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NATIONAL NOVENA FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE The U.S. bishops urge our participation each Friday in a nationwide Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life taking place August 3 through September 28. Participants will receive weekly email or text reminders to pray and fast, along with little-known facts about Roe v. Wade to share with others. Sign up at www.usccb.org/pray.
Parish and School Anniversary Mass and Picnic
Don’t forget that on September 9 the students in our school will help celebrate our Noon Mass in honor of the 60th anniversary of our parish school. The parish picnic will follow. Please join us for the festivities.
REP Registration
St. Ann and Sacred Heart operate a combined Religious Education Program for students grades 1-8 not enrolled in and receiving religious training from a Catholic School (used to be called CCD). Registration for this program is open. Schedules and registration forms are available at the doors of church or from the parish office.
RCIA / RCIC for 2018/2019
Schedules for RCIA are available at the doors of church or on line. RCIA is an acronym for Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults and RCIC is the acronym for Rite of Christian Initiation for Children. In the past, these were called “Convert Classes.” Individuals interested in becoming Catholic should interview on the telephone or in person with Fr. Tharp so as to identify any canonical issues which may need to be addressed before officially joining the process. My direct line number to my desk is (513) 858-4260 or email me at frtharp@sacredheart-fairfield.org.
Reflection on Scripture
Rules correct chaos. Deuteronomy comes from two Greek words: deutero = second and nomos = law. The fifth book of the Bible is the “second law.” In fact there are 613 minor commandments of the Jewish Law in addition to the Ten Commandments which we all know. Jewish tradition suggests that the priest Hilkiah found a "Book of the Law" in the temple at the time of Josiah. It gave the Jewish people a sense of identity and patriotism.
Many of these 613 are dietary laws. Jesus explains to the people that it is not what you take in through your mouth that makes you good or evil, but what you bring forth from within. Only when God’s law is written in our hearts and minds, only then are we ready to be recipients of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Only when we are filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit will we bring forth what is good.
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 35:4-7a
Jas 2:1-5
Mk 7:31-37
Theme: Jesus offers healing compassion.