Next Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent Celebrant: Fr. Tharp
dvent
For the first part of Advent we focus on the Second Coming of Christ. Around December 17 we change our focus to prepare for Christmas. The Advent wreath allows us to count the weeks until Christmas, but also gives us in the cyclical nature of time and eternity. Jesus is born into time so we can be invited to eternity. Don’t let the busyness of the pre-Christmas season dissuade you from the meditative nature of the Advent Season.
December 9th IS a Holyday of Obligation!
Since Vatican II, the Conference of Catholic Bishops for each country or region has determined when the precept obligation for a Holyday could be rescinded because of proximity to another Sunday or Solemnity. This year the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (which is typically December 8) falls on a Sunday. Thus the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is moved to December 9 for this year. The recent tradition of the Church has been to abrogate the obligation for a Monday Holyday, but the Holy See has informed us that because Monday, December 9th is the Feast Day, and Mary’s Immaculate Conception is the patronal feast for the United States, the precept obligation remains for this year. Therefore, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Monday, December 9 IS a Holyday of Obligation this year. Calendars will say it is not, but the Holy See has abrogated the exception.
Masses for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Monday, December 9 at St. Ann at 6:30 a.m. Sacred Heart at 7:30 a.m. Sacred Heart School Mass at 8:15 a.m. (access only through the school) St. Ann School Mass10:00 a.m. (limited access) St. Ann at 5:30 p.m. and Sacred Heart at 7:00 p.m. There will be no anticipatory Masses for the Immaculate Conception on Sunday evening!
CWA Dedication of New Members this coming Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Mass
The Sacred Heart of Jesus branch of the Catholic Women’s Association of Cameroon will hold the dedication and blessing of new members in conjunction with the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 8 at Sacred Heart. Since December 8 is the Second Sunday of Advent, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is moved to Monday, December 9! Although Monday is a Holy Day of Obligation, it is also a work day when the CWA members cannot get off from work. The CWA is a group especially dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, the CWA will lead a special traditionally African presentation of the Book of the Gospel, offertory procession, and prayer of the Magnificat after communion at the 11:00 a.m. precept Mass on December 8. They will also invite all who are present at the Mass to join us for celebration of food and fellowship in Fellowship Hall immediate after Mass.
The members of the CWA are an important part of Sacred Heart parish and the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; volunteering as Catechists, lectoring (reading) at Mass, assisting in evangelical work, and helping with hospitality. I suggest you mark your calendar to experience the Catholicity (Universality) of the Catholic Faith as our fellow parishioners show us some of the beauty and culture of the country of their origin.
Beacons of Light: Canonical and Legal Unification of Two Locations into one Parish
For about the last ten years, Sacred Heart and St. Ann have existed as two parishes in one Pastoral Region. About two years ago, the St. Ann / Sacred Heart Pastoral Region was designated by the Archbishop to no longer operate as a simple Pastoral Region, but as a “Family of Parishes” under the Beacons of Light initiative. Being designated as a Family of Parishes means that our destiny is to become one canonical “parish” in our case with two worship space (aka church) locations or campuses. Having consulted with the directors of Beacons as well as the Chancellor and Finance Office of the Archdiocese, it has been determined that St. Ann and Sacred Heart are now ready for canonical unification as one parish to be known by the name you the congregation picked. Under the law of the Catholic Church, individual parishes are called “juridic persons.” Thus our target is to canonically “merge” the juridic person named Saint Ann Church with the juridic person named Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. At 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2025, the two churches will be merged into one new parish known as the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church of Butler County. Both locations and schools will still operate as they have, but as of 12:00 a.m. July 1, 2025 the two will be known as the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, St. Ann Campus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Sacred Heart Campus. In that one minute, two parishes will cease to legally exist as two separate juridic persons; and one new parish will be constituted as the accumulation of the assets and territories of both.
It is very important to note that this is not the END of Beacons of Light initiative but rather the “end of the beginning of one new parish born of the two. After the merge, both congregations (now one) will begin to work for the fulfillment of the goal to become an evangelical tool and not just the maintenance of what once was! Therefore, this is not the end of Beacons, but rather the Beginning of the evangelical community known as the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
I hope to have two “question and answer” meetings (one at St. Ann and one at Sacred Heart) to explain all aspects of this during the months of December and January. With the approval of our combined Pastoral (parish) Council and combined Finance Council the matter will be recommended to the Archbishop by the Finance Council of the Archdiocese and the College of Consulters of the Archdiocese. This will give the Archdiocese the necessary time for all the changes of name and issuance of new identification numbers. The end of the beginning stages of Beacons will trigger as of July 1, 2025. Remember however that this is simply the end of the beginning process. The work of becoming an evangelical parish (not a maintenance parish) will only have begun.
Archdiocese discontinues any partnership with GSUSA
In a letter dated October 28, 2024, the Archbishop has informed all pastors and administrators in the Archdiocese of the decision to discontinue any partnership with the Girl Scouts. The following is a quote from the third paragraph of the letter, “Unfortunately in recent years, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has embraced and promoted an impoverished worldview regarding gender and sexuality.” Thus, because Girl Scouts has apparently taken a position at odds with traditional Catholic moral teaching; any support and partnerships Girl Scouts has with the Archdiocese and its parishes must be suspended. An unabridged copy of the referenced letter is available at church doors.
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:
Advent is not just a season or time, it is a vigilant state of being. Until the Second Coming of Christ, we will be a vigilant people waiting in anticipation for the parousia. When we prepare for the starting gun for a race, the judge says “Get ready”….”Get set”…! Then the runners wait in anticipation for “Go!” As followers of Christ, the appearance of the Advent wreath should say, “Get ready!” The eschatological signs that are present in every age should tell us, “Get set!” And the scriptural announcement of Emmanuel should engage us in an evangelical marathon that ends with the Second Coming. Let us enjoy the season of anticipation.
NEXT SUNDAY Second Sunday of Advent
Bar 5:1-9
Phil 1:4-6, 8-11
Lk 3:1-6
Theme: John the Baptist