33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 17, 2019

THIS WEEK’S REFLECTION

 Discernment

 “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’  Do not follow them!”  Luke 21:8

 What an interesting line.  What does this mean?  Who are the “many” that Jesus speaks of?  Are they in our midst today?

 It may not be helpful to try to point to this or that person or to this or that group of people in reference to the “many” who will come in Jesus’ name falsely.  But it is helpful to speak to some general and guiding principles.

 First, Jesus uses the word “deceived.”  There will be many false prophets who will have the ability to deceive.  They will portray themselves as messengers of the truth and dispensers of the will of God.  Their words will be convincing and many will follow. 

 This tells us that not everyone “speaking in the name of God” is in fact speaking in the “name of God.”  And even if many others are following, and they are very convincing, this is not proof that the person is a true prophet of the Lord.

 How do we discern when someone is speaking from the heart of Jesus?  Ultimately, this can only be done through a state of prayer.  Being in a “state of prayer” means that our hearts are attuned to God’s voice.  When God speaks through this or that person and our hearts are tuned into Him, we will simply know His voice as it is spoken through this or that person.

 Conversely, when we are living in a state of true prayer and then someone speaks a false and deceiving message, something will not sit well with us.  There will be a sense in the depths of our souls that something is not right.  It will be a spiritual sense and this is a result of the healthy working of our conscience.  There are external guides such as the revealed teaching of the Church and the counsel of other good Christians, but in the end we must allow God to speak within our consciences and follow His voice in this holy sanctuary.

 Reflect, today, upon whether or not you daily seek out and hear God speaking to you in the depths of your conscience.  Listen closely and attentively.  Learn His voice and seek to hear Him speak through other people.  And when the voice of others is in opposition to the voice speaking within your soul, remain faithful to God speaking within you.  It is there, more than any other place, that He will lead you.

 -MyCathloicLife.com

PRAYER WALK AT ST. ANN

Please join Bishop Madden for his next prayer walk this Wednesday, November 20th, at St. Ann Church, 528 E. 22nd Street 21218. The evening will begin with a light meal at 5:30 p.m. in the Anchorage with prayer in the church and end before 7:30 p.m. During the walk, we will pray at specific locations that have been affected by violence, and for all those individuals who have been so terribly affected by violence. Our walk will also include stops at places of new birth. Please join us!

 FOOD DONATIONS

St. Ann’s Food Pantry Committee will be collecting items for this month’s Thanksgiving outreach. Items that are needed are stuffing mix, cake mix, gravy, green beans and cranberry sauce. You can place your donated items in the bin by the Usher’s table as you enter church. All donations will need to be collected by Sunday, November 24. And thank you for your generous donations.

 OUTREACH

Members of our Outreach Committee will conduct our monthly Food Pantry next Tuesday, November 26, to help assist those in the neighborhood who are in most need just before the Thanksgiving Holiday

 Members of St. Ann’s Outreach Committee conduct our Food Pantry on the fourth Tuesday of every month. 

THANKSGIVING MASS

There will be two Masses of Thanksgiving for the Pastorate:

 ·         A vigil Mass on Wednesday, November 27, 7:00 pm at St. Ann

·         And Thanksgiving Day Morning, November 28, 10 am at St. Francis Xavier Church.

 Everyone is invited to bring a food item for your holiday table to be blessed during Mass.

ROBERTA’S HOUSE

Roberta’s House Grief Support Center presents United in Hope Candlelight Service of Remembrance to honor the memory of your loved one this Holiday Season, Saturday December 7, 2019 3:30 pm, at Johns Hopkins Turner Auditorium, 720 Rutland Ave., Baltimore, MD. 21205. This is a Free Event. Donations are Welcome. See flyer in this week’s bulletin.

 SISTA CIRCLE HOLIDAY TEA

Save the date for Saturday, December 14, 2019 as St. Ann’s Sista Circle presents “She Shall Wear A Crown, for their 16th Annual Holiday Tea at St. Matthew’s Church, 5401 Loch Raven Blvd. 1 pm – 5 pm. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased from members of the Sista Circle or contact Rachel Carrenard at 410-343-0037. There will be Door Prizes, a 50/50 Raffle, Vendors and Live Entertainment.

 MOTHER SETON ACADEMY

Mother Seton Academy invites us to join them on Sunday, December 15, 2019 2:00 pm as Bishop Denis Madden Dedicates their Newly Constructed Gymnasium located behind the school’s court yard on Boone Street. The new Gymnasium will give students “a place where they can play and enjoy themselves, a learning garden to show them the wonder and beauty of our world and a music room with plenty of space for unique and exciting instruments for the children to play.”

                         – Sr. Peggy Juskelis, SSND, President Mother Seton Academy

THANK YOU

The Oblate Sisters of Providence wish to extend a heartfelt Thank You to the parishioners of St. Ann Church for the wonderful service last Sunday as we celebrated their 190 Years in Ministry, for Black Catholic History Month.

 A special thank you to the St. Ann’s Liturgy Committee for all of their planning and preparation to help make the day memorable. We also extend a thank you to the Knights of Peter Claver – Ladies Auxiliary, St. Ann’s Court # 331 for hosting the luncheon for the Oblate Sisters of Providence.  

WITHIN THE PASTORATE:

ST. WENCESLAUS BULL AND OYSTER ROAST:

Our next fund raising event is the Bull and Oyster Roast on Friday, November 15th from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Held at Professional Touch Caterers Rosedale Gardens, 8037 Philadelphia Rd. Tickets are $50 per person.

REVIVAL:

A Revival for the Pastorate Community of Historic Francis Xavier, St. Ann, and St. Wenceslaus Churches will be held December 5th -7th, 6:00 pm, inviting All Believers to “Stand Up & Deliver! Show Up & Shout!" with Revivalist Fr. Kingsley Ogbuji. at St. Francis Xavier Church 1501 E. Oliver St. 21213

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please also continue to pray for all of our sick and homebound, especially Florence Barber, Kathleen Beckhardt, James Butts, Sandra Canty, Joshua & Elaine Cousin, Elaine Edmonds, Gregory Epps, John Frederick, Pat Haley, Rita Hardy, Eric & Harriette Lowery, Tina Lutz, Tom Lutz, Nelson Outlaw, Penny Palmer, Larry Sewell, Bernadette Wallace, Rita Watkins and ask that God grant them strength, comfort and healing.

NOVEMBER

Sun., Nov.17       33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time   11 am Mass

                             Sunday School begins 9:30am  Anchorage, 2nd floor

                             Adult Bible Study, after Mass  Anchorage Dining Room

Wed., Nov.20      Prayer Walk, St. Ann’s Church   5:30 pm

Thurs., Nov.21   Evening Mass, 7pm

                             Bible Study after Mass, Anchorage Chapel 

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

1st Reading                                         2 Samuel 5:1-3       

2nd Reading                                  Colossians 1:12-20

Gospel                                                 Luke 23:35-43