From the Desk of Father Tharp

Nota Bene:

Fr. Schmitz is unavailable Sunday, May 27.  It is very difficult to find a priest comfortable with three Masses in a row at Sacred Heart, so we will utilize a guest priest at St. Ann on the aforementioned Sunday.  Bishop Binzer has graciously agreed to be guest celebrant.

Gift Card Sales

Gift cards are sold both at Sacred Heart and St. Ann for the benefit of each respective school.  Purchasing a $25 dollar gift card costs you $25.  The companies sell these gift cards to the churches at a discount.  The volunteers sell them to you at face value, and in each case, the earnings go to the schools, either through the PTS at Sacred Heart, or directly into the fund used for the school at St. Ann.  This is “free money” for both parish schools.  If you know you are going to spend “x” number of dollars at a particular vendor; why not pay for it with a gift card and help direct this “free money” to your respective school.

Vacation Bible School

This year Sacred Heart will join St. Ann in our Pastoral Region Vacation Bible School to take place at St. Ann.  We are now registering students for VBS.  Please see registration process defined in this bulletin.

Reflection on Scripture

“Ruah Elohim” is translated the “Breath of God.”  For the Jewish People, breath was the verification of life.  If your sheep was breathing, it was alive.  If it was not breathing, it was dead.  Breath was the life giving indwelling of God.  In Genesis, God breathes life into Adam.  We talk about “life breath.

The life giving breath of God is the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit hovers over the waters at creation.  The Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus at his Baptism in the Jordan.  The great wind from the nostrils of God opens the Red Sea for the Israelites in the Exodus.  A great wind accompanies the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost.  The Holy Spirit allows the once reluctant Apostles to go forth and preach Jesus Christ without fear.   This Third Person of the Trinity is called down upon the gifts of bread and wine to change them into the Body and Blood of Christ at the altar.  The power of the Holy Spirit of God is indeed omnipotent.

When the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples at Pentecost, the Church is alive in God.  In the new rite of Matrimony, each nuptial blessing has an epiclesis, so that the power of Divine Love may flow from God to the couple.  The Church is alive in the grace of God and this grace dwells in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Pentecost is my favorite liturgical feast.  In my priesthood, I have witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit enabling me to do and be what I otherwise could never hope to do or be.  Never disregard the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  I have often heard the analogy that the power of the Holy Spirit is like a freight train coming at a person stranded on the tracks of a high trestle.  There is no escape.  You can jump on the train and take a ride or you can stand in the way and get run over.  My friends jump on the Holy Spirit’s train.  You don’t know the route you will travel, but you are assured the destination is Heaven. 

Readings for Trinity Sunday

Dt 4:32-34, 39-40

Rom 8:14-17

Mt 28:16-20

Theme: The mystery of the Trinity