Next Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity Celebrant : Fr. Williams
A Letter from Archbishop Schnurr
June 5, 2022
Pentecost Sunday
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord’s Church and the fulfillment of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. The scene from the Acts of the Apostles is filled with drama, as “a noise like a strong driving wind” and “tongues as of fire” accompany the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. What was the effect of this outpouring? We read that the apostles went forth confidently, speaking in the many languages of the visitors to Jerusalem. In the words of St. Bede, “Now the Holy Spirit appeared in fire and in tongues because all those whom He fills He makes simultaneously to burn and to speak – to burn because of Him and to speak about Him.” From the beginning of time, the Holy Spirit has been at work with the Father and the Son on the divine plan for our salvation. Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at our baptism, we are each called to be cooperators with that plan, not only for our own sanctification, but for the sanctification of the whole world. The Catholic Church is God’s sacramental presence on earth, imbued with the Holy Spirit, given to us as a means for our salvation. All the resources of the Church – human, physical, financial – must be ordered to Jesus’ great commission to proclaim the Good News of salvation and make disciples of all nations. This is the purpose of Beacons of Light, to best enable the proclamation of the Gospel in our own archdiocese. On July 1, we will move on to the next major phase of Beacons of Light, implementation of the new Families of Parishes and the start of intentional pastoral planning within each of those Families. This planning will be rooted in sincere prayer and open collaboration as each Family together discerns the best and highest use of their shared resources to radiate the love of Christ and form a strong, vital community of evangelization and service centered on the Eucharist. There will undoubtedly be hard decisions involving sacrifice and loss, but which will bear great fruit in the future. This is the enduring Christian journey, one which needs to be offered up in prayer to God’s providence. In a 2006 homily, Pope Benedict XVI said, “in Pentecost the Spirit, with the gift of tongues, demonstrates that His presence unites and transforms confusion into communion.” As we move forward into an unsure and sometimes confusing future, let us stay united as the Body of Christ, confident that the Holy Spirit is with us until the end of time. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your commitment to the flourishing of our local Church. May God bless and keep all of us as we journey together on the path of discipleship. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati
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 am cautiously optimistic with the emphasis on “cautious.”
Time of Beacons of Light Listening Sessions
Oops!!! Please note that the listening sessions will start at 6:30 p.m. not at 7:00 p.m.
Listening sessions will be run by our Pastoral Council representative for the Hamilton Deanery, Mr. Mike Wolf. The listening session for Sacred Heart will take place in Fellowship Hall on June 8th at 6:30 p.m. The listening session for St. Ann will take place in the cafeteria on June 23 at 6:30 p.m. After consultation with the experts in this process, I have decided that it would be better for me not to attend these listening sessions, as the presence of the pastor can make some parishioners less comfortable or restricted in offering their opinions. Therefore, my being absent from these meetings in no way diminishes my support for the listening process. Rather, my absence is intended to avoid any obstacle that might be an impediment to openness and candor.
Remember that the Beacons process is unflinchingly committed to the “principle of subsidiarity.” The only “top down” decision that has been made by the Archbishop is that, since St. Ann and Sacred Heart have worked well together as a “Pastoral Region” for the past ten years; from now on the parishes will begin the process of determining how (for the long term future) one priest will be able to serve the needs of both worshipping communities as “one family.” THESE DECISIONS WILL NOT BE MADE BY THE ARCHBISHOP OR BY ME! The decisions will be made by the parishioners who make up the FAMILY.
The principal of subsidiarity requires that every parishioner voice be heard. Parishioner concerns are legitimized by the very fact that you have a vested interest as a “parishioner.” Everyone in a “Family” has to have a voice.
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:
The Feast of Pentecost is sometimes referred to as the “Birthday of the Church.” The logic behind this comes directly from the Nicene Creed in that the four “Marks of the Church” are defined as “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.” It is the descent of the Holy Spirit that marks the beginning of the Church. Other scholars will sometimes comment that the Church began at the Last Supper with the Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist; a more Johannine perspective. Whether we acknowledge the analogy of the metaphor “birthday” or not, the reality is that Pentecost signals the Church as becoming the “image” of Christ in the world.
It is said that “all analogies limp.” The reality we know from Scripture and Tradition is that Jesus left us the Church to be his presence in the temporal world. As members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit draws us together to bridge the gap between the temporal and the eternal. We are the Church militant, we pray for the Church suffering (purgatory), and we honor the Church Triumphant (Saints in Heaven). Jesus Christ (the Resurrected Jesus) transcends time and space to make us all building blocks in the edifice of the Church. The master builder lifts up common stone to be part of an eternal structure. The Holy Spirit lifts us up to be a building block in the Church, made holy by the descent of the Holy Spirit. Live life in the Holy Spirit and you will live forever.
NEXT WEEK Feast of the Most Holy Trinity
Prv 8:22-31
Rom 5:1-5
Jn 16:12-15
Theme: The Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity