PASTOR'S CORNER
Welcome to St. Ann’s Parish Website!
I invite you to explore our website as a means of getting to know St. Ann’s and all that we do to serve Christ and one another. While we are well known in Charlotte for having a beautiful church and beautiful liturgy, what’s most beautiful about our parish is our parishioners! We are a family-oriented, thriving parish just south of Uptown Charlotte, filled with people committed to worshiping God through the fullness of our Catholic tradition and serving the poor and needy with charity and compassion. Come join us for Mass and help us as we seek to glorify God, bear witness to His Truth, and show forth His Love.
Father Timothy S. Reid
HOMILIES
WEEKLY LETTER
July 7, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
In the old liturgical calendar of the Church, July 1st is the Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. With the reform of the calendar in the late 1960s, this feast was (sadly) suppressed. It was reasoned that since the Precious Blood of Jesus is already venerated in solemnities like Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it wasn’t necessary to have a singular feast devoted to the Most Precious Blood.
Nevertheless, the month of July is still regarded as the Month of the Most Precious Blood, and Catholics are encouraged to practice devotion to the Most Precious Blood during this month. Therefore, I heartily encourage you to pray the Litany of the Most Precious Blood every day this month. I especially encourage you to pray it in reparation for sin, to ask for spiritual protection against evil, or as a means of praying for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Copies of this litany are available in the back of Church. It’s also easily found online.
Don’t forget that we will begin our annual Marian Consecration preparation beginning on July 13th. You can use either Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book: 33 Days to Morning Glory, or St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary (just be sure to get a version with the consecration preparation included in the book). Then, following each of the Masses on August 15th, which is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (and the anniversary of our parish founding), those who have prepared will make the consecration to Mary. If you have made the consecration in the past, I encourage you to renew it every year. Countless saints throughout our Church’s history have encouraged the faithful to turn to Mary in their every need, and solemnly consecrating oneself to her is “the surest, easiest, shortest, and the most perfect means” to becoming a saint (St. Louis de Montfort).
Please don’t forget that our summer seminarian, Deacon Joseph Yellico, will begin an adult education class this week. The classes will take place on Thursday evenings at 7pm in Classrooms 1&2 of the Allen Center, beginning Thursday, July 11th. In this class Deacon Yellico will be talking about sacred art and beauty, which is one of my favorite topics. As beauty is one of the best ways we come to know God, this class will be worth your time. I also think you’ll find Deacon Yellico engaging and articulate.
Honoring Our Lord’s Most Precious Blood,
Fr. Reid
In the old liturgical calendar of the Church, July 1st is the Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. With the reform of the calendar in the late 1960s, this feast was (sadly) suppressed. It was reasoned that since the Precious Blood of Jesus is already venerated in solemnities like Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it wasn’t necessary to have a singular feast devoted to the Most Precious Blood.
Nevertheless, the month of July is still regarded as the Month of the Most Precious Blood, and Catholics are encouraged to practice devotion to the Most Precious Blood during this month. Therefore, I heartily encourage you to pray the Litany of the Most Precious Blood every day this month. I especially encourage you to pray it in reparation for sin, to ask for spiritual protection against evil, or as a means of praying for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Copies of this litany are available in the back of Church. It’s also easily found online.
Don’t forget that we will begin our annual Marian Consecration preparation beginning on July 13th. You can use either Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book: 33 Days to Morning Glory, or St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary (just be sure to get a version with the consecration preparation included in the book). Then, following each of the Masses on August 15th, which is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (and the anniversary of our parish founding), those who have prepared will make the consecration to Mary. If you have made the consecration in the past, I encourage you to renew it every year. Countless saints throughout our Church’s history have encouraged the faithful to turn to Mary in their every need, and solemnly consecrating oneself to her is “the surest, easiest, shortest, and the most perfect means” to becoming a saint (St. Louis de Montfort).
Please don’t forget that our summer seminarian, Deacon Joseph Yellico, will begin an adult education class this week. The classes will take place on Thursday evenings at 7pm in Classrooms 1&2 of the Allen Center, beginning Thursday, July 11th. In this class Deacon Yellico will be talking about sacred art and beauty, which is one of my favorite topics. As beauty is one of the best ways we come to know God, this class will be worth your time. I also think you’ll find Deacon Yellico engaging and articulate.
Honoring Our Lord’s Most Precious Blood,
Fr. Reid