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) Shelley Tienken, Business Manager Nan Connell, Accountant Susej Thompson, Director of Faith Formation & Music Samantha Minster, Faith Formation Coordinator Andrew Baka, Youth Director Laura G. Humphries, Parish Life & Stewardship Director Susie Williams, Facilities & Events Coordinator Stacey Matchett, Pastoral Secretary Wendy Floriani, Church Secretary Cindy Stabnick, Bulletin Editor & Sacristan Amber Bagby, Principal Church Office: (501) 663-8632 • Website: www.holysouls.org E-mail: [email protected] • Facebook: www.facebook.com/OLHSAR Church Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. School: (501) 663-4513 • Cafeteria: (501) 663-6125 • Extended Care: (501) 663-7438 16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - July 18, 2021 Holy Souls CYM Summer Schedule Senior CYM: All students entering 9th grade - 12th grade Sunday, July 18th Times: 6:45-8:15 Place: Benedict House ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Junior CYM: All students entering 7th grade - 8th grade Wednesday, July 21st Time: 6:00-7:30 Place: Benedict House -2 - Be A Prophet Today! Fr. John’s Homily from the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 11, 2021 The call of being a prophet is not easy. It is challenging, and the orchids, God is calling us wherever we may be, to and it takes both a strong will and conviction to being faithful. go and proclaim the Lord’s Words. Amos, himself being Any call to change is difficult. I remember seeing a musical from Judah, was told to go north to Israel. Even though Amos on 1776. There is a scene about John Adams and the is not from the prophetic class, he is not the only shepherd struggling our founding fathers faced. He speaks: “Is God called into service. We have a list of them: Abraham, anybody there? Does anyone care? Does anyone see what Moses, Joshua, Jacob, David, and now Amos, even though I see?” I remember saying this at a School Mass, and one not a classified prophet, but from a great line of shepherds little boy called out after I said “Does anyone care?” He called by God. And we know that Jesus will even call Himself said, “I do, Father.” It made me laugh and made me realize the Good Shepherd. Shepherds make great prophets and some were listening and paying attention. Does anyone leaders for God and His people, because they know how to care? Prophets do. care for the lives of others. There is a song called “Do Something”, by Matthew The Gospel of Mark today tells us about the role of the West. It goes like this: “I woke up this morning, saw a twelve, as Jesus calls them, empowers them, and then world full of trouble now, thought how’d we ever get so far sends them out. They are called. They are chosen. They down and, how’s it ever gonna turn around. I turned my are sent out. They are given a mission. These twelve were eyes to heaven, I thought, God why don’t you do something? selected from among Jesus’ disciples, and remember most Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of people living in of them were fishermen, and tax collectors. Some were of poverty, children sold into slavery, and the thought the zealot class, but for the most part not from wealthy, disgusted me. So I shook my fist to heaven, and said, influential families. They were not trained speakers or God why don’t you do something? preachers. They were called “apostles.” The word apostle He said, I did, I created you. “ means “one who is sent.” The number twelve is also a I like the song, “Do Something”; it reminds us all that symbolic number, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. each of us are called by God to do something. There are By naming twelve apostles, Jesus shows his mission to be times when we all would like to shake our fist to heaven in continuity with the mission of God’s people, Israel. and ask God to do something. Only to be reminded that Jesus’ instructions to the apostles are very specific. He He did: He created us in His image and likeness and asked repeats the mission that they are sent to preach and to share us to be his chosen people. No matter how small and his authority to heal and to drive out demons. Jesus sends insignificant it may seem to us, if we, as God’s faithful them in pairs (here means not alone - church) establishing his followers, do something, then change can happen. It reminds mission as something we will do together. Jesus also instructs me of another saying: the one thing necessary for the them to travel lightly, without the need of worrying about food, triumph of evil is for good men and women to do money, and extra setWE of clothes. NEED These instructions mean that nothing. Nothing is not the answer, we are all called to do the Twelve will be dependent on the hospitality of others, just something. as Jesus dependedMORE! on others to provide for his needs. The Again, I remind us all of our baptism; we are baptized focus always being the Kingdom of God. Our focus should into the three fold office of Jesus: Priest, Prophet and King. always be the Kingdom of God. To not let anything get in the Each of us have a prophetic calling. We are called to be way of our mission, the Kingdom of God. aware of this calling, and each in our own way to live it out Jesus continues to send us into the world as his the best we can. God is calling us and continually inviting disciples. But like the first disciples, we are not sent alone. us to follow Him and to proclaim His message to others. Jesus has given us the community of the Church, which The First Reading today is from the Prophet Amos. strengthens our life of discipleship. The Christian message Not your normal prophet, he is not from the classical can only authentically be proclaimed in and through the prophets or recognized group in Israel or Judah. His family community of faith that is the Church. In our work with others, is not known, and he doesn’t come from any influence at we build this community of faith and can invite others to all. He was a nobody. Yet, God calls him to be His prophet at share in it. this time. Reminding us all, we are all called to be prophets. Maybe a reminder of the Second Vatican Council would Listen to what Amos says when he is challenged by help us to understand that the mission of the church is for those in authority about his words: “I was no prophet, nor all us to do our part. There was a time when many thought have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd the priests and religious did the mission of church. That and a dresser of sycamores.” His field of experience is time was never part of God’s plan, and if you ever thought shepherding or as a horticulturist, not being a prophet. that way, then that time is over. The Council taught us nothing Amos continues by saying, “The Lord took me from following new. Instead, the Council sought to renew the Church so the flock, and caring for trees and said, ‘Go, and prophesy that all believers could recognize that we all have a part to to my people Israel’.” Amos being a faithful follower of God, play in proclaiming the Good News. Through the Council we he went as the Lord directed. And like all prophets who were invited to recognize that our mission is not something speak God’s words, it will call people back to the truth. A new, but as ancient as the early church, and that all believers, truth that many do not want to hear. as part of the Church, the Body of Christ, have various roles in I believe Amos represents all of God’s baptized children the ministry of the Church. We are all called to serve, we are in our world today. Just as he was called from the flocks all called to do something. Be a Prophet today, care for others. - 3 - 87 LIVES SAVED BY BLOOD DRIVE ON JULY 11! COLLECTIONS/STEWARDSHIP UPDATE The Arkansas Blood Institute thanks Holy Souls Parish’s members and friends for being an example to our community of what can happen when good people come together to do Mass attendance, July 3 & 4 408 great things. While there are many ways to support your Mass attendance, July 10 & 11 543 friends and neighbors, few have the impact to provide hope, healing and comfort like the selfless act of giving blood. DIocesan Collections – Peter’s Pence $ 1,098 Up to 87 lives of patients across Arkansas were saved by our July 11th Blood Drive. We had a goal of 24 units of Weekend Collections – blood; we exceed our goal with a total of 29 units of blood July 3 & 4 $ 20,061 donated! We reached 121% of our goal!! July 10 & 11 $ 24,069 If you would like to save a life by donating blood, mark your Total July Collections $ 44,130 calendar for our next Blood Drive on Sunday, September Total July Budgeted Collections $ 105,000 5th. Actual Collections (7/1/20 -6/30/21) $ 1,431,052 Thank you to Joann Minton, Nancy Bynum Mack, Mary Budgeted (7/1/20 - 6/30/21) $ 1,260,000 Sue Whitelaw, Betsy Barnes, and Susanne Smith for helping Amount in excess of Budget $ 171,052 Pete & Cindy Stabnick with this Blood Drive.