Next Sunday: Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Celebrant : Fr. Tharp
Review of Mass Schedules
The combined Parish Councils of St. Ann and Sacred Heart surveyed both congregations regarding preferred times for Sunday Masses. Since the “Sacred Heart / St. Ann Family” cannot offer more than three Masses on any Sunday Morning if the “Family needs” are to be met using the services of only one priest; and priests of the Archdiocese are permitted no more than three Masses per day; the combined Sunday morning schedule can offer no more than three Masses. The ad hoc Mass times committee of the combined Parish (Pastoral) Council has presented to the full combined Parish Council the following schedule for Masses as of July 1, 2023:
8:00 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart worship space
9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Ann worship space
11:00 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart worship space
Remember: The Saturday evening Masses (4:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart and 5:15 p.m at St. Ann) remain untouched.
As pastor, I have followed the recommendation of the Beacons of Light process and left this decision entirely up to the united congregations of Sacred Heart and St. Ann. I have had the past seventeen years at Sacred Heart, and the past eleven years at St. Ann, to celebrate Sunday Masses in the way that suites my pastoral sensitivity. Since I am seventy two, I am constrained by universal Church (Canon) Law to retire at or before I reach seventy five. It is my role therefore NOT to structure things the way I like them, but for the priest who will replace me. Therefore, the three Mass rule must be followed.
On a personal note, I beg both congregations to give the new schedule a chance. I realize that it may moderately inconvenience many and seriously inconvenience some. Since I will celebrate all Masses every week, please give me a chance to show you that I can provide a forty five minute Mass experience that is both prayerful and focused. I promise to do the very best I possibly can to provide concise homilies with a pertinent theme you can remember. I have consistently given it my best shot over the past decade (or almost two) but I promise to redouble my efforts. Please don’t give up on St. Ann / Sacred Heart, or worse yet on the Catholic Church, because of a limited schedule over which I have no control. Please, let’s stick together through this!
The Sacrament of the Sick in Hospitals
Please remember that even Catholic Hospitals are not permitted to tell me when my parishioner enters their hospital. If two or three people tell me about their loved on in the hospital after Mass, I will not keep it straight in my weak brain long enough to get it on paper. Therefore, if your loved one enters the hospital (if it is not an emergency) and would like me to provide the Anointing of the Sick; please leave a clear and accurate message on my daytime voice mail at (513) 858-4260 or email me at frtharp@sacredheart-fairfield.org. Please also remember that you cannot text me at the above number as it is a land line and does not receive texts.
If an emergency arises during the evening or night after the secretaries leave and you need me for an emergency Anointing of the Sick, you must call (513) 858-4210, and press option number 2 to leave a paging voicemail for Fr. Tharp. This is the only way to be sure I will receive your message when I am away from my desk until the next morning. I suggest you use this emergency procedure only at the times when the secretaries are not available to answer the telephone.
Keep in Touch with Sacred Heart/St. Ann via email or text
Our Director of Evangelization (Jose Martinez) has invited us to participate in a parish communication tool provided by “flocknote.com.” To join you can scan the QR Code or text SHSA to 84576. You can leave the program at any time by texting STOP to 84576. I think this will prove to be a great way for the parishioners of the St. Ann/Sacred Heart Family to stay in the “know!”
Catholic Conference of Ohio
In a letter dated February 28, 2023, all the Catholic Bishops from the State of Ohio have asked faithful Catholics throughout Ohio to oppose the proposed ballot initiative for the November ballots enshrining and expanding abortion in the State of Ohio. In addition, parents would no longer need to give consent or even be informed if their minor is seeking an abortion, redefined gender assignment, or reproductive reassignment. Catholics of good conscience are encouraged to read the Archbishop’s letter, speak out, and stay informed.
Ask any Question!
Mr. Jose Martinez is the new Director of Evangelization for the Parish Family of St. Ann and Sacred Heart. I am the old pastor of St. Ann and Sacred Heart. Two times this summer, Mr. Martinez and I will attempt to answer “any question” you may have related to our new parish family, theology, church administration, or any aspect of life in general. The meetings will be on June 5 and June 26 at 7:00 p.m.
The next meeting on June 26 will be held in St. Ann Church at 7:00 p.m. Anyone who is a member or worshipper at either St. Ann or Sacred Heart is invited.
Re-introduction of Precious Blood at Communion
We have distributors lined up for two cups at “all three Sunday morning Masses at Sacred Heart.”
For the time being we only have distributors for the cup at the 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Ann. Again, we can only do this to the degree we have enough Eucharistic ministers willing to do cups at the various precept Masses.
DO NOT FALL FOR SCAMS!!!!
I keep running this article because there are new scams everyday
Remember I NEVER solicit funds, donations, favors, or any request of any kind over the telephone, text, email, carrier pigeon, drone, etc. NEVER! Do not allow yourself to be taken in by scammers. Even if they have my recorded voice, be assured it is computer generated fake! It is not me!!!
Reminder for volunteers who work with or around children
Please be aware that failure to register with and complete the requirements of Safe Parish will result in your inability to continue to work with or around children in any parish and/or school setting. We have been informed by the Archdiocese that there can be NO EXCEPTIONS.
Live Streaming for Precept Masses
I apologize for those times when there has been no sound for the live-stream Mass at Sacred Heart. Our technician has ordered the components we need but the lack of availability of electronic components has been a problem. Until we can secure the new components, I will try to check the sound after I initialize the live streaming and do so before Mass while I still have time to reset.
Please remember to access the Sacred Heart / St. Ann Pastoral Region You Tube site by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVLLqbEY5hKWinwz069MVcg
Reflection on Scripture:
The Feast of Corpus Christi is not just another Holy Thursday. Every Holy Week, we remember the institution of the Eucharist and priestly ordination as we walk with Jesus in his passion and death. The Feast of The Body and Blood of Christ beacons us to engage the theological reality of who we are as the Catholic Church.
An author by the name of Avery Dulles wrote a book called The Models of the Church to give us five ways (of course there are more than just the five) to envision or conceptualize the “Ecclesia of Jesus Christ.” Although I used the referenced book and the models it contained in an Ecclesiology Class I taught in the Permanent Deacon program in the late 1970’s, as a priest now for forty six years I can say with some credibility that from a theological perspective there is no “Church” without the “Eucharist.” The sacraments are real experiences of the spiritual becoming tangible in the temporal world. Congregationalism is essential in the definition of Church as it is the temporal extension of the reality. Institutionalism is essential in the definition of Church lest it be swept away by every fad. Theology of faith is essential to the definition of Church as it seeks to quantify the Divine extension of the reality. But just as gravity is essential in causing cohesion of atoms into matter; so also the Eucharist is irreplaceable in the equation of the reality of Church. It’s all about Jesus. It’s all about the hypostatic union. The pieces of the puzzle only fit if the Eucharist, the Mystical Body of Christ, is at the center of the equation.
You will never understand calculus, if you don’t comprehend the magic of “pi.” Similarly, you will never comprehend the real meaning of “Church” absent the Eucharist.
NEXT WEEK Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ex 19:2-6a
Rom 5:6-11
Mt 9:36 – 10:8
Theme: The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!