Pentecost VII
Daily Sermons
June 24 – Fr. McKenna – Nativity of St. John the Baptist
July 9 – Bp. Dolan – St. Maria Goretti
July 11 – Bp. Dolan – The Adventure of Holiness
July 23 – Fr. McKenna – St. Apollinaris
July 24 – Fr. McKenna – Temptations Against Purity
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
Our Boys’ Camp is on its last day as I write this on another perfectly beautiful Summer morning. The boys edified us not only by being even neater than the girls (and the girls were of course quite neat) but also by their fine singing and serving for the three High Masses of the camp. We enjoyed a campfire the first night, and I told them a “ghost story” or two from my trove of Fr. Siordia’s exorcism tales. We had rain for the first night and the middle morning of the camp, but the lads took it in stride, and all went well. Special thanks to the fathers who were here all or part of the time, as well as to Marlys for her help with the food.
These Summer camps, while relatively short, are really very important both in the life of our church and in the life of our impressionable youth, who are exposed to much good example, as well as given a good three days away “at camp.” I always feel sorry for the children who miss it. Parents, mark your calendars for next July? This, and the Children’s Lenten Day of Recollection, should be musts for all of our families.
Summer travels continue. Fr. Lehtoranta is back from his European mission work and home visit. Fr. Cekada had an excellent visit to Milwaukee, and I am there today. Bishop Sanborn stopped by Sunday evening after offering Mass at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Detroit, and we enjoyed a nice visit with him. Fr. Nkamuke is offering one of his “first Masses” in Louisiana, for he has not yet visited the faithful of Our Lady of the Rosary. Fr. McKenna is trying a “regular” Sunday morning Mass in Rochester, Minnesota, flying in and out, as we used to serve missions in the good old days. God willing there will be enough people and support to make this feasible on a regular basis.
We were happy to have our “on account of because” Solemn High Mass last Sunday with our newest priest as celebrant. The servers all did a fine job, as did our congregational choir. We should always attempt to give God our best, absolutely the best we can manage for Sundays and feast days, and every day.
The timely rains have brought out the weeds in abundance. The wide expanse of our grounds is more than we can handle this year. My own garden is gone to weed. Some of our young people will be coming on Tuesday to help collect weeds, as well as those bag bugs which threaten our evergreens every Summer. Care to help? Since this is St. Gertrude, a meal will be of course provided.
The first storm of July, which knocked out the electric for a while, did about $500 worth of damage to the organ. This would be another field in which someone
could help.
Today we’re still on blessings. The Fathers will fan out to bless cars, and we’ll pray especially for grandparents as we conclude our Triduum to God’s Grandmother, good St. Anne. God surrounds us with blessings, and when the inevitable storms move in it’s good to count them, and place them in the “chalice of benediction, which we bless” in union with the Holy Mass throughout the world.
The month of July, blessed in every respect, ends with the soldier Saint, Ignatius, God’s fireman. The next day we change the calendar to August, our devotions to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, and our clothing to “church” for it is First Friday and All Night Adoration, our first since June and Corpus Christi. Our Summer is fleeting. Make it count by prayer.
We also keep two special observances on Friday. The feast of St. Peter’s Chair is a great one, the titular of our Cathedral. By its very nature it calls us to pray for the restoration of Peter’s Chair now in the hands of heretics, and such heretics! At the 11:20 Mass we will also be honoring three graduating home schooling Seniors from the parish.
The coyote was back the other evening, checking out the campfire circle while everyone was gone. We wish he would go, too. Maybe he’ll get some time off this Summer as well.
May your last week of July be a blessed one!
Yours in the Precious Blood of Our Savior,
– Bishop Dolan