Greetings!  I just want to thank Bob Somers for all he does here around our parish grounds.  His project now is the garden at the front of the rectory.  He is planning and planting a simple Japanese garden, which will be low-maintenance but will be beautiful and elegant.  Thank you, Bob for all you do, and thank you to all those who have been working so hard in our Sacred Grounds Ministry; Micheal Haskins, Tom Simovich, David and Joanne Vina, and Sheryl Nelson-Gierek.  We appreciate all the time and talent you give to Sacred Heart.

This week we had our proximate preparation retreat for our Confirmation candidates starting Friday the 25th at 6:30pm until Saturday the 26th at 6:30pm.  I would like to thank those in our parish who assisted in organizing and putting on this retreat; Regina and Bernie Fosnaugh, Liz Edwards, Elizabeth Simovich, Robert Ennis, George Frey and our retreat director Melissa, who is Director of Religious education at St. Leo Parish in Sonoma.  She is an experienced retreat master both at the parish and the Diocesan level.

This Sunday at 10:30 mass we will have members of our parish who participate in the Cursillo movement doing the music, and we will have a blessing for that community and especially for new Cursillistas who just made the weekend retreat.  I would like to thank Chris and Teresa Evans and the blue grass group for doing the music last Sunday.

FOR REFLECTION: What is my attitude toward people of different traditions and cultures?  How does the Spirit help me to adjust my attitude?

Peace and Blessings!
   Fr. Luis

Plate Collection Report

Donations in the collections last weekend totaled $3609.00, and donations to Restoration and Repair were $1592.  Our Finance Committee has estimated that an average collection of $3040 is necessary to pay our bills and support our staff and ministries. Next weekend there will be an in-pew pledge opportunity for the 2008 Diocesan Ministry Appeal. We thank you for your support of the Sacred Heart family and the works of the larger Church Community.

Infant baptism class

There will be a class offered on the first Thursday evening of every month at 6:30pm in the rectory for those parents who wish to have their children baptized at Sacred Heart church.  This class is required by the Diocese for baptism.  Godparents are also encouraged to attend.

First Communion Next Sunday

We ask that you keep all of the children who will be receiving their First Communion at the 10:30am mass next weekend in your hearts and prayers.

sacredheartweb.org

We have created some new links to the parish web site in our efforts to bring you new and changing Internet resources with a Catholic viewpoint. With May and Mother's Day just around the corner, go to American Catholic to read about Catholic motherhood and the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church. You can also send a Catholic e-card for Mother's Day. 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of Mary's first apparition to St. Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes. Follow our second link to read about the healings at this place of pilgrimage. Also, learn what the Bible says about the Blessed Virgin Mary, what the Church believes about Mary and how Catholics can honor her. Third, with the summer movie season beginning soon, we have added a way to quickly access CatholicMovieReviews.org offering Christian moview reviews and news with a Catholic perspective from St. Anthony Messenger magazine, Every Day Catholic and Catholic News Service. Finally, link to Election 2008 to understand how the Catholic faith informs key themes in our national political debate.

Pancake Breakfast

A pancake breakfast benefiting St. Bernard’s Maintenance Fund will be held on Sunday, May 4th from 9am to noon at St. Bernard’s parish hall, 6th and I Streets.  Menu is pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham or sausage, applesauce, coffee and orange juice.  Adult tickets are $5 and children under 12 $3.

Pre-crisis hot line

A warm line (pre-crisis outreach line) is starting up in Humboldt County.  A rummage sale to raise money for the phone connection and service will be held at Redwood Acres on Sunday, May 18th, from 9am on.  Please donate good, clean, used or new articles for the sale.  Call Linda O’Hara-Scott for pickup and delivery of these items at 442-3588.

St. Bernard’s Cash Bash!

St. Bernard's Catholic School will be hosting its annual Cash Bash fundraising event on Friday, April 25 in the school gym (222 Dollison St., Eureka, CA 95501) at 5:30 pm. Each individual who buys a $100 ticket has at least a 1- in-400 chance to win $10,000, as a maximum of 400 tickets will be sold. The event, catered by Moonlight Catering, will also include live and silent auctions and other smaller cash drawings. Each ticket allows two people entry to the event and one entry to the $10,000 drawing.

Chicken and Polenta Dinner

Eureka Sons of Italy Chicken and Polenta Dinner will be Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 5pm, at St Bernard High School, 222 Dollison St. in Eureka.  Adult tickets are $12, children $6.  All proceeds go for scholarships and to support Easter Seals.  Call 496-9186 for tickets.

A Contemplative Retreat

We bless, we ask, we intercede, we give thanks, and we praise God.  Forms of Prayer flowing from our liturgical tradition, rooted in Scripture, especially the Psalms, and prayers of Christ will serve as inspiration for a contemplative day of prayer on Saturday, may 17, 2008, from 9:30am to 3:30pm at the Chancery Office, 985 Airway Ct. in Santa Rosa.  The facilitator will be Sr. Olive Murphy.  Bring a bag lunch.  Cost is $20 /person and checks can be made out to the Diocesan Department of Religious Education.  Call 566-3366 for more information.  Pre-registration required by May 15.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Take a fresh look at your Marriage.  Consider making a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and enrich your lives together.  It is a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Christian Marriage. The next local Catholic Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is: June 20-22, 2008. For more information or to register, contact Raul & Gayla Ponce, 866-825-2046 or Email: srsregistrar@comcast.net.

Messiah School of the Arts

The Messiah School of the Arts in McKinleyville is presenting several spring concerts, offered with no admission charge.  “Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs” will be performed by the youth and adult choirs on Saturday, April 26th at 7pm at the Fortuna 7th Day Adventist Church, 2301 Rohnerville Rd., and on Sunday, April 27th at 4pm and 6:30pm at the McKinleyville 7th Day Adventist Church, 1200 Central Ave.  The “May Day Concert” will be offered by the training and beginning choirs, beginning strings and bell students on Thursday, May 1st at 6:30pm at the same location in McKinleyville.
The end of the year concert for Beginning, Intermediate and Youth Choirs will also be in McKinleyville on Sunday, May 18th, one performance at 4pm and the second at 6:30pm.  A free will offering will be received at all concerts to help support his afterschool arts program.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS FOR MAY 3/4 (First Sunday)
  READERS  USHERS  EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS        ALTAR SERVERS
5 pm Sat     Linda Scott  Don Strickland  Bob Thul/Peg Kirkpatrick     Annalisa CB
                    Carolyn & Angelica
8:30 am Sun  James Mumford  Gary Agajanian  Mary Ann DeReuter/      Elizabeth  CB
      Robyn Petrusha      Kendall/Morgan D.
10:30am Sun  George Frey/  Pat Walsh  Dennis McCollister/Betty Chinn        Mariana CB
   Judy Frey   Simona Keat/Chris Hake           Maria/Kayla
      TBA