Next Sunday:  Twenty Fifth  Sunday in Ordinary Time     Celebrant:  Fr. Tharp

                         Homilist: Divine Word Missionary

Official Family Name

With the completion of the run-off election of the two top names, the official name of the family is: “The Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Sacred Heart” or “The Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at St. Ann.”  Thus we have one name for our combined parish family which serves the faithful at two physical distinct church buildings (or worship space) locations. 

Divine Word Missionaries Next Sunday

Next Weekend the Divine Word Missionaries will preach at all the precept Masses at both Sacred Heart and St. Ann.  This is the annual Cooperative Mission Appeal set up by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for each parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  There will be a second collection after Communion for the Cooperative Mission Appeal.

November Ballot Issue enshrining Abortion as a Right

In a letter dated August 12, 2023, Archbishop Schnurr cites the following reasons this amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the November Ballot must be defeated:

• Put women at risk. This amendment would enable elimination of some of the most basic, fundamental safety regulations on abortion clinics, including the current requirement for an abortion to be performed by a licensed physician.
• Threaten parental rights. The vague language in the amendment opens the door to anyone under 18 having an abortion, or even beginning cross-sex hormone treatment, without parental consent or notification.
• Allow abortion through 9 months of pregnancy. The amendment provides caveats such that a healthy, fully-formed infant in the womb who otherwise could be delivered with no issues would still be a candidate for a surgical dismemberment abortion.

For the Catholic Church and indeed all “life centered” religions who believe that God created all life, this is not a political issue.  This is a moral issue.  We see absolute law in the Decalogue.   (Thou shalt not!)   Even for those who would cite some good thing that resulted from abortion, the end does not justify the means.  The Archbishop is encouraging priests, Catholic laity, and all people of good conscience to get involved in attempting to send this “pro-death legislative initiative” down to defeat in November.  

RCIA begins Wednesday, September 20

RCIA classes begin Wednesday, September 20, 2023 in the Church undercroft.  (RH 2&3)   Printed schedules are available at the Church doors, on our website, and promptly sent to any emailed request. 

Precious Blood at Communion

We have distributors lined up for two cups at all three Sunday morning Masses; two at Sacred Heart and one at St. Ann.”  For the moment, we do not have cups lined up for the either of the Saturday evening Masses.  Again, we can only offer both species to the degree we have enough Eucharistic ministers willing to do cups at the various precept Masses.  We hope to have cups offered at the Saturday Masses very soon.

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

As the new reduced Sunday Mass schedule is in place, it has been recommended that I continue to live stream the 4:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart, and consider not live streaming the 5:15 p.m. Mass from St. Ann but instead live stream the Sunday Mass at 9:30 from St. Ann.  We will experiment with this for a time and see which arrangement is more favored.

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:

Saying compassionate things is nice.  Living a life of compassion and forgiveness means we have a compassionate heart.  God wants us to live with hearts filled with genuine compassion.  Compassion means letting the feeling, the emotion define you.  That is what Jesus did.  He never healed to show off or to receive applause.  He did it out of compassion for the person.  Thus, today’s gospel does not recommend behavior!  It recommends allowing God’s forgiveness to so convict you that you can’t help but pass on the compassion and forgiveness you have received.  If you take God’s forgiveness into your soul then you will exude the forgiveness of Christ. 

When a cat sees a moving string, he or she cannot help but pounce.  It is the nature of the animal.  If you allow the forgiveness of Christ to fill your soul, then, made in the image and likeness of God, it will be your nature to forgive as God has forgiven you. 

NEXT WEEK   The Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 55:6-9

Phil 1:20c-24, 27a

Mt 20:1-16a

Theme: Permanent Commitment to Christ