With the arrival of the New Year, now is the time to order workbooks for Study of Matthew. It takes about a full week to be at your door once ordered. The link for the website to order is: https://ascensionpress.com/products/matthew-theking-and-his-kingdom-study-set-1. This Workbook is essential for each participant and small-group facilitator of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom. It includes: Engaging study questions Responses to the questions Talk notes for the video presentations Helpful maps, charts, and outlines If you need help with this process, contact Bettie McClintic via email at bambushka@ameritech.net.

For details on this upcoming Bible study, please see the flyer here:

Adult Bible Study – Matthew The King and Kingdom

Winter semester will start on January 16. We will be reading and discussing Fulton Sheen’s Go to Heaven. Order your own book and come prepared the first day by reading the introduction and/ or foreword. We will meet from 8:30am-10:30 am, in the Wright Connection at HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid, 705 Bridge St., NW, Grand Rapids, 49504.

For questions or to sign up, email or text Mary Jo Thayer at maryjothayer@comcast.net or 517-281-4370. Apologies that there is no childcare available. Babes in arms welcome!

Sign-ups for the annual Community of St. John High School Retreat are now open. This is a great way for guys and girls to experience the peace and joy of religious life. The dates for this year’s retreat are February 14 – 16, 2020. Spots are limited, so sign up in the parish or academy offices as soon as possible. Cost for the retreat is on a donation basis to help cover transportation and the hospitality of the Community of St. John. Please contact Jenn Quiroz at jquiroz@sacredheartgr.org with questions.

Dear Fr. Robert and the parishioners of Sacred Heart,

Thank you for the Christmas shopping opportunity for HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid families. What a wonderful way to open your doors wide to the community. The families blessed by your generosity are always so thankful for the joyful and caring way you provide for them during this most holy season. As we look back over 2019, HELP has lovingly and compassionately served 3500 clients in the many unique circumstances that come our way. We can only do this because of your dedicated support of HELP’s mission in creating a ‘culture of life’ for everyone. May the blessings you bestow on us return to you a hundredfold.

Thank you,

Paula Veneklase, Executive Director HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid

705 Bridge St. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

In need of spiritual direction or counseling? Sr. Mary Daniel is available and offers this invaluable service to our parishioners and students alike and has openings. Please contact the parish office at 616-459-8362 to schedule a meeting.

Occasionally we need someone to answer phones in the parish office and greet those who come to the door. Would you be willing to help out on an as needed basis? If so, please contact Amy in the parish office. Thank you!

If you are feeling ill or think you may have been exposed to a virus, you should refrain from coming to Mass or parish events. In the same way, if you have a cold you should refrain from offering your hand to others at the sign of peace.  Simply gently bow your head with your hands kept together and acknowledge those around you while saying “Peace be with you.”  Likewise if you are not comfortable sharing the sign of peace either because your doctor has indicated you are currently more susceptible to illness or those around you seem ill you should feel no pressure to do so. Finally, The obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and other Holy Days of Obligation is the ordinary expectation for Roman Catholics (Canon 1247). However, extraordinary circumstances such as sickness or severe weather excuse the faithful from this obligation. If you suspect you have the flu or are suffering from a serious cold or other contagious illness, please stay at home and do not risk spreading infection to others.

Come Adore Our Lord! Please come spend some time with our Lord! Every Tuesday the Academy is in session, we will have Adoration from 8:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.. The children are coming and going throughout the day however and we still need consistent adorers to bridge that gap. Won’t you commit to an hour? For available slots and to sign up, please call the parish office or sign up on-line: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4DA5A723A4FD0-adoration