Bishop’s Note
Let’s start this little note off with a humorous story. It occurred the Saturday before last. We had just finished the First Saturday Rosary over at church when I realized that I didn’t have my house key and managed to lock myself out of the rectory—again! A little concern set in since I still had to finish packing before going to the airport to catch a morning flight to Dallas for confirmations. Fr. McKenna and Fr. Brueggemann were away so I could not ask them for their key, Fr. Lehtoranta didn’t have a key. “Oh! but Poncho is here and I know he has a key”…or so I thought. Well, Poncho did not have a key. The only one who would definitely have one was Fr. Simpson, and he was offering Mass. Now real worry was starting to set in! I started going around the rectory to see if I accidentally left any doors unlocked, when the cats saw me and followed me around, hoping that I would let them in and feed them their breakfast after their long night outside. Meow! Meow! They continued to follow me. “Maybe there is a window that is unlocked,” I thought to myself. Sure enough, my bedroom window was unlocked, but it is high. So I went to the other side of the house to find a chair to stand on (the cats were still following me…Meow! Meow!). Standing on the chair, I managed to climb in through the window, pulling leg muscles in the process. Then, lo and behold, the cats jump through the window, too, and make their way to the kitchen to be fed as if nothing new had happened. All is well that ends well. The cats were happy and I made my flight! If you’ve done things like this, know that you are not alone—you have a bishop who does the same thing!
On a more pious note, we have a beautiful week of Marian feasts this week. The Fatima Rosary Procession, which was well attended by parishioners and YAGsters last month, is scheduled for Tuesday evening. Get the family together and make an evening of it. Invite some friends, too. How edifying it would be if we all used this occasion to prepare our hearts and our minds for the coming holy day. Thursday is the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. What sweet thoughts accompany this summer Marian feast! The blessing of herbs, flowers, and fruits; the entrance of Mary into heaven, where she can once again see her Divine Son after so many years apart; the beautiful angels who surround her as she is assumed, body and soul, into glory. We honor Our Lady’s father, St. Joachim, on Friday. Of Mary there is never enough, St. Alphonsus tells us. Come and honor her with love for all the graces she has won for you by her prayers to her Son.
The Oblates’ retreat seemed to have gone well. Fr. Lehtoranta had it perfectly planned out. The schedule was very well balanced so that it neither fatigued the sisters nor gave them too little to do. It was just perfect. Planning a retreat is no easy task, but it was done well. Thank you to the ladies who so kindly prepared the meals for the oblates. Continue to pray for the oblates and their work for the Church and for God.
As always, be assured of my prayers for you. I include you in my morning offering every day, as well as the Rosary and the Mass. You are never forgotten. If you think of it, offer a prayer for your priests from time to time. We need prayer just as much, if not more, than anyone else!
Yours in the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Bishop McGuire