St. Anne Catholic Church
A "Few" Words from Fr. Robert
A Father’s Day Prayer
Shared by Fr. Noel
Dear Father in heaven, as a Father help me:
To follow your example
To be patient
To be caring
To be understanding
To be forgiving
To know when to be firm
and when to be compassionate
To be a teacher
To be loving
To be a good listener
And to always be there for my children
as you are always there for me.
Amen

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Big News
One of the last things that Bishop Hartmayer did before he left Savannah was give us permission to upgrade our athletic fields. You will recall that the Parish Council, the Parish Finance Council and the School Board wholeheartedly endorsed this project.

Shortly after construction began, it became clear that we had to move one light pole in order to make our new baseball field comply with our league’s standards. Sadly, when we tried to move the pole we discovered that it was considerably weakened below ground level. After a lot of consulting, no one would tell us that our present lights, poles and wiring, which date back to the early-1960s, are safe. Both the integrity of the poles and the overhead wires are in question. The Diocese was informed of our problem and stated that since the project had already been approved at all levels, all I needed to do was submit a change order to replace the old lighting. No further permissions were needed. After a lot of thought and a fair amount of hesitancy I came to understand that it was either no lights or new lights. I informed Georgia Power never to reconnect our old field lights again, and it is my hope that they will be removed as soon as possible. The additional cost for new field lighting is just under $400,000. We will pay for the new lights with a down payment of $200,000 which was pledged at the Deimel Ball as part of the Viking 600 campaign. The remaining $200,000 will be financed through the school’s Georgia Power bill to the tune of an additional $2,000 a month. While the term of the loan is 10 years, it is our hope that once we get closer to completion of our new athletic fields that Pacelli alumni and members of the local community will help us pay off the lights as soon as possible and help us begin to raise funds for the new stands.

I see no alternative to this next step. Because of the heat in Georgia, most of our football and soccer games and some of our baseball games are played in the evening. Our beautiful new field without adequate lighting would not be able to serve the purpose we desire and desperately need. So we will move forward and also replace the lighting this summer. The lead time for this project is between 8 and 10 weeks.

Once complete, we’ll have a special “Let There Be Light” celebration on Deimel Field. Stay tuned for details!
The Turf is Here!
Here is a picture of Deimel Field, taken on Wednesday, June 17th, the day the turf arrived. Prior to this day, the complicated drainage system was installed, and the liner below the stones was laid and sealed. Fun fact: The crew installing our turf is the same crew that laid the turf for the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta!
Drone Photograph by Kendall Mills
Concerned, and We’ll Miss You
One of the most beautiful things about St. Anne Church is the number of active military families who participate every Sunday. Many have large families and choose to send their children to our beautiful school. Many military families are eager to put down roots in our parish and get involved. Some leave Benning and then cycle back in a couple of years later and pick up where they started. One of the hardest things though is as people transfer in and out of Fort Benning there are a lot of goodbyes. I know that things are in flux right now because of the pandemic, and I fear that we won’t have a chance to say goodbye and pray over or with our friends and military families who are leaving. If you are being transferred or “PCSed” please drop us a line and let us know. Rest assured you will be in our thoughts and our prayers as you pack up and move to your next assignment. Please help us and spread the word that St. Anne Church will always be a military friendly parish.
Pastor’s Inbox
Fr. Robert I like the Blessed Mother next to the altar, please bring her back.

Fr. Robert I don’t like the Blessed Mother next to the altar because I can’t light candles there. Please put the candles in front of the altar in church and bring the Blessed Mother back next to the altar in Church so I can light candles and see her during Mass.

Fr. Robert put the Blessed Mother back in Mercy Chapel. I find it easier to pray there because the Blessed Sacrament is present. Don’t forget Mary and Jesus like to be together.

Response: Blessed Mother Help Me!
The Blessed Mother was in church to remind us of her loving concern for us during the pandemic. Now she is back in Mercy Chapel, a perfect place for private prayer and devotion and lighting candles. Don’t worry, St. Joseph is not far behind. He’s coming home, too.

Fr. Robert I hate those masks. I hate them and I refuse to wear one when I come to church.

Response: I understand that because of medical conditions some people cannot wear a mask. While there are differences of opinion, the prevailing consensus and the current official recommendation of the CDC is to wear masks in public.They are purported to help stop the spread of the virus. Please wear a mask when you come to church for your own protection and the protection and peace of mind of others. It’s amazing what we can do for love. I am so grateful that there were only four people at all the Masses last weekend who chose not to wear masks.

Fr. Robert Why aren’t we praying for our first responders and military anymore? Did you stop because it is no longer politically correct? Shame on you if you did.

Response: Our prayers come from our heart and do not depend on what is politically correct. When the office was closed, we didn't have anyone to write the prayers of the faithful. Fr. Manny had a book of intentions which we started to use and like. We did not intentionally leave out the military and first responders. Those intentions simply were not in our new book. We will add them in again, and we will also pray for all victims of violence and prejudice throughout the whole world.

Dear Fr. Robert and Fr. Manny and Fr. Paul and St. Anne Church I joined your parish last summer after my husband and I relocated to Ft. Benning. I am so thankful I got to share a few months of Masses with St. Anne’s before we PCSed to Kansas. Right after we made it to Kansas my husband deployed and the pandemic happened. I didn’t have the chance to establish myself at another parish before everything changed. So early in March I searched and found St. Anne on Facebook and saw just what hard work you were doing to make sure the parishioners were taken care of during this unprecedented time. Each Sunday and during the week I tuned in for Mass and the Rosary. It provided me with so much comfort during a very weary and uncomfortable time. Thank you for what you did and do for me. I miss St. Anne’s immensely, but joining you virtually has helped a ton. Best wishes and stay well.

Response: The privilege is ours, let’s stay close in prayer.
Beautiful Chalk Art
Once again, the Eli family helped us commemorate an important feast in the Church by leaving us this beautiful drawing for the Feast of Corpus Christi. It lifts my heart every time I go into Church.