Reflections from St. Ann DC

Here's how to be authentic and present with others in a COVID world.

From the comfort of your couch, watch a virtual concert at St. Ann's benefiting those in need in our neighborhood. This event is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. In conjunction with the Chesapeake Orchestra and Music Director Jeffrey Silberschlag, along with St. Mary's College of Maryland, enjoy a performance with 3 of the Brass-playing Silberschlag family of 17 musicians, trombonist Bryan Bourne, and pianist Lior Willinger. The Program: Featured Artists: Jeff Silberschlag, Trumpet Zachary Silberschlag, Trumpet Nathaniel Silberschlag, Horn Bryan Bourne, Trombone Lior Willinger, Piano Performing: Canzona Decima - Adriano Banchieri (edited by Jay Lichtmann) O Quam Gloriosum - Tomas Luis de Victoria (arranged by James Haynor) Two Rondeau’s - Francois Couperin, and Jean F. Dandrieu Solo Piano Piece - Lior Willinger Arietta, Allegretto, Moderato - Franz Joseph Haydn (arranged by David R. Thomas) Gabriel’s Oboe - Ennio Morricone Featuring Bryan Bourne and Jeff Silberschlag Solo Piano Piece - Lior Willinger Ave Maria - Schubert (arrangement, Jeffrey Silberschlag) Featuring Jeffrey and Zachary Silberschlag Jeff Closing talk Canzona Bergamasca - Samuel Scheidt(arrangement David R. Thomas) Rondeau - Jean Joseph Mouret (arrangement David R. Thomas) Music Director of the Chesapeake Orchestra & Professor of Music at St. Mary's College of Maryland, Jeffrey Silberschlag, joins sons Zachary, the Principal trumpet of The Hawai'i Symphony, and Nathaniel, the Principal horn of The Cleveland Orchestra, with trombonist, Bryan Bourne, former Principal trombone of the President's Own United States Marine Band, and pianist Lior Willinger for an ONLINE concert of Brass and piano music from St. Ann Catholic Church. These Brass-playing Silberschlags are part of a family of 17 musicians, whose members have held principal positions in The New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Italian National Symphony RAI, Hawai'i Symphony New York City Opera Orchestra - National Co., The Orchestra Now, and The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Want to make a gift now? You have 3 options: 1) If you are a St. Ann parishioner and would like your gift to be recorded in your yearly total, make a donation through FaithDirect by visiting stanndc.org/give, and write in the "Notes" section "Concert." 2) Visit stanndc.org/music to make a one-time or recurring donation directly on our website. 3) You can also Venmo @nataliejplumb and write "Concert" in the "for" section. Your contribution is fully tax deductible. Thank you for your generosity!

This Sunday, Monsignor Watkins reminds us to remember that Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birthday. We should celebrate the HOLY-day the way Christ would want; and give Him the gifts He would like to receive: for us to know Him, love Him, and Serve him.

This Sunday, Monsignor reflects on how blessed we are that our God humbles himself to become man so man may share in the divinity of God.

This Sunday, Monsignor James Watkins invites us to reflect and be grateful towards those who have and continue to be incredibly generous towards us with their time, talent, and treasure; and invites us to find ways to bestow onto others the generosity we have received from Christ.

This Sunday, Msgr. James Watkins reminds us how Jesus still performs miracles today, 2000 years later.

This Sunday Msgr Watkins reminds us and the children receiving their First Holy Communion that God wants to be close to us. The Eucharist brings God so close, that He is within us.

This Sunday, Msgr. Watkins shares how great our God's love is for us. He is always there for us and never forgets us.

We come to Mass to deepen and strengthen our relationship with Christ. During this season of Thanksgiving, we must be sure to continue to invest our time, talent, and treasure in our relationship with Christ.

St. Paul reminds us that through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.

Msgr. James Watkins reflects on confrontation and explains how Jesus gives us a model to follow that ensures humility and love comes through when we choose to confront others.

Msgr. James Watkins discusses the Assumption of Mary.

Msgr. Watkins discusses prayer and how God does not always give us what we want, but that does not mean He does not hear our prayers.

Msgr. Watkins discusses fear and distress, and how God's love for us is the antidote which brings peace.

Those who are grateful are happy. God is at work. He has his ways of communicating with us no matter what. We're only able to see a fraction of what He is doing.

People often ask how can a good merciful God allow for all the evil in our world to happen? The apostles experienced this question, asking Jesus to increase their faith, as people of faith can understand the evil of the crucifixion which was necessary as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Being grateful to God is how people are able to put the evil of the world into perspective, having faith that grows like a mustard seed.

In this week's homily, Fr. Maximo Stock explains the five pieces of advice that the rich man should have considered taking that could have helped him break through indifference and connect with others. Take a listen.

In today's homily, His Eminence Cardinal Wuerl preaches the importance of Catholic Charity and how we, unlike the wealthy gentile in today's reading, must find humility and recognize the sin of greed in ourselves before it is too late.

In Fr. Maximo's homily this week, he repeats Jesus' words asking us to have the shrewdness of the children of this world, while at the same time the integrity of the Children of Light. "Be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves," Jesus says in Matthew 10:16. Let's learn how.

It's easy to write people off, but we can learn from everyone. We need to make the distinction: We learn from the world, without becoming entrenched in the world's sin. How do we make this distinction?