3rd Sunday - May 5, 2019
THIS WEEK’S REFLECTION
Going All In!
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. John 21:7
Peter was all in, literally speaking. This passage above is taken from one of the appearances of Jesus to the Apostles after His Resurrection. They were fishing all night and caught nothing. Jesus, from the shore, told them to cast the net off the right side of the boat. When they did this they caught more fish than they could handle. When John realized it was Jesus and said so, Peter could not contain his excitement and jumped into the water to go and meet his Lord.
What a wonderful image this is to reflect upon. Specifically, it’s wonderful to consider the interior excitement of Peter that led him to jump into the water and swim to the shore. His excitement could not be contained.
Would you jump into a lake to go to our Lord? That may seem like an unusual question but it’s worth considering in a literal way. If you encountered our resurrected Lord, would you be so excited to see Him that you would be compelled to enter into His presence, even if it meant you had to jump into a lake? This action of Peter should be seen as a symbolic gesture for our own spiritual lives. The fact that Peter did not hesitate reveals how we should react when we encounter Jesus.
Obviously we do not encounter Jesus in His resurrected form in the way Peter did in this passage, literally and physically. But we do encounter Him every day, if we only have eyes to see. He is alive within our own hearts through prayer and by His indwelling presence. He is truly present in the people we meet every day. And He is most certainly present in the Sacraments, especially the Most Holy Eucharist.
There are two questions you should consider regarding this passage. The first is whether or not you actually do perceive Jesus’ presence throughout the day. Peter did not recognize Him at first, even though Jesus spoke to him and the others in the boat. It took the miracle for them to recognize it was Him. The second question is how you react to His presence when you do perceive Him. Are you indifferent? Do you lack enthusiasm? Or are you filled with much joy?
Reflect, today, upon these two questions and resolve to become more attentive to the presence of our Lord every day, throughout the day. Resolve, also, to react as Peter did when you see Jesus. Let your heart and passion be drawn to Him and react with extraordinary joy and enthusiasm. Don’t be afraid to go all in for our Lord!
MyCathloicLife.com
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Today, we welcome to the table of the Lord, Ulda Bassole, Kevin Crum, and Rogelio D’Almeida III as they receive their First Holy Communion. As a Eucharistic community, we rejoice with our candidates and their families and friends and pray that they may always walk close to Jesus. A special thank you to Denise Ford Brown, Danielle D’Almeida, Felicia Kelly Crum and Quawandra Dallas-Brown, for working so closely and committedly with our youth.
ROSARY DURING MAY
During the month of May we will pray the rosary 15 minutes before Mass each Sunday. We invite you to come early and join in prayer for the many needs of our church and our world. PASTORAL COUNCIL
The Pastoral Council meets this Tuesday, May 7 in the Anchorage at 6:30 pm. All members are encouraged to attend.
CORE TEAM MEETING
The next meeting for the Pastorate Core Team will be held Saturday, May 11 2019 at The Province Center for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur 305 Cable Street, Baltimore, MD 21210, 10 am – 12 pm. Breakfast will be provided beginning at 9:30 am.
MOTHER’S DAY MASS
Please join us next Sunday, May 12 as we celebrate all of our Mothers, Grandmothers and Godmothers on Mother’s Day.
MASS COUNT SUNDAY
One Sunday each year, we are asked to take a count of the number of people attending Mass to send to the Archdiocese where attendance is tracked from year to year. This year we take count next Sunday, May 12. It is important that this count be accurate so we encourage everyone to be present and to provide all the information requested on the form provided.
ST. ANN'S HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR
Planning is underway for our Annual St. Ann’s Community Health and Wellness Fair for our church family and our neighbors from the surrounding area. The date for the fair is set for Saturday, May 18 12 noon – 3 pm. There will be free health information and screenings, along with snacks and entertainment for children. Help with set up, clean up or any of the activities planned for that day is always needed.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Columbus Gardens
4301 Klosterman Ave.
Baltimore, MD. 21236
8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Raffle drawings
-1st Prize-40” Flat Screen HDTV
-2nd Prize-Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
-3rd Prize-$50 Gift Card
Happenings In the Pastorate: Save These Dates
· 2019 Pastorate Oriole Game – Saturday, July 20th at 7:05 pm against the Boston Red Sox.
· Senior Luncheon – Saturday, June 15th SFX Church Hall.
· The Annual Lucielle Fitzgerald Outreach Center Crab Feast to benefit St. Wenceslaus’ Food Pantry – Saturday, August 10th, 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm. Tickets $60. Rosedale Gardens, 8037 Philadelphia Rd.
· St. Francis Xavier Church –
Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary Annual Fashion Show, Sunday May 19th, from 3 – 6 pm, tickets are $15.00.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please also continue to pray for all of our sick and homebound, especially Msgr. Lloyd Aiken (Sacred Heart Glyndon), Cornelia Bailey, Florence Barber, James Butts, Elaine Cousin, Elaine Edmonds, Gregory Epps, John Frederick, Pat Haley, Rita Hardy, Tom Lutz, Nelson Outlaw, Penny Palmer, Bernadette, Wallace, Sharon Johnson-Stewart Wallace, Rita Watkins and ask that God grant them strength, comfort and healing.
MAY 2019
Sun., May 5 3rd Sunday of Easter
11 am Mass, St. Ann
1st Holy Communion
No Sunday School
1st Penance 10 am
1st Holy Communion Candidates
No Adult Bible Study after Mass,
Tues., May 7 Pastoral Council Meeting
Anchorage, 6:30 pm
Thurs., May 9 Evening Mass, 7pm
Bible Study after Mass, Anchorage Chapel
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
1st Reading Acts 13:14, 43-52
2nd Reading Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
Gospel John 10:27-30