The Diary of the 137th Annual Novena to St. Anne
St. Anne Shrine – Fiskdale
Administrated by the Assumptionist
The Healing Mass this morning was celebrated by the Assumptionists’ North American Provincial Father Chi Ai Nguyen, A.A. Father Chi Ai opened the Mass with a prayer that God transforms our emptiness, which He can then pour his mercy. Pastor Luc Martel, A.A. and Father Alex Castro, A.A. concelebrated the Mass with Father Chi Ai.
The Gospel Reading was Luke 11:27-28. Blessed are those who hear His word and observe it. Jesus was interrupted by a woman; He was not often interrupted. This voice reduces the word of Jesus to nothing. In the womb, a baby cannot say anything since language is not possible. When a baby nurses at the breasts, its language is a mere stammering. Blessed are the breasts in which you nursed.
Confronted with the voice of the woman, Jesus continues to talk, using the same formula of a promise of happiness and blessings. Jesus let His work be a form of blessing, and he continues to talk about the Good News. His answer is the promise of Heaven and a promise of happiness. Blessed are we who hear the word of God and observe it.
The Word of God continues to flow through us, and sometimes in spite of us. It flows through different people in different ways.
Some of us are discontent because the Word of God has not passed on to our families. Father Chi Ai reminded the congregation to not despair and not be discouraged. The word will continue to flow in us and through us. We are responsible for the mission of Evangelization, but we must let God be God. He will take care of everything else.
Father Chi Ai told the story about Vietnam in 1945, when the Communists took over the North. Many Catholics moved to South Vietnam. It was a time of division and uncertainty for many families, especially since people could not contact their own family members. There was a family in which the father was deathly sick in North Vietnam. His wife contacted their two sons who were living in South Vietnam. The sons returned home, but their mother was surprised that they did not attend Mass anymore. When the dad was restored to health, the two sons returned to South Vietnam, and were ordained soon after as Priests! Here is the reason for them not going to Mass: Prior to their trip to visit their parents, their Bishop told them not to tell anyone about their upcoming ordinations. He also told them not to be in church because they could be in trouble if the Communists knew that they would be ordained as Priests.
What can we learn from that story? We can learn that the Word of God flows through us and in spite of us. We must all continue to sow the seed of the Good News, inside and outside our families. The Word of God has the power to save. This Word is our Salvation.
After the Homily, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was administered.
Following the Mass, a brown bag lunch was served to the congregation, which was made by dedicated volunteers at Saint Anne Saint Patrick Parish.
