Easter V
✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
Somehow Summer managed to avoid the Social Distancing, slipping in between storms, replacing Winter’s chill and the piercing wet cold which accompanies Spring. There, three seasons in eight days.
These May days pass quickly, with care for the sick, attempting to keep up with parish matters and priests’ needs throughout the world; prayer, public and private, and preaching. Oh, and attempting to get the truth out about the fear-demic… Busy days.
There are encouraging little signs of resistance, small or even statewide victories against tyranny, ignorance and fear. Wisconsin’s Supreme Court overturned the lockdown, and people immediately rushed out to the bars. But historically, it’s more socializing than drinking which characterizes the many bars in the state. Oh, the churches were freed too. But nobody’s rushing yet.
More and more people, grown weary of this outrageous lie, have begun to react, to question, to sue, to refuse. Cheering news. Let us pray. Our Mass attendance continues to increase. Some old-timers have returned. Some new faithful are now regulars. This is exactly the kind of intentions we pray for at the Lesser Litanies Procession, the Rogation Days this week, Monday through Wednesday. It would be nice to see a good turnout. If only enough people would pray… Think how much good our prayers have brought us.
Forty-seven did gather to pray the Peace Rosary of Fatima in public procession on a cold Wednesday evening, feast of Our Lady of Fatima. This too is encouraging and a sign of a return to normalcy against the insanity.
Fr. McKenna has to wear the unsanitary slave’s mask of submission in order to travel by air to serve his missions. He had two symbolic ones made up, one with the Hammer and Sickle and “Your Fear Costs My Freedom.” God reward his priestly devotion to souls, his many sacrifices.
The cat provides comic relief these days. His deadly foe is Newcat, aka Carissimo, the cute cat who attended the May Crowning Procession and afterwards graciously received much attention from the children in the parking lot. I opened the door during a heavy rain recently and he came bowling in. A moment later Puccini entered in hot pursuit. Fr. McGuire, who helps care for Fr. Cekada but is also great with animals, separated the cats, and peace was restored.
Awhile ago I heard an unusual whine from Puccini without, and made the mistake of opening the door. The cat entered with a trophy bunny by the scruff of its neck. I imagine the idea was a little recreation and then supper. This time, I merely wished for Fr. McGuire, and you know he materialized (well, formalized too). Father is an expert in all things leproid, as he keeps one in his room, the improbably named Dawg. Well, Father sprang into action, extricated the bunny from behind a bookcase, and took it home to be nursed. It passed the next day, sadly, and sadder still for the mystified cat, who only wanted to play.
“The play’s the thing.” Miss Eldracher’s class performed the classic “Attila the Hun” last Friday to universal applause, with an encore performance in Fr. Cekada’s sickroom. The costumes were great and the delivery charming, but the casting was brilliant. Surely these are the three essential qualities for any theatrical production. Fr. Cekada was very pleased with his visiting thespians.
We were all pleased and delighted with our May Crowning Sunday, and humbly pray it was acceptable to our great Queen and tender Mother. The excellent attendance, beautiful May Altar, the touching devotion of the innocent little ones, the beautiful and festive music and finally, the well executed May Crowning itself—always a complicated ceremony—were certainly memorable. I single out our choir, and the up and coming Masters of Ceremony for praise. Richie VandeRyt would have been proud.
Do not forget the Holy Day on Thursday, nor May Devotions at home or at church daily. May Our Lady, Joy of All Who Sorrow, encourage and rejoice you.
–Bp. Dolan