Because of your generosity, we are committed to serving everyone who comes through our doors with life-giving support. Thank you for the families you helped to have a Merry Christmas by attending your Christmas Market. Because of you there will be smiles and joy in the homes of many HELP families on Christmas morning. Actions like these send a message into the community that is caring and supportive of a woman’s decision to choose LIFE for her baby. It is important that we work together to not only make an abortion decision undesirable, but un- thinkable.

Chalk and holy water for Epiphany Home Blessings are available along with the formula for the Three Kings Epiphany blessing. The head of each household can pray this prayer and mark their home with the blessed chalk and Epiphany water or you can schedule a visit for Fr. Ron to perform the blessing. The blessing is typically done on the 12th day of Christmas, the Feast of the Epiphany, but can be done throughout Epiphany tide until February 2nd.

Thank you for all the warm Christmas wishes, prayers, cards and gifts. I was especially grateful for all the beautiful ornaments donated to the rectory Christmas tree and all the efforts made to decorate our Church this Christmas. I pray that you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Holy New Year. Sincerely, Fr.RonFloyd

Please remember to park on the John Ball Zoo side of Valley Ave during the week if you have business in the parish office in the afternoon. This will allow the academy’s pick-up line to flow much easier. Thank you!

If you are expecting your first baby and would like to have it baptized here at Sacred Heart, please sign up for our Baptism Class taking place on January 20 at 6pm in Cebelak Hall. If you are unable attend, there is another class scheduled for April 28. Please call Noelle in the parish office at 616-459-8362 to sign up or if you have questions.

As a way to more deeply enter into the traditional liturgical calendar, at the request of some members of the parish, we will begin observing Ember Saturdays this year. “On Ember Days the Church is accustomed to entreat the Lord for the various needs of humanity, especially for the fruits of the earth and for human labor, and to give thanks to him publicly.” The word “ember” comes from the Latin phrase, Quator Tempora, meaning four times. Near the beginning of each season of the solar cycle, four times a year, the Church sets aside three days (twelve yearly) to ask for blessings upon mankind and to pray in gratitude for the blessings of nature. Traditionally, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday observance of Ember days was marked by a strict fast and added prayer. This year we will observe the Ember Saturdays according to the Mass of 1962 on December 18, March 12, June 11, and September 24. These Masses are unique from the average daily Mass because they include a selection of readings from the Old Testament similar to the Easter and Pentecost Vigils. Mass will be sung at 7:45am and will likely go a little longer than a normal Saturday Mass. We hope you consider joining us for this devotion and taking up the traditional practice of fasting and praying on these days.

Bishop Walkowiak and our parish want to hear from you, both practicing Catholics and yes, individuals who are not currently active in their Catholic faith! As preparations begin for an international gathering of bishops (synod), we invite you to share your experiences with the Catholic Church—both the positive and areas where improvement is needed.

Join us for shared reflection, prayer and dialogue after the New Year. Listening sessions will be held from the end of January through mid-March with exact dates to be shared soon.

More details are available on the diocesan website: https://grdiocese.org/synod-21-23-communion-participation-mission