From the Desk of Father Tharp

Memorial Day

Monday, May 27 is a National Holiday.  Mass at Sacred Heart will be at 7:30 a.m. as usual.  I will not have a 6:30 a.m. Mass at St. Ann but rather, the Mass at St. Ann will be at 9:00 a.m. 

St. Ann Buildings for the Future Committee

By now you should have (or soon will have) received a letter from the aforementioned committee indicating the direction the committee recommends for the best utilization of our present buildings, and posturing ourselves for future projects as fundraisers and other revenues permit.  Please consider the committee’s recommendations in light of both posturing for the future and reducing reoccurring costs.

National Association of African Catholics in the United States

The St. Ann/Sacred Heart Pastoral Region is honored to host again this year a regional Mass and gathering of NAACUS at Sacred Heart on June 2, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.  A few of our parishioner families are members of NAACUS.  This is an organization under the guidance of the USCCB., and one of the purposes is to allow Catholics whose roots are in the rich Catholic liturgical traditions of the many regions on the African continent to come together and provide an opportunity for the participants to have a worship and social experience of home.  In addition, it provides an opportunity for other Catholics of American, European, Asian, or other backgrounds to experience and share in the rich traditions of the Catholic faithful in the many regions of Africa. 

I am sure I speak for the few non-African parishioners from our pastoral region who joined us for the Mass last year when I say, “You don’t know what you missed.”  This is a wonderful celebration of the many cultural expressions of faith in Jesus Christ which come together to make up the one Church we call “Catholic” (universal). 

Reflection on Scripture

For a Christian, “peace” is not simply the absence of war.  Peace for one who believes in Jesus is a condition in which all involved care for each other as if the other were Christ himself.  It is a peace the world cannot give.  Guns and armaments, negotiators and treaties may end conflict; but only Christ can change people’s hearts to bring about true peace.  Jesus says therefore do not be frightened.

When I was in the minor seminary, we had a banner that we used in Church.  It read, ”Only pagans worry!”  I submit to you that although a bit egotistic, the banner was correct.  If we really believe in Jesus Christ wholeheartedly, then we never let angst take over our hearts.  Faith does not take away the challenges of life, but it does give us a glimpse as to the one who wins in the end of the story….Jesus Christ. 

Next Weekend: Feast of the Ascension

Acts 1:1-11

Eph 1:17-23

Mk 16:15-20

Theme: Not a sad good-bye, but a time for anticipation.