Parish of St Anne

Alcester Street

Part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham ; Registered Charity

Postal Address: 96 Bradford Street , Birmingham B12 0PB

Telephone 0121 772 2780 (St Michael's 0121 643 0940) E-Mail: sabham2@hotmail.com

Fax: 0121 773 6023

Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time 28th/29th May 2005

Weekday Masses : 12:00pm Saturday: 1:00pm ( Vigil Mass of Sunday )

Sunday Masses: 11:00am & 6:30pm

Confessions: Wednesdays 11:15am and Saturdays 12:15pm

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Saturday 12:15 pm & Wednesday 11:15 am

Baptisms & Marriages by arrangement with the Parish Priest

Recently, inside Church circles, a debate took place as to whether Therese of Lisieux should be named a "doctor" of the Church. Her supporters pointed to her influence within the faith and argued few theologians or writers, at least not within the last century, have touched as many lives as Therese. Another group argued against it: She died at 24, not exactly the age of wisdom. Moreover her writings consist of just three short manuscripts which, while moving and beautiful, are hardly in the same theological league with Augustine or Aquinas, so why declare her a "doctor"? We know who won this argument. Today Therese is a "doctor" of the Church. A wise choice. Why? Because doctors heal people and her writings have healed persons in a way that many other writings that are academically and theologically superior have not. That's not to say that the writings of the academy of theology don't have their place, but it is to say that the power to heal depends upon things beyond brilliance, learning, professional standards and authority or position. We see that clearly already in the Gospels. We're told there that Jesus "spoke with authority, unlike the scribes and the Pharisees" (many of whom were, no doubt, brilliant, learned and sincere). People will recognize us as speaking with authority only when they sense that, like Jesus, we are under divine authority ourselves, that our lives stand behind the message, that our words are meant to reveal God and not ourselves, that we love others enough to give up protecting ourselves, that our real concern is God's kingdom and not how we impress others, that we consider the community bigger than ourselves, and that we are willing to sweat blood, rather than get bitter or walk away. Ron Rolheiser OMI

Sign the Sash to Make Poverty History . 250,000 people are gathering in Edinburgh on 2nd July to let Tony Blair and the other G8 leaders know that Christians want a solid set of commitments regarding the reduction of debt owed to rich countries by the world's poorest countries. We will send the sash up to Edinburgh in mid-June and it will be presented to the G8 leaders with thousands of others.

Parish Incomes

Offertory £ 576.00

Maintenance £ 16.00

Wednesday £ 66.00

Cath. Communications £ 184.00

Thank you for your continuing generosity

We Remember - We Pray For …

… our recently deceased

Teresa Wainwright

...our sick

Annie Kelly, Tony Gilroy, Joe McDermott, Sean Gilligan, Rita Darcy, Brian McGovern,

... anniversaries

Thomas and Margaret Rudden, Bridget and Michael Gilloon, Rose Adair

Looking for New Ministers

Have you ever thought of becoming a Eucharistic Minister or Reader? If you are interested in these ministries for any of the liturgies (Sundays or weekdays) please give your name to Fr Ken or any of the Oblates, or call 0121 772 2780.

Parish Development Draw

5th June is the date for the next parish draw. Be sure to get your tickets and please consider helping St Anne's by becoming and agent yourself.

Oblate Novena 21st - 29th May

The days from the feast of the Founder (21 May) through the feast of Blessed Gerard (29 May) are celebrated as a N ovena of Oblate Days of Prayer . During these days we invite you to pray with us for v ocations to the Oblate Life.

I Am Therefore I Think is an artistic ‘response' to the Thought of JP II. Public viewing takes place at the Oratory on Hagley Road , 13-16 June from 6:30 - 8:30 pm and 17 June from 2:30 - 4:30 pm. All are welcome.

B irmingham Citizen's inaugural convention at Birmingham University was a huge success. Our next meeting will take place at 7:30 pm at St Michael's, Wednesday 1st June.

Fr Seamus, at St Catherine's Church, Bristol Street , is celebrating his Golden Jubilee of ordination to the Priesthood on Sunday, 12 th June at 11am. He invites you to the celebration Mass at 11am. As an added incentive to all, he reminds us that there is a few drinks after Mass at the reception in the school Hall. We wish Fr Seamus continued joy and happiness in the presbyteral order. Ad multos Annos !

E ucharistic Congress for the Year of the Eucharist. Thursday 14 th - Sunday 17 th July 2005 at Newman College , Birmingham . The Congress will be led by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Bishop Malcolm McMahon. Many Speakers have been organised. The Congress is for everyone . Residency (£150), non-residents (£50), Day bookings for Friday and Saturday (£25). Opening Mass on Thursday at 7.30pm is free for all. For information contact Fr Julian Green on 0121 373 1437 or email: eucharisticcongress@blueyonder.co.uk. All bookings should be made by 31st May 2005 (or by the end of this week).

The Oblates at St Anne's

Fr John Staak OMI Superior of Mission

Fr Ken Thorson OMI Parish Priest

Fr Frank Murray OMI

Br Noel Garcia OMI

Fr Leo Philomin OMI

Br Pawel Ratajczak OMI