ANNUNCIATION PARISH CLIFTON, CINCINNATI, OHIO

To Help You Prepare For Next Sunday: Isaiah 66:10-14c;

Galatians 6:14-18;

Luke 10:1-12,17-20

Your Prayers Are Requested

Please remember to keep in your prayers those of our Parish Community who are unable to be with us at our Sunday Eucha-

rist: Freddie Domineack, Bertie Domineack Harper, Patterson

Harper, Joseph Chaky, Jim San Filippo, Mary Thomas,

Margaret Talbert, Cheryl Walz, Vince Frasher, David

Koenig, Raul Florez, Anna Heuck, Lucy Richardson, Hen-

rietta Bernard, Pam Martini, Theresia Mesgetz, Molly

Minihan, Tom Vonderahe, and Patricia & Harvey Sander. If you know of someone else who should be included in this

list, please call the Rectory. Also, your prayers are requested

for the safety, and safe return, of all the men and women serv-

ing our country in the armed forces.

Annunciation School The School Office is open 9:00 a.m.-Noon Monday-Thursday

during the month of June.

If you thought you knew everything about Annunciation

School, you should take another look. Call our School

Office, 221-1230, for more information!

Annunciation School Faith Formation News Wednesday, June 29, we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Pe-

ter & Paul, Apostles. Saint Peter is one of the patron saints of

our 8th grade class at Annunciation Catholic School, and

Saint Paul is one of the patrons of our seventh grade class!

While the 2015-2016 academic year has ended, we are busy preparing for 2016-2017. Our Faith Formation Office is open

throughout the summer.

For more information about Faith Formation at Annunciation

School, please contact our Director of Faith Formation, Dr.

Sandi Chakeres at 861-1295.

Jubilee of Mercy Reflection

Called for freedom. No yoke of slavery for

us. Even though people are shackled, sup-pressed, oppressed – and even though I may be,

too – we are, called for freedom. Christ, in his

Paschal Mystery, his death and rising, has set

us free. Baptism makes us new and sets us free. The old and the new law – “love your neighbor

as yourself” – set us free. Singing the song for

the gathering of the gifts during the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper this past (and every) Holy Thursday

– Ubi Caritas – sets us free.

What yoke will I step out of to be free? Who can I help into freedom in this Mercy Year?

Who will I love … as myself?

The Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Bear Witness

is currently being celebrated from June 21 to July 4,

2016, a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face

of persecution by political power - St. Thomas More and

St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul,

and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. The theme of this year's Fortnight will focus on Witnesses to Free-

dom.

“One Church of Mercy” The crowning event for the 2016 observance of Fort-

night for Freedom in Cincinnati will be the visit of the

Patriarch of Antioch for Maronites, to br ing attention

to the plight of Christians currently being persecuted in the Middle East. His Beatitude Mar Béchara Peter Cardi-

nal Raï, the Patriarch of Antioch for Maronites, will par-

ticipate July 1 in a discussion of the Eastern Rite Church and the religious freedom challenges it is facing. The vis-

it will feature a 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Morning Pray-

er and conference here at Annunciation Parish on Fri-

day, July 1st! In addition to the Maronite Patriarch

(who is a Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church),

we will be joined by the Maronite Bishop of the Epar-

chy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, His Ex-

cellency A. Elias Zaidan, Most Reverend Dennis

Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, as well as other

clergy and lay leaders from the Western and Eastern Rites, and civil dignitaries. Plan now to join us this

Friday, July 1st, for this historic event, beginning in our

parish church at 9:00 a.m. with Morning Prayer, followed

by the conference in our gym and cafeteria. All are wel-

come, so spread the word! Find more infor mation

and register at http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/event/

one-church-of-mercy-2/. We will also accept registration at the door Friday morning. You are also invited to cele-

brate the Pontifical Divine Liturgy that evening at 6:00

p.m. at Saint Anthony of Padua Church. “One Church of Mercy” is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,

Annunciation Catholic Church and St. Anthony of Padua

Maronite Church.

Saints Peter &Paul, Apostles

June 29 On June 29 each year we celebrate the Solemnity of

Saints Peter and Paul, Apos-

tles. A solemnity is the high-est ranking feast day on our

Roman Catholic Liturgical

Calendar. These first centu-ry men were leaders of our

Church. Saint Peter, known

as the “Prince of the Apos-

tles” was one of the original twelve apostles chosen by

Jesus, and we also celebrate

him as our first pope. Saint Paul never met Jesus prior to

Jesus’ death and resurrection,

but had a conversion experi-ence with the risen Christ

which was the basis of Paul’s

conversion from a persecutor

of Christians to the “Apostle to the Gentiles.”

