Church Crisis in America? — Solved.

Conversion. Communion. Solidarity.

Sometime this week watch this video :

‘Evangelizing Young People and Their Nations’

Don’t break it up. Don’t watch in parts. But instead, set aside 1 hour during the week for the special intention of watching it prayerfully–whole and entire.

I stumbled upon it following a parish council meeting wherein our new St. Patrick of the Forest Strategic Plan was presented. After the meeting–looking over the plan at home–I was inspired to reassess what our family is doing in helping spread the Gospel and new evangelization. Looking back, our family conversion owes much in the way of thanksgiving for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We’ve truly experienced the reality of conversion, communion, and solidarity within our lives–an encounter with the living Christ…     

An interesting and hope-filled side note: As we all know we’re living through a very difficult period within the life of the Church at present, but this is not without historical precedent. Consider by comparison our times with those in which Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531) brought millions of souls into the church and salvation. History reveals those times were not so very dissimilar than our own days : Read about it here and trust that when God, (and therefore His church), appears to be most defeated in the estimation of the world that’s when He’s most powerful… Christ Crucified proves that!    

View. Read. And don’t forget to come back and discuss…

Background Documents: Ecclesia In America – Evangelii Nuntiandi   

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Parish Dates

JUNE 7th – ALTAR SOCIETY – 11 AM Business meeting and potluck at Clara Hamilton’s home.

JUNE 8th – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Council meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm, in the hall. Everyone is welcome. Next meeting May 4th.

JUNE 4th & JUNE 18th ADORATION

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Spend an hour with our Lord. 1st and 3rd Friday’s 10AM-7PM.

JUNE 10th – ROSARY MAKERS – 10:30 AM

Come see how this dedicated group of Rosary Makers is sharing the graces of the Rosary throughout the world. For more information, call Janice Sommers at 541-659-2875.

JUNE 26th – ROSARY GROUP BAKE SALE

The Rosary Group bake sale will be after mass in the hall. Please join us for fun and friendship to purchase homemade goodies to take home. We have a monthly bake sale on the last Saturday of each month. See Ya There!

NEWS

Saint Anne’s Youth Nights coming up are:

May 23 – Pentecost: Celebrating with the Spirit

May 30 – Minute To Win It

June 6 – 3rd sorta-annual Caveman Hunt followed by our annual Ice Cream Social. We’ll start the hunt at 3PM, return to the KYC by 4:30PM and determine a winner, and at 6PM we’ll begin the “Social.”

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Weekly Parish Information

• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

1^st and 3^rd Fridays, 10AM to 7PM   Drop-ins always welcome

We need additional scheduled adorers, if you can commit to a specific hour regularly.  Please contact Cindy Crocker 597-2297

• Bible Study

                Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. in the church hall. 

Everyone is welcome. If you have any questions please contact Diane Notter – 592-2319, or Chuck DeBrett – 592-6550.

• Altar Society

First Monday of the month at 10:00 AM in the Elliott Center (September through June). All ladies of the mission are welcome.  Please join us.

• Rosary Makers                                            

2^nd Thursday of the month at 10 AM in the Elliott Center. 

Come and learn to make rosaries. All are welcome.

• Bereavement Arrangements

Please contact St Anne’s Parish Office 476-2240

• Holy Communion for the ill or homebound

If you or a loved one will be in the hospital, or homebound and want to receive the Holy Eucharist please call St. Anne’s Parish Office at 476-2240.

• Bulletin Notices

Please leave your written notice in the editor’s basket, located in the second classroom in the Elliott Hall or email them to:

hpducks@yahoo.com AND adrianna@kymala.com

• Pulpit Announcements

Please give announcements to Scott Bosse by Friday evening. Contact Scott at 592-3328 or scottbosse@gmail.com

Time For Change — Fr. Paschal Ezurike goes to St. Philip Benizi Church

Dear Parishioners,

Change, according to the ancient Greek Philosopher, Parmenides, is the only thing that is permanent; thus, all other things change. Therefore, in life we should always expect change(s). With my ordination to the Catholic priesthood fifteen years ago, I have always seen change in place of pastoral assignment as something that is imminent.

Sequel to the above beloved in Christ; I just want to inform you that I got a call from the office of Vicar for Clergy that I should prepare my mind for a change starting from July 1st. The change is necessary according to the authorities because the Church needs my services up north. My new assignment is to be the administrator of St. Philip Benizi Church, Redland, Oregon City. Pray for me.

Blessings, Fr. Paschal Ezurike

Happy Mother’s Day by Rev. Paschal Ezurike

Dear Parishioners,

As a child growing up Catholic in the eastern part of Nigeria, I was taught right from father’s house, in the school and in the church that the fifth month of the year, the month of May, is a special month for a special devotion to our Blessed virgin Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Therefore I grew up in a community where Marian devotion was encouraged and highly promoted. It contributed greatly to my love and devotion to our Blessed Mother.

