Just in case you missed it...

Missa Cantata tomorrow: Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be there by 11:30 AM ready to help set-up.

Be ready to participate in a rare and awesome event.

First Service Project

The St. Ann MEF Servers had their first service project this past Saturday. Seven young men came out early before the start of the St. Ann Carnival to help out. The boys ran around setting up drink booths, fixing and securing other booths, hanging signs, helping out to set up bingo, and of course taking a few minutes in between to ensure the quality of the games.

Once the fair got underway, we had time to pray a rosary in the Church. Then we got a sneak peek at the unfinished, but still beautiful, new Chapel at St. Ann's. After a treat at the bake sale, we got to work on balloons for the kids and we had a lot of fun.

Thanks to the servers and their families who were able to make it. Many of the parishoners at St. Ann's were very grateful for the assistance. It was really good to demonstrate that our little ministry is not a secluded and sheltered group. While we focus on the Latin Mass, a mystery to most parishoners, we are a part of a larger family, and in coming months we will continue to expand the ministry to other parishes and the Diocese.

Papa Benedict speaks

Quote from today's General Audience that applies to what we've been discussing in training:

"In closing, Benedict XVI highlighted how the example of St. Gertrude "shows us that the focal point of a happy and authentic life is friendship with Jesus the Lord. This is learned through love for Sacred Scripture and the liturgy, through profound faith and through love for Mary, so as to gain increasing knowledge of God and, therefore, to know true happiness which is the goal of our existence"."

See the whole article here.

• Don't forget that tomorrow is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary...pray with your family!
• Don't forget that Sunday is the Rosary Rally at St. Patrick's...3 pm...pray with your Church family!

October: Focus on Mary

Happy Memorial of St. Therese of Lisieux! What a great way to start off October. This month our ministry will go right along with Holy Mother Church and spend time praying as our Heavenly Mother asks us to do.

After reviewing the results of the recent Junior Acolyte Test, I am aware of some areas of improvement in the formation of the servers. One important area is Mariology, the study of Mary, the Mother of God. Why study Mary? Why not just go straight to Jesus? Please read the following:

(1.) "For every Christian, and for every human being, Mary is the one who first believed. Out of her faith as Spouse and Mother, she desires to act upon all those who entrust themselves to her as her children. And the more her children persevere and progress in this attitude, the nearer Mary leads them to the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8) They recognize ever more clearly the dignity of man in all its fullness and the definitive meaning of his vocation, for “Christ fully reveals man to man himself.” (Vatican II’s Gaudium et Spes, #22) (Mary in the life of the Carthusians-.pdf)"

(2) "II. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
971 "All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship." The Church rightly honors "the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration." The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an "epitome of the whole Gospel," express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.517 (CCC 971)"

There's so much more, but suffice to say that Mary leads the sinner to Jesus. In that respect she epitomizes our mission: point to God; but Mary does a whole lot more than point. As for our ministry, when the servers choose to enter the full ministry of the MEF altar servers as Junior Acolytes, they will take upon themselves a commitment to having a devotion to the Blessed Mother. (note: approved by Fr. Reid) So here's how we're going to make all of this tangible for the servers this month:

• We're inviting servers and families to the Rosary Rally at St. Patrick's on Sunday October 10th at 3:00 pm. In addition, there will be Adoration, Benediction, and a Eucharistic Procession.
• On Saturday, October 23rd, we will be praying two rosaries with Fr. Reid and St. Ann parishioners at the Hebron abortion mill. This is following the Mass for Life at 9:00 AM at St. Ann's.
• We have the privilege of having Fr. Roux come and give a talk on Our Lady of Fatima at the Monday, October 25th training session. (4 pm to 6pm - yes, it's a 2 hour session) More info on preparation for this talk to come. (Yes, there will be a quiz on it. I love you, too.) Please invite family to come to this training session and listen to Fr. Roux.