RCIA Rite of Election

This Sunday our RCIA candidates, Ahern Hawken and Jordan Hawken, will journey to Holy Name Cathedral and join with catechumens and candidates from the whole Archdiocese of Chicago to publicly give their affirmation of intention to join the Catholic Church. At our 10:30 Mass this weekend we will formally “send” our Catechumens to the Cathedral for their Election. They will inscribe their names in our Book of the Elect which we will take to the Cathedral. In the presence of Bishop Joseph Perry, they will be formally recognized. After this ceremony, the catechumens will be called the “Elect” and will begin a Period of Purification and Enlightenment which is their final, intense preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. Please pray for our Elect as they enter these Lenten Days of final preparation to become fully initiated members of our church.

Ash Wednesday

Saint Anne Raffle Day

We are all very much looking forward to celebrating "Raffle Day" here at Saint Anne on Sunday, March 2nd. The day will feature our All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast Buffet, a special Family Mass at 10:30 AM which will include our Religious Education Students and Youth Group members as ministers, with special "pre-Mardi Gras" music at Mass by Bill Rosas, his band, and our choir. Raffle tickets will be on sale right up until the drawing takes place at NOON. The Grand Prize is $5,000.00, and 60 cash prizes in all will be awarded.

Because of the brutal weather this winter, our raffle sales are well behind our goal, so I sincerely hope that you can join us on Raffle Day and purchase one or two more tickets (or books!) and help us meet our goal!

I hope you can join us for breakfast, stay for Mass, and then enjoy the fun and excitement of our Raffle Day Drawing! We look forward to seeing you!

Yours as Always,

Ministry of Consolation

My Dear Parish Family,

As you are all well aware, our parish has experienced loss in an acute way these past several months. We have all been impacted by the grief and the pain which the death of family members and close friends has brought into our lives. A suggestion was made that our parish establish a new ministry, a "Ministry of Consolation" which would make every effort to reach out to all those in need of comfort and consolation in their time of mourning, grief, and pain.

As a first step in the formation of this new ministry, we will be hosting an introductory meeting to provide us with an overview and orientation to the various possible ways that this new ministry could take shape here at Saint Anne. I would like to invite you to attend this initial meeting to help provide us with your input and insight as we make every effort to not only begin this new ministry, but to also make sure that this new ministry will provide the best possible outreach to all the members of our parish family who need it the most.

Your attendance at this meeting will in no way commit you to any future work in this ministry. Please join us on Tuesday evening and help us create a vision and set a direction for our new "Ministry of Consolation" here at Saint Anne.

Thank you, and we will look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

Your Friend and Brother,

Introduction to Centering Prayer

The 371st Sustainment Brigade

Since August of 2013, through our “Operation We Care”, we have been sending boxes to Major Hardeman’s unit stationed in the Middle East. To date, we have sent over 34 boxes of goodies. Major Hardeman is the daughter of one of our parishioners, Craig Hardeman. Through one of her sergeants, we were able to ascertain what the soldiers really wanted, and we were able to get most of the items on their “wish list”. Thanks to all of the generous people of Saint Anne parish and the generosity of American Legion Post 1139 of East Hazel Crest, who have supported our ministry since its inception in 2004! Over the years, we have received many certificates of appreciation, flags, and gifts. It is humbling to think that they would have the time and the grace to send their gratitude is such concrete ways. On the cover of today’s bulletin is a picture of the truly beautiful award that we have received from Major Hardeman’s unit. The plaque on the award reads:

Members of Saint Anne Church

For Outstanding Support During Operation Enduring Freedom 2013-2014

From the Soldiers of the 371st Sustainment Brigade

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has so generously supported “Operation We Care” over the years. The award will be on display in church for everyone to see this weekend. I encourage you to come up before or after Mass to see the award up close since, in every sense, this award belongs to each of you. Thank you to all!

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as "Candlemas". We hope that you will be able to join our Parish Family of Saint Anne for Mass this weekend. We will begin each of our celebrations with the traditional blessing and lighting of candles. And, after each of our Masses this weekend, we will be offering the Blessing of Throats in honor of Saint Blaise, whose feast day is Monday, February 3rd.

Our Mass on Saturday afternoon is at 4:30 PM. I will be the celebrant for Mass and music will be provided by T.J. and Derrick. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered after Mass at 5:30 PM until all are heard.

Our Masses on Sunday morning will be at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. Our celebrant at the 8:30 AM Mass will be Father Patrick Murphy, and I will be the celebrant for Mass at 10:30 AM. Music will be provided by Bill Rosas and our choir, with the band joining us for Mass at 10:30 AM which will include special music in honor of the beginning of Black History Month.

We hope that you will also be able to join us for our Pancake Breakfast Buffet. This wonderful, all-you-can-eat breakfast includes pancakes, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, and fruit cups. Serving begins at 8:30 AM and will continue until 10:30 AM. So please stay after our 8:30 AM Mass or come early before our 10:30 AM Mass and enjoy breakfast!

So, happy Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, happy Feast of Saint Blaise, happy Black History Month, and happy Super Bowl Sunday!