Parish News
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - JULY 13, 2008
The Pope's general prayer intention for July is: "That there may be an increase in the number of those who, as volunteers, offer their services to the Christian community with generous and prompt availability." His missionary intention is: "That the World Youth Day held in Sydney, Australia, may awaken the fire of divine love in young people and make them sowers of hope for a new humanity."
Readings for the week
Sun - Is 55: 10-11; Rom 8: 18-23; Mt 13: 1-23 or 13: 1-9
Mon - Is 1: 10-17; Mt 10: 34—11: 1
Tues - Is 7: 1-9; Mt 11: 20-24
Wed - Is 10: 5-7, 13-16; Mt 11: 25-27
Thurs - Is 26: 7-9, 12, 16-19; Mt 11: 28-30
Fri - Is 38: 1-8, 21-22; Mt 12: 1-8
Sat - Mt 2: 1-5; Mt 12: 14-21
This Week’s Events
Sun., 7/13...…......................Adult Education 9:15am
Our Lady of Grace Rosary 12noon
Mon., 7/14…………….......Light to the Nations 6pm
Wed., 7/16……………Catholic Youth Ministry 6pm
Stewardship
“The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.” Matthew 13:22
Does the lure of riches and material goods choke God out of your life? Are you so caught up in worldly activities and anxieties that you have no time for God? These are questions that we all must ask of ourselves if we are going to live as God’s stewards.
A special thank you goes to all the parishioners and all those involved in making last Sunday’s celebration a success.I gratefully acknowledge Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, Dc. Kirke Herman, Knights of Columbus, liturgical ministers, and all those in attendance at the Holy Mass last Sunday. I am also grateful to the Stained Glass Parish Capital Campaign Committee and the Pastoral and Finance Councils, for their hard work and dedicated efforts overseeing the rectory project and reception. This special day was also the fruit of the Adorers of the Most Blessed Sacrament and individuals who have offered their prayers and sacrifices.
With all my heart I thank you, Fr. Richard
Donut Sunday! Plan to stay this Sunday, July 13 following the 8am & 11am Masses for donuts and coffee in Room B of the Parish Life Center. This is an opportunity to meet and welcome new members to our parish. See you there!
Our parish is seeking a Coordinator of Youth Ministry. It is required that all candidates for this position be practicing Catholics. The Coordinator will engage parental and volunteer support for all teens in the parish. This will include, but not limited to, spiritual formation, socials, recreation, outreach programs, youth-oriented liturgies and community service. Training is provided. Submit your resume to Fr. Richard.
Volunteers are needed to help make the 2008-2009 Parish Religious Education Program get off to a great start! Do you have a love of learning about our Lord? Would you enjoy sharing this with the children or youth of our parish? Talk with a friend or current catechist and consider “team teaching” a classroom. Are your talents administrative or creative? We need you, too. All training and catechist certification is available – all you need to bring with you is a willing heart ready to help!
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
Are you or someone you know interested in learning more about the Catholic faith? Do you know someone interested in becoming Catholic? This program prepares adults for the sacrament of Confirmation. For more information regarding this program, see Fr. Richard or contact Craig Provost at home, 225-5037.
Mary’s courtyard is open. It is a beautiful place to come pray the rosary during the week between the hours of 8:30am-3pm. If you seek a place of solitude you can find it right here on your own parish grounds.
Financial Peace University Class #3 now scheduled. Class #2 graduated ten on April 20, 2008. Come and join the ranks of the financially peaceful. Class #3 starts on August 17, 2008. A preview weekend will be held on August 9-10 after all Masses. Classes are open to anyone who wishes to attend. The cost of materials is $99.51. If you wish to attend, save $7.10 per week starting the first week of May and you will have saved the money needed. Brochures are available at the entrances to the church that show the materials contained in the kit. Financial Peace University Classes make an excellent graduation, engagement, wedding or birthday gift. To sign up or ask questions, contact Mary Kallenbach at 501 407-9232 or mlkbach@comcast.net.
Looking for Gift Bearers – Please see an usher prior to the beginning of Mass if you or any members of your family are interested in carrying up the offertory gifts.
You are invited to participate in the recitation of the rosary on the 13th of each month at noon and before all week end Masses.
Welcome to our visitors! We are blessed to have you join us this weekend. We invite any Catholic who regularly attends OLGC to consider becoming a registered member of our parish. Forms are available at the entrances or call the parish office. Welcome!
