Fr. Reynolds will be taking a few days off this week and will be back  in the office on Thursday. Call a priest in a neighboring parish for  an emergency. Parish staff will assist with finding a priest in the  event of a funeral.

The Sacred Heart Bingos Softball Team will be playing in tournaments Monday, August 30th beginning at 6:15 PM.  If they win, the will play again at 8:45 PM and umpire at 7:30.  If the lose they will play at 7:30 PM.  If they win one or more games, the team will play again Tuesday evening, August 31st.  Time depends on if they win or lose Monday night.

A Historic Sacred Heart Cemetery Walk is scheduled for this Sunday afternoon, August 29th from 1:30—4:00 PM

This is a joint effort between the Jasper county Museum and Newton Community Theatre.  Walks in previous years have been at the Wittenberg, Newton Union, Metz, Palo Alto and Union Chapel Cemeteries.  Those going on previous historic walks, lasting about one hour share very interesting memories.

This year folks are asked to meet at the Jasper County Museum, where a brief history of the Sacred Heart Cemetery will be given.  Then small groups are transported to the Cemetery in Limousines provided by local Funeral Homes.  A guide will take each group on a little walk through the Cemetery, stopping at various gravesites.  An individual in appropriate dress will portray the person buried at this sight, giving some history and highlights of their life.  It makes a very interesting walk for young and old!

The gravesite of Msgr. Thomas J. McCann, who spent over 60 years in the Newton Community has already been selected.  A variety of others, both men and women, young and old, lying at rest in our Cemetery will also be portrayed.

Be sure to mark your calendar for Sunday afternoon, August 29th.  More information will follow in the news media in our community.

BEGINS SEPTEMBER 2010

Last week’s bulletin insert included thoughts on change.  This week’s question is about opportunities for growth.

Q #4:   Where is the good news in the planning process?

A:   There is plenty of good news!  Even though there may be fewer   priests in the immediate future, the Holy Spirit continues to call all parishioners to become more actively involved in their parish.  It is a time for believers to better appreciate and share their giftedness with others.  It is a time for parishes to reach out to each other and the wider community.  Some excellent examples of such collaborative ministry have been part of recent articles in The Catholic Messenger.  The planning process is an opportunity for all parishioners to rediscover their call to continue the mission of Jesus in their own unique ways.

It is also through such interaction that vocations to priesthood and church ministry are fostered.  The more that young people are actively involved in meaningful ways in their parish, the more opportunities they have to discover if God is calling to a vocation to ministry.


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Next week’s question is:

What is the “grass-roots” approach all about?

How is prayer part of the planning process


All parish leaders are being asked to attend one of the following seven area meetings (about 2 hours long) which will be held throughout the diocese to present the planning process.  Parish leadership includes pastors, parochial vicars, parish life administrators, parish lay trustees, all members of the parish pastoral council, all members of the parish finance council, staff (DRE, youth minister, secretary, bookkeeper, etc.) and commission chairpersons.

Sunday, Sept. 19 St. Mary, Solon – 4:30 pm
Sunday, Sept. 19 Holy Trinity, Richmond – 7:00 pm
Monday, Sept. 20 St. Mary, Albia – 7:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 21 St. Alphonsus, Mt. Pleasant – 7:00 pm
Sunday, Sept. 26 St. Mary, Pella – 5:00 pm
Sunday, Oct. 3 St. Paul the Apostle, Davenport – 3:00 pm
Sunday, Oct. 3 St. Joseph, DeWitt – 5:00 pm

Phase 2 will include grassroots meetings at the parish level for all parishioners.

Students are or soon will be in school again.  May we be cautious and mindful of the presence of students, walking, riding bikes, or driving cars to school again, so that we can be extra careful to avoid accidents.  May this new year for students be a year of blessing and peace and both intellectual and spiritual growth.  God bless our students!

BEGINS SEPTEMBER 2010

Last week’s bulletin insert addressed the reason for another planning process.  This week’s questions are about change.

   Q #2:   What kind of changes might parishes expect?

    A:   The planning process depends and builds upon the wisdom of the leadership of the local parishes.

