This Week: Dedication of St. Savior's Basilica - Pentecost XXII

“Co-Redemptrix”  –Bp. Charles McGuire

The Bishop’s Note
God has certainly blessed us with beautiful weather as of late. There are some beautiful Fall colors in the leaves, and the moon has been stunningly bright at night. God’s creation is fantastic…and to think that each star has been given an angel to watch over it and guide it in its course! God is good. If earth has such beauty, what will heaven be?! May the Saints help us to get there so that we can find out.

We had over 60 children at last Sunday’s All Saints party, and the costumes and presentations were really great…and edifying. There were moments of humor, too, with the little baby dragon who wandered into the crowd, thankfully not breathing fire! And the cow who charged at Ss. Perpetua and Felicity. I have to admit, the children stumped me quite a bit this year. It is quite encouraging to know that the children know their saints and enjoy dressing up as saints. My prayer is that they themselves become the saints God wants them to be.

All Souls’ Day was well attended and it was gratifying to see some of you coming back for several Masses throughout the day. Fr. Simpson said his three Masses in El Paso at the end of a long Texas trip, while Fr. McKenna offered his three Masses in Milwaukee at the end of a mission trip. The school visited St. Stephen’s cemetery last week to pray the Rosary for the repose of the souls buried there. We ended at Bishop Dolan and Fr. Cekada’s graves. I have not been to their graves since Bishop Dolan’s funeral and so I took the opportunity to have a little chat with them after blessing their graves. They left us rather suddenly, but it was perfect timing because it was God’s timing. We must never forget all the good they did for us and for the Church, and we must repay them by praying for the repose of their souls. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord!

Tonight we have the St. Martin’s Day festivities consisting of hymns and a lantern-lit procession with St. Mar-tin and his horse. The evening is concluded with a meal which some of the men have prepared. Next Sunday is the feast of St. Gertrude the Great. I was reading an old bulletin and learned that the dedication of our new church building, which took place on the feast of St. Gertrude, would have marked 23 years that we had been in the old Sharonville church. That was in 2003, which means we have been here in West Chester for 22 years. The feast day is also Fr. Lehtoranta’s 14th priestly anniversary, and my 20th. A big day indeed! We have so much to be thankful for!

Fr. Mardones sent a picture of his All Souls’ Day Mass, which he said in a wheelchair at a small altar. This is true priestliness and a good example to us all. It must be very difficult for Father not to be able to walk and to say Mass standing at the altar of God. But it is good to see that that does not keep him from saying the Holy Mass. It is from the altar that he will receive strength, as is the case for each and every one of us. God bless you, Fr. Mardones! May your example teach us all how important is the Holy Mass.

Don’t forget the Veteran’s Day service on Tuesday at 11:00. Oh! and Moms, don’t forget the CMC meeting on Thursday evening beginning with the Holy Mass. Finally, don’t forget the Poor Souls in Purgatory!
– Bishop McGuire

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