Saturday, July 30 4:00pm Theresa Modzelewski 3rd Anniv. requested by the family. Sunday, July 31 9:00am Deceased members of the Chandley family req. by the family 11:00am Philip Eckland requested by the family Monday, August 1 8:30am A Special Intention requested by Larry Tuesday, August 2 8:30am Conversion of Sinners and to bring people back to the Church. Wednesday, August 3 8:30am Cynthia Lauzonis requested by David Dumais Thursday, August 4 8:30am Robert Kimball requested by Fr. Michael Saturday, August 6 4:00pm Michael Reilly requested by Norma Reilly Sunday, August 7 9:00am Hermes & Joann Laliberte requested by the family 11:00am Gary Lambert requested by the Knights of Columbus 2:00 Mass of Celebration for Emily Chandley Next weekend The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be offered to all those in need after each of the Masses Second collection next weekend for Aid for Church in East/Central Europe. .

Stewardship Weekly Collection July 23/24 $3,123.10 Children's envelopes 6 $ 26.00 Maintenance $ 68.00 SVDP $ 25.00 Poor Box $ 31.69

Thank you for your generous support

Adoration of the

Blessed Sacrament

First Tuesday

of the month

6:00pm

in the Church

Dear Friends in Christ, On July 26 the Church celebrated the feast of Saints Joachim and Ann, the parents of Mary. Since our parish is named after St. Ann, it is good for us to take time to reflect upon who she was and what she can teach us today. What little we know about St. Ann's life comes from an ancient Christian document called the Protevangelium of James. It is not considered Scripture but it does tell us that Ann and her husband Joachim were holy people. They dedicated their daughter Mary to God and were prayerful and devout. Above the altar in church is a beautiful stained glass window of St. Ann and her daughter Mary. This window captures Ann in her well known pose of pointing upwards to Heaven as Mary looks on. As St. Ann and St. Joachim were holy and prayerful people they taught their daughter Mary to be the same. God preserved Mary from original sin so that she would be prepared to bear the sinless Son of God in her womb. Yet, her parents also prepared her, humanly speaking, to love prayer and base her life on faith. Mary was the First Disciple because her parents had already taught her to listen to God's voice and follow it. During the Baptismal rite, the parents of a child being baptized make a promise to God to raise that child as a practicing Catholic. This involves taking the child with them to Mass regularly and praying with them at home. Through their modeling of the Catholic faith to their children, parents teach them to love God and their neighbors. Without this strong foundation, children do not form the important habits of faith that will lead them through life. The most important thing that St. Ann teaches us is that we are responsible for passing on our Catholic faith to new generations. If we want the Church to remain vital we must do something about it ourselves. Coming to Mass weekly with our children and grandchildren is essential for following in St. Ann's footsteps. A visit to St. Ann's Shrine in Sturbridge will also show us the power of St. Ann's prayers for the sick and those in need. In the small votive chapel of St. Ann we find testimonies of those who have experienced miracles through St. Ann. Let us revive our faith in Good St. Ann's care for us. We humbly ask for her help that our parish may grow as we all seek to follow her example and fervently pray for her intercession. In Christ, Fr. Michael

My Brother’s Keeper food collection

to benefit the Oxford Food Shelf will

take place next weekend. Thank you

for shopping and donating items to

help many families in need.

Please join us for an Afternoon of Appreciati

Meetings

NA Sundays 7:30 pm in the hall K of C 1st Tuesday of the month 6:45pm in the hall SVDP Sunday, July 31st after 11:00am Mass Rosary Group Tuesday at 6:00pm in the church Bible Study Wednesday 7:00pm in the hall Please have read Luke 12:32-48

https://www.facebook.com/SaintAnnParishOxfordMA

Thanks to all our parishioners who have made their gift to the 2016 Partners in Charity Appeal. We have collected $37,816 in gifts and pledges 94.5% towards our goal of $40,000. If you have not yet made a gift or pledge, we ask you to please fill out a commitment pledge envelope located in the pews. Or visit www.partners-charity.net.

Divine Mercy Minutes with Jesus

Through the Heart of Jesus On Friday, during Mass, when my soul was flooded with God's happiness, I heard these words in my soul: My mercy has passed into souls through the divine-human Heart of Jesus as a ray from the sun passes through crystal. I felt in my heart and understood that every approach to God is brought about by Jesus, in Him and through Him St. Faustina's Diary 528

SVDP BACKPACK CHALLENGE 2016 The backpack challenge ends this weekend. The supplies will be packed and distributed to the Oxford Food Shelf which will give them to families in need. Thank you and God bless you for your generosity and kindness. St. Ann’s SVDP Society

ST. ANN'S YOUTH VOLLEYBALL TEAM The summer volleyball season is coming to an end. The last game is on Monday at 6:30pm on the front lawn. Our team is participating in the playoffs on August 8th at St. Christopher's in Worcester, the time is still to be determined. Congratulations to the team and the dedicated coaches Wendy Janerico, John & Amy Tisdell !!

Please help us to keep in touch with you. All parishioners of St. Ann’s, if you have recently changed your telephone number, address or email address please contact the rectory so that we may update our census files.

Shrine Association News Prayer email for those who need prayer, the address is: stannsprayforus@gmail.com Rosary will be prayed on Tuesdays at 6:00pm in the outdoor shrine (weather permitting)

Volunteers Needed: We are looking for volunteers to be trained to clean the altar cloths and to join the altar linen ministry. We also need volunteers to help with tasks around the church and grounds before August 7th. Please contact the rectory at #508-987-8892

New SVDP Program Adopt A Friend We still have Sandlewood Center residents with no one. Please help our mission to provide them with a little companionship to brighten their lives. Join our new program to "adopt" only one of these lonely men or women, to visit on occasion, send cheery mail, and celebrate their birthday. This can be accomplished either in person at the facility or for some by mail. Make a big difference in someone's life. For more information contact Drea Holbrook at dreaholbrook@netzero.net or #508-987-21655

Mass of Celebration for Emily Chandley

On Sunday, August 7th at 2:00 pm a Mass of

Celebration will be offered in St. Ann’s Church for Emily

Chandley as she enters the order of St. Mary of

Providence, located in Chicago. Bishop McManus and

several visiting priests will be concelebrating at this

special occasion. The Chandley family extends an open

invitation to the parishioners of St. Ann’s to join them

at this special Mass which will be followed by a light

reception in the hall.