Next Sunday: Baptism of the Lord                                Celebrant:  Fr. Tharp

Beacons announcement meeting:  SHJ 1/5/25 @ 4:00 p.m.     St. Ann 1/9/25 @ 7:00 p.m.   

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.

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:

The Magi are the source of more biblical conjecture than any other group.  The scripture does not say how many Magi there are.  Because there are three gifts, we always presume there are three Magi.  Scripture does not say for sure.  Some call the Magi “three Wise Men” while others call them “Kings.”  Tradition says they represent the three great races of humanity, originating from Shem, Ham, and Japheth, but scripture is silent.  The one certainty is that Matthew wants the reader to see that the whole world is coming to believe in Jesus, so it is illogical and regressive to see things otherwise.  The actual identity of the visitors will be argued long after we are gone.  By analogy, today’s scripture challenges us to get on board with Jesus or lose out.  The message of the story is clear.  Jesus is the one and only savior of the world.

NEXT SUNDAY  Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Ti 2:11-14, 3:4-7

Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

Theme:    Ordinary Time