Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church 1003 North Tyler Street - Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 “Encounter Jesus, Serve Others.” Fr. John Marconi, Pastor [email protected]Deacon John Hall Deacon Lawrence H. Jegley (Retired) Susej Thompson, Pastoral Music Director Wendy Floriani, Director of Youth Faith Formation Denise Dumars, Director of Youth Ministry Laura G. Humphries, Parish Life & Stewardship Director Susie Williams, Facilities & Events Coordinator Shelley Tienken, Business Manager Nan Connell, Accountant Cindy Stabnick, Pastoral Secretary Stacey Matchett, Church Secretary Nancy Handloser, Principal THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD - May 24, 2020 Church Office: (501) 663-8632 • Website: www.holysouls.org • E-mail: [email protected]Facebook: www.facebook.com/OLHSAR Church Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. School: (501) 663-4513 • Cafeteria: 501) 663-6125 • Extended Care: (501) 663-7438 (Continued on page 6) In observance of Memorial Day, the Church Office will be closed on Monday, May 25. Memorial Day Prayer God of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride. Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears, that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters. Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace. We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. On this Sixth Sunday of Easter, the readings draw our attention to the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. In a way, the readings are beginning to prepare us for Pentecost Sunday which we celebrate in two weeks. They remind us all that we are called to live a life in the Spirit. Mary, our Mother, is a perfect model for this. We know her response to the angel Gabriel, who is the messenger of God, when he asked her to be the Mother of God. Mary said, “I am the Handmaid Servant of the Lord, let it be done unto me as you say.” With this prayer, Mary dedicated her life to the Lords service. Whatever the Lord asked, she always said yes. During the Lenten season we sometimes pray Mary’s way of the Cross, which illustrates her faith and complete trust in the Lord. Trust, even when it was very difficult to look upon her Son and especially when she witnessed him carrying his cross through the streets of Jerusalem. The movie “The Passion” shows Mary in such anguish as she walked along the streets with Jesus. Even at the end, when she is holding the lifeless body of son and through all this, Mary never wavered in her “Yes” and surrender to God. As we look upon this perfect example of one who has always said “Yes” to the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives, can we say the same? This past week I sent an article from our Holy Father Pope Francis on the Holy Spirit to our Elect. In the article he asked the question, “Do you pray to the Holy Spirit?” He “ Do You Pray to the Holy Spirit?” Fr. John’s Homily from the 6th Sunday of Easter, May 17, 2020
Transcript
Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church1003 North Tyler Street - Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
In observance of Memorial Day, the Church Officewill be closed on Monday, May 25.
Memorial Day PrayerGod of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sonsand daughters.
Keep in your mercy those men and womenwho have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safelyinto your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
On this Sixth Sunday of Easter, the readings draw ourattention to the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. In away, the readings are beginning to prepare us for PentecostSunday which we celebrate in two weeks. They remind us allthat we are called to live a life in the Spirit. Mary, our Mother, isa perfect model for this. We know her response to the angelGabriel, who is the messenger of God, when he asked her to bethe Mother of God. Mary said, “I am the Handmaid Servant ofthe Lord, let it be done unto me as you say.”
With this prayer, Mary dedicated her life to the Lords service.Whatever the Lord asked, she always said yes. During the Lentenseason we sometimes pray Mary’s way of the Cross, whichillustrates her faith and complete trust in the Lord. Trust, evenwhen it was very difficult to look upon her Son and especiallywhen she witnessed him carrying his cross through the streetsof Jerusalem. The movie “The Passion” shows Mary in suchanguish as she walked along the streets with Jesus. Even at theend, when she is holding the lifeless body of son and through allthis, Mary never wavered in her “Yes” and surrender to God.
As we look upon this perfect example of one who has alwayssaid “Yes” to the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives, can wesay the same? This past week I sent an article from our HolyFather Pope Francis on the Holy Spirit to our Elect. In the articlehe asked the question, “Do you pray to the Holy Spirit?” He
“ Do You Pray to the Holy Spirit?”Fr. John’s Homily from
*To reflect on this Sunday’s readings online, go towww.usccb.org/bible/readings/052420.cfm
Jesus sends us to make disciples of others.What can I do to bring someone
closer to Christ today?Jesus, today I will . . .
