Our Bendel memorial Dahlias have had a hard Summer, due to the dry weather, but also the multiplying groundhogs. Old Senex (or perhaps Mrs. Senex, Eldon says) has been joined by two hungry offspring, Puer and Phanuel. They like Dahlias so much that they set up an apartment in the rocks next door to the Dahlia bed. Eldon is doing his best to defend the Dahlias. All of our Bendels are gone, so I would hate to lose the Dahlias, too. I wonder what Bill would say?

There is an interesting link between the city of Santa Fe with its Conquistadora, and Cincinnati. Santa Fe’s first bishop, the French Mgr. Lamy, was working as a priest of the Cincinnati Archdiocese when he was named as bishop. He was consecrated in the Old St. Peter’s Chains Cathedral, named the “nursery of bishops” for its many episcopal consecrations over the years. Bishop Lamy recruited other French priests to assist him, and seems not entirely to have appreciated the customs of the Church in New Mexico. La Conquistadora was misidentified as Our Lady of Victories, a French title, for awhile. But it was Bishop Lamy who built a beautiful cathedral, while preserving and embellishing the old Lady Chapel containing the revered statue.

Sometimes for a little rest in the Summer I like to stay in Santa Fe, near enough to visit La Conquistadora daily. We have some faithful in New Mexico whom we visit for Mass, etc. There is always plenty of quiet for prayer and reading, a retreat-like atmosphere in a sense.

I look forward to seeing you all for the First Friday weekend, and the start of a new season in September, with Our Lady’s Nativity.

Confiding you all to her Immaculate Heart,
–Bishop Dolan

Bishop’s Corner
I wish again to thank everyone for our perfectly splendid Summertime feast of the Assumption of Our Lady in our beautifully decorated church. How well you sang the Mass, and how devout were our little flower- bearing angels for the moving procession. Afterward, we all enjoyed refreshments and a little socializing. Seems this is an excellent year for tomatoes, too! We blessed quite a few of them, and have been blessed with many given to us.

We must, in first place, thank Our Lady who does indeed arrange everything so that we may celebrate her feasts fittingly. Soon it will be time for her birthday, and Holy Name and Seven Sorrows.

I must say, too, how touched I was to see so many of you at Tom Kamphaus’ funeral, a fitting tribute for a fine Catholic and friend, whom we will miss. I wondered who would be left for evening Mass and the Rosary Procession. I need not have worried! Some of you attended both, or helped in the afternoon and waited for the Mass and Procession. God reward you!

It was good to see some of our St. Clare parishioners at our Assumption Mass. This has been a difficult Summer for the loyal handful that was left, but we are working out a way to continue Holy Mass for them, and appreciate so much their understanding and enthusiasm.

Over the past five centuries, the Conquistadora statue has taken different appearance, following the fashion of the age. She was cut and reconfigured at a certain point so she could be dressed, and hold the Infant Jesus. Usually she appeared as a sorrowful Spanish Queen in regal robes, but at times she was dressed as simply as a ranch wife, they say. Under the Novus Ordo she is attired very plainly, and shows her age somewhat, as any lady would after five hundred years. Her face has lost much of its original beauty with time and retouchings poorly done, but the statue itself has lost none of its marvelous mystique, Mary in the midst of her people.

She now stands on a gilt pedestal, hand hewn in a workshop in the nearby atomic city of Los Alamos, not long after the terrible bombardment of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two most Catholic cities of Japan. This pedestal is said to represent a continual prayer “that Mary may hold vanquished underfoot whatever there may be of evil in atomic power.” (Fray Chavez)

I thank Fr. McGuire who is offering all of the Masses today, and hope you don’t tire him out! He always tells me how much he enjoys a busy Sunday like this, and we are grateful for his enthusiasm and priestly zeal.

Enjoy the last full week of August. I hope you’re all on Summer vacation schedule still, as we are at Church. Time enough to start school in September!

With a blessing in Mary’s Immaculate Heart,
–Bishop Dolan

Bishop’s Corner
Blessed, hopeful rain is falling as I write my “Corner” on St. Philomena’s Day, praying for a bit of freshness for lawn and garden for Our Lady’s Day, the Assumption. I wish you a blessed one, and thank you for your participation in today’s glorious feast.

