Next Sunday: Divine Mercy Sunday Celebrant : Fr. Williams
Next Sunday Divine Mercy
The Sunday after Easter used to be called “Low Sunday” because Easter was over and not much was happening. Since the year 2000, the Sunday after Easter has been designated as Divine Mercy Sunday. The Family of St. Ann / Sacred Heart will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday, April 16 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Ann Church. This devotion is not a Mass but is a prayerful devotion. All are welcome to join us. Remember to bring your rosary.
Catholic Conference of Ohio
In a letter dated February 28, 2023, all the Catholic Bishops from the State of Ohio have asked faithful Catholics throughout Ohio to oppose the proposed ballot initiative for the November ballots enshrining and expanding abortion in the State of Ohio. We have numerous copies of the letter at the doors of Church. Please take a copy and read about this troubling ballot proposal aimed at the Catholic Church and pro-life efforts throughout the state. You have seen similar initiatives reported in other states. Catholics of good conscience are encouraged to read the letter, speak out, and stay informed.
Director of Evangelization for the St. Ann/Sacred Heart Family
Mr. Jose Martinez is the new Director of Evangelization for the Parish Family of St. Ann / Sacred Heart. He is hard at work familiarizing himself with both parishes. He and I will host an evening for any and all questions soon after the end of the school year. More to come….
Beacons of Light Organizational Structure
The recommended Beacons of Light organizational structure requires a Family of Parishes to have a Director of Evangelization, a Director of Worship, and a Director of Administration. The structure I envision will also include a Director of Real Estate and Physical Assets. (This is due to the reality that our Family needs both churches to accommodate our Sunday attendance, and both schools to accommodate our existing and anticipated students.) Together with the two principals, all four directors will serve as an extension of the pastor in their specific areas of expertise. “Beacons” foresees an environment not simply focused on maintaining what is, but directed to outreach, evangelization, and growth.
The symmetry of all this organizational structure is not based on the clerical model I, and most priests of my age, have grown up with! Rather it operates on a model of assumed delegation, so that the younger priest who replaces me when I retire will feel comfortable assuming the role of pastor in an organizational model normative throughout the Archdiocese. In other words, my oversight in this process is to establish a manner of operation designed not for me personally, but for my successors about three years from now. The reality is that priests my age (70 plus) have functional and canonical “expiration dates.” The reality of the “post COVID” church is that fewer people are coming to Sunday Mass. “Beacons” is a creative structuring for where we are going; not for where we have been.
Review of Mass Schedules
There are “five Phases” of the implementation of Beacons of Light. Family C-4 (comprised of Sacred Heart and St. Ann) has been designated a “one priest/pastor region.” It is almost certain that this will become the reality by July 1, 2023. This means that there is no assisting priest envisioned. In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati no one priest is canonically permitted to celebrate more than three Masses on any one day. At present we have two Sunday morning precept Masses at St. Ann and three Sunday morning precept Masses at Sacred Heart. Five Masses may not be celebrated by any one priest. Also every precept Mass at any parish must adhere to “space utilization requirements.” We have a declining Sunday attendance based on St. Ann and Sacred Heart’s October Count numbers. At least three of the five existing Sunday Masses are not well enough attended to meet these utilization requirements.
After we have the data from the survey recently completed, we will empanel an ad hoc utilization committee representing St. Ann and Sacred Heart in order to study, discuss, and reconcile our Sunday numbers with Archdiocesan utilization requirements. In the meantime, please remind parishioners that their presence each week at either St. Ann or Sacred Heart will result in a tremendous impact on the recommendations that the ad hoc committee will be required to bring to the Archdiocese.
Re-introduction of Precious Blood at Communion
We have distributors lined up for two cups at “all three Sunday morning Masses at Sacred Heart.”
For the time being we only have distributors for the cup at the 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Ann. Again, we can only do this to the degree we have enough Eucharistic ministers willing to do cups at the various precept Masses.
DO NOT FALL FOR SCAMS!!!!
I keep running this article because there are new scams everyday
Remember I NEVER solicit funds, donations, favors, or any request of any kind over the telephone, text, email, carrier pigeon, drone, etc. NEVER! Do not allow yourself to be taken in by scammers. Even if they have my recorded voice, be assured it is computer generated fake! It is not me!!!
Reminder for volunteers who work with or around children
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 for Precept Masses
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:
Easter Sunday is the highest Holyday in the Christian Calendar. In the Apostles Creed we say, “I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.” By dying on the cross, Jesus gave us unequivocal evidence that he is human. By rising from the dead, Jesus gave us spiritually irrefutable evidence that he is the divine Son of God. The Church’s teaching of this is called the “Hypostatic Union.” Jesus is fully divine and fully human. This is a mystery and is unfathomable without faith.
So do the scriptural accounts of the resurrection of Jesus give us “scientific certainty” of resurrection? The word “scientific” comes from the Latin verb “to know through physical evidence.” Even though in the science of the time, three days in the tomb was considered irrefutable certainty of death; nevertheless, we have no empirical evidence beyond the personal reports contained in scripture. It is only faith in the supernatural (that which is beyond nature) that makes us see the logic of the resurrection.
Resurrection is not natural; it is supernatural reality. God created nature. God created time. Only faith in Jesus Christ can allow us to see past the natural to the supernatural. If you believe in God, resurrection is logical. If you don’t believe in God, resurrection is wholly and completely illogical. We trust our friends. The more you become a friend of Jesus, the more you will understand the logic of faith and resurrection.
NEXT WEEK Divine Mercy Sunday
Acts 2:42-47
1 Pt 1:3-9
Jn 20:19-31
Theme: God’s mercy is revealed to us in Jesus Christ