St. Anne Catholic Church

Help support CCW's May project by donating food items with kids in mind, like dry cereal, oatmeal, soup, canned tuna, peanut butter crackers, etc. so the Bryan County Food Bank can support more children during the summer when school is out. Leave bagged items all month in the Narthex near the Religious Store. Thanks for your support!

Been Away? Come Back to the Catholic Church! St. Anne is a great place to reinvigorate your faith, whether you are single, newly married, have a family, or just plain seeking the Truth. There are various ministries and activities for all demographics, making this environment perfect for seeking Christ in what we learn and through one another. Join us at St. Annelet us be your home in the Faith.

Pastor’s Letter Dear Parishioners, Today is Gaudete Sunday, also known as Rose Sunday, as the priest wears rose-colored vestments and the third advent wreathe candle, the rose color one, is lit. ... The name Gaudete comes from the first word of the official Introit (Entrance antiphon) of the Mass. It means Rejoice. On this Sunday of Advent, we are invited to rejoice in the Lord always: Gaudéte in Dómino semper: íterum dico, gaudéte. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! Some have suggested that different colors can have an impact on our moods, feelings, and even behaviors. The color rose/pink, for example, is thought to be a calming color associated with love and kindness, and rose has a peaceful effect on many people. Rose vestments are only worn twice in the liturgical year, during the third Sunday of Advent and the fourth Sunday of Lent. This color is worn on these days to show the joy and love in Christ. They are to remind Catholics of the joy in times of penance and worship. When I was in the seminary, our homiletics professor suggested that a good homily comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. As I have grown older (and unfortunately at my age I am considered elderly), I feel homilies should normally direct us to Christ who comforts us in our afflictions but calls us to be bold in comforting others in their afflictions, be it spiritual, material, or emotional. I don’t think the Lord intentionally afflicts anyone, not even the rich and comfortable. But what God’s grace does for us is to help us to become sympathetic and empathetic. In other words, God’s love and grace transforms any selfishness we have within us and enables us to embrace those who are different than us and to be concerned about their needs, especially the needs of the poor. We are moved to generosity. There is so much in the world today to be worried about. This Gaudete Sunday, God intends not to afflict us with more worry, but to invite us to rejoice in the Lord always. That’s good news. God bless you. Your Pastor, Fr. Allan

Saint of the Week: St. Lucy (December 13) St. Lucy lived in Italy in the 300s. She was supposed to be married but refused because she had taken a vow to God. This made her suitor very angry, and he handed her over to be killed. Lucy remained firm in her faith to the very end. She is the patron saint of blindness, and you can hear her name during Eucharistic Prayer One during Mass.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time December 13, 2020