1311 Robinson Drive, Haines City, FL 33844, United States
WELCOME TO ST. ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH, HAINES CITY, FL
All we do is for the Glory of God!
LET’S BE READY NOW!
At the beginning of this Advent, two goals—stay awake and be ready—will be our lights, which will help us live and rediscover the full meaning of our spiritual journey in this important liturgical season. It is Jesus himself who watches over us and, in this weekend’s Gospel, tells us who we are and understands the real meaning of our life. During Advent, we may be distracted and very busy, thinking more about Christmas and leaving the preparation behind and low on our priorities. Advent and Baby Jesus growing silently in Mary’s womb, present but invisible, reminds us to look beyond what we can see and not forget God whom we cannot see, to “stay awake, praying at all times…to stand with confidence before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).
During Advent, our preparation must focus on the coming to town, not of Santa Claus, but Jesus, the Lord of our lives who is coming to make a dwelling place among us.
In our parish this year, we will have many opportunities to prepare for Christmas and live this spiritual period as Catholics seriously and responsibly:
- By coming to daily Mass.
- Before the daily and weekend Masses, there will be a video reflection.
- The sacrament of Reconciliation will be available every Tuesday in church—morning, afternoon, and evening.
- Rita Morano, our Religious Education Coordinator, will read a short daily retelling of an Old Testament passage that depicts the Biblical story presented, followed by the recitation of a prayer, and hanging of the Jesse Tree ornament each day until Christmas. The meditation and prayers will be posted on our website and Instagram daily.
- You can bring your Bible, visit the tree, and read the passage.
- You may select a spiritual book to read during that period.
My dear parishioners, this is an exceptional opportunity to be ready to celebrate Christmas in our hearts.
Let us say with one voice: Come, Lord Jesus, we want to see your glory come, we are ready to receive you.
Fr. Alfonso Cely
Pastor
Upcoming Events
TUESDAY OF RECONCILIATION
Advent begins on:
November 28, 2021
Starting Tuesday, November 30, 2021, the sacrament of Reconciliation will be held every Tuesday from
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Fr. David will hear confessions on Tuesdays from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Immaculate Conception Mass Schedule
PENANCE SERVICES IN OUR DEANERY
St. Joseph Church: December 16, 7:00 PM
532 Ave. M NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
Holy Redeemer: December 1, 7:00 PM
1603 N. Thacker Ave., Kissimmee, FL 34741
St. Matthew: December 15, 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
1991 Overlook Dr., Winter Haven, FL 33884
St. Rose of Lima: December 6, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
3880 Pleasant Hill Rd., Kissimmee, FL 34746
Re-Opening of Prayer Tower
Join us December 19, 2021
10:00 AM Mass
to celebrate the re-opening of our Prayer Tower.
Remodeled by the Knights of Columbus.
CELEBRATING ADVENT AT HOME
Advent Wreath Candle Lighting Prayers
Advent is the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25 and is our time of preparation for our yearly celebration of the birth of Jesus into our world. Lighting the candles on an Advent wreath in the weeks leading up to Christmas is a great way to help us remember that we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ. In church, every week another candle is lighted as we journey towards Christmas.
As we do in church, it is customary to have an Advent wreath in our homes and to light a candle for each week of Advent. Prayers typically accompany the lighting and this can be done at every evening meal or on the first evening meal of the week.
This is also the time to be creative, not guilty. For the candle lighting, if you don't often gather as a family because dinner time is hectic with activities, create a new tradition and make it a before-bedtime ritual to light a candle and say a few prayers reflecting on the day that has ended. Or if morning works better, start the day with Advent prayers holding in our hearts our hopes for the day ahead and lighting the Advent candle over breakfast. If you are by yourself, you can create your own ritual, knowing that you are joining with Christians around the world in this sacred season. Instead of sharing out loud, journal your responses to the questions asked during the sharing time.
Notes: Traditionally, the youngest child lights the candle the first week, the oldest child the second week, one parent the third week and the other parent the fourth week. However, these roles can be chosen to make sure everyone is included and there is family peace.
BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family.
