September 7, 2025 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Season of Creation – September 1 – October 4th

The theme for this year’s Season of Creation is “Peace with Creation”.  See the Creation Care Corner for more information about the Season of Creation this year, and keep an eye out for  ways the Creation Care Team plans to celebrate the Season of Creation at St. Ann. 

Swahili Mass – September 7th

St. Ann celebrates Mass in Swahili on the first Sunday of each month.  Join us for this joyful celebration of Mass on September 7th at 9:00 AM. If you are unable to attend on Sunday, you can still enjoy the music of our Swahili choir at the Saturday Mass. If you would like to join the offertory procession, you are invited to bring items such as coffee for Sunday Lunch, water bottles, paper towels, and tissues for parish use.

Collection to Support Gaza Relief

As Pope Leo continues to call for a ceasefire and for aid to enter Gaza, we mourn with Catholics around the world for the people of Gaza who are suffering and being starved by lack of food and aid entering Gaza.  St. Ann will be taking up a special collection this weekend to support the work of Catholic Relief Services in Gaza. Parishioners are also invited to make a donation directly to CRS here if they wish: https://www.crs.org/where-we-work/middle-east-north-africa/jerusalem-west-bank-and-gaza

See the USCCB press release below:  

 WASHINGTON – “The situation in Gaza and across the Middle East cries out for the assistance of the Catholic community of the United States,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In a letter to the U.S. bishops, he asked them to consider taking up a voluntary special collection in their dioceses, if they are able, to support the efforts of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). Both organizations have well-established partnerships with the Catholic Church in the region to allow them to respond quickly and efficiently.

 “Our Church mourns the terrible suffering of Christians and other innocent victims of violence in Gaza and surrounding areas who are struggling to survive, protect their children, and live with dignity in dire conditions,” continued Archbishop Broglio. “The Holy Father continues to call for a cease fire and for aid to enter the territory, noting with great sorrow that ‘Gaza is starving,’” and encouraged the bishops to consider the special collection in their dioceses at their earliest opportunity.

 For more information about the efforts by CRS and CNEWA in Gaza, please visit:

 https://www.crs.org/where-we-work/middle-east-north-africa/jerusalem-west-bank-and-gaza

 https://cnewa.org/what-we-do/support-emergency-relief-in-the-holy-land/

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Ariane and Conor who were married at St. Ann last Saturday in a beautiful celebration.  Blessings to Ariane and Conor as they begin their new life together.

Bell Tower Project

We look forward to hearing the beautiful sound of the St. Ann bell ringing this weekend! 

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the work of cleaning out and replacing the ceiling of the bell tower, and to all who have donated to Josh’s bell tower and plaster project.  Work on fixing the cracks in the plaster will begin soon.

Samosas Fundraiser

Members of the Swahili community will have samosas for sale in the parish hall after the Swahili Mass on Sunday, September 7th. The samosas are $2.50 each and proceeds of the fundraiser will go to support Josh’s bell tower project.

Youth Liturgy Begins September 7th

As the school year begins, so will youth liturgy at St. Ann. Youth liturgy during the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass will resume after Labor day, on Sunday, September 7th. If you would like your children to participate in our youth liturgy program, use the QR code or the link below to register.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQnFuU6O6N6VAoMAVPYmYteJWVvj3wXuXMMPtVWJ_ZltALFQ/viewform

Salam Maria fundraiser

The book “Salam Maria” – which is “Hail Mary” in Swahili – is available for a $10 donation in the front pew of the church, or in the parish office.  This fundraiser was started by Grace, a member of the Swahili community, and the money raised will go towards helping youth in rural Kenya.  Although the title of the book is in Swahili, the book is in English and is an informative resource for praying the rosary.  

Annual Catholic Appeal begins September 6-7

This year’s Annual Catholic Appeal begins this weekend. Many of you may have received a mailing from Bishop Daly regarding this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal. If you did not receive a mailing, please take one of the ACA brochures that can be found by the bulletins. Your pledge can also be made on the diocesan website. This year our parish has a goal of raising $39,653.00 for the Appeal. Please prayerfully consider how you can support the Annual Catholic Appeal this year.

Creation Care Corner

“Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt… For all of us, may the Jubilee year be an opportunity to be renewed in hope.” Pope Francis in Spes Non Confundit n.16. (Hope does not disappoint.)

Season of Creation:

The Symbol: The Garden of Peace

The symbol for 2025, the Garden of Peace, features a dove carrying an olive branch. Just as Noah’s dove returned with a sign of renewal after the flood (Genesis 6:13), we too seek a world where peace flourishes as we reach out to each other and connect with all creation. We invite you to incorporate the symbol in all the activities, celebrations and events that you plan for this year.