The importance of the Apostles to the early Church was

evident from the very beginning. Ephesians 2:19-20

talks about the Church (the household of God) being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Reve-

lation 21:14 references the new heavenly city of Jerusa-

lem which has twelve “courses of stones” on which are inscribed the names of the twelve apostles.

Saints Peter and Paul were both martyred in Rome under

Nero in the first century. Tradition says that Saint Peter

was put to death by crucifixion, probably around the year 64. It is said he was crucified upside down, as he did not

deem himself worthy to be crucified in the same manner

as Jesus. Saint Paul, as a Roman citizen, could not be crucified. So, according to tradition, he was beheaded,

probably around the year 67. Saints Peter and Paul were

already being remembered together on June 29 in the

third century. The “Despositio Martyrium,” circa 258, lists this solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29.

Saints Peter and Paul are the principal patrons of the city

of Rome. Text ©2013 by Sandra A. Chakeres. All rights reserved.

Masses for the Week

Monday, June 27th - Weekday in Ordinal Time

8:00 a.m. Celebrant’s Intention

Tuesday, June 28th - Saint Irenaeus 8:00 a.m. Celebrant’s Intention

Wednesday, June 29th - Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles

8:00 a.m. Annunciation School 7th & 8th Grade Classes

Thursday, June 30th - Weekday in Ordinal Time

8:00 a.m. For Persecuted Christians

Friday, July 1st - Weekday in Ordinal Time

8:00 a.m. For All Those Persecuted for Faith

Saturday, July 2nd - Vigil, 14th Sunday in Ordinal Time

5:00 p.m. For the Faithful Departed

Sunday, July 3rd - 14th Sunday in Ordinal Time

9:00 a.m. Celebrant’s Intention

11:00 a.m. Pro Populo, For the People of the Parish

When Mass Intentions are listed, the first name given is the person

being remembered by the priest celebrant at that Mass; the second name is the person requesting the intention. Mass Intentions are

always welcomed. Please call the Rectory.

Next Week’s Ministers

Friday, July 1st - 9:00 a.m. (Morning Prayer)

Servers: David Turner & Sarah Turner

Lector: Sandra Chakeres

Saturday, July 2nd - 5:00 p.m.

Servers: Seminar ians

Lector: Dennis McCabe

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:

Melissa Booth & Gus Giglio

Gift Bearers: Felicia Domineack & Cheryl Walz

Sunday, July 3rd - 9:00 a.m.

Servers: Ruby Horgan & Brady Horgan

Lector: Mindy Horgan

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:

Stephen Macha, Valentina Macha, Sean Minihan Gift Bearers The Horgan Family

Sunday, July 3rd - 11:00 a.m.

Servers: Ian Wilson & Alessandra Thiemann

Lector: Mollie Wilke

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:

Terrie Kemper, Joe Kemper, Andrew Gangidine

Gift Bearers: Annie Gangidine & Miriam Gosling

Financial Stewardship

Due to an early bulletin deadline, the collection report

for Sunday, June 19th will be included in a future bulle-

tin. Thank you for your continued generosity to Annun-

ciation Parish!

Please remember Annunciation Parish in your will!

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINAL TIME JUNE 26, 2016

Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Bulgarian, 1684),

Annex for Old Bulgarian Art, Na-tional Art Museum, Sophia

ANNUNCIATION PARISH CLIFTON, CINCINNATI, OHIO

Next Sunday: First Sunday of the Month

Is the monthly collection for the St. Vincent de Paul So-

ciety, our monthly drop-off of dried and canned food

donations for the St. George Food Pantry, and our

monthly collection of white sweat socks and individu-

al toiletries for the Mary Magdalen House. For our July collection, the Food Pantry Director is requesting

children’s snack items. Please be as generous as possi-

ble. Thank you!

Congratulations! Congratulations to Yanik Osorio-

Morales and Francisco Romo-

Nava on the baptism of their

daughter, Mila Regina Romo-

Osorio, at our 8:00 a.m. Mass

Monday, June 13! Please keep the family in your prayers, and support

them by your words and actions, as

they continue their journey in faith.

Pray for Persecuted Christians! Remember to pray daily for Christians around the

world who are being persecuted daily for our faith. Our Lady of Perpetual help, pray for us! During

this Fortnight for Freedom, remember all who are

suffering due to lack of religious freedom!

