Dear Friends of Saint Ann’s Shrine,
“Christmas-in-Pandemic” will certainly be different again this year! The guardians of our health are strongly advising us to continue wearing masks and to maintain social distancing as the dreaded Covid-19 continues to ravage our country and the world. This will certainly affect Christmas shopping, friendly parties, family dinners, and attendance at Christmas Mass.
In spite of all this, celebration is in order, because the central and all-important truth of our faith remains: Jesus came once long ago – He remains forever! Or as Saint Paul said it so magnificently: I am convinced that neither death, nor any present or future thing, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Romans 8:35-38)
Christmas is a sacred and beloved time to celebrate Mystery and Wonder. It is the most joyful and meaningful event the world has ever known. We call it the Incarnation –that incomprehensible moment in time when the invisible God, the Creator of the vast universe that envelops us, in a burst of divine exuberance, chose to mask his awesome divinity and wrap himself in the visible attractiveness of a male human baby and literally become –one of us!
History does not tell us how long Ann and Joachim were around the help guide and influence Jesus during his passage from teen years to adult manhood, but surely his high moral character, his sensitivity to the poor, to women and children; his pursuit of justice and truthfulness, his humility and courage and other qualities Jesus would later manifest in his public life can be attributed in some degree, to the influence not only of his parents, but of his grandparents as well.
There is no way Saint Ann could know that her grandson Jesus, on the night of the Last Supper, would find a way to remain close to his people forever through the mystery of the Eucharist and Holy Communion. Here at the Shrine of Saint Ann, we celebrate the Eucharist Monday – Friday at 11:30am, and as grandma Ann nurtured the vocation of Jesus during his youth, so we pray daily for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life for service to the Church, especially in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Development Office of Saint Ann is in service to the Mission of the Congregation to spread devotion to the mystery of the Eucharist worldwide. We respectfully ask your support so that we may carry out this Mission. We invite your prayer requests and Mass intentions, and we pray for our donors at every Liturgy.
Wishing you and your family a Joyful and Merry Christmas!
May Jesus live always in your heart!
Father Roger Bourgeois, SSS
Chaplain, Saint Ann’s Shrine
Cleveland, Ohio
*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 st-ann-shrine.org.
*We invite you and your group to join us at Saint Ann’s Shrine for Daily Mass at 11:30AM, Monday-Friday (call for 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.
*We have Blessed Oil and Holy Water available for a donation. Contact Saint Ann Shrine at 440-449-2700 or visit our website at st-ann-shrine.org.
*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’s 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.
*If you are 70 ½ years of age or older, you can support Saint Ann’s 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.
*You may also consider donating gifts of stock. Depending on the stocks 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.
*We have started a ministry where we give all new Catholic babies born at our local hospital a bib from Saint Ann’s Shrine and the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. If you are interested in supporting this new ministry of ours, please contact Scott Gongos at 440-449-2700 or sgongos@blessedsacrament.com.
*Please share your story of how the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Community or Saint Ann’s Shrine has made an impact on your life! We would be so grateful to hear from you! You can reach me at sgongos@blessedsacrament.com or 440-449-2700.
*Your loved ones can be remembered during Mass at Saint Ann’s Shrine. Call 440-449-2700 for details.
*Be sure to “Like” St. Ann’s Shrine on Facebook!
*If you’ve ever visited Saint Ann’s Shrine in Cleveland, we encourage you to submit your comments on Trip Advisor so those who may consider visiting us can read of your experience! We hope to see you again soon!
* You may choose to make a secure, recurring monthly gift to Saint Ann’s 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!