There is a delightful character in the original Dr. DolittleTales called the “Pushmi-Pullyu.” It is a beast with twoidentical halves, with a head at each end. No matter whichdirection the beast walks, one end is the “push me” and theother is the “pull you.” Today’s feast is a bit like that in thelife of the church. In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, itis the ascension of Christ that calls for the Holy Spirit, whichconsequently sends or “pushes” the church out on itsmission. This is the message that we hear from the angelstoday as they tell the friends of Jesus not to look up into theclouds, but to get busy. It is the message of Jesus himselfin Matthew’s Gospel, as he sends them out to baptize. Healso tells them, “I am with you always, until the end of theage” (Matthew 28:20). And it is this message, confident infaith that Jesus has ascended to shouts of joy, that “pulls”us along to our final destiny. The life of the faithful disciple,sent into the world on mission, will one day know the samerisen, ascended glory.
We have many ways of saying goodbye. “So long.”“See you later.” “Take care.”
Goodbyes are softened with the promise of anothermeeting. “Till we meet again.” The time between thegoodbye and the reunion is filled with joyful hope andanxious waiting.
Surely the disciples wondered if they had the toolsthey needed to survive that time. Jesus had been theirleader, visionary, messiah, and friend. Without him, lifewould lose its center.
Jesus’ goodbye came with two promises. He promisedthat the Holy Spirit would guide the disciples in his absence,and he promised that he would come again. That left themin an in-between kind of time. After the goodbye, theywaited for his coming again.
In fact, that is where we are too. We are in betweenthe visits of Jesus, a time of hope and anxiety. We oftenwonder if we have the tools we need to survive. We needvision and companionship on life’s long road.
We have at our disposal the first promise of Jesus,the gift of the Holy Spirit. That Spirit will guide us throughtimes of loneliness, into good decisions, amid the sorrowsof sad goodbyes. The Spirit is our center.
Nations build up their power through politics, weaponsand wealth. Strong leaders can unite their people topromote a cause. Mighty arsenals can overcome enemies.Money can buy influence and technology. Nations feelsecure when they hold power.
As citizens, we sometimes take false hope in thesecurity of our nation. It is nearly impossible to guardagainst every attack, to control every enemy, and to protectour national treasures. It is tempting to rely on the standardsof national power: politics, weapons, and wealth.
The Letter to the Ephesians takes another view ofpower. It assumes that all power belongs to God, not topeople, and that God has assigned authority to Christ,“raising him from the dead and seating him at his right
hand in the heavens.” God put all things beneath the feet ofChrist “and gave him as head over all things.”
But Jesus is no politician. He owns no weapons. Hepossesses no earthly wealth. His dominion differs from thatof temporal rulers. Believers of every nation put their trust inChrist. They follow his teachings. Most importantly, theybelieve he is the victor over death. Jesus has conquereddeath, the enemy of every human. With Jesus as our head,we enjoy unparalleled freedom and release from all our fears.
Those who follow Christ put their trust in other forms ofpower—perfect love of God and neighbor.
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William AaronMatthew Barthol
Riley Grace BenedettiReeves Bethel
Charlotte BishopSophia BlomeleyIsaiah BordadorOwen BrewerAbigail Britt
Ryan BrockwellWilson Bynum
Henry ClarkCarley Cosse
Abby CrawfordJonathan DiazSawyer Dickins
Denver KellyMichael Krause
Wallace LandrumKatelyn Lane
Jameson LangWalker Lewis
Isabella McConnellMadison McGeorge
Alex NeeceAva Norton
Rett PalecekJohn PaulsonHannah Pruitt
Allison PuttCate Rice
Arden Robinson
Holy Souls Parish wishes our graduates much success in high school and throughout their future!
OUR LADY OF THE HOLY SOULS HOLY SOULS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Class of 2020
Thank you for supporting our church.
Mass attendance, May 16 & 17 167
Weekend Collections – May 2 & 3 $ 8,513 May 9 & 10 $ 18,390 May 16 & 17 $ 18,443Total May Collections $ 45,346Total May Budgeted Collections $ 108,000
Actual Collections (7/1/19 -4/30/20) $ 1,089,696Budgeted (7/1/19 - 4/30/20) $ 1,267,000Amount in deficit of Budget $ (177,304)
Maintenance Fund $ 1,966
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COLLECTIONS/STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock is committed to pro-tecting children and young people. If you are aware ofabuse or have been abused by Clerics, Church volun-teers, or Church workers, please contact the State ofArkansas Hotline for Crimes against Children at 1-800-
482-5964 and the Chancellor for Canonical Affairs, Dcn. MatthewA. Glover, (501) 664-0340 ext. 361. For pastoral assistance pleasecontact the Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Diocese of LittleRock: Laura Gosponer, (501) 664-0340, ext. 425. Diocese of LittleRock, 2500 N. Tyler St., Little Rock, AR 72207.
Holy Souls This & That . . .
