Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
We hear in the scriptures this weekend, the Lord saying to Moses, "Be Holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy." And Jesus says to His disciples, "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Hearing these commands, and reflecting on these commands, can seem daunting to most of us. Yet, scholars remind us, that when we fall into this line of thinking, we are thinking in the way of "this world" not the "world to come." We must always be on guard becoming "spiritually self-reliant"... "true Christian perfection is possible only if it is given to us."
We are illuminated in a new way when we accept and share the truth, that each of us is to love without qualification because the Son of God the Father has through the power of His sacred word, made each of us adopted children of this same Father! It is only by the power of God in Christ Jesus that we are enabled to love without exception. For each one of us, in our prayers allow Lent 2023 to bring about an "interior revolution" when we ask for the grace of the Lord in Christ Jesus to be enabled to love without exception.
May the Lord be with you!

Fr. Craig

READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 19, 2023

7^TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
 

1^st Reading—Leviticus 19: 1-2, 17-18—Moses urges the Israelites to holiness. They must bear no hatred in their hearts. Rather, they must follow this law: love your neighbor as yourself.

Responsorial Psalm:  — “The Lord is kind and merciful, the Lord is kind and merciful. Slow to anger, rich in kindness, the Lord is kind and merciful.”

2^nd Reading—1 Corinthians 3: 16-23— We are all temples of the Holy Spirit, and as such belong to God. We must never think that we are self-sufficient, or that we alone rule our lives. We must beware the wisdom of the world, which is not of God. We belong to Christ, and therefore must live in Christ and depend on Christ.

Gospel Acclamation—Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! “Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.” Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Gospel—Matthew 5: 38-48—Jesus tells us that we must return good for evil and love for hate. We must go the extra mile and love our enemies. We must strive to be perfect, just as God is perfect. This will prove that we belong to the Father.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
1) Let us pray for the Church: Spirit of God in us, call us to be holy. Let us be a living temple to your glory. We pray to the Lord . . .

2) Let us pray that enemies forgive each other: God of every land and nation, help enemies find the way to peace. May we expand our love and bear no hatred in our hearts. We pray to the Lord . . .

3) Let us pray for those suffering from the shootings at MSU: Lord, your sun shines on the good and the bad, your rain of mercy falls upon all. May your love, O God, restore health to the injured; sustain those caring for them; bestow solace on those who mourn and eternal rest to those who were killed. We pray to the Lord . . .

4) Let us pray for the sick: Comfort those who are ill, healing Lord, and be the strength of those who are dying. In a special way we remember our friends:
Allie Rose Frazer Michael Soliz Walter Talley Jess Singer Whitney Connell Mike Justus Arian Minson Barry Heuer Kathy Mersino Marcy Klamka Ashley Betzing And for all who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord . . .

5) Let us remember the dead: Redeem our beloved with eternal kindness and compassion, especially… (4:00 p.m.) Tom Rogan (8:30 a.m.) Ed Gromek (10:30 a.m.) Jake Wojtalewicz, Fred Huot We pray to the Lord . . .

ANNOUNCEMENTS-February 19, 2023
1) Ash Wednesday is this week, February 22nd. Mass times are 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Ashes will be available all day in the parish office.

2) Little Black Books for Lent are available in the gathering area, also, our Lenten donation boxes, please stop and take one of each.

3) Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday during Lent at 7 p.m. Come pray with us and then stay with us! Lenten Stations of the Cross begin this Friday, February 24th at 7:00 p.m. Afterward, a delicious variety of soups will be provided for supper. This Friday the Stations will be led by our Sunday choir.

4) The quilting and craft group will meet Saturday, Feb. 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Solanus Hall.

5) Next Sunday the Knights of Columbus will be preparing a delicious pancake breakfast.

6) Attention High School Seniors: Applications are now being accepted for Knights of Columbus 2023 scholarships. Applications are on the Knight’s Bulletin Board in Hardy Hall or available on the St. Anne's Website. Please submit your application by March 31, 2023.

7) The tickets for the St. Patrick’s dinner/dance on March 11th at St. Daniel’s are going fast. You can purchase your tickets in the parish office or next Sunday at the Knight’s of Columbus pancake breakfast. Tickets are not sold at the door.

8) Our Lenten soup dinner is Saturday, March 11th after the 4 p.m. Mass. Our speaker is Fr. Tom Slowinski. There is a sign up book in the gathering area near the doors.

9) On Monday, February 20th, the offices will be closed. Mass will be at 9 a.m. not 7 p.m. this Monday.