Posted on: April 12, 2020

Happy Easter!

“Why Are You Weeping?” Easter 2020

“I have risen, and I am with you still, alleluia.” These are the words of our Entrance Antiphon this Easter morning. Lent is over and now we should have that instant joy because it is Easter; however, it doesn’t really feel that way. Our lives haven’t really changed from last night to this morning. In Archbishop Don’s Easter message, he speaks of our longings – longing for Jesus in the Eucharist, longing to be with our family and friends this weekend, longing to return to jobs and longing for visitors. There are still many uncertainties and insecurities but Christ has truly risen and he conquers all sin, death, fear, sorrow, grief, illness and pain including all of ours. Christ entered into a new way of life with his apostles and he also desires us to experience new life in a new and deeper way as he truly comes to make all things new.

In our Gospel, we hear how Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and the other disciple came to the tomb. Each of them approached the tomb and responded in a different way. I often wonder who I am most like? Am I like the apostles and run to the tomb? Do I enter immediately, like Simon Peter and believe – believe from simply seeing the signs? Am I like the other disciple and hesitate to enter but when I do, I can see and believe and then go on my way? Am I like Mary? She stands outside the tomb weeping and then she looks in to see two angels. The tomb is a place of sorrow and worry for her. The angels ask her why she is weeping and she honestly shares her words of anguish and distress. She is searching for her Lord but is so distraught she can’t even recognize him when she turns around and he is there, standing right in front of her. Am I too busy searching and looking but not entering the “tomb” in my life to see and not even recognize Christ standing right in front of me? They all see an unexpected reality. Something has changed and life will not be the same. 

I must admit, that even though we had the Easter Triduum livestreamed for us, as I stated in the last message, I really miss our parish family. The familiarity of each of the services, especially the music, left an emptiness in my heart. I wondered how I could share an Easter message that was to be joyful when I didn’t feel that joy. As I was preparing what to share today, I received a phone call from Speers Funeral Chapel, telling me that one of our dearly devoted long-time parishioners, Bella Winter passed away. My response was not one of sadness but of great joy. I, personally, had such a close friendship with Bella, Ella and Helen who were known to many in the parish as the “Three Wise Women” or the “Holy Women of the High Rise”. It wasn’t Bella’s death that brought joy to me but it was knowing that she is now with Ella and Helen and I know that they are rejoicing with the angels and saints and are interceding for us at St. Anne.

My joy doesn’t come from what I am feeling but from my faith in what I believe. The resurrection of Jesus should bring us the greatest joy. There are times in my life that I see and believe and there are times when I don’t recognize Christ immediately. Think of the angels as sitting on the tombs of our life, of our anxieties, uncertainties, fear and despair and gently leaning down to us and saying, “Why are you weeping? Jesus rose from the dead and He is here with you. None of these things have the last word.” The angels can sit so serenely on the tombs of our life because they know that Jesus has conquered all. With Jesus there is always hope and new life. The angels point us to Jesus urging us to share the good news. What is important is how I share that – do I keep it to myself or do I share with others the encounters I have with Christ? Jesus knows and seeks out each one of us, calling us by name, just as he did to Mary. Today, our little grandson was to be baptized at St. Anne. To be called by name and be received into the church as a child of God. Through each of our baptisms, we are also called by name. Jesus always seeks us, he knows our hearts and it’s way and all of it’s intentions.

We have had 40 days of Lent, which has been referred to as the Lentiest Lent. We now have 50 days of Easter until we celebrate Pentecost (40 days until the Ascension of Christ).  Maybe this can be the Easteriest Easter we have ever experienced. Allow Christ to continue to reveal himself to you and meet you - in new ways, in new places, places we maybe weren’t looking or didn’t think to see him. Sometimes we do not recognize him. Pray to have new resurrected eyes and ears to see and hear Christ in new ways.

 

May your hearts be filled with Easter joy.

In Christ,

Shannon

In Memorium

 

A private interment will be held for Perpetua (Bella) Winter this week with a Memorial Mass at St. Anne at a later date. 

Please pray for the repose of Bella’s soul and for her family.

 

Birthday Greetings

St. Anne Parish would like to send birthday wishes to Fr. Ken Koep whose birthday is April 13. 

May the Easter season bring you as much joy as you bring to others!

Happy Birthday!

