Next Sunday: The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Celebrant: Fr. Tharp
Catholic School’s Week
Today is the beginning of National Catholic Schools Week. Both St. Ann School and Sacred Heart School will fill the week with special presentations and prayers. Let us celebrate the wealth and tradition that we have in the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with our two parish schools.
CMA Commitment Weekend is February 3 & 4
The Liturgical Season of Lent begins Ash Wednesday (February 14). Lent is traditionally a time for almsgiving. Here in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati we began the annual Catholic Ministries Appeal by listening to a message from the Archbishop. This message was played in every Archdiocesan parish at the weekend precept Masses on January 20 & 21. The Archbishop reminded us of the need to focus on Archdiocesan programs that no parish could ever provide individually. These ministries include our Archdiocesan Seminary (Mt. St. Mary Seminary), St. Rita School for the Deaf, Catholic Charities and Social Services, retirement fund for Archdiocesan priests, chaplains for Campus, Hospital, and Prison ministries, and the revitalization program known as New Evangelization. Remember that the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Paragraph #2447) defines our duty to participate in corporal works of mercy. Sometimes the scale of the task is beyond that which any one parish or Catholic parishioner could do. Participation in the CMA allows every Catholic in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati by his or her donation to the CMA to fulfill their obligation to participate in these vital ministries; ministries that are clearly beyond the scope of any singular parish.
If you have donated to the CMA in the past, you should have received, or will soon receive through the mail, a pledge card and return envelope for the CMA. Please prayerfully consider participation. Once you have completed your pledge or donation, you may place your stamp on the envelope and send it in, or you can bring the sealed envelope with you to Mass and place it in the collection basket. We have bulk mail envelopes from the Archdiocese by which we can send them in.
Remember that next weekend (February 3 & 4) are dedicated as Commitment Sunday for the CMA.
Beacons of Light Phase Two
As we move through the end of January into February, St. Ann and Sacred Heart will be conducting meetings and discussion sessions regarding the process for “visioning for the future.” The more people who contribute to the collective brainstorming the better! Check the bulletin for opportunities as they are announced.
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
Barring the unforeseen, Saturday evening Mass at Sacred Heart and Sunday morning at St. Ann will be live streamed each week.
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:
If you are follower of Christ, there is no such thing as a “good distraction.” Certain matters require our full attention. In baseball, when you are at the plate bat in hand, there are no good distractions. You are either focused on hitting the incoming pitch or you strike out. Similarly, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I either live in Christ or I flounder in sin. In today’s reading from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds those who wish to be prophets that they are either true to God’s word, or they deceive. Eternity does not go well for deceivers. In the second reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds the faithful not to waste time with unnecessary focus on the temporal, but concentrate on every moment of life in seeking the eternal. In the gospel reading from Mark, Jesus dismisses the revelation of his purpose by the unclean spirit he is casting out as a distraction. Jesus calls out the unclean spirit as a diversion from the Word of God.
We live in a world filled with more “attractive distractions” than at any other time in history. In the midst of all these distractions, Jesus challenges us to keep our “eyes on the prize.” For us, the only prize is eternity with Jesus Christ.
NEXT SUNDAY The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Job 7:1-4, 6-7
1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23
Mk 1:29-39
Theme: Evangelization is an “all in” decision!