The process is a “grass roots” approach to discern how parishes can better share ministries in a collaborative way.  Priests will most likely be serving multiple parishes.  Future parish staffing will most likely include qualified laity (e.g., parish life administrators, catechists, liturgists, business managers, etc.) as well as deacons and religious to serve the needs of multiple parishes.  The Diocese of Davenport has had the foresight to offer a Ministry Formation Program for many years to help prepare people for such parish staffing.

Q #3:   Is there an existing plan to close more parishes?
 
A: This is a question that concerns many people.  The current planning process calls for better collaboration between parishes.  It enables parishes to examine their strengths and opportunities for growth.  Fewer priests in the future may mean that not every parish will be able to celebrate Eucharist every Sunday.  The plans that will be created in each area of the diocese might include additional steps such as clustering or consolidating.  These plans will be created by local parish leaders.

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Next week’s question is:
Where is the good news?

All parish leaders are being asked to attend one of the following seven area meetings (about 2 hours long) which will be held throughout the diocese to present the planning process.  Parish leadership includes pastors, parochial vicars, parish life administrators, parish lay trustees, all members of the parish pastoral council, all members of the parish finance council, staff (DRE, youth minister, secretary, bookkeeper, etc.) and commission chairpersons.

Sunday, Sept. 19 St. Mary, Solon – 4:30 pm
Sunday, Sept. 19 Holy Trinity, Richmond – 7:00 pm
Monday, Sept. 20 St. Mary, Albia – 7:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 21 St. Alphonsus, Mt. Pleasant – 7:00 pm
Sunday, Sept. 26 St. Mary, Pella – 5:00 pm
Sunday, Oct. 3 St. Paul the Apostle, Davenport – 3:00 pm
Sunday, Oct. 3 St. Joseph, DeWitt – 5:00 pm

Phase 2 will include grassroots meetings at the parish level for all parishioners.

To those members of Sacred Heart’s congregation who have participated fully and actively in the liturgies of the Catholic Church for the past 45 years, take a moment to be pleased and satisfied.  Singing the liturgy is now the normative for our congregation.  This is quite an accomplishment!  Your “plate was full” when asked to implement music with vernacular liturgical texts.

Now it is time to expand our “menu for the feast.”  The challenges facing us in the revised Mass texts and musical settings in November of 2011, are not anything we can’t handle.  However, we need your help.  Why not start now?

Here are the facts:  Each year approximately 20 choir members have faithfully enhanced the liturgy for the past 45 years.  The median age of this group is 71, ranging in age from 18-90.  WOW!  And GRACIAS!  THANK YOU!  We are asking that freshmen in high school and older consider becoming a member of our liturgical choir.  This demands a commitment to an hour’s practice beginning on Wednesday evening, September 8, at 7:00 p.m.  And the singing at 9:00 a.m. Mass starting on Sunday, September 12, as well as Christmas, Easter triduum, and whatever else may find its way in to the schedule.

Our parish choir functions as a liturgical ministry who’s role it is to enrich the liturgy in a way that inspires and sanctifies our congregation.   Anything less is a distraction.  THEREFORE, if you can match pitches and have a voice that balances and blends, consider becoming member of Sacred Heart Parish’s Adult Choir.  We are as strong as our weakest link.  “YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERNCE.”

The Sacred Heart Bingos Softball Team will be playing Monday evening, August 16 at 7:30 pm on the North Field of the Sports Complex.  The won their game last week 14-11, so the stand undefeated at 9-0. Come out and cheer them on Monday night.

August 21
It is time for a summer workday at the Sacred Heart cemetery.  We need your assistance raking, weeding and cleaning headstones and monuments.  Bring your rakes, weed-eaters, and trimmers or just bring your gloves… we can use all your support. 

Help us demonstrate to everyone our pride, respect and the heritage of those from our Catholic Community.  August 21, 8:30 – 11 am.  Contact Marty Stratton (641-791-2232, marty@martystratton.com) if you have further questions.

Respectfully,
Fr. McCann Council of the Knights of Columbus