Interested in Becoming Catholic? If you or someone you know has no church home,

or is attending Annunciation but is not Catholic,

consider extending an invitation to this individual to

give some thought to becoming Catholic. There is no commitment required for someone to begin the

inquiry process - just an openness to ask questions

and find out what is involved in the process for be-coming Catholic. If you or someone you know is

interested in finding out more about the possibil-

ity of becoming Catholic, please contact Father

Grogan or Dr. Sandi Chakeres at the Parish

Office, 861-1295.

“The blood of our Christian

brothers is testimony that cries out.”

On February 15, 2015, a shocking 5-minute video aired

showing 21 men in orange jumpsuits being forced to the

ground in Libya and then beheaded by ISIS- affiliated

militants. Their only crime – they were Coptic Christians,

“people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian

Church.” These men, like many others, were migrants

from Egypt, working in Libya. Ostensibly, they were being

killed to avenge the alleged kidnapping of Muslim wom-

en by the Egyptian Coptic Church, an outrageous charge,

but then ISIS needs little excuse for its brutality.

Tensions between Coptic Christians and Muslims are not

new, despite the fact that Copts make up about ten per-

cent of Egypt’s population. Coptic Christians trace their

origins back to the Apostle Mark, whom they believe

came to Egypt around A.D. 42 and founded what became

a thriving Christian community in Alexandria. By the third

century, the Church in Alexandria was considered one of

four Apostolic Sees and the oldest Christian church in

Africa.

Under Muslim rule, Copts have often faced discrimination

and have been required to pay special taxes. Since 2010,

attacks against Copts seem to have increased. In 2011, a

Coptic church was demolished, and when Coptic Chris-

tians took to the streets in Cairo to protest, they were

met with tanks and riot police. At least 28 Copts were

killed and hundreds injured. In 2013, following violence

that left five Copts and one Muslim dead in a

northern town, security forces and local residents laid siege to

St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo where hundreds of Copts at-

tended the funeral for the slain Copts. This led to more inju-

ries and protests that were indicative of the distrust between

the Muslim Brotherhood government led by President Mo-

hamed Morsi and the Coptic community.

But this persecution pales in comparison to the brutality in-

flicted by ISIS-affiliated militants who beheaded the 21 men

in Libya. In publicizing this video, the militants wanted to

send “A Message Signed in Blood to the Nation of the Cross”

and warned that “we will fight you all together until the war

lays down its burdens… The sea you’ve hidden Sheik Osama

bin Laden’s body in, we swear to Allah we will mix it with your

blood.”

Reaction to the beheadings came swiftly. The White House

condemned the “wanton killing of innocents,” saying ISIS’s

“barbarity knows no bounds.” United Nations Security Council

members likewise denounced “the heinous and cowardly ap-

parent murder” of the 21 Egyptians. Egyptian President Abdel

Fattah el-Sisi declared a seven day period of national mourn-

ing, calling the 21 Egyptians “martyrs”. On February 21, 2015,

the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II,

said the 21 would be commemorated as martyr saints. Pope

Francis called the killings “barbaric,” lamenting, “They only

said ‘Jesus help me…’ The blood of our Christian brothers is

testimony that cries out. Be they Catholic, Orthodox, Luther-

ans, it doesn’t matter. They’re Christian.”

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINAL TIME JUNE 26, 2016

WITNESS TO FREEDOM

COPTIC MARTYRS

ANNUNCIATION PARISH CLIFTON, CINCINNATI, OHIO

Human beings are social creatures. Religious freedom means that not only individuals but also families, communities, and institutions enjoy the space to live out religious convictions. Parents have a fundamental right to teach their children their faith. Companies that seek to contribute to the common good by their responsible business practices should be encouraged. Religious freedom belongs to groups as well as individuals. This social dimension of religious freedom entails that religious freedom includes the freedom to practice our faith in public. In our culture, some tend to think that religious liberty means only that individuals can worship without interference from the government. This understanding is inadequate. Religious schools, hospitals, and charities should be able to operate in accordance with their faith. Indeed, the work of these organi-zations is part and parcel of their faith. They are expressions of religious mission, and religions must have the space to live out their missions. As the title of the Declaration suggests, human dignity is cen-tral to Dignitatis Humanae. A most precious aspect of being human is the two-fold capacity to exercise reason and to re-spond to found truth. It is natural to ask, How do I live a good life? Who created this wonderful world, and how should I re-spond to this Creator? Why is there suffering, and how should I alleviate it? Religious traditions offer answers to these deeply human questions. It is imperative for the sake of human digni-ty that people are free to pursue these questions. The pursuit of truth involves an ability to listen, for God has made us with a capacity to hear his Word. Religious freedom is the corner-stone of a society that promotes human dignity. It is a funda-mental human right, for it follows on the duty of all people to seek the truth about God.

