Next Sunday: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Celebrant : Fr. Williams
Fourth of July
Just a “Heads-up!” Independence Day (Monday, July 4, 2022) is a National Holiday.
Since most are off from work, we will move the 6:30 a.m. Mass at St. Ann to 9:00 a.m.
Therefore, at St. Ann, we will not have a 6:30 a.m. Mass, but will have the Mass for
Independence Day at 9:00 a.m. The 7:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart will take place as usual.
Mark your calendar now!
The determination has been made by the Beacons of Light process that EVERY active
priest in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will be required to attend a Convocation at a
distant location they have determined. This absence of priests will begin Monday,
September 26. We should be permitted to return by evening Thursday, September 29.
Just as it is during the Easter Triduum each year, there will be virtually no availability of
priests for daily Mass, anointing of the sick, or funerals for the four day period. I will
seek to advise our local funeral directors as well as hospitals and nursing homes. We
have had mandatory convocations in the past decades, but forewarned is forearmed. As
we approach the time, I should have more information.
Beacons of Light
The 57 new “Families” under the Beacons of Light program are now officially
promulgated as of July 1, 2022. The implementation of the “families” signals the
beginning. It is the hope that over the next few years, parishioners of both parishes will
meet and discern possibilities. Over the next five years (or possibly less due to the fact
that your pastor is “long in the tooth”) you, the parishioners, will determine Leadership in
Phase One, achieve a Vision in Phase Two, lift up and celebrate your Family’s history
and Culture in Phase Three, engage in Planning in Phase Four, and determine Mission in
Phase Five. This all happens according to your family’s time schedule; not some pre-
determined calendar. The only caveat is that we cannot stand still or choose to do
nothing.
Now that the two parishes are officially working together as a “Family of Parishes”
(remember that we have been working together for the past nine years as a “Pastoral
Region”) I hope to “hit the ground running” after both festivals are completed by working
with the parish councils of both parishes to identify leadership as well as structuring of
the massive consultative process. I will be asking every parishioner to participate in
these discernment processes to the degree each of you has the interest and the time. I
will be asking every person available to invest time and effort; to the degree it is feasible,
in this discernment process.
Eucharistic Display created by Blessed Carlo Acutis
The Women of Faith group is sponsoring Eucharistic Miracle posters created by Blessed
Carlo Acutis, who died of Leukemia at age 15, but had created a website displaying these
accumulated Eucharistic miracles from throughout the world. There is little doubt that
when canonized, he will almost certainly become the patron of the internet and social
media. Remember that the three stages or “cause of sainthood” to having one’s name
placed on the “list” or “canon” of Saints in Rome starts with the title “Venerable, “
moves to the title “Blessed, ” and then after miraculous interventions is verified by the
Holy See, the pope may name the person to the “list” or “canon” of titled “Saint.”
To encourage especially the young to take note of these posters, the Women together
have created a raffle for those who take note of each poster throughout the next year.
Servers at Sacred Heart
St. Ann reinstituted servers last month, but (for various reasons) we have been a bit
delayed at Sacred Heart. However, as of the weekend of June 26, servers who have been
trained in the past are invited to come to the sacristy and see if you are needed. There
will be no formal schedule until additional servers are trained and ready to go by the
beginning of school. During the rest of the summer, this will be informal, but if you have
already been trained, feel free to come to the sacristy. If we get too many at any one
Mass, I ask you to understand and offer to serve the next time you are here.
Re-introduction of Precious Blood at Communion
We are continuing to re-introduce communion under both species at as many Masses as
possible. However, for the time being, we have only enough distributors for two cups at
the 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Masses at Sacred Heart, and for the time being the 11:00
a.m. Mass at St. Ann. Again, we can only do this to the degree we have enough
Eucharistic ministers willing to do cups. Also, I have heard chatter regarding other
viruses in the news. I continue to be cautiously optimistic with the emphasis on
“cautious.”
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 parishand/or school setting. We have been informed by the Archdiocese that there can be NO EXCEPTIONS.
Live Streaming for Precept Masses
I apologize that there was no live stream of the Mass from St. Ann on the weekend of
June 25 and 26. The lightning storm on June 22 must have caused our link to the
internet between the parish office and the church to fail. When I attempted to access the
internet to engage the live stream a few minutes before 5:15 on Saturday, June 25, I
realized the link was down and internet was not accessible. I apologize I did not catch
this storm damage earlier.
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:
“Travel light and keep your eyes on the prize!” This is a colloquial way of saying what is
articulated by Jesus in today’s gospel. Jesus instructs his disciples (the seventy-two) to
travel light. He tells them, “You do not need to carry provisions and equipment. Look to
the kindness of others to supply what you need in response to the message of faith you
have brought to them. Acknowledge either their acceptance of the message of truth, or
their obstinacy. And remember that your goal is fulfillment in Heaven, not power on
earth.”
Before I was ordained to the priesthood forty five years ago, a wise old priest confronted
me and asked if the goal of my ministry was to preach “my” gospel, or the gospel of
Jesus Christ. Although it was a rhetorical question, it was a humbling moment for a
young arrogant twenty-six year old man, proud of his academic achievements and ready
to be let loose on the world. Basically he was asking me, “Is your goal to be a celebrity
or do you want to be a humble servant of Jesus Christ? One is all about the here and
now; the other is about eternity.”
The only kind of ministry Jesus offers his followers is “ministry of service.” Jesus tells
his disciples not to be happy they have been influential to the communities they have
visited; but to be happy they are on the road to Heaven. The old joke made by the
secretary working for the Church is apropos! “The pay here is not very good, but the
retirement benefits are out of this world!”
NEXT WEEK Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dt 30:10-14
Col 1:15-20
Lk 10:25-37
Theme: The Good Samaritan