Swahili Mass – Sunday, January 5
St. Ann celebrates Mass in Swahili on the first Sunday of each month. Join us on Sunday, January 5th for our Swahili Mass! The St. Ann Swahili Choir also provides music for the first Saturday of each month. All are welcome!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Mary Ellen and Bill S. on the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary with a renewal of vows and a blessing at the Saturday Mass last weekend!
Social Justice Ministry News
The Social Justice Ministry will meet on Wednesday, January 15 at 6:30 PM on Zoom. Contact the parish office for the Zoom link if you would like to attend. The SJM will also be screening a short film, followed by discussion, on Sunday, January 26 in the parish house after Mass, to kick off the 2025 SJM speaker series.
Bishop Daly at St. Ann
Save the date – Bishop Daly will be celebrating Mass at St. Ann on Sunday February 23, at our 9:00 AM Mass.
Craig’s Discussion Group
Craig’s Discussion group took a short break for the holidays but will begin meeting again on Monday January 6 at 2:30 PM, starting with discussion of a couple of articles before moving on to a new book. If you are interested in joining this group, now is a good time. Contact the parish office for more information.
Creation Care Corner
“…we come together to take charge of this home which has been entrusted to us, knowing that all the good which exists here will be taken up into the heavenly feast.” Laudato Si’ (244)
ECOLOGICAL NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
-Consume less
-Waste less
-Recycle, repurpose and reuse
-Eat less red meat
-Buy local, if possible
-Build your own compost pile
-Buy smart: energy efficient appliances, hybrid or electric cars
-walk more
-bike more
-Combine errands to use less gas
-Get an energy audit & follow up on the recommendations
-Take time in the outdoors to appreciate God’s creation
-Plant a pollinator garden this year
-Educate yourself around climate change
-Talk to your children, siblings, and friends about the environment
-Join a climate group (350 Spokane, Sierra Club, etc.)
-Financially support a climate group
-Support Washington state laws and initiatives that will benefit the environment and our response to it
Thank you to the Creation Care Team for sharing with us!
Franciscan Corner
“Make me a channel of your peace… where there’s despair in life let me bring hope….” This year, 2025, is a Holy Year in the church. Pope Francis opened the special Holy Year doors at St. Peters on Christmas Eve. The theme for the year is hope! We are called to be pilgrims of hope. It is a time for New Year’s resolutions. Let us commit to being instruments of hope to those around us, our neighbors, our friends, and to those in far off lands who are suffering the effects of war and division.
Thank you to Sr. Joanne for sharing these reflections with us!
Thank you from Palestinian Student in Bethlehem
Thanks to a generous donor, the St. Ann community is supporting the education of a Palestinian student in Bethlehem. Below is a thank you letter from Abdullah, the student in Bethlehem, thanking the St. Ann community for supporting him and his education.
Dear Saint Ann Community,
Greetings from Bethlehem, the Birthplace of Isa (Jesus), the Church of the Nativity, and the Pilgrimage Route to Bethlehem. I am performing a symbolic act of lighting a candle in a physical space to send you positive thoughts, prayers, and good wishes.
I am sincerely grateful for your generous contribution to my medical education through your generous Community. Your support has been instrumental in allowing me to pursue my dream of becoming a physician, and your belief in my potential deeply humbles me.
As a medical student, the financial burden of tuition here in Palestine can be overwhelming, and your assistance has significantly alleviated this stress. Your support has helped me be in school full-time without interrupting and allowed me to participate in additional clinical rotations and take on more challenging courses. This has enabled me to focus entirely on my studies and clinical rotations. I am particularly and continually grateful for the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in taking courses and clinical observations, which has further solidified my commitment to a career in healthcare.
Your generosity extends far beyond financial support; it represents a profound investment in the future health of our community here in Bethlehem. Your support has lifted my financial burden and paved the way for a healthier future for our community. I am dedicated to utilizing the knowledge and skills I acquire to provide compassionate and quality care to needy patients, ensuring the well-being of our community. I am confident your support will be vital in achieving this goal, and I hope it reassures you of the value of your contribution.
Thank you once again for your unwavering commitment to my medical education. Your support has made a significant difference in my journey, and I sincerely appreciate your generosity. I cannot express enough gratitude for your belief in me and investment in my future.
Sincerely,
Abdullah
In addition to sending us a thank you note, Abdullah & his family lit candles of thanks for our community at the Church of the Nativity.
Upcoming Parish Events and Important Dates
January 5 – Swahili Mass at 9:00 AM
January 5 – CWA meeting in the parish house at 11:00 AM
January 6 – Craig’s Discussion Group begins again with a new book – 2:30 PM on Zoom
January 15 – Social Justice Ministry meeting – 6:30 PM on Zoom
January 26 – Social Justice Ministry film screening after Mass in the house.
Weekly Events
Sundays at 8:15 – 9:00 AM – Reservation Chapel open for private prayer before Mass
Sundays at 6:00 PM – St. Ann Zoom prayer services.
Mondays at 2:30 PM on Zoom – Craig’s Discussion Group
Thursdays at 4:15 PM – Taize Prayer Service (Contact Shonna at Bartletts@gonzaga.edu for more info)
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 & Catholic Women’s Association meeting in the house at 11:00 AM
Every Sunday except the 1st Sunday – Swahili Choir practice at 11:00 AM
3rd Sunday of each month – Prayer for Creation in the Chapel at 8:15 AM
Sunday Evening Zoom Prayer Service – 6:00 PM
The Sunday evening Zoom prayer service that began during Covid 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 now begins at a new time at 6:00 PM; the Zoom opens at 5:45 and prayer begins at 6:00 PM.
Registration – Youth Ministry
If you have children participating in our youth liturgy program – or plan to participate in special programs like our Children’s Christmas program – our Safe Environment Coordinator requests that you please take a few moments to complete an online registration for your children here: http://bit.ly/3Z7RNOU Or you can request a paper copy of the registration form, or use the QR code on the flyers on the church doors. Thank you!
Prayer Requests
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:
Sacrament of the Sick
If parishioners need to schedule the Sacrament of the sick for an ill or dying family member, please call the parish office at 509-535-3031.
Online Giving with Tithe.ly
You can donate using the direct link here – St. Ann tithe.ly page: https://tithe.ly/give?c=2044739
Or if you would rather mail in a donation, our address is at the top of the bulletin.
2025 Calendars for St. Ann
Thanks to the generosity of Holy Cross Cemetery, St. Ann was able to order free 2025 calendars to share with our parishioners. If you would like one for your family, you can pick one up in the entry of the church or from the parish office!
Annual Catholic Appeal 2024 – Update
Donations as of 12/20/24 $29,520.00
Parish Goal: $32,485.00
Percentage of goal: 90.87%
If you have not yet donated to the ACA on behalf of St. Ann Parish, we ask that you prayerfully consider doing so. And please mark your donation St. Ann-Spokane so that it goes towards our parish goal. Thank you to those who have already donated!
Monthly Collection Totals – November 2024
General Collection $12,709.73
Building Fund $16,793.33
Social Concerns $996.87
Social Concerns – Education $11,068.00
Coffee & Donuts $219.03
Total collections $41,786.96
Link for the full collection reports is on the giving page of the website.
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