It was good to see that St. Philomena still has some devoted children in our midst. Visit her shrine this month, light a candle in her honor, ask her assistance. See how powerful she is with God, how she obtains many graces for us from the Mother of God.

Our beautiful Lourdes Grotto was scheduled to be the setting for Tom Kamphaus’ Rosary Friday, before his Requiem Mass. He and Connie were most devoted to Our Lady, and were often seen sitting on the bench, praying together. Well, Tom has gone to God now, and Eldon intends to refinish the bench (quite beat up by the sun this summer) so that others may continue to “come and sit with Mary awhile.”

The Pieta on the garden wall was found broken on Holy Saturday morning, possibly by high wind, but probably by vandals. Jim Soli has done an excellent job repairing this statue, which is now firmly anchored in place. We are grateful to our staff and volunteers for our beautiful grounds and prayerful shrines.

It was nice to visit with the dear loyal Cajun Catholics of Our Lady of the Rosary chapel last Sunday, out under an ancient oak tree after Mass. The chapel’s thirty-fifth anniversary is September 7th.

I was pleasantly surprised more than once this month with an excellent weekday Mass attendance, both for St. Dominic and St. Philomena. Come and surprise me. You might surprise yourself by discovering how peaceful such a Mass is, and how easy to get to or “fit in” your busy schedule. Bring the children – more Monstrances for the Eucharistic League.

May Our Lady take us all with her to Heaven!
–Bishop Dolan

Did you know there is a connection between the “Dog Days” of August, and dogs? Last Wednesday’s St. Dominic is symbolized by a dog with a torch in its mouth, as seen by his pregnant mother, Blessed Jane, in a dream. Later in a Latin pun on his name, his Friars Preachers or Dominicans were called “the hounds of the Lord,” Domini Canes. August 4th is also the feast of St. Swithney, patron of mad dogs. Water from his well in Wales was used to cure rabies in dogs.

It’s unpleasantly hot around much of the Northern Hemisphere at this time of the year. The Romans have a saying that only “cane e Americani,” dogs and Americans, move about in August, and they leave the Eternal City to the tourists. The French all go on vacation at the same time, the month of August.

Well, we’re still moving about here, getting ready for the Assumption, school opening in September, as well as the care of our sick and our missions. I’m off visiting our Louisiana mission today, hoping those good people have not been too hurt by the oil spill.

I write this on the refreshingly entitled feast of Our Lady of the Snows. Although we fear when it comes, snow always seems welcome in August. Actually, a little serious rain would be welcome as well. We started watering a little last week. All of our Summer thunder and lightning yields only a minute or two of rain.

I’m hoping to see more monstrances in August for our Children’s Eucharistic League. Parents, how about it? We’re missing the extra Mass day this month, since Assumption falls on a Sunday. How about making an extra Mass this week or next? I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent attendance on St. Dominic’s day. You never know. Let’s have more pleasant surprises!

Wishing you a pleasant week, and safe travels,
–Bishop Dolan

August, Summer’s last month starts today, our Sunday of St. Peter’s Chains here in Cincinnati, with the Titular or Patronal feast of the Metropolitan Cathedral. August is the month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and of the Divine Wisdom. May Our Lady teach us the wisdom of chaining ourselves as willing servants of her Heart. This humble Handmaid of the Lord will then show us the practical wisdom in daily life of her True Devotion.

May God reward the charity of those who came and cooked, as well as for our benefactors who gave, to make our Boys’ Camp possible. It was a wonderful work of Divine Providence. One day we were not at all sure of the schedule and program, but the next day all was in place. I was especially touched by the willing generosity of the mothers who prepared meals, and the fathers who came to help. The boys, 22 in number, seem to have had a fine time, and are looking forward to next year. These kinds of activities do so much good for everyone involved, as well as the parish as a whole. Deo Gratias! I thank Fr. McGuire and Fr. Larrabee for their successful first efforts at organizing a boys’ camp, and Charles Simpson for adding his considerable experience, as well as Patrick Omlor. Well done, men!

More Sacred Heart Badges, of another design, have been blessed and are available in Church today. We have a number of Little Rose Ferron items which will be soon available in our gift shop, or for distribution in Church. Let us all take advantage of all of the blessings and protection which are available to us.

