Somehow, I always manage to be gone for the parish feast day. This time, it is for a baptism of the fourth child of two friends of mine near Portland, ME. (I have baptized the other three – so when they asked, I was delighted to say yes…) Still, I find myself thinking about St. Ann and her role as mother and grandmother. I came across a reflection written by Teresa Roberson-Mullins for our 150th anniversary year which rings as true now as it did then. (As you recall, this is why one of the bells from out-side, now ‘lives’ inside our church – to continue to call us to prayer and reflection in our life of faith…)
Inspired by St. Ann, who nurtured her daughter Mary with love and the teachings of her faith….the sisters of Mercy, the sisters of the Good Shepherd, the sisters of Loretto, along with Jesuits, Passionists, diocesan priests and lay men & women have brought the love of Christ and the teachings of the church to our school students – for 150 years (STRIKE THE BELL)
Inspired by St. Ann, who taught her daughter to be a good neighbor and how to have the strength to deal with the difficult political situations her grandson would en-counter,….we live as good neighbors in our community and as political activists when society threatens the vulnerable – for 150 years. (STRIKE THE BELL)
Inspired by St. Ann, who had a daughter, Mary, with an unplanned pregnancy, a son-in-law, Joseph, who considered a divorce, whose grandson, Jesus, ran away as an adolescent, then ended up on death row and executed…we support families in their struggles – for 150 years. (STRIKE THE BELL)
Inspired by St. Ann, faithful wife of Joachim, mother of Mary, grandmother of Jesus, ordinary woman, living an ordinary life, made holy by her faith…we are made holy by the faith we bring to ordinary parish gatherings: Men’s Club (and now Ladies’ Guild) meetings, Sprenke Tournaments, Parish Council Meetings, School Boards, Finance Councils, SAPO gatherings; at Baptisms, Funerals, Marriages & First Communions, Dinner Dances, blood drives and sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ – 150 years of living faith. (STRIKE THE BELL)
Inspired by St. Ann, who taught her family to pray, we continue, now for the 159th year, the story of a mother’s and grandmother’s love that is at the heart of THE story of salvation. “Beloved St. Ann, as you raised Mary and nurtured your grandson, Jesus – raise up and nourish in us a lively faith, so that we too, might bear fruit for the good of the Kingdom. This we ask in the Name of your grandson, Jesus, our Lord. Amen”