Dear Friends of Saint Ann’s Shrine,
The twin holy days of All Saints and All Souls on November 1-2 help us to lift our minds and hearts away from the current messiness of the world to the beckoning peace of being home with God forever.
To be home with God is a Christian belief that both scares us and delights us. It scares us because the only “home” we’ve ever known is right here on planet earth with family and friends. Yet, it also delights and arouses our imagination as we wonder what kind of home heaven will really be like and how will we recognize God who is pure spirit? Our Christian faith is full of questions that will only be answered once we’ve arrived safely “home” and delight forever in the mysterious and loving God we’ve tried to love and serve on earth.
It is a long-standing tradition to pray for and to our deceased loved ones because they are members of the Communion of Saints, that is, all the people who have faithfully lived out their baptismal calling to holiness here on earth and who continue to be our intercessors before the throne of God. We should never forget that we are all saints-in-the-making striving to imitate Jesus and his values every day until God calls each of us home also. We so need one another’s’ prayers and support daily!
The prayers and especially the celebration of the Eucharist on both these feast days, as well as they many Masses people lovingly offer in memory of deceased loved ones, attest to the unity we all feel between the living on earth and the deceased already or simply awaiting entrance among the Saints in heaven.
Here at Saint Ann’s Shrine, we will observe a Novena of Masses for the Names you send in of people in your loved ones you would like to be prayed for. These names will be placed before the statue of Saint Ann in her chapel. Whatever donation you may be able to offer will go toward the development of the mission of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and the health needs of our aging religious. Please call us at our office 440-449-2700 or visit our website at st.ann-shrine.org.
In the Spirit of Good Saint Ann,
Blessings & Peace
Fr. Roger Bourgeois, SSS Chaplain
*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.
*Your loved ones can be remembered during Mass at Saint Ann’s Shrine. Call 440-449-2700 for details.
*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 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.
*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.
*The article below includes wonderful information and suggestions how you can support Saint Ann’s Shrine and the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in ways that can benefit you and your philanthropic giving: https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/guidance/philanthropy/donating-retirement-assets-to-charity