Next Sunday: Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Celebrant : Fr. Tharp
Beacons of Light
If you have visited BeaconsAOC.org, you have seen that St. Ann and Sacred Heart, which were already working together in the pastoral region model, have now been proposed to be a new “Family.” In the past there were twelve deaneries, ours was the Hamilton Deanery. Now there are six deaneries, and we are in the Central Deanery. Sacred Heart and St. Ann are designated Family C-4 on the maps. We currently have a little over 200 parishes. These are combined into about 60 new Families of Parishes.
Thus we know that St. Ann and Sacred Heart will be a new “Family” served by one priest pastor, but we do not as yet know who that priest will be. This reorganization will require numerous priest reassignments. We should know who the pastors will be by March 2022.
Please reference the Beacons of Light web page for the most up-to-date information. Simply go to your browser and type in “BeaconsAOC.org” or type the same into your favorite search engine.
RCIA
Remember to invite anyone interested to the RCIA meetings on Wednesdays in the basement of Sacred Heart Church at 7:00 p.m. RCIA began last Wednesday, but if you missed the first session last Wednesday, simply come this Wednesday. The schedules are still available at the Church doors.
Rosary Coast to Coast
St. Ann will be participating in the Rosary Coast to Coast program later today (Sunday, October 10) with rosary and benediction starting at 3:00 p.m. in St. Ann Church. All are welcome.
Split the Pot
The annual “St. Ann New Year’s Eve Split the Pot” is underway. Please buy tickets in the vestibule of St. Ann after weekend precept Masses or consider selling some to your friends. This is a major fundraiser for St. Ann Church and School.
Attention parish or school volunteers who work with or around children
Are you aware that the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has moved all parishes and schools from using the “Virtus” Child Protection program to the “Safe Parish” program? If you are a volunteer classroom parent in the school, a coach, drama club volunteer, scout volunteer, etc please note that you should have received new content via your email. 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.
As we have returned to school and fall programs ramp up, 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:
Even people who are not followers of Christ know the image in today’s gospel commonly known as the “Camel and the Eye of a Needle.” The imagery states that it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. In other words, greed is a powerful sin. The people counter with, “Who can be saved?” Jesus says it is impossible for humans but not for God.
Peter then comments that they have given up almost everything dear to them; so what is the payoff. Jesus says that anything you sacrifice for God is given back to you in the fullness of eternity and eternal life. In other words, the rewards are out of this world. The rewards are infinite.
The power of God’s love is poured out to us in God’s grace. God’s grace cannot be bought or rented. It cannot be earned. It can only be received by the properly disposed.
A good analogy would be to ask a wine coinsure if he or she would like to taste the best wine ever fermented? The wine is priceless! If the coinsure says “yes” then you ask him if he is willing to empty his 1982 vintage bottle of Mouton Rothschild into your bucket so the better wine can be poured into his empty bottle? Most any coinsure would probably say, “What? You mean I have to empty a $2000 plus bottle of wine so I can fill my empty bottle with the best wine ever fermented? Are you serious?” But this is exactly what Jesus asks each of us to do if we want to enter the Kingdom of God.
Our life, our health, our wealth, and anything we possess must be made secondary to our desire to be with God. Jesus asks us today, “Will you pour out your bottle (your life) for me so I can fill you with that which is beyond your imagining?”
Next Week:
Is 53:10-11
Heb 4:14-16
Mk 10:35-45
Theme: Don’t do your own thing. Participate in doing God’s thing.