Next Sunday: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Guest Celebrant
New Principal
Mrs. Bitzer informed me on June 29th that she has taken the principal position at another parish school in the Archdiocese. We will begin the Archdiocesan search process immediately, but in the interim long time St. Ann teacher Gwenda Laney will serve as principal for St. Ann School. St. Ann thanks Mrs. Bitzer for her years of service and I am very grateful to have a St. Ann icon like Mrs. Gwenda Laney to make it a seemless transition to the new principal.
Beacons of Light
The future planning process to determine the changes in parish organization structure of the entire Archdiocese of Cincinnati (to be implemented on or before 2025) continues to move forward. Please reference the Beacons of Light web page at: https://catholicaoc.org/beacons-of-light. Another option is to type “Beacons of Light” into your favorite search engine. It is expected that the beginnings of the discussions with the general parishioner population of the Archdiocese will begin this Fall.
I encourage everyone to check this website out now and frequently as the process moves forward; and pray for this important initiative.
Live Streaming a precept Mass from St. Ann and Sacred Heart each week
Even though the dispensation for the precept of Sunday Mass attendance has now been revoked, live streaming will continue for the sick, shut-ins, and others unable to come to Mass. 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:
When I was in the seminary, handball was the game of choice. You would trade your desserts for a week for an ideal time to use one of the handball courts. All you needed to play handball was your hand and the hard round rubber ball. When I was a campus minister at Wright State in 1975, I was invited to play handball on one of their indoor courts. I was told I needed a special glove, sweat band, special shoes, wrist sweat bands, and a few other things I don’t even remember. I discovered I really did not know handball at all. Why does it need to be so complicated? Well, consumer demands are ever increasing. Playing a sport today requires accessories.
Jesus tells his disciples, “Keep it simple. On your evangelization journeys, take what you need, but need what you take!” Focus on the task, not the appearance. You don’t need a lot of accessories to proclaim the truth, especially if you know the truth is Jesus Christ. All you need is authenticity. If the faith that motivates you is real, people will see you are as well.
In the ordination ceremony for a deacon, the bishop says to the newly ordained when handing him the Book of the Gospels: “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” Jesus says similar words to each of us privately every time we receive Holy Communion. Learn to see Holy Communion not just as a gift, but as a commissioning.
Next Week: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jer 23:1-6
Eph 2:13-18
Mk 6:30-34
Theme: It is not your plans that matter; it is God’s plan that matters.