The Bishop’s Note
Only a week left until we enter Pentecost, the final season of the Liturgical Year. This year we have some 41 confirmands, a record number, I believe. Don’t forget the mandatory children’s day of recollection this week for those children who are to be confirmed.
Today is Bishop Nkamuke’s last Sunday with us before going back to his native Nigeria where the clergy and faithful eagerly await their new bishop’s arrival. I am thankful once more for his willingness to preach, this time on the African missions. His Excellency also celebrated his very first Solemn Pontifical last week on the feast of the Ascension. Now he has that under his belt.
The weather was quite beautiful for four out of five of the recent processions. The Fatima Rosary Procession was lightly attended with only 58 souls, but I am hopeful that there will be many more present in June. The Mother’s Day May Procession and Crowning was most edifying. Then out of the three Rogation processions we only had rain for one of them. So as you can see, it was a week of much praying, especially if you include the Holy Day. The devil hates when we pray because he knows that many graces will be given and many souls will be saved. St. Alphonsus says it clearly enough—“those who pray will be saved; those who do not pray will not be saved.” Pray, dear children, pray every day. Pray especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fr. Lehtoranta took Bishop Nkamuke on an outing last week to Marion, Ohio, where they saw the house of President Harding. They came back with some interesting details on the life and times of this president. Both of them like history, I believe, so I am happy they got to go. Every priest does need a break, after all.
Early this week Fr. McKenna and I will be meeting the architects to look over the plans for the new addition onto the rectory. Please pray that it goes well. Some work is being done on our church building, too. You might have noticed the leaning wall on the outside of the cloister or some of the stones that have fallen off the building. These things happen, so when they do I am thankful that we have someone to help us fix them.
As we continue this month of May I urge you to keep up your devotion to the Blessed Virgin. We need her so much because she is the channel through which all graces pass. When you find yourself in need of some grace or some virtue go to Mary and you will have it. Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed art thou among women!
– Bishop McGuire