Dear Friends of Saint Ann Shrine,
By happy coincidence, Ash Wednesday and Valentines’ Day this year fall on the same day, February 14. While Ash Wednesday opens the Church’s season of Lent and calls for fasting and abstinence and a forty day effort to eradicate our sins and grow in love of our God and neighbor, we also celebrate Valentines’ Day. This civic holiday affords us the opportunity to express our love and appreciation to all the people who have and continue to enrich our daily lives, thereby helping us fulfill the loving neighbor part of the greatest commandment.
Imagine for a moment that the crucifix in your home or at the end of your Rosary or in your parish church were suddenly to become a giant red heart and a gentle voice would say to you: You (name) are my valentine. I Jesus give you all my life and love, all my forgiveness and all my unequivocal acceptance forever. Will you give to ME your heart also? This is the kind of question we need to answer daily, especially as we enter the season of Lent.
Jesus was born among us to make visible the Sacred Heart of the invisible God, creator of all life. However, being human like us, Jesus was subject to the same temptations we have, and needed to make difficult choices between good and evil, right and wrong, to be selfish or selfless, to give in to sin or to choose God and his powerful grace, just as each of us must.
After all, everyone is inclined and tempted to lie, to cheat, to show prejudice, to be angry and violent, to act unjustly, to feel superior, to break promises, to refuse forgiveness and to hold on to feelings of hurt and betrayal etc… but, and this is a big but…through our baptism in Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we too, like Jesus are armed with the spiritual power of grace to say NO –and so imitate, in these our small victories over sin, the power of Jesus acting in our lives.
On Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, we are challenged to Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. Let us take up this challenge and with the grace of God always available to us in Prayer and in the Eucharist, we will be better able to resist sin in our lives and give a more honest answer to the question: What power or what god is in charge of my life? To whom have I given my heart? Make Jesus Christ your Valentine!
Here at Saint Ann Shrine, we are always pleased to receive your requests of prayer for special intentions. Your donations are likewise welcome both for our senior retired religious and the continuing education of our future priests and brothers.
Yours in Jesus Eucharistic,
Fr. Roger Bourgeois, SSS, Chaplain
(PLEASE FEATURE ON PAGE) A Eucharistic Miracles exhibit will be at Saint Ann Shrine from February 18th through March 2nd at 9:00am-11:00am Monday through Friday and 9:00am-Noon on Saturdays and Sundays. This is a perfect Lent activity for the entire family!
*Your loved ones can be remembered during Mass at Saint Ann Shrine. Call 440-449-2700 for details.
*We have a new website! We invite you to check us out at www.blessedsacrament.com/st-ann-shrine/ and let us know what you think! Contact Scott Gongos at 440-449-2700 or sgongos@blessedsacrament.com if you have any suggestions or questions about our new website.
*We invite you and your group to join us at Saint Ann Shrine for Daily Mass at 11:30AM, Monday-Friday (except Holy Days and Holidays).
*The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament offers a daily devotion/reflection. If you’d like to receive this uplifting message, send an email to cee@blessedsacrament.com.
*Our Blessed Sacrament religious in Bethany and at Regina Health Center pray for you daily. Please let us know of any special intentions you’d like us to remember. The Blessed Sacrament Community supports you in prayer and Eucharist. You can submit your prayer though our website and request a candle to be lit for your special intentions at www.blessedsacrament.com/st-ann-shrine/.
*We no longer have Blessed Oil available at Saint Ann Shrine. However, we do still have Holy Water available. Contact Saint Ann Shrine at 440-449-2700 or visit our website at www.blessedsacrament.com/st-ann-shrine/.
*Please ask your employer if they support a matching gift program and your donation may be doubled!
*We ask you to consider becoming a member of our Legacy Society by naming Saint Ann Shrine or the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in your will. For more information, please contact Scott Gongos, Director of Mission Advancement, at 440-449-2700 or sgongos@blessedsacrament.com.
*You may also consider donating gifts of stock. Depending on the stock’s current value, you may avoid capital gains tax or deduct the loss in value while donating the proceeds of the sale to the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Consult your financial advisor for the most advantageous opportunities for you.
*Be sure to “Like” Saint Ann Shrine on Facebook!
* You may choose to make a secure, recurring monthly gift to Saint Ann Shrine or the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Please check the box on the reply slip and we can automatically process your credit card gift each month!
*If you are 70 ½ years of age or older, you can support Saint Ann Shrine or the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament through distributions from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Your IRA Charitable Rollover Gift may satisfy your annual required minimum distribution and reduce your taxable income. Consult your financial advisor for the most advantageous opportunities for you.