Perpetual Adoration Chapel
“Jesus says, Come to me all you who find life burdensome, and I will refresh you.” Who can refuse such a wonderful invitation – won’t you respond? Come! Consider beginning this one hour committment.
The Senior Ladies meet every Friday starting with Mass at 8am then continue by praying the rosary and folding the parish bulletins. If you have not come before please stop by and join the ladies for a time of prayer and to socialize.
Pray the Rosary
Mary’s Courtyard is a beautiful place to come pray the rosary during the week between the hours of 9:00am-3pm. If you seek peace and solitude you can find it right here on your own parish grounds. If you have questions on how to get there please call the parish office. Also, we have a map in the church to direct you there.
Food donations (non-perishable) are being requested for Abba House and Helping Hand food bank. These donations are accepted year round. Please place your donations in the food box located in the vestibule of the Church. Clothing donations are accepted at Helping Hand.
Altar Servers needed. Adults and youth (who have received their 1st Communion) who are interested in serving on the altar are asked to contact the Parish office or talk to Fr. Richard. Training will be provided.
Anniversary blessing -Celebrate your wedding anniversary with your parish family by receiving God’s blessing during Mass. Please contact the Church office two weeks in advance to make preparations.
Van Drivers - Additional volunteers are needed to join the rotating list of van drivers to pick up persons on Saturday from the Shepherd’s Center to attend the 4:30pm Mass and Sunday from the Veteran’s Home, Lion’s World & others to attend the 11am Mass (we have a particular need of a Sunday driver). Please call the church office for more details.
Stained Glass Parish Capital Campaign
The final results for the Stained Glass Parish Capital Campaign are still coming. If you have not yet made your commitment, there is still time. Complete your pledge card today and drop in the second collection with your first contribution. If you can’t make that first contribution this week, please turn in your pledge card anyway so we can count your contribution in the campaign success.
The OLGC Stained Glass Parish Campaign Remembrance Book was displayed in the foyer on Pentecost Sunday. The permanent plaque for display of the names of contributors making a contribution of $1,000 or more will be completed and installed in the vestibule in a celebration after the first year of our three year campaign. Please make your pledge today so we can include you in this list.
The success of this campaign would not have been possible without the time and talent of a great number of volunteers. We especially want to thank those volunteers who were active on the fundraising team. Their efforts to phone, visit and communicate with all the families in the parish have been at the heart of this campaign. We thank them for making the time to familiarize themselves with all the details of the campaign and communicate its importance to our parish.
The mailing committee spent hours addressing, folding and stuffing envelopes and inserts so that Fr. Richard’s letter could be mailed to every family in the parish. Diversity sharing team members were asked to supply displays about their heritage. Diversity team members turned that simple idea into a celebration. If you didn’t get to see Fr. Richard trying on an Indian sari or modeling Nigerian attire, you missed some very special fun!
The “fruits” of the bread making team’s efforts were so popular that 100 loaves of bread had disappeared before the sound of the 8:00 a.m. recessional hymn had faded. We thank them for their efforts and look forward to the next time the bread making team gets together.
Communication committee members put in long hours to select and develop the brochure design, pulpit announcements, bulletin inserts and barometer to track the progress to our goal. We appreciate you. Planning and grant writing volunteers are still hard at work on fundraising research and grant applications. We appreciate their efforts and pray for their success. As this week’s bulletin goes to press the events committee is making preparations for a potluck in the best OLGC manner. Thank you to all the volunteers who worked on planning, setup and clean up for this celebration of our success.
And last, but certainly not least, we want to thank the pastor and office staff for the countless hours they have invested in this campaign. They have invested far more hours than their positions dictate and that investment of additional time has been given without question or complaint. We especially appreciate the leadership and commitment of our pastor, Fr. Richard Zawadzki, for making this capital campaign happen. The results of this capital campaign will have long term benefits for Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, results that wouldn’t have happened without Fr. Richard’s leadership.
The time, talent and sacrificial gifts pledged by all of these people are an inspiration. Thank you so very much for your commitment to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. Your generosity of spirit and your sharing of the treasure God has given will be rewarded. “Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure, shaken together, running over, will they pour into the fold of your garment. For the measure you measure with will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)
Invest in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. We are worth it!
If you wish to offer donation please send to:
Our Lady of Good Counsel
1321 S. Van Buren Rd
Little Rock,AR 72204
Thank you for your Generous Gift.May God bless you.
Our Future Rectory
Out of Parish
St Vincent’s Volunteer Service wants you to use your talents, skills, wisdom and experience to comfort others. Pick your time and day. For information on volunteering call 552-3550.
