5th Sunday of Easter - May 19, 2019

THIS WEEK’S REFLECTION

 Glorification Through Suffering

 When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.”  John 13:31

 It is essential to know the end of the story.  Jesus knew the end when He spoke these words to the Apostles at the Last Supper right after Judas left to go and betray Him.  It’s important to put this situation within the context that Jesus understood it.  From a purely human point of view, one of Jesus’ closest friends was about to betray Him for money.  For most of us this would have been devastating and the cause for anger and hurt.  But because Jesus knew the end of the story, He was able to see Judas’ betrayal as the means to His glorification, not His defeat.  He turned His eyes toward Heaven and all that He would accomplish through His suffering rather than look at the immediate pain He would soon endure. 

 This is a powerful lesson for us all.  First, it’s essential that we look at Jesus’ glorification through His betrayal, suffering and death.  But we must also strive to see the potential that our own sufferings have when united to the Savior of the World.

 How do you react when another sins against you?  How would you have reacted to Judas betraying your love?  This is a very difficult question to face in honesty and it is even harder to live the response that Jesus lived.  The truth is that every time we are mistreated by another, we are given an opportunity to glorify God and further the Kingdom of Heaven by forgiving, uniting our suffering with Christ’s, and offering mercy.  This is much easier to speak about than to live.

 Reflect, today, upon this scene of the Gospel.  Gaze upon Judas leaving the Last Supper and going out into the night to betray our Lord.  But look at it in the way Jesus saw it.  Look at it with the understanding that this was the means chosen by the Father to bring salvation to the world.  Reflect, also, upon every opportunity that you are given to do as Jesus did.  Try to be concrete and specific and see any and every suffering you endure as a glorious opportunity to dispense the mercy of God.  Though this may be difficult at first, it is this act of love that will give great glory to the Father in Heaven!

                                                                -MyCathloicLife.com

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.

 OUTREACH

Members of our Outreach Committee will conduct our monthly Food Pantry this Tuesday, May 21, to help assist those in the neighborhood who are in most need just in time for Memorial Day.

 HEALTH FAIR

THANK YOU to all who participated and contributed to our Annual Community Health and Wellness Fair. A special thanks to the ladies of the St. Ann Sista Circle for their planning and hard work. Thanks also to St. Ann’s Men’s Ministry and all who helped with set-up and clean-up. Your extraordinary hard work helped to make the event a great success.

ST. ANN’S ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Our Annual St. Ann’s Fundraiser is next Friday, May 31. We will celebrate with a Shrimp and Bull Roast which features an all you can eat menu. Tickets are currently available at $60 per person. Payment plans may also be established for the purchase of your ticket. Please see Bobby Jackson and our ticket captains for tickets and information. Tickets may also be purchased in church office. 

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

FR. JOE MUTH CELEBRATES 45 YEARS IN MINISTRY

We congratulate our dear friend and former pastor, Fr. Joe Muth, as he celebrates 45 Years in the Priesthood! A Mass to honor Fr. Joe’s Anniversary was held today at St. Matthew’s Church. May the Risen Lord’s graces continue to be upon Fr. Joe and all the people he faithfully shepherds.  

MSGR. LLOYD AIKEN

For the past 32 years, Msgr. Lloyd Aiken has served as pastor of our sister parish of Sacred Heart Glyndon in Reisterstown, Md. Through those years, our two parishes have developed a remarkable relationship from which countless blessings have been experienced. Today, Msgr. Aiken will give his final Mass as pastor of Sacred Heart Glyndon as he retires. We send Msgr. Aiken our prayers and love and know that he will always have a special place in the hearts of the St. Ann’s Community. We also hold in our hearts and in our minds our sisters and brothers of Sacred Heart Glyndon.

 PRAYER WALK

Bishop Madden will hold a prayer walk on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at St. Casimir Church – 2800 O’Donnell Street, Baltimore, MD 21224.

The evening will begin with a light meal at 5:30 p.m. 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, and for a change of heart in those given to violence.

Parish phone: (410) 276-1981.

PRE-FATHER’S DAY BREAKFAST

Pre-Father's Prayer Breakfast hosted by the Men of St. Gregory's on Saturday June 16, 2019 8:00 a.m. to 12 Noon at St. Peter Claver / St. Pius V Harper Hall located at 1546 N. Fremont Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21217. Our theme this year is "Iron Sharpens Iron" (Proverbs 27:17) Deacon Seigfried Presberry of St. Ambrose Church will be the guest speaker and will lead group discussions on the topic.

 This event is open to men, women, and children 13 and older. Donations are $10.00 per person before June 1st. $15.00 until June 12th. No sales will be made at the door.  Payment Methods: Checks / Money Orders by June 10th made payable to  St. Gregory the Great Church, c/o John Berkley,  1542 N. Gilmore Street, Baltimore, MD 21217.  Electronic Payment: PayPal jcberkley@erols.com (Friends/Family Option).  Cash: Contact John Berkley at 443-691-4602 to arrange pickup.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Oblate Sisters of Providence.

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 19   5th Sunday of Easter

                         11 am Mass, St. Ann  1st Holy Communion

  Sunday School 9:30 am

                          2nd Floor Youth Room

                           Adult Bible Study after Mass   Anchorage

Tues., May 21  Monthly Food Pantry

                          Anchorage, 10 am – 12 pm

Thurs., May 23 Evening Mass, 7pm

                           Bible Study after Mass,   Anchorage Chapel

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

1st Reading                                   Acts 15:1-2, 22-29           

2nd Reading                    Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

Gospel                                                  John 14:23-29