Next Sunday: First Sunday of Advent Celebrant : Fr. Tharp
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is NOT a Holyday of Obligation. As Catholics, we are not required to attend Mass on Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, it is completely appropriate for us as followers of Jesus Christ living in America to attend Mass and/or offer special prayers of Thanksgiving to God for the blessing we have; and especially for those we often take for granted.
Thanksgiving Masses begin at Sacred Heart on Thanksgiving eve at 7:00 p.m. On Thanksgiving Morning, we have Mass at Sacred Heart at 7:30 a.m. and at St. Ann at 9:00 a.m. Please feel free to bring non-perishable can goods, MREs, or other non-perishable items of food with you (if you wish) for donation to the poor.
Rite of Acceptance
Our RCIA Catechumens and Candidates will be received as official students on the First Sunday of Advent at St. Ann next weekend. We pray as the communities of St. Ann and Sacred Heart as our catechumens and candidates prepare for the Easter Sacraments.
Synod 2021-2023
(The Archdiocesan coordinator for the Worldwide Synod on Synodality has asked that this be posted in all bulletins:
The Holy Father has called a synod inviting ALL the Baptized to come together to discuss and discern how we can walk together in accomplishing the Mission of the Church. He wants ALL those who make up the Church to participate: elderly, youth, religious orders, clergy, lay faithful, poor, disabled, divorced, migrants, those who no longer practice the faith, etc. More will be coming on how this is going to be accomplished at the local level, and what the discussion themes will be. In the meantime, please give participating in this first phase of the synod some prayerful thought. The Holy Father and the Holy Spirit value your input! Questions? Please feel free to contact me at jhomoelle@catholicaoc.org. God Bless!
Split the Pot
The annual “St. Ann New Year’s Eve Split the Pot” is underway. Tickets are on sale in the vestibule of St. Ann after weekend precept Masses. This is a major fundraiser for St. Ann Church and School, so as Sacred Heart and St. Ann become a new Family, let’s support each other. Split the Pot fundraisers always work best when lots of tickets sell early. This encourages others to consider buying tickets as the pot grows.
Attention parish or school volunteers who work with or around children
If you are a volunteer classroom parent in the school, a coach, drama club volunteer, scout volunteer, etc please note that you should have been moved to the Safe Parish program. Fulfillment of this requirement is mandatory for anyone working with children. Please contact your parish safe environment coordination if you are uncertain whether you are registered or approved.
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 a precept Mass from St. Ann and Sacred Heart each week
Since I live stream both the 4:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart and the 5:15 p.m. at St. Ann; I usually manage to live stream both, but on rare occasions the internet is out at one or the other location. If this happens, be assured that I will make every effort to correct the malfunction before the next weekend.
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 image of Christ the King owes its origin in large part to the European nationalistic concept of King (or Queen) and country. The concept owes its origin more truly to the “kingship” of Christ crucified. Pilate writes “King of the Jews” on the placard over the cross of Jesus. It is intended by Pilate to mock and belittle Jesus, but after his resurrection, the Church uses the title to proclaim the loyalty of the whole world to the savior of humanity, Jesus Christ. Salvation comes only through him.
In the past, the “king” was the representation of the identity of the nation. The king’s image was embossed on statue and coin. As the Church, we find our identity only in Jesus Christ.
NEXT WEEK
Jer 33:14-16
1 Thess 3:12-4:2
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Theme: Prepare for the Second Coming of Christ