Leader: Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God, let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Faith Formation Update
A special Thank You goes to all the students of our Religious Education program who participated in handmaking 98 Thanksgiving cards, full of prayers and well wishes. These were distributed to Haines City Rehabilitation and Nursing Home residents and were well received with much joy.
Thursday, December 2: LIGHT FOR CHRIST SERVICE - Every student will participate in the event, both Thursday evening and Saturday morning classes.
All students must be in their places inside the church by 6:00 PM. They will process from the church to the outside altar carrying a lit electric candle.
Classes have been cancelled for Saturday, December 11, due to the parish celebration of the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The schedule for Jesse Tree Presentations is the week of Saturday, November 27 thru Friday, December 3. Please look up the Bible passages for each day to read each complete story.
November 27: God, the Creator-God, looked at everything He had made and found it very good (Genesis 1:1-2:3).
November 28: The First Sin - The forbidden fruit was attractive to Eve and Adam mainly because it was forbidden (Genesis 3:1-24).
November 29: The Flood - The devastating consequences of human evil and God’s wrath against it, but also God’s faithfulness to His promise to deliver His people (Genesis 9:8-17).
November 30: The Promise - God told Abraham that the Maker of the stars could certainly make him into a father (Genesis 15:1-6).
December 1: Offering Isaac - God Himself provided the ram for Abraham. God Himself provided His own Son who died in our place, paying the price for our sin (Genesis 22:1-19).
December 2: The Promise Again - God’s promise of redemption runs through the entire Bible (Genesis 28:10-22).
December 3: God’s Providence - This is the perfect set-up for a vengeance story. However, this is God’s story (Genesis 45:1-7).
It is the hope of Fr. Alfonso and mine that these brief daily presentations of Biblical events will help us focus on the magnitude of that Glorious Moment, the Birth of the Infant Jesus, the Savior of the World!
Rita Morano
Coordinator of Religious Education
exciting news
Catholic Appeal Goal Reached!
St. Ann Catholic Church is pleased to announce that as of October 21, 2021, we have reached OUR CATHOLIC APPEAL goal!
We would like to thank all those who participated in the current campaign and contributed to the assessment given to the Parish.
Our Goal for the present year: $123,748.93
Amount raised, including pledges: $139,713
Amount paid to date: $129,540.20
Amount due in pledges: $10,472.80
Proceeds from donations will be reflected in the community with those in need.
To all those that have still not completed their pledge, we would like you to know that those donations are still needed, considering that any overpayments are distributed as follows:
1. Overpayments will be directed to the diocesan priests' retirement fund.
2. A third will be given to the diocesan charity activities.
3. The remaining third will go to the Parish.
Thank you, community of St. Ann. It is a blessing to have a community as involved and faithful to the calling of God.
UPDATE
Our Christmas In Bethlehem project has ended with very satisfying news.
We want to announce that our project had a restructuring in the middle of the road. Initially, it was intended to collect toys to send to Jerusalem, Palestine. However, after finding out the shipping costs, it was decided to make changes, and finally, it is more viable to send the money to Palestine.
A goal was set to raise a total of $3,600, divided into a cost of $30 per child; there are 120 children. Today, we are happy to announce that a total of $3,604.25 was raised. It's amazing how God works in people's hearts for a good cause.
A second project was started for all those who initially donated toys since that was our initial plan. Many toys were collected and destined to a small town in Bogota, Colombia, called Cazuca, Usme. These gifts were sent to a group of Dominican friars who are in charge of distributing them.
We thank all those committed to this cause, especially Rita Morano and religious education, and Mr. Victor Aucenon, who made the shipment to Colombia free of charge.
Almighty God, bless your efforts and multiply your generous hearts with blessings. There is more happiness in giving than in receiving, and it shows in your actions.
Thank you, St. Ann Family!
Welcome to the Synod of Synodality
Your donations being shipped to colombia!
homenaje a la virgen de guadalupe
Online Giving through Faith Direct
Online Giving through Faith Direct
Online Giving through Faith Direct
Stay active with St. Ann's on the MY PARISH App!
Stay active with St. Ann's on the MY PARISH App!
Stay active with St. Ann's on the MY PARISH App!
Stay active with St. Ann's on the MY PARISH App!
Stay active with St. Ann's on the MY PARISH App!
