17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 29, 2018
From the Pastor . . .
My Sisters and Brothers:
Isn’t it true that a good celebration, a party, a banquet, a family gathering, an evening with an old friend, a date with a special loved-one, etc., nearly always involves the sharing of some type of meal? Isn’t it also true that when good and plentiful food is shared generously among friends and family, that such exchanges bring life and joy to all (to both those who give and to those who receive)? It’s obvious to us that eating and drinking are more than simply basic survival needs; we also know that at the same time we share our food, we celebrate our lives together!
The sharing of food, an action even echoed by our Eucharistic celebration, really is a paradigm for all of life’s activities, and the way we are called to relate to one another; when we nourish others by giving of ourselves in service to them, especially those who are less fortunate, then we affirm the value and the dignity of their very lives. With this thought in mind, we might gain some insight into the message of today’s Gospel account.
St. John speaks of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes, and the feeding of the five-thousand. This story is a continuation of the same narrative we encountered last week from the Gospel of St. Mark (see Mark 6:30-34 and John 6:1-15). It tells us that not only did the compassionate Jesus think the crowds of people who had been following him were “like sheep without a shepherd” (see Mark 6:34), but he was also concerned that they be nourished as well. St. John tells us that Jesus wanted to be sure that those people had something to eat, and so he asked “where can we buy enough food for them?” (see verse 5b).
After the disciples complained that the cost of feeding such a large amount of people would have been impossibly expensive, suddenly they encountered a small child who gave them his five loaves of bread and his two fish. These offerings were then presented to Jesus, who then “took the five loaves and gave thanks” (see verse 11). The provisions were then miraculously multiplied, so much so that “five-thousand men” (and perhaps as many women and children) were then given more than plenty to eat (see verse 10). As if to illustrate even greater the magnitude of the miracle, the Gospel also tells us that afterward “the fragments left over . . . filled twelve wicker baskets” (see verse 13).
Exactly how this miracle occurred, and the particulars of how the five loaves and two fishes were multiplied and distributed, is something of a mystery to us. What we do know for sure from this story is that the generous sharing of food among all of those people brought life and joy to all who were there! Through his preaching and by his own actions, which were motivated by compassion and love, Jesus made it clear to his followers how he expected them to treat others. In this example, he also taught that by sharing even what at first seemed to be an insignificant amount of food, an abundance of life itself could be given to many!
Just as our Lord felt it was important to meet the physical needs of the people by feeding them, so we too must live our Christian lives in ways that generously reach out to those in need. I believe this is a very important dimension of the Christian way of life. Today, may we once again recommit ourselves to sharing our lives with others by the way we feed and serve those who are less fortunate than ourselves, especially the neediest among us. May we faithfully bring life and joy to all we meet, not only as we gather to share meals, and to join together in celebrating the breaking of the bread, but through all of the actions of our lives!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
FAREWELL FRIAR TIMOTHY
For the past 3 years, St. Ann and St. Wenceslaus churches have been blessed with the pastoral ministry of Friar Timothy Dore, O.F.M., Conv. Today, we bid him a fond farewell on his final Mass here at St. Ann’s as he transitions to take on his new assignment. Please join us for a small reception following today’s Mass to see Friar Timothy off before he departs. We thank Friar Timothy for his ministry to our faith community and wish him continued blessings on his new assignment.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Our neighbors next door, Operation Pulse, will join communities around the nation in hosting a National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 in the 500 block of E. 22nd Street from 5 pm – 8 pm. There will be food, games, prizes, music, giveaways, community resources and much more! All are invited to attend this fun-filled evening.
ECUMENICAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
“Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman of God.” Saturday, September 15, 2018 9: am – 3:00pm; Waldorf, MD. Tickets are $50 and include Breakfast, Catered Hot Lunch T-Shirt and Bus Transportation. Buses leave from St. Ann’s Church. For information and details see Eloise Jackson.
SIGHT AND SOUND TRIP – ‘JESUS’
Just a reminder, if you signed up for the Sight and Sound bus trip to see ‘Jesus’ on November 28th your nonrefundable deposit of $30 and 1st scheduled payment of $20 is due now. You may give your payment to Cynthia Johnson, Marlene Howard, and Mary Middleton or turn it into the church office. Flyers with details are located in back of church.
NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS
Beginning this fall we begin start a new season in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process of instruction and formation for those from age 12 and above who were:
- Never baptized
- Baptized in a different Christian church
- Baptized Catholic but not raised in the church
- Once active in the church but have become inactive.
The process begins with an inquiry stage where we meet those who have interest and help them chart a course to where the Lord may be leading. Take this time to reach out to family members and friends who may benefit from this experience. For more information contact the parish office (410-235-8169) so that we can get you in touch with our experienced and knowledgeable catechists.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We offer our prayers to William Hamilton and his family. William blessed us a couple of weeks ago as a visiting musician playing for our choir at Mass. This past week William suffered a stroke and is in the hospital recovering. We ask God to grant William healing graces as he recuperates.
PRAYER REQUESTS CONTINUED
Please also continue to pray for all of our sick and homebound, especially Florence Barber, Dorothy Horton-Brown, James Butts, Augustine Christian, Danny Dallas, Elaine Edmonds, Gregory Epps, John Frederick, Pat Haley, Rita Hardy, Odessa Johnson, Tom Lutz, Penny Palmer, Bernadette Wallace, Nelson Outlaw, and Rita Watkins, and ask that God grant them strength, comfort and healing.
JULY/AUGUST 2018
Sun., July 29 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 AM Mass
Thurs., Aug.2 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Sun., Aug.5 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 AM Mass
Tues., Aug.7 National Night Out Against
Crime, In front of the Anchorage 5 pm – 8pm
Thurs., Aug.9 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Sun., Aug.12 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 AM Mass
Wed., Aug.15 Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thurs., Aug.16 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Sun., Aug.19 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 AM Mass
Thurs., Aug.23 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Sun., Aug.24 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 AM Mass
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
1st Reading Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
2nd Reading Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
Gospel John 6:24-35