As a child I remember that the young and old used to gather every evening at the village square for the Rosary, other prayers and sing Marian hymns and I am happy that the practice is still on today under the auspices of Bloc Rosary Crusade. In my Diocese of Orlu, different parishes gather at different times this month mostly in the evening to say the Rosary and conclude with benediction.

The month of May, it will be recalled in 1917, was when Our Blessed Mother first appeared at Fatima to the three young children, admonishing them to pray for peace and to encourage others to do so as well. In the Archbishop’s column of the catholic Sentinel of April 29, 2010, our Archbishop John Vlazny made a powerful point when he was referring to the admonition, he said “that admonition needs to be taken seriously today as it was back then during the first World War. The kind of peace we seek is not only an end to wars with weapons but also an end to wars with words, feelings and resources.”

As Catholics we are encouraged to be more devoted and fervent in saying our Rosary especially during the month of May. Commenting on this special month of May, the late Pope Paul VI, in a letter to the world in 1965 wrote, “for this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts come down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

Providentially in this Country, we celebrate the gift and dignity of motherhood in the month of May. On mothers’ Sunday (2nd Sunday in May) we show our special love to our sweet mothers and pray for them in a special way and surprise them with special gifts. Imagine the world without the woman/mother, but thank God there is. Motherhood among other good qualities is a symbol of productivity and fertility. Rejoice for being a woman/mother. We love you all and appreciate your significant roles in the family, church and society.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, Blessings, Rev. Paschal Ezurike

Weekly Scripture Readings

USCCB WEEKLY READINGS 

Readings May 23 – May 29

Sun:       5/23        Acts 2:1-11,  1 Cor 12:3b-7,12-13,       Jn 20:19-23

 Mon:      5/24        1 Pt 1:3-9, 1 Pt 1:3-9

Tues:      5/25        1 Pt 1:10-16,   Mk 10:28-31

Wed:      5/26        1 Pt 1:18-25, Mk 10:32-45

Thurs:   5/27        1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12, Mk 10:46-52

Fri:         5/28        1 Pt 4:7-13,   Mk 11:11-26

Sat:         5/29        Jude 17, 20b-25,   Mk 11:27-33

Family Faith Sharing Questions – Share your faith!!

We encourage parents to reflect on these questions at home with their children

May 16 􀀾The Ascension of the Lord 􀀾Luke 24:46-53

Today’s Gospel reading is from the very end of Luke. Jesus is talking with his disciples and reminds them that it was written, “the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.” He also reminds them that in the name of the Messiah, repentance and forgiveness of all sins would be preached from Jerusalem and throughout the world.

Then Jesus blesses the disciples and ascends into heaven.

Remember a time when you have told another person (or God) that you’re sorry for something you said or did. How did that make you feel? Why do you think it’s important to forgive and be forgiven?

May 23 􀀾Pentecost 􀀾John 20:19-23

In this Sundays’ gospel passage, we hear that the disciples are all together in one room, the doors locked, and they are afraid. Jesus comes and stands in the room with them.

“Peace be with you.” He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” The disciples are not afraid and go outside with Jesus.

Can you call on this gift of the Holy Spirit when you need strength in your life? How?

What times in your life could you have asked for strength and didn’t?

From the Office of Faith Formation

In just 6 weeks our schools will be out and our concerns for the safety of our children shifts from winter weather conditions and school concerns to one of summer water recreation, sports, and to the awareness of tourists in our backyard. Even as visitors to a new area or place when we take trips, we need to be aware of our surroundings. We need to teach our children how to be safe around water, the ocean, and strangers in our own backyard, church, or the mall. We must what to do if they get lost or separated from their parent or adult that they are with. We need to make sure that we research day cares, camps, and various organizations that our children participate in. Make sure that all leaders have been checked out, what are the emergency plans, and are the instructors trained for the activity they will be instructing our children. Are the buildings safe? There are many things to think about and we need to make sure we give good, clear instructions to our children about what to do when things happen or give them preventative measures to do in the event of potential problems. Also, the summer brings many visitors to our parish, so, again I say beware of surroundings, use the buddy system when sending a child to the restroom or take them yourself. Be prepared, be cautious, know what is going on around you.

Summer also brings Vacation Bible School or VBS. This year our theme is “Joseph from Prison to Palace.” We will spend 5 days in an Egyptian market place and follow in Joseph’s footsteps. We will learn how God never abandoned Joseph, we will see the trials that he faced and how he handled them.

Our “trip” to Egypt starts on July 19 and will be for that whole week. Watch for registration forms coming in June. Our week will be filled with stories, song, crafts, snacks and games. We may even visit a pyramid or two. We will be asking for donations of snacks and selling pyramid blocks as a fundraiser. Watch for news from Egyptian Times and see what the Pharaoh has to tell you about this event.

I am looking forward to this summer and all of the wonderful events that will be available for all young and old.

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) starts on June 17 at 6:30 PM in room 1 of the parish center. Anyone interested in joining the Catholic Faith is invited to attend. Questions, please feel free to call me.

Blessings, Terry Knouff

Director of Faith Formation and Child Safety, 541-479-4848, tknouff@stannechurch.com

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