Next Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent Celebrant: Fr. Tharp
Nota Bene: Please do not overlook the invitation to come to informational sessions on merger in the article that follows this schedule:
Schedule of Christmas Masses
Christmas Eve (Tuesday, December 24)
Sacred Heart….3:00 p.m. featuring Children’s Choir
St. Ann….5:00 p.m. Carols begin at 4:15 p.m.
St. Ann….10:00 p.m
Sacred Heart….12:00 a.m. Midnight
Christmas Day (Wednesday, December 25) follows the regular Sunday Schedule
Sacred Heart …8:00 a.m.
St. Ann ….9:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart….11:00 a.m.
Confessions
The communal penance service for both parishes took place on December 11. I will have the regular CONFESSIONS at St. Ann on Tuesday, December 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m. until all are heard. I will also have regular CONFESSIONS at Sacred Heart on Saturday morning, December 21 starting after the 8:00 a.m. Mass at about 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. or until all are heard. The last scheduled opportunity for confession will be at Sacred Heart on Monday, December 23, from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. or until all are heard. Obviously there are no Tuesday evening confessions at St. Ann on December 24 as it is Christmas Eve.
Beacons of Light:
Announcement of Canonical and Legal “merge” of TWO parishes into ONE!
The combined Parish (Pastoral) Council of St. Ann and Sacred Heart has voted unanimously to complete the initial goal of the Beacons of Light initiative by asking the Archbishop to allow for the canonical “MERGE” of the two juridic persons known as Sacred Heart of Jesus Church and St. Ann Catholic Church into one new “parish” (aka juridic person) to be known by the name for which you all voted, i.e. the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church of southern Butler County. The canonical consultation includes (or will soon include) the approval of the combined Worship Commission as well as the combined Finance Council. As stated in prior articles in this bulletin, the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish will have two separate parish schools known currently (and in the future) as Sacred Heart School and St. Ann School located at their present sites.
It is with great joy that the Immaculate Heart of Mary Combined Parish Council and I invite you to attend either of the two following meetings so you may share our enthusiasm and be fully apprised of the intricacies that have been a part of this process. I will also invite any questions or comments regarding the timing of the “canonical merge” and the benefits that are ours in doing this sooner rather than later. Most of the changes are “Church and civil legal titles” which will likely go unnoticed by the general population. Please remember: Beacons of Light is taking place in every parish family throughout the Archdiocese. It truly is a “paradigm change” in focus and style. The canonical merge signals the end of the internal structural process, but only the beginning in our new combined parish (one parish with two churches) approach to following the way of Jesus in this ever changing world.
Please join us at Sacred Heart on Sunday, January 5 at 4:00 p.m. or at
St. Ann on Thursday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m. so you are “in the know” about this important new way of moving forward as an evangelical force in our communities, our nation, and our world.
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:
Gaudate Sunday we light the “pink” candle! It signals we are halfway through Advent. But Gaudate Sunday is not just a matter dealing with time. It also alters our focus from praying for the Second Coming to preparing ourselves to celebrate Christmas well. Christmas is “Christ’s birthday celebration. It is not just a day off from work! It celebrates the incarnation as the most pinnacle moment in human history. God has decided to become one of us so we can live with him in Heaven for all eternity. Remember the reason for the season.
NEXT SUNDAY Fourth Sunday of Advent
Mi 5:1-4a
Heb 10:5-10
Lk 1:39-45
Theme: Emmanuel