 

Posted on: April 9, 2020

By Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world

See I Am Making All Things New

Most of us are familiar with the story about Martha and Mary. Jesus goes to their house and Martha is busy preparing everything for Jesus’ visit as Mary sits at Jesus’ feet while he teaches. This is the week where Roberta Walsh and I typically go into “Martha mode” as we busily get our church ready for the biggest celebration of the church year – the Easter Triduum. We go shopping for Easter flowers, make sure all the details of each day are looked after, change the banners and get the church decorated for Holy Thursday, undecorate the church for the Good Friday liturgy and then decorate the church again for the Easter Vigil. 

The past few days, I have been presented with so many opportunities to enter into Holy Week in “Mary mode” with online conferences, retreats, masses, rosaries, Holy Week reflections, etc. So many priests, religious and Catholic speakers are coming together to create a beautiful Holy Week for all of us who will not gather together physically for the highlight of our church year. What a blessing to have so many ways to prepare my heart well for the Triduum.

On Holy Thursday, I will miss watching the oils being brought into the church, the priest washing the feet of 12 of our parishioners, the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Tabernacle of Repose and the few hours of being able to sit in Adoration with our Lord. 

On Good Friday, I will miss experiencing the very beautiful and moving moments as each person one by one approaches and venerates the cross. 

And then the big one…the Easter Vigil. Watching the new Paschal Candle being ignited from the fire at the beginning of the Vigil and then the spreading of the light to each person present. To look around the church and see how each tiny flame fills our church with brightness as the beautiful Easter Proclamation is chanted. The smell of the beeswax candles are heavenly! After all of the readings from Holy Scripture are proclaimed and the psalms are all sung, we get to hear the Alleluia once again. After the homily, the new water of baptism is blessed. This year, we were so excited to welcome through Baptism, Evan Olson, followed by Confirmation along with Ray Arscott and Danelle Hendren. I will miss the joy of seeing the priest sprinkle (or shower) each one of us with the newly blessed water. I will especially miss each one of you and your families on Easter Sunday. 

This weekend, we will not gather at our parish of St. Anne for this Easter Triduum and our Elect and candidates will need to wait a bit longer to be baptized, confirmed and to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. However, this year, we have an opportunity to all come together as a larger church family. Our entire archdiocese can participate in the Triduum with our Archbishop this year. I have read that when we can’t go to Mass, we should send our angel. What a grace and gift that is for Archbishop Don to look out, not into an empty Cathedral, but to a church filled with all of our angels.

I extend my prayers, hugs and Easter blessings to every one of you and know that all things will be made new through this time.  Take a moment to watch this video and listen to this beautiful and touching song called Making All Things New. 

 

In Christ,

Shannon Novak - Pastoral Assistant

Suggestions to live out the Easter Triduum​

When we can’t go physically to our parishes, the invitation this year is to go out spiritually. To intensify our living of Holy Week by meditating on the example of Jesus. 

Holy Thursday – At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us 3 Gifts – The Sacrament of the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Holy Orders and a New Commandment to love and serve each other. Jesus washes the feet of the disciples and he also washes their hearts in preparation for the Eucharist. After the Last Supper, Jesus goes to the Garden to pray and is alone but he doesn’t leave us alone. He is with us. Tonight, spend some time in the Garden with Jesus praying and allow Him to enter into your heart. Jesus shares in our sorrow and distress but we know that love conquers all. 

On Holy Thursday, we will enter into the deep meaning of the Holy Priesthood. Join our parish family in this Prayer for Priests:

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry. Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love. Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Lead them to new depths of union with your Son. Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son. Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

 

Suggested Scripture passage – Matthew 26

 

Good Friday – Jesus is stripped of his clothes, beaten and nailed to a cross. Right now, we may feel that we have been stripped of many things but we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. We have also been stripped of many distractions and now have the potential to reach our Lord in a much deeper way. Remember that He is making all things new. 

Suggested Scripture passage – John 18 & 19

Easter Vigil – Jesus suffers at this time out of love for each one of us. Love and sorrow are the keys that can unlock all the graces Jesus wants to give us. Do we realize what he has done for us? Encounter Jesus, be authentic and unite your sufferings to his so he can fill your heart with his love. Take time today to reflect on how you are living out your baptismal call to Know, Love and Serve Christ. Ask Jesus how you can be his light to those in darkness?