Today is the Ordination anniversary of our Ukrainian priest, Fr. Valerii Kudriavtsev. Please pray for his protection and God’s blessings upon his apostolate in a troubled part of the world, still groaning under Russian (old Communist) hegemony.

God reward you for your charity, especially for what you do for our children. May Our Lady keep you in her Heart and bless us all during her month of August.
–Bishop Dolan

Click the photo above for a slide show from our Summer girls camp and our St. John’s Eve bonfire.

As I write this, our Boys’ Camp plans are still evolving, but I am confident that our young men will have good fun and edifying days together this week. Please keep them in your prayers, as well as the fathers who are helping, and Fr. McGuire and Fr. Larrabee. Fr. Roger in France is having his camps now as well. They are far more serious affairs, lasting two weeks each for boys and girls. I am sure that our newly ordained Fr. Hecquard is already a big help to Fr. Roger in his very busy apostolate.

I want to thank our cooks for cooking (in the Summer!) and kindly dropping off delicious meals for the priests. They are appreciated. Could you help from time to time? Just access our Cucina Clerical online, or (old way) call the office. Many thanks.

Bishop Sanborn has written another excellent newsletter for Seminary donors, in which he points out that Ratzinger is ever the modernist, although the Pius X Society seeks to portray him as Catholic. I hope to reprint some of this valuable information during August. You can receive this very important monthly publication by donating regularly to Most Holy Trinity Seminary. Let us support our future!

Speaking of writers, we have another published author in our midst, in addition to Fr. Cekada. Donna Patton has written In Search for the Madonna, a childrens’ book many adults will enjoy. This book will also be available through the gifts shop. St. Francis De Sales, patron of Cincinnati and of writers, has certainly inspired some excellent writing of late.

The last week of July opens with St. James the Apostle, and St. Christopher, both of whom are travel saints. May they, and all of Heaven, bless your travel and keep it safe, your Summer and keep it holy.

With a blessing,
–Bishop Dolan

Click the photo above for a slide show from our Summer girls camp and our St. John’s Eve bonfire.

Bishop’s Corner

This has been a busy week at St. Gertrude, full of sadness but also spiritual joy. We were grieved by the Tuesday rains which impeded our Rosary Procession (and just when we could have used the heavenly help!) but consoled that at least a few faithful prayed the fifteen decades here at church.

I’ve been under the weather myself with some kind of infection or another, but am grateful to Fr. Cekada and Fr. McGuire for all of their hard work last week, as well as to a group of our faithful who assisted them in Columbus. St. Clare’s active congregation has shrunk since November to a small but very dedicated handful. However, they were not able to maintain the building, or keep up with the bills. Our running deficit has been over three thousand dollars a month. Therefore, after much prayer, consultation and waiting, we reached the decision to sell our current church in Columbus, and to concentrate our remaining resources on serving the faithful, in their homes, and promoting the work of the Church, rather than profits for the bank. Last week we had the sad task of packing and moving most of the contents of the church, some of which will be used in the missions, others to be donated to Fr. Saavadra’s church in Detroit, or stored here. It will be a cross to lose a beautiful church, but we know God rewards those who trustingly submit to His Holy Will, and will bring good even out of this evil.

Already, a great grace has come. Last week in the midst of packing, came word of the edifying end of one of the Death Row convert Catholics, William Garner. Fr. McGilloway CMRI had been one of the priests to visit him faithfully over the years and had the consolation of giving him the Sacraments an hour before his execution. Furthermore, Fr. McGilloway’s church (Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sulphur Springs, Ohio) provided for his funeral, which Fr. McGilloway celebrated in a funeral home in Cincinnati last Thursday. Thank God and the Little Flower for this conversion, and rejoice that the real work of the Church goes on, unimpeded.

Our celebrated author, Fr. Cekada, is giving a talk (which will be videotaped) on his new book, in Milwaukee this weekend. Pray for its success in opening many eyes, and for its author, who celebrates his 59th birthday today. I’m sure he’s happy to be visiting again his “home parish” of St Hugh for the occasion.

As you see by the bulletin we are not “taking it easy” this Summer, but rather taking advantage of the season and its customary observances to offer you everything from car blessing to a couples’ evening, and from Confession Sunday to Boys’ Camp. Thank you for your cooperation, your encouragement and your generous support which makes our active parish life of St. Gertrude the Great possible.

