This Week: Easter II

“"Knowing" Christ”  –Fr. Anthony Brueggemann

The Bishop’s Note
The carpenter bees are back with vengeance this year. It seems that there are more hovering about our doors this year than I can ever remember. I haven’t seen any squirrels yet, but I know that some of the ladies from St. Monica Club are definitely not fond of the critters! The cats are doing well, patiently enduring their new eating schedule, which is hit or miss these days when the clergy are still getting caught up from Holy Week and Easter.

It is nice to have school back in session, which allows for a more routine day. Everyone has been gearing up for First Communion testing lately. I am confident that the parents and Sr. Ulrica have prepared them well. The testing was yesterday, for some people. We will let you know their results later.

Fr. Lehtoranta got back from his Milwaukee trip last weekend and then immediately went back to teaching classes, preparing daily sermons for the school Masses, and a spiritual conference for the oblates. It seems the weather is affecting him, as it is affecting many of us with seasonal allergies. This will soon pass, but the merit of bearing it patiently lasts for eternity. God grant us patience!

Fr. Simpson was busy with the roofers who came out last Thursday to inspect the roof. Soon enough, we should have the roofs repaired and then we can start repairing the water damage on the ceilings and in the bookstore. Someone is coming to look at the sanctuary floor at the end of April. With any luck, repairs will begin sometime in the summer once we get past all the big ceremonies. I anticipate that we will not be able to use the main altar for Masses for a while during the summer months, but we will manage.

The seminarians, Poncho Capetillo and Chris Bruggemann, returned home from a visit to Rome, but will return to the seminary this weekend. Everyone seems to have had a very nice time in Rome where they saw the four Basilicas, went to Siena to see St. Catherine, and then visited the beautiful city of Florence.

Rose Beckerich, who always came to the 7:30 Mass, died the Saturday before last. Many of you prob-ably did not know her, but she was a longtime parishioner who was faithful to the end in her attendance at Mass. We will miss her devotion, humble kindness, and even her wit, but are hopeful that she had a saintly death. Her time in this vale of tears is over, but do not forget to pray for her speedy entrance into heaven. Get-ting to heaven is what life is all about. Rose’s death during this Paschal season is yet another concrete reminder of St. Paul’s words which we read so often: “If you be risen with Christ, mind the things that are above…” Let us all set our eyes and hearts on heaven and strive with all our might and the help of God’s grace to get there one day. As Bob Poggel, a dear soul from St. Hugh’s in Milwaukee, used to say: “I want to see the Face of God!”

– Bishop McGuire

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