Next Sunday: Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Fr. Tharp
Feast of Christ the King
The Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year is November 22. Fr. Schmitz will be out of town that day, and we cannot find a priest to cover for him. I will therefore celebrate all five Masses on Sunday, November 22 (the 9 a.m. and 11a.m. at St. Ann & the 8-10-12 at Sacred Heart. There will be no confessions before Masses at St. Ann that morning, and I will not be able to include any First Communions, Anniversaries, or other celebrations at the Masses that morning due to my need to move rapidly from one place to the other. I have done all five before, but I will need to shorten my homily that weekend, and I won’t be able to be available after any one of the five Masses as time will be of the essence.
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
It appears we are now able to live stream a Mass from Sacred Heart and a Mass from St. Ann EVERY SATURDAY!!! 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
Thanksgiving Can Goods
Can goods will be collected at the Thanksgiving Masses at Sacred Heart and St. Ann. This is not required, but is just an old tradition we did not want to see die.
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: Thirty Thrid Sunday in Ordinary Time
The parable of the ten virgins always seems to be a Biblical version of a “contingency inventory seminar.” The five foolish virgins did not think to stock up on fuel for their torches. The five wise virgins brought additional hours of fuel given the rate of hourly consumption and the prospect of a tardy arrival of the bridegroom. The parable begs the question, “Are you ready for the unexpected return of Jesus Christ?”
The second reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians is used as the scriptural reference to the Protestant concept of the “Rapture.” This has been the proof text for books and movies regarding the “Escaton” or the “Second Coming of Christ.” The evangelical interpretation of the Thessalonians text presumes that the resurrected saints and the living faithful will be “caught up” into the Rapture before the great tribulation. In other words, it presumes that God will keep the saintly followers of Christ safe from ignominious distruction.
As Catholics, we believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We celebrate this aspect of our faith in Christ every Advent. As to the exact itinerary or schedule of the end of time, Catholics and most “main-line” Protestants don’t care. The point of the Sacred Scripture is that we will be with the Lord for all eternity. No greater specificity is needed.
Next Week: Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Prv. 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
1 Thess 5:1-6
Mt. 25:14-30
Theme: The second of three great 25th chapter parables.