St.Arnold Janssen Founder of the Society of the Divine Word
Saint Josef Freinademetz, China missionary
SOCIETY OF THE DIVINE WORD -MISSION STATEMENT
We Divine Word Missionaries, an international Congregation of Roman Catholic priests and brothers share the charism of our founder, Saint Arnold Janssen by:
•Living a vowed life and a commitment to Evangelization primarily in the African American Community;
•Living and Proclaiming the Word of God;
•Promoting the dignity of all people, especially the poor and marginalized where the Church is not fully established;
•Caring for one another, especially our aged and retired members.
Beginnings in Europe
The Society of the Divine Word was founded in Steyl, Holland in 1875 by Blessed Arnold Janssen, a German diocesan priest. Janssen's dream was to create a missionary training center and, within four years, the first Divine Word Missionaries were sent to China. Twenty years later, Janssen dispatched Brother Wendelin Meyer, (uncle of Albert Cardinal Meyer, former Archbishop of Chicago), to the United States. He arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1895, assigned to seek financial support for the missions through sales of Divine Word publications.
First Catholic Foreign Mission Seminary in the United States
Within a year, Brother Homobonus Stiller was sent to the United States to help Bro. Wendelin. Together, the two missionaries continued to win friends for the Society in New Jersey and New York.
In 1897, more missionaries joined them, and eventually they settled in Shermerville, Illinois, now known as Northbrook, about 35 miles north of downtown Chicago.
In 1899, the Society of the Divine Word purchased the farm land which became Techny. From 1901 to 1912, the Society operated a technical school for boys, from which the name "Techny" is derived. In 1909, encouraged by successful recruiting efforts, the society opened St. Mary's Mission Seminary at Techny--the first seminary established in the United States primarily to train men for the foreign missions.
First Seminary To Serve African Americans
In 1905, at Arnold Janssen's urging, the Society of the Divine Word began its pioneering ministry among African Americans in the United States. The first seminary to train African Americans for the Priesthood opened in Greenville, Mississippi in 1920. By 1923 the Society had moved the Seminary to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. It was called St. Augustine Seminary and it gave African American men the opportunity to become Priests and Brothers. Today, about 40 percent of the African American clergy ordained in the United States have been trained by the Society of the Divine Word, including nine SVD bishops. The first four African American Priests were ordained at the Seminary in 1934. The first two African American Brothers professed vows there in 1937.
Contemporary SVD Mission in North America
The Society's mission among African Americans in the United States and the Caribbean includes 48 parishes. The Society also ministers among the Vietnamese, who are part of our new "immigrant" Church, and among Hispanics, who comprise the most rapidly growing catholic population in the U.S. This ministry includes the Society's Mission Verbita in the Chicago area and parishes in New Jersey and California.
Missionary recruitment, education and formation are among the Society"s top priorities in North America. Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa is the only four-year Catholic seminary college in the U.S. which is devoted exclusively to educating young men for missionary work. Young men preparing for temporary vows in the Society come to the Novitiate at Techny for a year of study and reflection. After temporary vows, the students go on either to Wendelin House of Brother Formation in Washington, D.C., or to Divine Word Theologate and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
In addition to missionary education and formation, pastoral work and teaching, Divine Word Missionaries in the United States foster communications projects among minorities through radio, television and print. In New Orleans, the Media Production Center produces videos and IN A WORD, a magazine on the African American experience of being Catholic. WORDNET, headquartered in Riverside, California seeks to serve minorities and the disadvantaged through radio, television and print.
The Society's geographic areas of administration, education and mission in the U.S. are: the Chicago Province, (stretching from Iowa to New Jersey and from Montreal to the Caribbean); the Southern Province, (with missions in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas); and, the Western Province, (including the greater Los Angeles and San Francisco areas). Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, site of the second seminary founded by the Society of the Divine Word in the United States, is the headquarters of the SVD Southern Province. St. Augustine Seminary was founded there in 1923. Today, it is the location for St. Augustine Retreat Center and the Retirement Residence for SVD Priests and Brothers of the Southern Province. Visitors are welcome all the time to St. Augustine Chapel, the Grotto and the Retreat Center.
Our missionary work in the southern United States includes 24 parishes (churches), hospital chaplancies, communications, Hispanic outreach, and teaching ministries. Preaching Missions and Revivals are also part of our work. In addition to our missionary work in the south, Divine Word Missionaries work in 65 countries throughout the world. Please know that we need your prayers and generosity as we continue our missionary work.