HOLY SOULSCHURCH
ID# 690
CHURCH OFFICE REOPENSHoly Souls Church Office will reopen on Tuesday, May 26th.Due to the COVID-19 regulations, visits will be by ap-pointment only at this time. Everyone will be required towear a mask.
RESERVATIONS NEEDEDTO ATTEND
WEEKEND MASSESSaturdays: 4:00 p.m.
Sundays: 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., & 5:30 p.m.Due to restrictions we are limited on how many can
attend Mass at one time. Each Mass will be limited to 60people. Every person (or family) who wishes to attend aMass must sign up EACH WEEK by [email protected] or calling the Church Office at501-663-8632. An alternative at Holy Souls is to bring yourown chairs and sit outside in courtyard or in front of thechurch. You must continue to social distance and wear amask. Since we have outside speakers you are able tolisten to Mass and a Eucharistic Minister will bringCommunion to you.
For those still uncomfortable about coming to Mass,remember the Bishop has kept the dispensation in placethat lifts the Sunday obligation until further notice. Plus,we will continue to livestream Mass every weekend onSaturdays at 4:00 p.m.
Please note that all COVID-19 regulations apply. Donot enter the church if you have a fever, are not feeling welltoday, have been in contact with anyone who has testedpositive for COVID-19, or if you are over 65 years and/orhave a chronic or immune suppressed condition at anyage, such as diabetes, cancer, cancer survivor, COPD, MS,rheumatoid arthritis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, obesity,and heart disease.
REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN MASSES:1. Every person must sign up each week by [email protected] or calling the Church Office at501-663-8632. Let us know which Mass time you wouldlike to attend and the names of the members of your familywho are living in your household who will be attending.2. Enter the church through the front doors only.3. Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and any otherperson who does not live with you at all times4. MUST WEAR A MASK, unless under 10 years of age.5. Use hand sanitizer when entering and leaving church.6. Parents with small children, please make sure theykeep the proper distance from others because they haveno concept of Social Distancing.
For more information and rules, visit the bulletin board onour website, www.holysouls.org
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REGISTRATION FOR NEW MEMBERSRegistration for new members is completed in the church officeor online by visiting our web page, www.holysouls.org. Pleasecontact the church office or go online at www.holysouls.org ifyou have moved, changed your telephone number, movedfrom your parent’s home or graduated from college.
RCIAIf you are interested in becoming Catholic, please contact CindyStabnick at 501-663-8632 or [email protected].
RETURNING CATHOLICSIf you are interested in returning to the Catholic Church, pleasecontact Cindy Stabnick at 663-8632 or [email protected].
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATIONSaturdays from 2:30 to 3:30pm and Wednesdays from 4:30 to5:00pm or call the church office for an appointment.
CHURCH VISITSThe Church is open from 7am-4pm (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,& Friday), enter through the chapel door or handicapped door.The Church is open on Wednesday from 7am till 5pm; on Saturdayfrom 2 till 3:30pm; and on Sunday, from 8am till 4pm. On thosedays enter through any of the doors.
BAPTISMBaptisms are scheduled on an individual basis. Please callthe church office for more information.
SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGEContact the church office a minimum of six months in advance.
OUR PARISHIONERS -- Sherry Wortsmith; Corky Zaloudek; Becky Price;Robert Carter; Joe & Pat Kirchner; Lillian Henriquez; Mary Adney; Rob Mondy; BobSkarda; Rosie Searle; Jessica Remsing; Kate Evans; Benjamin Stuart; CharlieBaker; Greg Sheard; Micki & Robert Fitzpatrick; Judy Caldarera; GlennabellMcCumpsey; Rita Williams; Kay Loss; Tina Pinter; Henry Schulte; Pat Keogh; JanetDavis; Dorothy Ehlebracht; Andy Gentry; Nick Kirchner; Annette Wahlgreen;George Loss; Alice Henry; Pearl Gentry; David Smith; Annabelle Giardina;Sally Place; Judy Sims; MaryAnn Stafford; Pat Kirchner; Phil Marks; and PatKing.
OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS -- Carl Calhoun; the JonathanForte Family; the Petty Family; Scott Helmbeck; Katie Ehemann; AliceHumphries; Clem Egleston; Ronny Troillett; Natalie Miller; Jim Hollowell;Kathleen Stafford; Lindsay Newsom, Jerry Hall; Michael Taylor; TheresaCarle; Suzanne Hawkins; Rosemary Kraft; Anne Peterson; Nicole HarrisHulse; Chris Ashcraft; Dorothy Pumphrey; David & Mary Phillips; and KayHalter.
