Pentecost XVI
Listen to Fr. Cekada’s Eulogy
Opening Procession for †Fr. Cekada’s Requiem Mass
†Fr. Cekada’s Burial Procession
Recent Short, Daily Sermons from Fr. Lehtoranta
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Seven Sorrows of Our Lady
Ember Wednesday of September
Ember Friday and St. Mary Magdalen
Ember Saturday and Priesthood
✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
This past week flew by with tears and memories, intricate funeral plans and the thousand details which must be worked out at such a time. It is difficult to put everything, anything, into words, but the funeral went very well. I am grateful to God and His Mother, and to so many of you who helped and expressed condolences, worked, sang, served, prayed, kept watch and just “were there” at this time. You know this all means very much. God reward each of you, touched by the life of this great priest of God, and sorrowed at his passing. We shall not see his like again. One internet mourner described Fr. Cekada as “a world legend.” He is not far wrong.
The funeral on Thursday drew well over two hundred mourners. The long car procession to St. Stephen’s Cemetery alone was so impressive. The music was magnificent, which would have rejoiced Fr. Cekada’s heart. The ensemble made a splendid tribute as well as a historical gathering. Twelve priests and three bishops were present. I doubt we will ever see that again. Remember this day. As you remember Fr. Cekada, remember as well both to pray for his soul, and to ask him to pray for us, for our protection and perseverance, now and in the coming weeks.
I have the impression that Fr. Cekada’s death marks the end of an era. Let us be ready for the next, fortified by the example of our fathers—and mothers—in the Faith. New challenges, changed conditions await us in the Brave New World of the Covid “Reset.” 9/11, the date of Father’s death, marked the 19th anniversary of what was the imposition of an utterly new worldwide tyranny and perpetual war. We have now entered into the next stage. We are in God’s merciful hands. Let us at least try to stay united, for the foe does not recognize our little differences or divisions.
No picnic today. We are still mourning, and recovering from these events of September. But remember Rosary Sunday, its Mass, Procession and Breakfast. I thought this might be a good time to speak about our early history at St. Gertrude the Great. It is a glorious one, and should not be forgotten as we now turn the page.
May Our Lady of Sorrows, sweetest Comforter of the Afflicted, be our consolation now in our days of grief.
–Bp. Dolan