Next Sunday: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Celebrant : Fr. Tharp
My special thanks to the St. Ann Festival Committee and Volunteers who worked so hard to make our festival both lucrative and enjoyable. The numbers will be forthcoming, but for now please accept my gratitude and my encouragement to consider being even more involved in the St. Ann Festival next year. We are always looking for young volunteers with innovative ideas. Please mark your calendar and consider being a part of the 2023 St. Ann Festival next July.
August 15 is NOT a precept obligation this year
Monday, August 15 IS a Solemnity…but NOT a Holyday of OBLIGATION this year! The reason is that, in the United States if a Holyday falls on a Saturday or Monday, it remains a “Holyday” or “Solemnity” but it is NOT a Holyday of Obligation. In other words, you are NOT obligated or “required” to attend Mass that day. Therefore, we will have our normal 6:30 a.m. Mass at St. Ann and 7:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart.
Blessed Father Michael McGivney
In the latter part of the 19th century, Fr. Michael McGivney began the Knights of Columbus. In the Catholic Church, a person of notorious holiness recommended to the Holy See is first given the title of “Venerable.” After a miracle is attributed to his or her intercession, the person may be beatified by the Holy Father. Thus his or her title becomes “Blessed.” The final elevation after more evidence is accumulated is “Canonization” (in Latin “canon” means list) meaning that the person’s name is added to the List of Saints in Rome. Those who are afforded the title “Blessed” may be honored in prayer in the opening prayer or oration at Mass on the day assigned as their feast day. Thus the Roman Missal now has a special oration in memory of Fr. McGivney for Masses celebrated on August 13. The Knights of Columbus have been so much a part of my priestly ministry for the past forty five years, and have played a significant role in both St. Ann and Sacred Heart (the Sacred Heart Council is named for Fr. Roettele, former pastor of Sacred Heart) I will use Fr. McGivney’s oration for the first time at the Saturday morning Mass at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2022.
If you are an adult male (18 or over) and you would like to become a part of a group of men who live their faith and practice extraordinary charity, please consider becoming a Knight of Columbus. I was exemplified as a fourth degree Knight back in 1977, and since then have become one of this fraternal organization’s greatest promoters. As a priest, whenever I need the help of committed Catholic men, I know I can count on my brother knights. It’s good to admire the Knights of Columbus for their charity and patriotism. It is even better to become one. Please consider if membership in the K of C is right for you. It has been for me one of the greatest blessings and sources of support to my ministry throughout my life.
Mark your calendar now!
The determination has been made by the Beacons of Light process that EVERY active priest in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will be required to attend a Convocation at a distant location they have determined. This absence of priests will begin Monday, September 26. We should be permitted to return by evening Thursday, September 29. Just as it is during the Easter Triduum each year, there will be virtually no availability of priests for daily Mass, anointing of the sick, or funerals for the four day period. I will seek to advise our local funeral directors as well as hospitals and nursing homes. We have had mandatory convocations in the past decades, but forewarned is forearmed. As we approach the time, I should have more information.
Service Dog for Sacred Heart School
This coming year, Sacred Heart School will seek to reduce the emotional and psychological stress felt by many students by the introduction of a service dog; a Labrador named Argo. Part of his training will be how to behave in church during Mass. Therefore (before School reconvenes) if you happen to attend a Sunday Mass and see one of the training team bringing a dog to church, you will know that they are simply getting him used to the surroundings.
Beacons of Light
The 57 new “Families” under the Beacons of Light program are now officially promulgated as of July 1, 2022. The implementation of the “families” signals the beginning. It is the hope that over the next few years, parishioners of both parishes will meet and discern possibilities. Over the next five years (or possibly less due to the fact that your pastor is “long in the tooth”) you, the parishioners, will determine Leadership in Phase One, achieve a Vision in Phase Two, lift up and celebrate your Family’s history and Culture in Phase Three, engage in Planning in Phase Four, and determine Mission in Phase Five. This all happens according to your family’s time schedule; not some pre-determined calendar. The only caveat is that we cannot stand still or choose to do nothing.
Eucharistic Display created by Blessed Carlo Acutis
The Women of Faith group is sponsoring Eucharistic Miracle posters created by Blessed Carlo Acutis, who died of Leukemia at age 15, but had created a website displaying these accumulated Eucharistic miracles from throughout the world. There is little doubt that when canonized, he will almost certainly become the patron of the internet and social media. Remember that the three stages or “cause of sainthood” to having one’s name placed on the “list” or “canon” of Saints in Rome starts with the title “Venerable, “ moves to the title “Blessed, ” and then after miraculous interventions is verified by the Holy See, the pope may name the person to the “list” or “canon” of titled “Saint.”
To encourage especially the young to take note of these posters, the Women together have created a raffle for those who take note of each poster throughout the next year.
Servers at Sacred Heart
St. Ann reinstituted servers last month, but (for various reasons) we have been a bit delayed at Sacred Heart. However, now that we hope the worst of the pandemic is over, servers who have been trained in the past are invited to come to the sacristy and see if you are needed. There will be no formal schedule until additional servers are trained and ready to go by the beginning of school. During the rest of the summer, this will be informal, but if you have already been trained, feel free to come to the sacristy. If we get too many at any one Mass, I ask you to understand and offer to serve the next time you are here.
Re-introduction of Precious Blood at Communion
We are continuing to re-introduce communion under both species at as many Masses as possible. However, for the time being, we have only enough distributors for two cups at the 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Masses at Sacred Heart, and for the time being 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. Also, I have heard chatter regarding other viruses in the news. I continue to be cautiously optimistic with the emphasis on “cautious.”
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:
Preparedness! This concept has been the rallying cry for the Boy Scouts for many years. But what does it really mean to be prepared for the Second Coming of the Lord? This is the theme that predominates during the Season of Advent. But when you dissect the definition of preparedness; what do you find inside?
In today’s gospel, Jesus cites “consistency” as a quality necessary for preparedness. Religious orders of men and religious orders of women both wear a “habit” every day. You might say that a habit avoids the fickleness of fashion. Women’s (and to a lessor degree, Men’s) fashion changes year to year. If you doubt this for a moment, I can sell you a closet full of narrow ties from the early 1960s as well a bellbottom pants and paisley shirts from the late 60s and throughout the 70s. As a motorcycle rider, I can’t tell you how many times I had to tuck the bell bottoms into my boots lest they catch on the kick starter and keep my leg from descending to hold up the bike at rest. I can look back and honestly say, “I risked my life for fashion.”
Thank goodness we as a society don’t do silly things like that today???...Or do we?!!! Ever text while driving? It can literally kill you. Ever feel compelled to accept a behavior you know is wrong by God’s standard just so you are not pointed out by the indictment, “Oh you are one of them?”
If our habit of doing the right thing or avoiding the evil behavior compels us to act consistently, then we are ready to face the evils of temptation with the discipline of good.
NEXT WEEK Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jer 38:4-6, 8-10
Heb 12:1-4
Lk 12:49-53
Theme: “You ain’t seen nothin yet!”