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Browsing From the desk of Fr. Tharp

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Buildings for the Future

Please mark your calendar to come to St. Ann Church at 7:00 p.m. on March 2 (Thursday) to participate in a general parish meeting.  We will engage in a process of visioning for the future.  Here at St. Ann, we possess some buildings that are being under-utilized or standing empty.  How can we best utilize or manipulate the buildings we have on the property we own to maximize beneficial usage for the future?   What are the options?  What are the inherent costs of doing nothing?   We want to initiate the dialogue which will undoubtedly take months or years to bring to resolution.  We will hear from an architect who will show us options as to what is possible and what is reasonable based on the land we have and our need to maintain parking.  We will consider basic cost of all options.   We will also discuss financial feasibility relative to each option.  The more minds we have working together, the better we envision the future.  St. Ann Church and School needs your input if we are to reasonably consider all the options.  Please plan to attend.

 

Lent begins Ash Wednesday March 1

It is hard to believe but Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, is March 1.  Remember that Ash Wednesday and the Fridays during Lent are days of “Abstinence.”  Those age 14 and older are asked to abstain from eating meat, unless this would cause some medical problem.   For those 21 and older, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of “Fast” during which we eat one regular meal and two snacks with no “grazing” during the rest of the day.  Again, this is only for those who will not be harmed by it.

I will offer the full schedule in next week’s bulletin, but remember that we have Stations and Benediction on Friday evenings at St. Ann and Sunday afternoons at Sacred Heart during Lent.  I will give more information in greater detail next week.

 

CMA

At the time when this is being written, St. Ann has donations or pledges of 24.29% of its goal of $$28,781.  This represents participation of 5.29% of the parish families.  Thanks to all who have made a commitment.   If you have not pledged as yet, please prayerfully consider a commitment, no matter how small. Remember that this is St. Ann’s way of doing its fair share to support programs that every parish uses throughout the Archdiocese.   Envelopes are available in church.

 

Reflection on Scripture

Is Jesus telling us that to be his followers, we must be pacifists?  If this were the case, why would Catholic Bishops supply priests to serve as chaplains to the military?  Why would we have a “Catholic Diocese of the U.S. Military?”   No, Jesus is not making a political statement.  Jesus is saying that in spiritual matters, “You cannot convert fire with fire.   You cannot hate someone into spiritual submission.”  Jesus IS saying that the best antidote to hate is charity, compassion, and forgiveness.  When faced with evil, we must protect the innocent.  In war against evil, we may need to use violence for self defense and/or defense of the innocent.  Jesus is NOT suggesting that we turn the other cheek and allow the jihadist to behead the innocent.  We have a duty to protect the innocent.  But once we have subdued those with evil intent, we cannot discard them like trash.  We must always seek to eradicate evil while transplanting good.  This is what Jesus means when he says, “Love your enemies.”  Jesus never gives up on us.  Neither can we give up on one another, not even our enemy.

Readings for Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 49:14-15

1 Cor 4:1-5

Mt 6:24-34

ThemeDon’t worry, be filled with hope in Jesus. 

 

 

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