On December 7, 1965, the Second Vatican Council ap-proved Dignitatis Humanae, the Declaration on Religious Liberty. The Declaration addresses a question that comes up in every generation: how do we understand freedom, truth, and the relationship between church and state? Religious freedom includes two important aspects – freedom from and freedom for. “Freedom from” is prob-ably familiar and what most of us think of as freedom. It means that we are to be free from coercion. The state is not an all-powerful institution that can force people to act against their consciences. The right to be free from coercion limits the power of the state. But this freedom must be paired with a “freedom for,” a positive orientation to seeking and acting in accordance with the truth. People have both a right and a duty to seek religious truth. Freedom from coercion allows the space for the pursuit of religious truth. Religious freedom requires that a society both re-frain from preventing people from living out their reli-gion and help to create the conditions for religious ex-pression to flourish. A free society, then, is one where people actively seek religious truth and fully live out that truth in public and private. As Pope Francis recently said in Cuba, the Church must have “the freedom and all the means needed to bring the proclamation of the Kingdom

to the existential peripheries of society.”

Mary and Joseph found no room in the inn when Jesus

was born. Today, Christians are finding no place in the

region where the earliest Christian communities emerged.

Extreme religious persecution threatens and disrupts the

lives of Christians and other religious minorities.

The so-called Islamic State’s brutality against Christians,

other religious minorities, and Shia Muslims is well doc-

umented. Recently, Secretary of State Kerry named it for

what it is - genocide. ISIS sensationalizes its cruelty to

intimidate “infidels” and to gain new recruits. In Febru-

ary 2015, an ISIS-affiliated group in Libya publicized the

beheading of 21 Coptic Christians from Egypt. A few

weeks later, ISIS kidnapped hundreds of Assyrian Chris-

tians in Syria. Their rampage through the region, includ-

ing Qaraqosh, the largest Christian city in Iraq, have been

devastating. Women and girls have been kidnapped and

forced into sexual slavery. While air attacks by the Unit-

ed States and allies aided local forces in pushing back

some of ISIS’ territorial gains, groups claiming some al-

legiance to ISIS have cropped up in North Africa, South

Asia, and Southeast Asia.

In Syria, the civil war has weakened the rule of law.

Christians and minorities in Syria have been kidnapped,

held for ransom, tortured and often brutally killed. Even

bishops and nuns have been taken hostage. Since 2011, it

is estimated that many minorities are among the 250,000

to 470,000 people killed, the over 7 million internally

displaced within Syria, and the 4.7 million who are refu-

gees or asylum seekers in other countries.

Since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq that led to political

exclusion of Sunnis, Christians have been among those

targeted by extremists. In 2014 ISIS militants took Mo-

sul, home to a large Christian population that fled with

little more than what they could carry. The Archbishop of

the Syriac Orthodox Church lamented the loss of manu-

scripts dating back to the first century and cried that for the

first time in almost 2000 years, no Mass would be celebrated in Mosul. Churches and mosques have been desecrated as

ISIS seeks to eradicate Christian symbols and Shia sites.

Priests and bishops have been kidnapped for ransom. All of

this has resulted in a mass emigration of Christians from Iraq.

In Egypt, Coptic Christians have traditionally not been able

to build or even repair their churches. After the 2011 revolu-tion that ousted President Hosni Mubarak and the 2012 elec-

tion of Muslim Brotherhood-backed Mohamed Morsi as Pres-

ident, Egypt’s blasphemy law was increasingly used as a tool

against Christians and fellow Muslims to settle personal dis-putes and undermine those considered a political threat.

When President Morsi himself was overthrown, Christians

were often blamed and the State failed to protect them and hold perpetrators accountable. Under Abdel Fattah el-Sisi,

elected president in 2014, the rule of law has improved, but

many Coptic Christians still face considerable discrimination.

In July 2015, Pope Francis said, "Today we are dismayed to

see how in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world many

of our brothers and sisters are persecuted, tortured and killed for their faith in Jesus. … In this third world war, waged

piecemeal, which we are now experiencing, a form of geno-

cide is taking place, and it must end." In September 2015, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops supported a Congres-

sional resolution that calls what is happening to Christians

and other religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East a “genocide.” In March 2016, the resolution passed the House

unanimously and Secretary of State Kerry condemned ISIS

for genocide.

The Middle East’s 2000 year old Christian heritage is threat-

ened. Church leaders throughout the region fear for the future

of the Christian indigenous presence. Given the contributions that Christians have made in education, health care and social

services, it is clear that the loss of the Christian presence in

the Cradle of Christianity would harm all in the region.

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINAL TIME JUNE 26, 2016