Easter IV, The Finding of the Holy Cross
Our school students sing at the conclusion of their 2015 Spring Program.
Our Kindergarteners and First Graders sing “Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone.”
The Gloria Returns!
Here is just the organ piece (Marsh Fanfare) from the video above, minus the bells.
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Daily Sermons
April 27 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Showered by Insults, Answering with Love
April 28 – Bp. Dolan – 3 Missionaries and You
April 29 – Bp. Dolan – What Did You Learn in School Today?
April 30 – Fr. Lehtoranta – Two Catherines and the Evil Queen
May 1 – Bp. Dolan – Confidence and Camel Skin
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✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
The Holy Cross comes again today, but covered with flowers and all glorious with Easter Joy. Our joy is doubled since today it is shared with the Blessed Mother in her month of May. Thanks to all, young and old, who worked together for the beautiful May altars. There are two so that everyone in church can see and be inspired by one, regardless of where they are sitting. Most people come and go in a very businesslike fashion, so they would otherwise miss the May Altar. But don’t you miss out on May. Young or old, make an altar in your home to Mary. Put some Spring flowers there or a plant or something, and candles–and yourself in prayer each day. ‘Tis the month of our Mother.
Our outside crews have been busy as well. Doby has been perseveringly cutting and pulling, with the assistance of 18 and Freddy. Gina has replanted some rose bushes lost over the winter, and very kindly cleaned out the pond at the Lourdes Grotto. That’s a big job. Now might be a good time for our Stations’ sponsors to visit theirs, survey the winter damage and plan on some May clean up and planting. This is a smaller job, but every little bit helps.
Fr. Cekada has concluded his Seminary teaching trips for this school year, and just in the nick of time. The sanctuary heating/air conditioning unit goes on by itself, as though haunted, ever since it was struck some time ago by lightning. Here the story becomes impossibly complicated, all caught up with big brother regulations and smoke detectors which never worked correctly in the first place, and companies gouging churches for great quantities of wasted money, backed up by the government oversight. Much patience and a cool head is required to navigate these waters.
Fr. Lehtoranta had a fine birthday celebration last Sunday, surprised by out school children at their splendid and so enjoyable Spring Aire program. They sang to him, and gave him a cake and a bouquet of Lilies of the Valley, Finland’s national flower. It was wonderful to see the children, more than any in the history our little school, all together and performing so well, and with evident confidence and enjoyment. It was a memorable afternoon, and I thank our dedicated adults for their hours of work with the children. Our joy was made full by Dominic’s Spaghetti Dinner. More thanks are in order to all the O’Donnells. The April afternoon’s offering from our school seems to come at a good time each year, and has become a cherished tradition at St. Gertrude.
Fr. Lehtoranta (accent on the first syllable, you know) is in Milwaukee this weekend, and Fr. McKenna is by exception still with us through this week, when he returns to the missions. One of our talented faithful in Milwaukee is making beautiful wooden mission altars, fully portable and collapsible, for the greater glory of God, which should be foremost in our daily thoughts, and certainly for His worship.
Caravaggio is a constant source of edification to us. More serious than the every-joyful Puccini, he delayed breakfast today to patrol the back berm for bunnies. Only having secured the grounds did he return to the house for a little refreshment. Would we were so careful with our own souls and families, even at the price of a little penance. The early Aztec converts in Mexico were so fond of fasting and penance that they obtained permission from the Franciscans to fast right through Easter, until Pentecost. At least let us keep May, as we like to say with Fr. Faber, as Our Lady’s Lent. The sweetness of sacrifice is at the heart of today’s Holy Cross Feast, the secret of its joy.
Blessed May!
—-Bp. Dolan