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Browsing From the desk of Fr. Tharp

July 26, 2020 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tuesday Confessions move to St. Ann July 28

As the number of Saturday services increase and I cannot find a priest confessor to do Saturday confessions regularly, I have no choice but to cancel Saturday afternoon confessions at St. Ann effective immediately.  I simply cannot hear confessions at St. Ann from 3:30 to 3:45 p.m. and then try to be ready to celebrate Mass at 4:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart.  When I am the Sunday morning celebrant at St. Ann, I always try to hear confessions one half hour before Mass.  I am also moving, effective the last week of July (July 28) the regular Tuesday evening confessions from Sacred Heart to St. Ann.  Therefore as of July 28, confessions on Tuesday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. will move from Sacred Heart to St. Ann. 

 

Live-stream Sunday Mass links on Parish Websites

Unfortunately I did not realize until last Sunday that the “links” for Sunday Video Masses for July 12 and 19 were not automatically displayed on our St. Ann Website and our Sacred Heart Website.  They were always available if you go directly to our pastoral region Youtube website.  You can always go immediately to our Youtube site by using the following link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVLLqbEY5hKWinwz069MVcg.  We have repaired the problem, but since calling up the live stream Mass using our parish websites sometimes leads to a “crash” it is far better to directly access the Mass by going directly to our Youtube site using the above link.

 

Students who should have made First Communion last April or May

I wish to reiterate from former communications that as soon as we have assurance from the authorities in Ohio and from the Archdiocese that we can reduce the requirements of social distancing and masks so as to have a traditional large Group First Communion celebration, we will do so for St. Ann and Sacred Heart.  In the meantime, if any parent wishes their child who was looking forward to First Communion this Spring to have the opportunity to make an “informal” First Communion at any Sunday or Weekday Mass that I celebrate, please contact the Parish Secretary at Sacred Heart.  She has my schedule and will help you in choosing a regularly scheduled Mass when your child can begin receiving the Most Holy Eucharist.  Distancing rules do not allow us to do many of the things associated with First Eucharist like banners, gathering around the altar, etc. Nevertheless beginning to  receive communion will not preclude them from the Group First Communion when we are permitted to have it.  Some parents have said, they would rather wait.  Others have done the informal route as they feel it best for the child.  This is where I will defer to you as parents as to what is best for your child.  Feel free to call and schedule if you wish to go for the informal option.  Feel free to wait if you think that is best.  Whatever is best for your child is what I want to do.

Reflection on Scripture Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us multiple analogies to explain the Kingdom of God.  What Jesus is saying in each of these analogies is that “if you don’t fall in love with the Kingdom of God, then you fall short!”  Human beings by nature are willing to give up everything in favor of capturing their one true love.  If a human being is not ready to sell everything in order to become part of the Kingdom of God, then his or her faith is lacking.  Logically there must be one ultimate priority for every human person.  Psychologists tell us it is self-preservation.  Nature tells us it is the preservation of the species.  Motivational speakers tell us it is self-realization.  Jesus tells us it must be the Kingdom of God or we are not really spiritually alive. 

 

Our goal in life is not death.  Our goal in life must be eternal preservation of the life of one made in the image and likeness of God..  Eternal self-preservation is found only in Heaven.  So our greatest goal in life is to get to Heaven; or in other words the Kingdom of God.  All other priorities must fall short in comparison.

 

Next WeekEighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time     

 

Is 55:1-3

Rom 8:35, 37-39

Mt. 14:13-21

 

Theme:    Multiplication of the Loaves

 

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