p.m. ~ Christmas Carols begin 4:00 p.m. ~ Mass, Music: Celebration Choir 5:30 p.m. ~ Christmas Carols begin 6:00 p.m. ~ Mass, Music: The Sacred Sounds 9:30 p.m. ~ Christmas Carols begin 10:00 p.m. ~ Mass, Music: New Spirit Singers Friday, December 25, Christmas Day: 7:00 a.m. ~ Mass, Music: Song Leader/ Accompanist 9:30 a.m. ~ Christmas Carols begin 10:00 a.m. ~ Mass, Music: New Spirit Singers Thursday, December 31, Vigil: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, (New Year s Eve): There will be no 6:30 a.m. Mass on this day 8:30 a.m. ~ Daily Mass 5:30 p.m. ~ Vigil Mass, Music: New Spirit Singers Friday, January 1, Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, (New Year s Day): 10:00 a.m ~ Mass, Music: Song Leader/ Accompanist SHM_Heartbeat_vol6.indd 7

8 N O N - P RO FI T O RG. U. S. P O STAG E P AI D RO CK I SL AN D, I L P ERMI T N O T H S T REET MOLINE, I L RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Mass Times Sundays: 7, 9, 11 a.m. Saturday Vigil: 4 p.m. Daily Masses (M-F): 6:30, 8:30 a.m. Saturday Morning: 8:30 a.m. Confessions Saturday: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. and by appointment, call Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction (St. Francis Chapel) Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. First Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. SHM_Heartbeat_vol6.indd 8