Next Sunday: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Celebrant: Fr. Tharp
Feast of the Assumption of BVM
Thursday, August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a Holyday of Obligation. We have anticipatory Mass fulfilling the precept for the Holyday at St. Ann on Wednesday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m. The anticipatory Mass at Sacred Heart is also Wednesday, August 14 at 7:00 p.m.
On the Holyday itself (August 15) I have 6:30 a.m. Mass at St. Ann, 7:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart, 10:00 a.m. Mass at St. Ann, and 7:00 p.m. (evening) Mass at Sacred Heart.
African Cultural Mass
Four times per year, the African Community at Sacred Heart and St. Ann, sponsored by the Catholic Women’s Association of Cameroon present a traditional culturally African Mass at Sacred Heart. This cultural African Mass will take place at Sacred Heart at 1:00 p.m. on August 18, 2024. Anyone and everyone, parishioner, guest, or interested worshipper is welcome. If you have never experienced a culturally African Mass, you will be enriched.
Report on the Eucharistic Congress
Some of our parishioners attended the Eucharist Congress recently held in Indianapolis. At the precept Masses at both locations this coming weekend (August 17 & 18), I will shorten my homily to two or three minutes, in order that the congregations at both of our worship sites can hear a report on the event and express encouragement for a deeper devotion to and evangelical encouragement and focus on the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Monitors for Deaf and Hearing Impaired at Sacred Heart
When the sound system had to be rewired at Sacred Heart about a year ago, combined Parish Council considered and approved a proposal to allow for two monitors that would translate every word said over the PA in church into closed caption script displayed on the monitors. Recently the two monitors were installed in the front of church.
After discussion with the Archdiocese, this form of assistance to the deaf and hearing impaired was chosen because it enables both the person who is totally without hearing as well as the person with mild hearing impairment (these usually are people who do not understand American sign language) to be able to understand the homily and even the words to the music.
Subsequent to the installation of the two monitors, I received both compliments and complaints. A few of the complaints were offered quite passionately, as were some of the accolades. Given the dramatic disparity of opinions, I felt it best to survey the opinions of the congregation. Thus, last week we conducted a written survey at all three precept Masses. The first option, namely utilizing this at all precept Masses garnered 76% of the vote. The second option of keeping the system but utilizing it at one or more Masses of the Sunday schedule garnered 12%. The third option which was to remove the monitors completely garnered 12%. Although a clear majority chose to employ the system at every precept Mass, 24 % wanted some limitations or complete elimination.
Since the Mass is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (pre-Vatican II called the Mass of the Catechumens and the Mass of the Faithful) Melody and I have pondered a possible compromise of turning on the verbatim display only for the Opening Prayer, Sacred Scripture, Homily, and General Intercessions (petitions). It could remain off from the offertory until the after Communion, but reactivated only for the closing prayer, final announcements, and final blessing. It would be activated for the Liturgy of the Word for those with special auditory and perceptional needs and then turned off for the Canon of the Mass and Holy Communion. It would not be used for the words of the songs, but we will put back the hymn board and utilize the hymnals for this. This compromise is an attempt to take into account many of the suggestions offered by the numerous comments written in on the ballots.
Remember, we suggest doing this for a few weeks as a trial! Nothing is carved in stone. I am trying to maintain the benefit of the verbatim display to the hearing and perceptional impaired, while eliminating the possible distraction during the most solemn and profound part of the Mass. Let’s try it and see if this modification is beneficial to those with various opinions.
Beacons of Light: Phase Two: “Envisioning”
In early September, I hope to present to the combined Parish Council the final draft of the Immaculate Heart of Mary vision statement. We will then present it to the entire congregation for comment, and then officially to the Archdiocese.
In September we hope to move to Phase Three “Culture.” In this phase, we will examine how both St. Ann and Sacred Heart have operated in the past, and how we can move forward with common practices as one parish with two schools and two worship locations. We have already done much of this over the past twelve years operating as a Pastoral Region and most recently a Family of Parishes. I expect we will move through this phase very quickly.
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:
Jesus says he is the source of life for the world. What does the Eucharist do for us? In Genesis, God breathes life into the man made of mud (Adam) and by doing so breathes life into a lifeless world. Grace is God pouring his life into us. Jesus Christ is the tangible “flesh and blood” experience of the God of life. When God breathes into Adam, he comes to life. But God has not made us for temporality. God has fashioned us for eternity. But humanity has foolishly squandered its eternal birthright on sin. When we tangibly receive the Eucharist; we then have Jesus to replenish the grace lost by sin so we are reinstated to life eternal. Thus, every time we receive the Lord in the Sacred Species, we are beaconed not to temporality, but to eternity.
NEXT SUNDAY Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Prv 9:1-6
Eph 5:15-20
Jn 6:51-58
Theme: Whoever eats this bread will live forever!