5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 10, 2019
THIS WEEK’S REFLECTION
The Deep Waters of Faith
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4
It’s interesting to note that Jesus did not simply tell Peter and the Apostles to put out into the water; rather, He told them to put out into the “deep water.” This is significant.
At the close of the great jubilee year of 2000, Saint Pope John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte in which he began by quoting this Gospel passage. This passage set the tone for the rest of his letter in which he called for a new evangelization for the coming millennium.
“Put out into the deep!” What should we take from this? What should we hear Jesus speaking to us? We should hear Him calling us to “lower our nets” in a tireless and committed way so as to draw many others to the Gospel. When Peter and the Apostles did this in the boat, they caught so many fish that their nets were tearing and they were greatly astonished. This is a prophetic action given to us to tell us that we must evangelize with the utmost enthusiasm and zeal, searching far and wide for God’s lost sheep.
The world we live in can be brutal at times. So many people are lost and confused. Sin is rampant and despair is prevalent. Our world is in desperate need of a Savior and we are the ones Jesus desires to use to gather a huge catch and to find those in greatest need. Jesus desired the Apostles to catch the fish that were in the deep waters as a way of saying that there are countless souls in our world who are far from God. There are many people “swimming” in an ocean of confusion and pain. It is these people, in particular, that Jesus wants to draw in. It’s our responsibility to heed the command of our Lord and to seek them out.
Reflect, today, upon these words of Jesus: “Put out into the deep water.” In what way is Jesus asking this of you? How is it that He is calling you to go out of your comfort zone and “lower your nets?” What is it that He wants of you and how does He desire to use you to further the mission of evangelization. Heed His command and you, too, will be amazed at the good fruit that is born!
MyCathloicLife.com
WORLD MARRIAGE SUNDAY
Today we celebrate World Marriage Day. We praise God for the fidelity and commitment of our married couples. We also acknowledge the strong, faithful and spiritual bond with those who have gone before us. Grounded in family values and strong faith in our God, these couples witness to us the love and happiness found in married life centered in God. Thank you for being with us today to renew your vows and “jump the broom”. Thanks also to our volunteers that have prepared a special reception for our married couples in the Anchorage immediately following Mass.
SISTA CIRCLE
The Sista Circle meets this Tuesday, February 12, 6:00 pm in the Anchorage. All members are encouraged to attend.
HONEST CONVERSATIONS
The Latino Racial Justice Circle will conduct a dialogue series on immigration to promote mutual understanding and collaboration between immigrants and people born in the United States. The first of three meetings will be held tomorrow, Monday February 11, at St. Ann's, in the Anchorage 6:30-8:00pm. You may also call Felipe Filomeno at 410-300-7034 or e-mail him at filomeno@umbc.edu. This program is supported by Maryland Humanities and UMBC.
DEACON SHELTON
Please join us next Sunday, February 17, as we welcome Deacon Shelton from Blessed Sacrament Church.
SOCIAL MINISTRY CONVOCATION
SAVE THE DATE FOR The 40th Annual Social Ministry Convocation for Saturday, March 2 at Mercy High School from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Ana Grande, Organizing Director of the Monsignor Oscar Romero Center in Los Angeles, Ca. will be the keynote speaker. If you are interested in attending please notify the church office (410-235-8169) so that we can get you registered.
SAVE THE DATE
Save the Date for Saturday, April 27th 7:00 pm as the St. Ann’s Choir presents a Gospel Music Celebration Concert, “I Have Magnified the Lord.” This event will be performed at St. Ann’s Church. Donations are $10. Please join us!!!
ADVANCE DIRECTIVES WORKSHOP
There will be an Advance Directives Workshop sponsored by the Maryland Department of Health in partnership with Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Spiritual Care Department on Saturday, February, 23 – 10am – 12 pm. A lite breakfast will begin at 9:30 am. The “Honor My Wishes: My Voice Matters” workshop will provide important information regarding End of life decision making and addresses What an Advanced Directive is and its importance, How to create, plan and complete an Advanced Directive, and How to communicate your last wishes. If you are interested, please use the sign-up sheet located in the back of church. You are also encouraged to bring a friend or someone who may benefit from the workshop. A flyer has also been inserted in today’s bulletin.
LENT
The start of Lent is 5 weeks away. Ash Wednesday is March 6. All are invited to join us for Mass at 7 pm here at St. Ann. This year our Lenten Program will focus on, “Welcoming the Stranger”, and will also include soup and Scripture on each of the 5 Wednesdays of Lent with a special guest speaker. Weekly reflections will be available for participants and we encourage all to join as we gather for our walk with Jesus.
Within our Pastorate, Ash Wednesday Services will also be held at St. Wenceslaus Church at 9 am and St. Francis Xavier at 10 am and 7 pm.
SOCIAL MINISTRY CONVOCATION
SAVE THE DATE FOR The 40th Annual Social Ministry Convocation for Saturday, March 2 at Mercy High School from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Ana Grande, Organizing Director of the Monsignor Oscar Romero Center in Los Angeles, Ca. will be the keynote speaker. If you are interested in attending please notify the church office (410-235-8169) so that we can get you registered.
WITH SYMPATHY
We offer our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the family of Augustine Christian as he was called home to be with the Lord this past week. Mr. Christian was a faithful man of God and we know he watches over us from above. May he rest in eternal peace with the Lord and may the Lord bring comfort, strength and healing to all of Mr. Christian’s family and friends.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please also continue to pray for all of our sick and homebound, especially Florence Barber, James Butts, Connie Colbert (Jeannette Rice), Elaine Cousin, Elaine Edmonds, Gregory Epps, John Frederick, Pat Haley, Rita Hardy, Tom Lutz, Josephine McCoy, Penny Palmer, Bernadette Wallace, Nelson Outlaw, Rita Watkins, and ask that God grant them strength, comfort and healing.
February 2019
Sun., Feb.3 4th Sunday In Ordinary Time
11 am Mass,
Honoring Our Anchors
Sunday School 9:30 am
2nd Floor Youth Room
Adult Bible Study after Mass
Anchorage
Tues., Feb.5 Pastoral Council Meeting
6:30 pm, Anchorage
Thurs., Feb.7 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Fri., Feb.8 Mother Mary Lange, O.S.P.
Awards Banquette
7 pm Martin’s West
Sun., Feb.10 5th Sunday In Ordinary Time
11 am Mass,
World Marriage Sunday
Sunday School 9:30 am
2nd Floor Youth Room
Adult Bible Study after Mass
Anchorage
Mon., Feb.11 The Latino Racial Justice Circle
Honest Conversations Dialogue
Series, St. Ann’s Anchorage
6:30 pm
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
1st Reading Jeremiah 17:5-8
2nd Reading 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20
Gospel Luke 6:17, 20-26