Next Sunday:  Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time   Celebrant :  Fr. Williams

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 two weeks ago on Wednesday, but if you missed these sessions, simply come this Wednesday.  The schedules are still available at the Church doors.

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

Are you an ambitions person?  When you are looking for a job, ambition is considered a good thing.   Lazy is bad.   James and John, the sons of Zebedee were ambitious.  They ask Jesus to give them the best seats on the board of directors when the company is incorporated.  It was an affront to the other apostles, and it betrayed their ignorance of the way of Jesus.  The Kenotic passage in Philippians makes Jesus way clear.  He empties himself so as to lift us up.  Ambition (in its derogatory meaning) has no place in Christian theology.   Humility is a virtue.  Career ambition is often seen as stemming from the sin of pride.  

Jesus wants disciples who are ambitious for souls, but in the same breathe humble and cooperative.   Jesus wants coworkers dedicated to gathering souls to affection for him; not those motivated by their own greed or power.  Virtues are permanent dispositions of the soul favoring the good.  The virtue of humility must define our every word and action if we seek to proclaim Jesus Christ.  As is stated in the ordination right for the Diaconate when the Book of the Gospels is handed to the candidate, “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”   As Christians we believe in Jesus Christ.  We proclaim not ourselves but Jesus Christ.  In humble service to our brothers and sisters, we prove the authenticity of our faith.  It can never be all about me.  It must always be about Jesus Christ. 

Next Week: 

Jer 31:7-9

Heb 5:1-6

Mk 10:46-52

Theme:   What kind of blinders are you wearing?