Laura Humphries,Parish Life & Stewardship Director
Grateful Stewardsof God’s Gifts . . .
OUR SEMINARIANS -- especially Samuel Stengel and Pablo Quintana.
In order to keep our bulletin prayer list up-to-date for the sick, names will remain onthe list for four weeks. Then their name will be written in the Book of Intercessionwhere they will be remember during every Mass. To continue for another four weeks,please call the church office.
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Mt 8:23
As a child, I spent many happy summers by the ocean,where I learned to read its changeable moods and to have adeep respect for the power of the waves. As a fisherman,the disciples would also have been skilled at reading thewinds and the temperament of the waters. Therefore, theywould probably not have ventured out if a storm wereimminent. But storm it did, suddenly and violently, as wavesswamped the boat! We can easily understand the disciples’terror, even though Jesus was visible beside them. Like thedisciples, we, too, wish to follow Jesus. Like them, we,also, are challenged to remember that, no matter howturbulent and frightening the storms of our lives may be, nomatter that Jesus may appear asleep or unresponsive, heremains present beside us, active and caring at everymoment of our lives. An excerpt from Living Faith
Today, this reading speaks to us because some of us areafraid with good reason, but we must remember that nomatter what, Jesus will take care of us “no matter howturbulent and frightening the storms of our lives may be.”We have to place our trust and faith in his love and mercyand know that he is with us. He is within us. We must prayto Our Lord to guide us when we are frightened, to give usthe strength to be the people that he calls us to be. Onceagain, the Surrender Novena is a beautiful Novena that canhelp us give all our worries over to the Lord. It can be foundon the internet simply by typing in Surrender Novena onGoogle.
If you want to help out as a monitor or Eucharistic Ministerat Mass, please either email me or call the office and leavea message on my voicemail. We need help at all the Massesto help keep things moving smoothly. Thank you to everyonethat helped out this past weekend. Please stay well andtrust in the Lord. Encounter Jesus, Serve Others
Watch Fr. John’s Mass online. His Mass is livestreamed onSaturday evening at 4 p.m. You can watch it live at that timeor anytime after the conclusion of the filming. Go to ourFacebook page (www.facebook.com/OLHSAR).
PRAY THE ROSARY IN MAYDuring the month of Mary, our Blessed Mother (the monthof May), at 7pm each evening. a different parishioner/fam-ily will be livestreamings the Rosary. Join them onFacebook page (www.facebook.com/OLHSAR).
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indicated we should be invoking the Holy Spirit daily in ourprayers. Pope Francis is someone that is open and followsthe Holy Spirit’s lead in his daily life. Following God’s leadsometimes makes us very unpopular with others; just lookat the life of Jesus, Mary, the apostles, and the saints.
Even for us in this time of crisis, am I following theSpirit’s lead when I wear my mask- to protect myself andothers, even when I don’t like it? Yes. Am I following theSpirit’s lead when I maintain my social distance from others,even when I would like to be closer to them? Yes. Am Ifollowing the Spirit’s lead when I don’t complain or rebelabout our current situation? Yes. No matter what we aregoing through or what we are facing, we have to askourselves, “What would Jesus do?” We know He was alwaysobedient out of love to follow the Spirit’s lead at all times.We have to do the same.
All of our readings this weekend are getting us readyfor Pentecost. Getting our hearts ready for the outpouringof the Holy Spirit. The first reading: “Now when the apostlesin Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word ofGod, they sent them Peter and John, who went down andprayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, forit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only beenbaptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laidhands on them and they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts8:14-17).
Second Reading: “For Christ also suffered for sins once,the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he mightlead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was broughtto life in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).
Gospel: “If you love me, you will keep mycommandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will giveyou another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit oftruth…” (John 14:15-17).
The Sixth Sunday invites us to spiritual renewal byputting to death in the flesh all sin and learning to live andbe alive in the Spirit. Only then will we know we are guidedby the Spirit of truth. Guided by God’s spirit is not just forthe few but it is for all God’s holy people. It is actuallycalled to be a common occurrence for us as members ofthe body of Christ. However in reality, we have to think longand hard to find examples of those who do so in our midst.Of those who live a life in the Holy Spirit, their lives aredifferent and at times very challenging.
In the first reading, Philip proclaimed the word of Godin Samaria. He was very effective, because he was followingthe Spirit’s lead. “With one accord, the crowds paid attentionto what was said by Philip … unclean spirits, crying out ina loud voice, came out of many possessed people, andmany paralyzed or crippled people were cured. There wasgreat joy in that city.”
