Trinity Sunday

Save these dates for the St. Gertrude the Great Girls’ Camp!
Girls ages 5 – 16+ are welcome to join us on July 11th, 12th and 13th for three days of fun and spiritual activities. We will be joined by three Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas for days filled with camp favorites such as archery, scrapbooking and of course, the popular Ice Cream Social. We’ll also have our second “annual” canoe trip (age appropriate), overnight camping and bonfire again. New activities for this summer include origami, cake decorating, making a personalized Rosary and some surprises! Come join the fun! The cost of this camp is funded by the generous donations of our sponsors.

Also, Save the Date for Boys’ Camp!
July 24-26

zelusdomustuae
Bishop’s Corner

Our Lady’s month has led us to June and the Sacred Heart, well prepared by the best of Mothers to honor her Son. The Holy Ghost has lit the flower-strewn path which took us to an excellent First Friday of June. We thus solemnly opened the month of mercies and of Heavenly Bread, of reparation and adoration, especially in the name of so many who have been misled, and love Jesus and Mary no more. Let us ask the Sacred Heart each day to send His own Spirit upon us, to fill us with love: generous, humble, and persevering. Don’t start your summer vacation yet! There is much work yet to do.

Even the spiders with their fine sunrise webs are early this year, by about a week or two. The St. Anthony lilies are as well, blossoming during Whitweek rather than for June and Corpus Christi. The refreshing rain we were given after Memorial Day–Pentecost Monday–seems to have done a lot of good, and the church grounds continue invitingly beautiful.

We hope to see the church sign on Rialto Road completed soon, and the cloister project continued. Thank you for your Building Fund donations, which are such a help as we “step out in faith” to continue our church building project.

Wasn’t Pentecost wonderful? We were consoled to give the Holy Ghost 18 new soldiers of Christ for Him to seal and confirm, but I was especially touched by the four little Patton grandchildren who came to be baptized, still in their innocence. They were full of touching reverence and wonder during the pontifical ceremonies, although I think little Buba (Isaiah) was intimidated at first by my big hat–an understandable reaction.

I want to thank Mark Lotarski and Marlys and Paul Arlinghaus for the fine festive reception which gave everyone a little feed before heading home after the morning’s long ceremonies. The pontifical vigil Mass, so moving in its solemn splendor, was perfection itself with the many priests and servers ably guided by Rich Vande Ryt and Tom Simpson “Senior.” Thanks to everyone!

On Sunday after the Pentecost Solemn Mass, we had another little reception to bid farewell to Fr. McKenna. He now assumes his duties as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Boston. He goes with our very best wishes and prayers. The Holy Ghost is good to be always sending new friends our way.

An old friend and great priest in Europe for over fifty years was buried last Thursday. Fr. Paul Schoonbroodt of Belgium was ordained in 1958, and always maintained his Catholic faith, along with a most engaging and kind disposition. “Excommunicated” by the Novus Ordo bishop in 1988, and driven out of his church for his Catholic fidelity, Father built a beautiful chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart. He was parish priest (some Sundays preaching in three languages successively!), retreat master, musician, organist, and most of all missionary to many souls in France, Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic as well as his native Belgium, and even far away Sweden. We shall not see his like again.

Alas, it seems that Fr. Schoonbroodt’s work died with him, for he left no will, we are told. Already the chapel is in the hands of an “una cum” priest, and his funeral was conducted by his Novus Ordo brother, a valid priest but one who says the Novus Ordo as well as the Mass. We will sing the Requiem this Wednesday for the repose of his noble priestly soul, and gentle and kind man of uncompromising faith. May he rest in peace.

In the meantime, the work goes on. Our old associate here and at St. Clare (it’s been four years now), Fr. Oscar Saavedra, surprised us for Memorial Day. What a nice priestly gathering we six had that afternoon over some excellent ribs which the “baby” priest barbequed. We were able to catch up on news and reminisce a little. Fr. Saavedra stays very busy with his parish which he runs pretty much single-handedly. His congregation is aging, and he is constantly on sick calls, with a high number of funerals. Father edifies us with his zealous priestly spirit as he serves those dear faithful souls at Queen of Martyrs in Frasier, Michigan, under the direction of Bishop Sanborn, who visits each month, busy as he is with training much needed future priests.

This local pastor is taking a little Trinity break today to visit the faithful in Milwaukee for six Confirmations. It will be a pleasure to see St. Hugh of Lincoln again, thriving under good Fr. McGuire’s care.

Be with us this June! We need faithful to come Thursday for Corpus Christi, as well as the following week for daily Mass and Benediction. Finally, there is the Sacred Heart. When could you come? Oh yes, circle the 13th for St. Anthony and the Fatima Rosary Procession in the evening? How will we manage everything with just a few families doing most of the lifting? Fr. Saavedra and I agree, God’s Providence always finds a way, and inspires the faithful few to persevere. Sometimes the Holy Ghost even sends in relief, fresh soldiers. Why He did at Pentecost, eighteen in number, did He not?

May the Holy Ghost bless you for a wonderful month of the Sacred Heart at St. Gertrude the Great!

–Bishop Dolan

Our New Soldiers of Christ