Next Sunday: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                   Celebrant:  Fr. Tharp        

Upcoming Festivals

The Parish Family of Immaculate Heart of Mary (St. Ann and Sacred Heart) will for the long term future continue to need both church facilities, as neither location is large enough to accommodate the number of people in our combined parish boundaries who wish to attend Sunday Mass during the most favored Sunday timeslots.  Since both locations also support a vibrant Catholic School, we need to maintain and enhance all existing fundraising activities at both sites.  Thus it continues to be necessary for each site to host an annual “Parish Summer Festival” even when we become one parish at two locations.  The Saint Ann Festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings (July 26 & 27).   Sacred Heart Festival is scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (August 9 – 11).  Remember we are one Parish Family, with only one priest; operating at two locations.  We need the revenues from both festivals to operate and maintain the physical plant at each of the two locations.  If you are a parishioner at one or both, please prayerfully consider volunteering to work at the festival at one or both sites.

Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17 through21

I invite you to type into your favorite search engine the “National Eucharistic Congress” set in place for this July17 through 21 in Indianapolis.  If you are like me, you cannot take time off from work or obligations to attend, but simply inform yourself of the effort to make the most Holy Sacrament left to us by Jesus the foundation to rebuild the Church in America into a living evangelical force by the power of the Blessed Sacrament.  Many musicians have returned to their roots so as to be inspired to write their greatest symphony.  As Catholics, let us use this congress to return to our rootedness in the Eucharist, so we can go out into the world and unashamedly profess Jesus Christ.

Beacons of Light: Phase Two:  “Envisioning”

This week I again ask again the question: “As the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, how do we amalgamate the unique Eucharistic traditions of St. Ann and Sacred Heart so that the combination does not erase their distinctiveness, but emerges with new vigor and resourcefulness?”   As always, I invite your email comments and observations. 

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:

Fifty plus years ago, when I worked at the farm tractor implement dealership in College Corner, I usually commuted to and from work on my motorcycle.  There were multiple reasons for this.  One was that it made the trip enjoyable.  Secondly, it saved money.   Filling the tank on my old truck required me to open my wallet.  Filling the tank on my motorcycle (back then) cost only the change I carried in my coin purse.  When you are spending all your money on the cost of your education, efficiency is not a luxury; it is a necessity. 

Jesus tells us today that if you are in the business of evangelization, efficiency is a precept.  When a hog farmer puts on his waterproof rubber boots before he goes to clean out hog pens, he is not making a fashion statement.   He is doing what he needs to do to provide sanitary conditions for his livestock.  If we are to evangelize in the name of Jesus, we need the necessities.  We do not need the frills.   The essentials of faith are the truth.  The truth does not need to be dressed up.  Live your moral precepts as if you were focused on what is essential.  That is what constitutes “divine efficiency.”  

NEXT SUNDAY:  Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 23:1-6

Eph 2:13-18

Mk 6:30-34

Theme:  Faith is not a trophy!  It is a commissioning.