Sacred Heart of Jesus

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you have heard by now, our means allow us to have a volunteer based manner of going about our parish ministries, rather than paid professionals guiding these efforts. That means we are losing some very valuable people whom I want to laud and have an honorable conclusion to their time with us by having a parish wide party to thank them for their fabulous service here for seven years. To that effect, we will have this party on Saturday, June 14, in Jubilee Hall, following the 5PM Mass. I hope you can join us.

In this space each week for the next several weeks, I’ll detail what each of these staff members has been doing, and them make clear what the volunteer opportunities are - if we want to continue these ministries. If the work described is valuable to our community, it will be continued but only by volunteers.

This weekend, I want to highlight Denise Roberts, Director of Liturgy.

What can we say about Denise? We could go on and on about the numbers of couples who’ve gone through marriage preparation (in the hundreds) or the number of wedding rehearsals and ceremonies she’s directed (close to one hundred) or the many couples she helped guide through the annulment process; the Lectors, the Altar Servers, Ushers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion she’s trained, the number (in the thousands) of Masses she’d planned and flawlessly completed, the many special liturgical celebrations she’s planned and produced, the music and Mass parts she’s written and sung, all of the times she’s led us in our music, the choir she has conducted - she’s been a huge part of our worship and parish life here at Sacred Heart of Jesus. She’s coordinated many of the ministries here at Sacred Heart of Jesus and everywhere and to everyone she has brought the peace and love of Christ. You see, the numbers are very impressive - but what is outstanding about Denise is the kindness, compassion, gentleness and humility she brings to every situation in our parish. Whether it is a grieving family, an excited newly engaged couple, a homeless person, a disgruntled parishioner, a new parent, whatever the situation, Denise responds with sincere concern and kindness. A parishioner recently said, “Denise has the voice of an angel and the heart of a saint.”

Denise will sorely be missed. She has had a magnificent sense of pastoral care which every family that has had a wedding or funeral can tell you. We wish her well in her next place of employment and trust that the Lord will guide her and reward her for her service to our community. If you would like to volunteer to help continue Denise’s good work, please call the Parish Center. We are looking, especially, for volunteers to be wedding coordinators and to assist families with funerals.