Suggested Scripture passages - Romans 6:3-11 and Matthew 28: 1-10 

These Three Days

These last Forty Days were a time of preparation for these Three days. These three days lead us to an empty tomb (and into an Octave, eight days, of celebrating the Resurrection). 

  1. This Holy Thursday, we will attend the Last Supper and receive the (spiritual) gift of the Holy Eucharist, the Body, Blood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We will enter into the deep meaning of the Holy Priesthood. We will be invited to pour ourselves out like the water in the basins used to wash feet on Holy Thursday. We will be asked with the disciples to watch with the Lord. We will be invited to enter with Him into his anguish by imitating His Holy surrender in his Sacred Humanity in the Garden of Gethsemane.
  2. Through the stark and solemn Liturgy of the Friday we call "Good", we will stand at the Altar of the Cross where heaven is rejoined to earth and earth to heaven, along with the Mother of the Lord. We will enter into the moment that forever changed - and still changes - all human History, the great self gift of the Son of God who did for us what we could never do for ourselves by - in the words of the ancient Exultet - "trampling on death by death".
  3. On Saturday, we will wait at the tomb and witness the Glory of the Resurrection and the beginning of the New Creation. Let us enter fully into the Sacred Triduum.

The Great Three Days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter call us to be transformed by love. (Excerpt from Catholic Online)

 

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

 

God Bless - Your St. Anne Pastoral and Finance Councils

Posted on: April 5, 2020

Called to enter into Holy Week in a different way

Crown Him with many Crowns

I came across an article a few weeks ago called ‘Yes, there’s actually a St. Corona.” 

The article begins with the following: “Corona was only 16. And gave her life to comfort a fellow Christian. Right in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic is the city of Anzu, Italy. There is a basilica in Anzu where the relics of St. Victor and St. Corona have been preserved since the 9th century. The word Corona is Latin for crown. Ironically, St. Corona is considered as one of the patron saints of pandemics.”

As we approach Palm Sunday, the first Gospel reading at the beginning of Mass describes Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Palm Sunday’s liturgy is a preview of the Kingdom of Christ. He is received as a king by the crowds of people waving palm and olive branches and spreading their cloaks on the ground. The words we proclaim at every mass in the Acclamation at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer repeat the words that were sung as Jesus entered – “…Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” 

The crowds of people welcomed Jesus as Christ the King. They proclaimed the resurrection of life and praised him. This triumphant entry was very short-lived. Just five days later the enthusiastic hosannas gave way to angry shouts of Crucify him! We know that he then received another crown – the crown of thorns – and then was abandoned and left alone. 

In this time of isolation, we can make the connection of being in the presence of crowds of people and celebrating to a few days later being restricted or confined to our homes, feeling alone. This Sunday, we will not enter the church together carrying our palm branch but we are called to enter into this Holy Week in a different way. (I will share more in the days ahead.)

But for today, the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem asks for loyalty and perseverance from each one of us, it calls us to deepen in our faithfulness, and for our resolutions to be more than just bright lights that sparkle for a moment and then fade away. We must follow Christ to the Cross. If we welcome him each day as he was welcomed then, then his peace, victory, and faithfulness will enter our hearts as gloriously as he entered Jerusalem.

 

In Christ,

Shannon Novak - Pastoral Assistant

Holy Week Masses Live-streamed

Please celebrate Palm Sunday with the archdiocesan broadcasts (or one of the televised Masses being offered). Masses are streamed live at 9:00 AM daily. https://livestream.com/accounts/17094656

Holy Week Live Stream Schedule

 Palm Sunday: 9:00 AM - https://livestream.com/accounts/17094656​

 Holy Thursday: 7:00 PM - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQI8vptnz1M

 Good Friday: 3:00 PM - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4NCNMCFXfo

 Easter Vigil: 8:30 PM - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GoeILGlS9Q

 Easter Sunday: 9:00 AM - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl0bUThad3s

 

Prayer to St. Corona in a Time of Epidemic

Lord Jesus Christ, You came into this world for our salvation.
Look kindly on us now, we pray,
that we, and all those who serve You,
might be kept safe from this epidemic.

Heal those who are sick, comfort the suffering,
bring back those who have gone astray,
and above all, increase our faith, O Lord.

Give us the grace to follow You and,
like the martyr St. Corona,
who gave her life for love of You,
to take up our crosses daily without fear or hesitation.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.

St. Corona, patroness of epidemic victims, pray for us.

 

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