Lent III
Daily Sermons
March 3 – Bp. Dolan – The Saving Slap
March 4 – Bp. Dolan – And He Really Was a King
March 5 – Bp. Dolan – See Christ in a Leper
March 6 am – Bp. Dolan – The Way: A Way of the Cross
March 6 pm – Bp. Dolan – St. Francis and Stations
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
Not just the first days of March, but all the last of Winter have been a roaring lion, stealthily stalking us again and again, its unexpected snowstorms devouring two weeks of our Lent, and the last three Sundays. Oh, Lenten life here has gone on very well, and thank God that most of you have been able to make it. But sixty or so of you were stranded, and thus missed Mass. We missed you. If you missed the Mass, and longed to be doing your Lent at Calvary’s altar, it is good, and these will not be lost days for you, and your Lent. Now, on to spiritual Spring this time change Sunday… Time for a change in our souls, isn’t it?
We missed you, but we hope you will not miss your weekly contribution. We will certainly need all of you to make up for any missed envelopes, and even some Lenten sacrifices to make the king’s ransom the Duke will be sending round to collect. For the rest, do make it to something extra this week, Stations or Mass, just to show you’re still in the land of the living, and onboard for Lent.
Saturday I’ll be giving a Lenten Retreat. No charge, just a few hours of your time to pray and reflect and recharge your batteries in the quiet of church. We’ll spend the day with St. Francis, starting with Mass at 8:10, and ending about 2 PM after the traditional Stations and Benediction. Prayerful silence is always welcome, of course, but Internet problems do complicate life. Last week along with the arrival of the new organ, we lost some Internet, and much time working around it, and trying to diagnose and repair it. But it returned mysteriously on Thursday morning, it seems. Fr. Cekada thinks it may have been the raccoons, (who are back again, too) chewing in just the right place.
Fr. Nkamuke’s email was hacked by a fairly clever hacker last week when he was in Ghana. But of course Nigeria is the nirvana of email fraud, so this is to be expected. Father reports that all is well now. He is spending the rest of Lent in Oweri and Porthartcourt before returning to the capital city for Holy Week.
Fr. McKenna left the frozen Midwest for frozen Boston last week for his grandmother’s funeral. With the help of the CMRI Sisters he sang the Requiem Mass for her on Friday, and then returned to Milwaukee. Fr. Lehtoranta is getting in on Heaven after all, as he has taken up feeding the hungry, and very well indeed. We ran out of Lenten food last week, and Father has proven a most talented and creative vegan cook. He fed us “hamburgers” one night, and pasta and “meatballs” another, and all without the meat! Fr. Cekada was delighted by the vegan mayonnaise, and we were all charmed by many such small touches that make for a great meal. I am grateful for the relief, as I used to be terribly distracted during Vespers by the thought of what to feed the Fathers. Now I can concentrate on the pslams, hymns, and antiphons, with the altar boys, who are continuing to pick it up. One of the crew, Peter McClorey, turned 13 last week, as did one of our homeschooler servers a while ago, Patrick Omlor. Time to be thinking about recruiting fresh torchbearers. Altar boys, remember your special day on Saturday March 21.
When we eat dinner together at the Convento, we now sing the long Latin grace before and after, as they used to do at the seminary. Puccini often assists at the meals, and shocks me with his naughty behavior. He’s good as gold when he visits the “bishop’s palace” for the breakfast buffet and the odd sleepover. Well, the other night he made a terrible ruckus during grace, as though he were objecting to it. I’ve never seen him behave this way, howling like an alley cat, jumping on my chair. Fr. Cekada says it was our singing! Cats have sensitive ears, and I’m sure our chanting does leave something to be desired….
Fr. Cekada is in seventh heaven with our new old organ, a model from 1996, but one whose technology is considerably advanced over the previous one, given by a devout lady from Kentucky, the late Dorothy Spicer, a great admirer of Archbishop Lefebvre. This time many of you, and our Internet friends contributed to cover the comparatively modest costs. The difference in tone and sound is remarkable, although the fearsome array of speakers on the back wall is rather intimidating. We’re all looking forward to Easter.
But first, welcome to Lent for those who missed it. Thursday is already Mid-Lent. Let’s make each one of these blessed days count, as we count down to the glorious days of Holy Week and Tenebrae and Easter with its vigil. May your soul know Spring.
—Bishop Dolan