11th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - JUNE 17, 2018

From the Pastor . . .

 My Sisters and Brothers:

            We might say that all of us, as we walk the journey of life, are engaged in some kind of wonderful and mysterious “process.”  We all agree that as human beings we are obliged in this process to become the best possible people we can be, each according to his or her gifts and abilities.  When we understand this process from a Christian perspective, we might come to realize that there are times when the faith journey metaphorically takes us into deep valleys, or along paths that are stable and prosperous, and we might perhaps at times find ourselves on lofty, magnificent and exuberant mountain tops.  In any event, (and/or at whatever elevation), we are constantly called and challenged to be faithful to our God, and to the faith we have embraced as Christian people.

            With this in mind, we might want to ponder a bit on the warning given to us in our second reading today; it says “the lives of all of us are to be revealed before the tribunal of Christ so that each one may receive recompense, good or bad, according to his or her life in the body” (see 2 Corinthians 5:10).  This may give us a reason to reflect on the quality of our lives and it may prompt us to examine our consciences.

            We might ask ourselves: “As people of God, are we really and truly faithful to our profession of faith and to our baptismal promises?  And in this sense, do we actually live lives that are worthy of the Christian calling that we have each received?”  I believe that if we cannot answer both of these questions positively, then perhaps now it is the time for us to renew our faith commitments!

            There can be no doubt that our God always calls us (even again and again) to be true to our Christian calling and to be genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus!  Our Gospel today gives us something like a “recipe” for processing our lives well; it calls us to “sow” lives that are faith-filled and spiritually productive.  In it Jesus speaks of the “Kingdom of God” and he teaches us that if we are faithful to it all along the way, then we will be blessed and we will produce great fruits.

            Jesus says “The Kingdom of God is like someone who . . . scatters seed on the ground . . . through it all, the seed sprouts and grows without him or her knowing how it happens . . . of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear” (see Mark 4:26-27).  Acknowledging that no one is “perfect,” we are called nonetheless, as members of the “Kingdom of God,” to be fully engaged in the “process” of being the best possible Christian men and women that we can be.  Along the way, during this “process” we call the journey, we can be sure that our God will be very loving, kind, patient, merciful, forgiving, caring and just, but we must also treat ourselves and others with these same qualities and virtues!  Then, when the harvest day comes, each one of us will be prepared for it!  On that day, may we rejoice because the “recompense” to be received will mirror the manner in which we have been faithful to the Gospel during the journey of our lives!

            Let us always be faithful, and may we rejoice as brothers and sisters that we truly are members of God’s Kingdom!

                                                                                             
Praise God!  Friar Timothy

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

We offer our prayers of blessing and thanksgiving today for all our fathers, living and deceased. You represent for us the mercy, generosity and love of our heavenly Father. May he share those same gifts with you always.

STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY

Discover a way to share yourself with our community. Are you currently in a Ministry or service group at St. Ann? Do you need more members? Or, are you searching for a way to get involved? Perhaps there is a service that you would like to see grow in the Parish. Service is a way to nurture our community and to grow closer to the life Jesus wants for us. Stewardship Sunday is Sunday, June 24. We also ask you to pray for god’s guidance as you prepare to pledge your self-giving at this time of stewardship as your consistent and steady giving is an important part of your involvement in our church community.

As you contemplate on ways in which you may contribute to the mission of our parish, here are just a few of our ministries that you may consider joining:

    Altar Server                          Lector

   Choir                                   Technology &

   Sunday School                    Communications

   Eucharistic Minister            Outreach

   Eucharistic Minister            Hospitality  to the Sick

   Evangelization                   Usher                                     

   Sista Circle                        St. Ann’s Men’s Ministry    

   Physical Plant                    Racial Justice   

   Liturgy                               Community Relations       

  Religious Ed                      Jubilee Seniors       

Count Team                          Finance Committee    

                        Fundraising

JULY 11TH BASEBALL GAME

The Baltimore Orioles will host the children and youth of St. Ann, St. Wenceslaus, and St. Francis Xavier parishes at a game against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards on Wednesday July 11th at 7:05 pm. The Orioles will provide 3 buses and all 3 buses will be at St. Wenceslaus at 5:30 pm on that evening and depart at 5:45pm. They will also provide participants with a hot dog, drink, bag of chips and Oriole gear to wear at the game. Please use the sign-up sheet in the back of church if you would like your child to attend. THE FORM MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE!!!

MISSION COOPERATIVE APPEAL

On Sunday, July 1, 2018, and as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Mission Cooperative Plan, we will welcome Sister Anceline and Sister Divya, both members of the Daughters of Mary, a community of missionary sisters. They will be speaking at the Mass about the missionary efforts of their community, and their service to the Church and to the people for whom they minister.  We ask our parishioners to be generous in response to the mission appeal on July 1st!  Welcome Sisters!

PASTORATE CHURCH PICNIC

St. Francis Xavier, St. Ann, and St. Wenceslaus will gather together for a joint Parish Picnic this Saturday, June 23rd @ O’Dwyer Retreat House 11:00am-7:00pm! All parish members, their families and friends are invited to join us on this day of fellowship.

Location: O’DWYER RETREAT HOUSE

15523 York Road, Sparks, MD 21152

Parish Picnic Pricing including food/games:

All Adults age 15 years and older- $10.00

Children age 14 years and younger- $7.00

 Time & Food:

Pool Time | 12NOON - 6PM

Food Time | 12NOON - 4PM

 ***Attendees are encouraged to bring additional food as desired.

 For tickets and information, please see:

Rogelio D'Almeida 443-413-8568 or rogeliodalmeida@gmail.com , or Bobby Jackson.

TODAY  WILL BE THE LAST DAY TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please continue to pray for all of our sick and homebound, especially Florence Barber, James Butts, Augustine Christian, Danny Dallas, Elaine Edmonds, Gregory Epps, John Frederick, Rita Hardy, Odessa Johnson, Tom Lutz, Penny Palmer,  Bernadette Wallace, Nelson Outlaw, Jeanette Rice and Rita Watkins, and ask that God grant them strength, comfort and healing.

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

1st Reading                                             Isaiah 49:1-6             

2nd Reading                                          Acts 13:22-26 

Gospel                                                   Luke 1:57-66, 80