Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood
It’s almost time! The St. Gertrude the Great Girls’ Camp is almost here! Join us on July 10th, 11th and 12th for three fun-filled days. We’ll do crafts, sports, go on a hayride, cook, have a clueless scavenger hunt, spend time with two Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas and have a great time! Camp is open to girls 4 and up! If you have any questions or want to let us know your daughter is coming, please contact Donna at: donnaalice540@msn.com. We’d love to see you there!
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
With today’s Precious Blood Sunday, our Independence Day weekend comes to a close. I hope you did not have a pleasant one; I would rather you all had a pious one, a patriotic one – not just beer and brats! I pray your celebration included some serious thinking, some profitable discussion, some motivated praying for our country; as we slip into a surveillance state. In His goodness God at least gives us a Paul Revere to sound the alarm. Of course, it is much easier to turn it off, and turn over, and go back to sleep, only waking up in time for the barbeque.
Some 20 souls sacrificed their sleep to pray the Mass with us on our national day. The sad, dismal weather seemed somehow fitting. Still, our patriotic hymns have a wonderful way of rousing us, don’t they, even when sung by a small group. Thank God!
Try hymn singing sometime at home. In the old days, people would cheer and entertain themselves with music, art and games, before the propaganda box was installed in each home.
Our duties done, sermon given, Masses and prayers said and hymns sung, we did gather together for a nice Independence Day picnic on the Convento porch. All things in due measure! The McFathers made more brats and sauerkraut. (We Irishmen can’t get enough of that great German food!) Fr. Thielen joined us for the party, and a good time was had by all.
Fr. Thielen mentioned that Ruth Higdon, an old-timer from St. Gertrude the Great’s early days, still makes it to his Mass. She has resided in Columbus for a number of years. Her indomitable spirit at 94 brings her out to Mass with her walker. Thank God for such fidelity and such a good example.
Fr. Lehtoranta just missed the party as he returned late on Thursday evening. We are looking forward to hearing about his trip, as well as any apostolic possibilities in Scandinavia. Michigan seminarian Mr. Philip Eldracher visited us as well, on his way home, after having received the first two minor orders from Bishop Sanborn.
Bishop Sanborn will be visiting Europe this week, where he will see faithful Fr. Trytek in Krakow, as well as interview some potential seminarians. God is blessing our work with seminarians from many countries.
Meanwhile, our relatively new apostolate of Restoration Radio is also flourishing. The latest “radio personality” is Fr. Larrabee, who just celebrated his fourth anniversary of ordination. Father’s program “An Introduction to Catholicism” presents popular Catholic apologetics, and has already drawn over a thousand downloads. Stay tuned in the weeks ahead as Bishop Sanborn and Fr. Cekada discuss current events in the light of unchanging Catholicism.
This week we welcome two of the Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas and quite a few girls and young ladies for three wonderful days of Summer camp. I thank in advance all of the ladies who have been working so hard preparing for this important annual apostolate. Thank you for your generous support! Let’s all pray for fine weather for the girls.
The Sisters have their headquarters at Our Lady of the Sun in Phoenix, where Fr. Palma serves. While our weather is wet and mild, they are broiling in the heat. Let us remember them and their needs in prayer.
Isn’t the cloister courtyard shaping up beautifully? The pavers certainly make for a handsome effect. Fr. Cekada’s impromptu appeal last Sunday at the 7:30 for a donor for the fountain was immediately and very generously answered.
You have been very good about remembering Bea Lutkehaus, now at Mercy-St. Theresa, and visiting her. She, too, is one of our indomitable old-timers. Do keep her, and all of our shut in, in your prayers.
After today’s Solemnity of the Precious Blood, the church “goes quiet” for five weeks until the Assumption. Still, in addition to the camps, we have our two weekly novenas on Tuesday and Friday, Sunday Vespers, and daily Masses as announced, St. James the Greater and St. Anne, as well as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and many beloved saints. So, I suppose it is really only a relative rest.
The Masses have been quite beautiful of late. Each season and feast has its particular charm. How do people manage to resist? The days are delineated by devotions which draw us closer to God in so many ways. Take advantage of your Summer with its mild weather, long days and beautiful mornings, to allow yourself to “be drawn by Him to the love of things unseen,” as we sing in the Christmas Preface.
Following, living the Church cycle of feasts and devotions is the best way, the only way to live as a Catholic, and to raise Catholic children today (just as we were raised yesterday) while being raised above so much distracting nonsense – and worse – which would otherwise fill our days and empty our souls.
Come, be washed in the Precious Blood of the Lamb. Slake your thirst here and be daily refreshed and renewed. Heaven, don’t miss it for the earth.
With a blessing in the Precious Blood,
– Bishop Dolan
PS: A sincere thank you for your condolences, cards and Masses for my brother David. I am very touched by your charity, and pray in turn for you and your family.