Advocacy Focus: Debt Relief for Climate Justice

This year, the ecumenical Steering Committee has decided that the global ecumenical call to action for the season is debt relief, in tune with the Pope’s call for this year’s jubilee and a way for us as Catholics to give even more fruits for the Raising Hope campaign (https://raisinghope.earth)

We know that there is no peace without right relationships. Today, some of the world’s most vulnerable nations—those suffering the worst effects of climate change—are burdened by crippling debt, which prevents them from preparing for stronger storms, rising seas, and growing deserts. At the same time, many of these nations have provided the natural resources that developed countries used to grow their economies. 

To make these relationships right, debt must be forgiven. 

This Season of Creation, we raise our voices to demand debt relief so that these nations can invest in climate resilience and community development. Will you stand with us?

Thank you to the Creation Care Team for sharing these reflections with us.

Franciscan Corner

St. Francis had a very deep devotion to Mary because he saw her as the model disciple who kept saying “let it be done to me according to your word”. The church celebrates her birthday on Sept 8. We might sing happy birthday to her. Francis would have sung: Hail, holy Lady, Most Holy Queen, Mary, Mother of God, Ever Virgin; Chosen by the most holy Father in heaven,  Consecrated by him, with his most holy beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. On you descended and in you still remains all the fullness of grace and every good. (Salutation of the Blessed Virgin). Let us join Francis in praising Mary on the day we celebrate her birthday.

Thank you to Sr. Joanne for sharing these reflections with us.

Upcoming Parish Events and Important Dates

September 1 – October 4 – Season of Creation

September 7 – Swahili Mass at 9:00 AM

September 7 – Youth Liturgy during 9:00 AM Mass begins 

September 7 – Parish Council meeting (rescheduled date)

September 7 – Fundraiser: samosas are for sale after Mass to support Josh’s bell tower & plaster repair project.

September 7 – CWA meeting at 11:00 

September 14 – Multi-faith Peace Vigil hosted by Matthew 25 at Federal Bldg – 4-5 PM

Weekly Events

Sundays at 8:15 – 9:00 AM – Reservation Chapel open for private prayer before Mass

2nd & 4th Sunday – Matthew 25 Ministry meeting in the parish house after Mass

Every Sunday except the 1st Sunday – Swahili Choir practice at 11:00 AM

Sundays at 7:00 PM – St. Ann Zoom prayer services.

Mondays at 2:30 PM on Zoom – Craig’s Discussion Group (not meeting September 1.)

Saturdays 3:15-4:00 PM – Reservation Chapel open for private prayer before Mass

Monthly Events

1st Sunday of each month – Swahili Mass at 9:00 AM

1st Sunday of each month – Catholic Women’s Association meeting in the house at 11:00 AM

The Creation Care Team will no longer be leading the Prayer for Creation in the Chapel on the third Sunday of each month.

Sunday Evening Zoom Prayer Service – 7:00 PM

The Sunday evening Zoom prayer service continues to be a prayerful gathering for some of our parishioners.  The service on Sunday evenings is a chance to pray and share together. The service begins at 7:00 PM.  Contact the parish office if you are interested in learning more about this prayer service.

Prayer Lists

Please contact the parish office if you would like to add a name to the prayer list.

Please pray for these community members in need of our support or healing: 

Please remember our recently departed and pray for their grieving families and friends:

Mass Times, Staff Contact Info & Office Hours

Information about Mass Times can be found on our new parish website here: https://stannsspokane.org/mass-times/   

Office Hours & Staff Contact Info can be found on the Contact page of the new website: https://stannsspokane.org/contact-us/ 

Get Reminders About Parish Events

We are using a program called “Remind” that is very easy to sign up for.  Just text saintanncc to 81010 to get reminders about parish events!

 Online Giving with Tithe.ly 

You can donate using the direct link to the St. Ann tithe.ly page:  

https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=e93446f0-6864-11ee-90fc-1260ab546d11

Or by visiting the giving page of our parish website: https://stannsspokane.org/giving/  If you would rather mail in a donation, our address is 2120 E 1st Ave Spokane WA  99202

Monthly Collection Totals – July 2025

General Collection $10,493.83

Social Concerns $977.87

Sunday Lunch $599.74

Coffee & Donuts $118.00

Building Fund $10,500.00

Total collections & bldg fund $22,689.44

Link for the full collection reports can be found on the Giving page of the parish website.  https://stannsspokane.org/giving/

St. Ann Mission Statement

The Mission of Saint Ann Catholic Church is to live the Good News of Jesus Christ. To create a family and community of faith that lives with integrity and justice. To care for those who are vulnerable, and to treat one another and all those we encounter with dignity and respect.