From the Desk of Father Tharp

Festival Workers

Please consider volunteering for our Parish Festival.  It takes a lot of volunteers to make it all happen.  The festival results are so vital to the parish/school operation.  Please volunteer your time in any way you can.

Vacation Bible School

This year Sacred Heart will join St. Ann in our Pastoral Region Vacation Bible School to take place at St. Ann July 9 through 12.  Please pray for our children as they encounter their faith.

REP Registration

St. Ann and Sacred Heart operate a combined Religious Education Program for students grades 1-8 not enrolled in and receiving religious training from a Catholic School (used to be called CCD).   Registration for this program is open.  Schedules and registration forms are available at the doors of church or from the parish office.

NAACUS Mass on July 1 at Sacred Heart

The National Association of African Catholics in the United States is a group approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  NAACUS brings together all African Catholic communities in the United States while promoting their faith, and ensuring active and full participation in support of the Church in the United States and Africa.  NAACUS will celebrate Mass at Sacred Heart on July 1, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.  All St. Ann and Sacred Heart parishioners are invited to attend.

Reflection on Scripture

The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist liturgically supersedes the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  We all know the story of how Zechariah was fulfilling his priestly duty at the evening offering when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him that he and Elizabeth would have a son in their old age.  Because Zechariah protested, he could not speak until John was born.  When it came time for the circumcision, the family thought he would be named after Zechariah his father, but Zechariah confirmed by writing that his name was John.  Then his tongue was loosed and he spoke praising God. 

When any great king or conqueror entered a new town, his presence was announced so that people would show respect.  John the Baptist played this role as the final and greatest prophet.  John is prophet of the Most High.  Jesus is the Son of the Most High.  John will go before the Lord.  Jesus is the Lord.\

So what does the story of John the Baptist’s birth mean in practice for the Church?  By our reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation we are all called to boldly proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.  John was filled with the Holy Spirit.  This is what takes place for us at Confirmation.  Matthew clarifies this in his gospel when Jesus says, “Of those born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”  The Sacraments of the Church give us the fulfillment of what John foretold. 

 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wis 1:13-15, 2:23-24

2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15

Mk 5:21-43

Theme: “Talitha koum,"