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Browsing From the desk of Fr. Tharp

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Oktoberfest

Because the revenues raised have not been commensurate to the volunteer hours expended, the St. Ann Parish Council in consultation with other parish groups has determined it best to eliminate the Oktoberfest at St. Ann.  We will be considering another fundraising vehicle to take its place.

 

St. Ann Building for the Future

Remember that the materials presented at the October 28 after the 5:15 p.m. Mass at St. Ann are still available at the doors.  The unanimous consensus of those present was to secure more accurate numbers for a “phased project” approach.  It seems precipitous at this time to spend $20,000 for a professional Financial Feasibility Study when all preliminary numbers point to the probability that St. Ann could (under the best scenario) hope to collect less than half the money necessary for the full project.  Why spend $20,000 just to confirm the obvious? 

 

The unanimous consensus was that we secure various sizes and material types for a reduced gymnasium/parish hall only and divide even this lower number in phases so that no demolition or construction could proceed until the money for that phase is in hand. 

 

After we secure better numbers for a reduced and phased project, the parish will vote on whether it is time to spend the money for a financial feasibility study for a phased project.  Please refer to a copy of the Meeting Notes for further information as to what was presented at the meeting.

 

Turkey Fest

Don’t forget the St. Ann PAC “Turkey Fest” on Saturday, November 18.  See bulletin for more details.

 

Annual Fr. Tharp Split the Pot

 

We are beginning to sell tickets for the annual “Fr. Tharp Split the Pot for St. Ann.”   As in the past, we will sell tickets to the end of the calendar year.  As the pot grows larger, interest swells.  Encourage your friends and associates to buy early and buy often. 

 

Pre-Baptism Class for Infant Baptisms

Are you anticipating your first infant baptism at St. Ann or Sacred Heart?  I have the Infant Pre-Baptism Workshop every second Monday of each month in the basement room RH 2&3 at Sacred Heart Church at 8:00 p.m.   The entire session takes about forty five minutes.  If you already attended my workshop for a recent baptism, or if you have attended the workshop recently at another parish, there is no need to repeat the class.  No need to register for this; simply show up by 8:00 p.m. Monday, November 13 at Sacred Heart and come to the basement room RH 2&3.  This is the workshop for both St. Ann and Sacred Heart, but obviously I have to have it in one location.

 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is ten days away.  Please be advised that Thanksgiving is NOT a Holyday of Obligation.  You are not required to attend Mass on Thanksgiving.  Nevertheless, there will be an anticipatory Mass on Wednesday, November 22 at Sacred Heart at 7:00 p.m.  Masses on Thanksgiving are 7:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart and 9:00 a.m. at St. Ann. 

 

Fr. Tharp still away on Tuesday Afternoons

For the past eight years, I have been given the opportunity to teach a class at the Seminary on Pastoral Administration.  I teach a three hour class once each Tuesday afternoon between now and Christmas.  Therefore, from now until Christmas, I will be unavailable by telephone and out of my office on Tuesday afternoons. 

 

Reflection on Scripture

The parable of the ten virgins is the first of three parables in the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.  The second is the parable of the talents.  The third is the judgment of the nations.  The third is the one everyone knows from the phrase, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you did it to me.”  Because of its popularity, it sometimes displaces the parable of the ten virgins. 

 

This first parable of the ten virgins is perhaps one of the clearest metaphors in the Sacred Scripture.  The virgins await the bridegroom just as the Church awaits the second coming of Christ.  Five make provisions for a long wait.  The other five take the “c’est la vie” attitude or approach.  The unprepared are left out; both figuratively and literally.  If we are unprepared for the Second Coming of Christ, we can blame only ourselves.  In this case, lethargy is a sin of omission.  Lethargy in the light of eternity is inexcusable. 

 

Readings for the Thirty Three Sunday in Ordinary Time    

Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

1 Thes 5:1-6

Mt 25:14-30

 

Theme:  Parable of the Talents

 

 

 

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