Pentecost IX
Also this week: Listen to Bp. Dolan’s sermon from the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Materialism, Birth Control & Abortion
——
The following weekday Masses will be webcast this week: (This is not an exhaustive list of Masses. Click “Download the Bulletin” for additional Mass times.)
Mon: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 5:45 PM
Tue: 9:00 AM
Wed: 8:00 AM
Thu: 8:00 AM
Fri: 5:45 PM
Bishop’s Corner
Last week so many of the great and beloved saints came to us: the Fourteen Holy Helpers, the Curd of Ars, St. Lawrence, St. Philomena and St. Clare. They brought with them an abundance of temporal blessings: fine weather (finally!) and delicious fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce which you have shared with us in turn. St. Philomena’s day was the finest of the summer.
We are especially grateful for the extra food in August, as we are now often five at the table, since we are blessed, too, with the presence of two of our fine seminarians. Rev. Mr. Vili Lehtoranta is serving on Sundays as a deacon, and studying Mass rubrics during the week, as well as receiving other practical training in view of his November 16th ordination to the priesthood. Mr. Bede Okechukwu is our Nigerian seminarian, Tonsured now and a first year theologian, full of zeal to restore the Faith in his own country. He has been ever so helpful in the garden.
Speaking of vocations (do you speak of them with your children, and pray for them?) Last week I visited Sacred Heart Church in Lawrence, Massachusetts; and ordained Brother John McKenna to the subdiaconate. He is one of five Third Order Dominican brothers under Bishop McKenna. They lead a regular religious life together in the rectory of a Church they managed to salvage from the shutdowns of so many parishes in the Boston Archdiocese, and devote themselves to spreading the Faith by their parish apostolate.
In just four years time the brothers have restored the large gothic parish church beautifully. Under His Excellency, and two devoted priests (one Franciscan Father, Clement Procopio, is 92!) they have built up an active and devout congregation of close to one hundred souls. I was happy to assist the bishop and these brothers by conferring this ordination, which will lead to the priesthood in February. I plan to write a full report on this edifying topic in my August newsletter.
Finally, I’m happy to report that both Carravagio and Fr. McGuire are back. Fr. McGuire had a wonderful time in France, I’m sure, and was a help to the fathers and faithful there as well. He’s already headed off to Milwaukee for Assumption weekend. May Our Lady keep up his energy!
Carravagio had no sooner returned to us after five days AWOL when he got into a scrape with a skunk, a real stinker of a fight, even for a feline. To make it worse, he’s had to submit to several tomato juice scrub downs, accomplished under quarantine conditions. Poor baby! He won’t, of course, learn his lesson. They never do, do they? In any case I’m ever so grateful to our charitable cat ladies, Sharon, Katie and Gloria, for their timely assistance.
On a very sad nore, Cincinnati, on the first day of August, the feastday of its Cathedral Patron, St. Peter in Chains, lost a devout Catholic lady who was responsible, in her own quiet way, for the restoration of the Catholic Church in the Queen City. Sue Nies prayed Rosary Novenas for the success of Cincom, her husband Tom’s business. God heard the prayers, and blessed abundantly their business, and then inspired them charitably to assist in so many ways the restoration of the traditional Catholic faith here, beginning
with the purchase of our first church from Sharonville Presbyterian, and providing a building for our first school. Their generosity has not ceased to this day. And to think, it all started with one woman praying the Rosary in novena after novena! Sue Nies died after a decade of sickness and suffering, but leaves such a loving, and living, legacy behind. Won’t you pray at least one Rosary for the repose of her soul, and for her family? God reward our benefactors with eternal life.
Sue was buried on the feast of the Transfiguration, First Saturday. Fr. Cekada and I went over to Immaculate Conception Church for the funeral Mass and joined the procession to the cemetery. We were both impressed and edified by the warm and respectful greetings we received from so many of our old parishioners of years ago. These are graces, hopeful positive signs gratefully to be noted in a religious world which too often resembles a world war battlefield. I have no doubt Sue’s Rosaries were at work here as well. May she rest in peace. Amen.
We are nearing the peak of our assumption weekend with tomorrow’s three Masses, so that everyone can honor Our Lady’s Holy Day. If you can, bring the family to the 9 A.M. Mass for the blessing and little procession and the following family breakfast.
Well, that brings you up to date on our church family news. May every Church blessing follow you home to your family.
In Mary’s Heart,
-Bishop Dolan