Because we’ve had such controversy and sadness since the Fall I have not wanted to “crack down” on anything else here at church. However. the mens’ dress code! It is interesting to note that our men and boys, not content with casting off their coats and ties, have quickly degenerated from casual to slovenly. Wives and mothers: Please dress your men for Sunday Mass!

I send a good behavior blessing home with you today,
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
–Bishop Dolan

Fr. McGuire and I left for France on St. John’s Day, the campfire songs and poetry (thank you, Fr. Cekada, a.k.a. “Uncle Remus”!) ringing in our ears. Thanks to everyone who helped for the St. John’s Eve Barbeque, and to the Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Patton family especially for a wonderful Girls’ Camp.

Our French trip turned out beautifully, almost every detail as pleasant and convenient as last October’s trip and was full of crosses. Fr. Hecquard’s Ordination was unforgettable in its smooth, recollected solemnity. Four priests and well over three hundred faithful surrounded the Bishop for three and a half hours of that sacred rite. What a joy to have another Mass offered each day, another priest on this earth. What a hope-filled anchor to our faith is a priestly ordination. That Sunday afternoon was especially full with a reception, lunch, Vespers, Benediction and Confirmations.

Early the next day Fr. Hecquard offered his first Low Mass, and we accompanied him on a pilgrimage of consecration to St. Therese at Lisieux. The following days Fr. McGuire and I sought out St. Bernadette, St. Margaret Mary and the historical Sacred Heart Sanctuary of Paray – Le – Monial, St. Benedict and the Curé of Ars. Be sure we prayed for you all, and especially for our sick. Fr. McGuire made an excellent master of ceremonies and Bishop’s chauffeur, and picked up a little French as well. We both were so happy to see the saints.

Really, the only trial on the trip was the heat and humidity, which the French face rather stoically without air conditioning or fans, and with nary even an open window! I melted at the altar during the long Solemn Masses, as well as for the formal (and delicious) dinners. Little enough to offer up!

Thank you for your prayers for our trip. Fr. Larrabee is away on a little vacation this week. I hope your travels have been pleasant, and that your Summer is going well, too. Come and thank Our Lady Tuesday evening with the Rosary Procession, a perfect Summer family activity.

May the Saints keep you close to Jesus!
–Bishop Dolan

Happy Independence Day! May God bless our land, and keep freedom’s beacon bright in our midst. Be a loyal American by informing yourself about the great issues of the day, and then do something about them by the prayers you say. May Our Lady Immaculate protect, bless and convert our beloved America.

Today Fr. McGuire and I are visiting one last chapel before heading home to America tomorrow. I thank Fr. Cekada, as well as our fine young organist, for all of their help while we were away.

I hope your travels are safe this weekend and Summer, and that your vacations are enjoyable. Good St. Christopher go with you!

I send a blessing from away,
–Bishop Dolan

Photos posted June 13th. Click the photo above for a slide-show from our Mass, First Communions, and Benedictions on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

Fr. Cekada’s book on the New Mass.

Pray for our new priest, Fr. Hecquard, today. His first Solemn Mass is on Tuesday. Tomorrow Fr. McGuire and I accompany him on a pilgrimage to Lisieux. He will dedicate his priesthood to the Little Flower, and I will offer her my profound thanks for all of the help she gave me last Fall. St. Therese is very close to all priests.

It is already almost a year since Fr. Larrabee was ordained July 1, in Detroit. We are most grateful for his presence with us, his help in the missions, his teaching in the school, and his devotion to our sick. Father will be with us again this coming school year, and much of the Summer. Be sure to give him your good wishes for his first anniversary.

Our good wishes and sincere thanks go to the three Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Patton sisters (No, that’s not a religious order!) and all who assisted our wonderful Girls’ Camp, full of so much fun, but also learning and edification. May Our Lord bless this parish with vocations to the religious life, and settle each girl in the strong conviction of our Catholic faith.

I promise prayers for you all at St. Bernadette’s tomb, and that of St. Therese, the Curé of Ars, and St. Margaret Mary. May the saints watch over our parish and school and families to make us all saints!

God bless you,

–Bishop Dolan

Photos posted June 13th. Click the photo above for a slide-show from our Mass, First Communions, and Benedictions on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

Fr. Cekada’s book on the New Mass.