Next Sunday: Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Fr. Schmitz
St. Ann Memorial for Recently Deceased
St. Ann will remember all those whose funerals have taken place in the past year at the Saturday evening and Sunday Masses this weekend (November 1) at St. Ann. In remembering our deceased loved ones, we confirm our belief that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. We will be with our loved ones for all eternity in Paradise if we put our faith in him. By remembering our recently deceased loved ones, we confirm our hope in resurrection and eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Communion on the Tongue
Please remember as I stated in recent articles, until the threat of COVID is over; if you wish to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, you must come to me (Fr. Tharp) ONLY and you must be sure you are at the end of my line. Please do not present yourselves to Fr. Schmitz or any of the Lay Eucharistic Ministers for communion on the tongue! If on Sundays, you see that I am going to be at St. Ann, then you must come to St. Ann that Sunday if you want to receive ONLY on the tongue. I am not willing to ask Fr. Schmitz or any of the Lay Eucharistic Ministers to take a risk with which they are uncomfortable. Be assured, I will follow all the protocols necessary to administer on the tongue safely.
Live Streaming a precept Mass from St. Ann and Sacred Heart each week
Alleluia! At this time it would appear we will be able to live stream a Mass from Sacred Heart and a Mass from St. Ann EVERY SATURDAY!!! It is the same homily since I do both 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
Giving Tree
This year we will not have request cards and collect donated gifts as such, but we will be asking for donations of gift cards (which do not need to be sanitized as gifts would.) More specificity will follow.
First Communion for those who could not last 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 last Spring to have the opportunity to make an “informal” First Communion at any Sunday or Weekday Mass that I celebrate at St. Ann or Sacred Heart (Saturday at 4:00 p.m. excluded), please contact “Lauren” the Parish Secretary at Sacred Heart (513) 858-4210. She has my schedule and will help you in choosing a regularly scheduled Mass when your child can begin receiving the Most Holy Eucharist.
Feel free to choose the aforementioned option or to wait for the formal First Communion Mass (which cannot happen until current Health Department restrictions are lifted.) This is a parental decision. Whatever you think is best for your child; that is what I want to do.
Reflection on Scripture: Feast of all Saints
The Beatitudes as displayed in Matthew’s gospel are a favorite reading for many liturgical occasions. The gospel is read at funerals as well as weddings; at Masses celebrating both God’s forgiveness, as well as His justice. In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us how to look like God. As a little boy growing up, I wanted to look like my father, dress like my father, and do everything I could to emulate my father. As children of God, we should do the same. Jesus tells us that those who spend their lives trying to reflect God’s holiness are given the title of “Holy Ones” or “Saints” in the Kingdom of Heaven. But success in reflecting the holiness of God, places us in diametrical contradiction to the standards of the secular world. Jesus says that to be blessed, our standards must be counter cultural. Blessed are the poor? Blessed are the meek? The secular world asks,”What’s wrong with Jesus for saying these seemingly illogical things?” Jesus in turn asks us, “What is wrong with a society that seeks to fill the void caused by sin with the hollowness of self-indulgence.” Trying to fill a “void” with a “vacuum” invites collapse and implosion. Let God fill the void with grace. This is the only formula for sainthood.
Next Week: Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wis 6:12-16
1 Thess 4:13-18
Mt. 25:1-13
Theme: The first of three great 25th chapter parables.