Philip was filled with the Holy Spirit, and followed theSpirit’s direction in his life. We can see the results of onewho lived this life in God’s spirit.
In the same way, if we are seeking God’s spirit in ourlives and following His words, we too can have the sameexperience as Philip and the early Apostles and Disciplesof the Church we have been hearing about during this EasterSeason. We can live a life in God’s spirit that has no room
for fear, worry, or anxiety. Do we pay attention to God’sspirit within? His word?
The Gospel has some consoling words for us. Jesussays, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you …because I live and you will live.” An orphan is a child whoseparents are dead. Such a child is unprotected and vulnerableto danger. At this time, many of us are like orphans. Jesusis promising us that although we may be vulnerable todanger in this world, we are to believe in God and believe inHim.
The reward for our steadfastness is as Jesus promises,“I will give you an Advocate to be with you always, the Spiritof Truth.” Jesus is the First Advocate. The Holy Spirit is theSecond Advocate that Jesus promises us, that lives withinand always pleads our cause before the throne in Heaven.The Holy Spirit is our special friend who leads us, guidesus, directs us, and intercedes for us.
We know God is our friend - He proved it by giving usJesus, his Son. The love of the Father and Son has pouredforth into our hearts the Holy Spirit so that we can nowshow ourselves, or even have the grace and power to do so,to be friends with God.
Jesus says, “Whoever has my commandments andobserves them is the one who loves me. And whoever lovesme will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and revealmyself to him.” Jesus will reveal himself to us, as statedabove, if we, are open to God’s spirit, like Mary, Phillip,Peter, the Early Apostles and Disciples, and sanctify Christas Lord in our hearts. Jesus will reveal himself to us as theWay, the Truth and the Life (John14:6). The Gospel weheard last week. As the Way, we know the directions, asthe Truth, he guides us to this life of being free, and as theLife, that is full, abundant and eternal.
This is for all who love Jesus and follow His ways, inthe life in the Spirit. As our Holy Father states, “Do we prayto the Holy Spirit daily in our lives?” Hopefully we can takethis time we find ourselves in and learn to pray more forGod’s spirit to lead us, to fill us, to empower us and thenonly goodness and kindness will follow us all the days ofour lives. This is God’s promise. And God is always true toHis promise.
There is a novena rosary to the Holy Spirit, usingmeditations and prayers from Pope Francis. This is one ofthe prayers:
O Lord Jesus Christ, before ascending into heaven,you promised to send the Holy Spirit to your disciples. Sendyour same Holy Spirit to us so that we too may serve youas disciples.
Grant us Fear of the Lord and Reverence so that wemay be reminded how small we are before God, our Father,who loves us so much. He has given us so many gifts –thegifts of creation, our families, our lives. He will always takecare of us. We are his children.Holy Spirit, we offer ourselves to you. Give us grace to sayto you always and everywhere, “Speak, Lord, for your servantis listening.” Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth yourSpirit and they shall be created. And you will renew theface of the earth. Amen.
“ Do You Pray to the Holy Spirit?”(continued from Page 1)
To read the daily reading online, go to www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml
Monday, May 25 ST. BEDE THE VENERABLE, ST. GREGRORY VII - Acts 19:1-8; Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab; Jn 16:29-33No Mass
Tuesday, May 26 ST. PHILIP NERI - Acts 20:17-27; Ps 68:10-11, 20-21; Jn 17:1-11aFr. John’s Private Mass Grace Nowak by Holy Souls Parish
Wednesday, May 27 ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY - Acts 20:28-38; Ps 68:29-30, 33-36ab; Jn 17:11b-19Fr. John’s Private Mass Rita Barthol by Holy Souls Men’s Club
Thursday, May 28 Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Ps 16:1-2a, 5, 7-11; Jn 17:20-26Fr. John’s Private Mass Joe & Margaret Beck by Louis Beck
Friday, May 29 Acts 25:13b-21; Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab; Jn 21:15-19Fr. John’s Private Mass Harry Snider by The Snider Family
Saturday, May 30 Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Ps 11:4, 5, 7; Jn 21:20-254:00 p.m. Vigil Mass Jonathan & Mary Ann Wolfe by Carolyn Prickett
Sunday, May 31 PENTECOST SUNDAY - Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-238:00 a.m. Mass Richard Baker by Joe & Pat Kirchner10:30 a.m. Mass Intentions of Parishioners5:30 p.m. Mass Edward France by Caroline France
Mass Intentions may be offered for the Repose of the Soul of a deceased loved one or for healing, a special occasion,or a special intention for yourself, a family member, or friend. Please contact Cindy in the Church Office for more information.
