Bishop’s Note
How nice it was to return to good ole St. Hugh of Lincoln in Milwaukee for Confirmations last weekend. The congregation has grown quite well since I saw it last year. There were some fifteen or so Confirmations on the Sunday. Either because of nervousness or some other reason unknown to me, some unusual or entertaining incident usually transpires during the ceremonies of Confirmation. I was not disappointed this time! A rehearsal was had the day before Confirmations and I explained to them the order of things that will take place as they kneel before the bishop. He will anoint your forehead, tap you on the cheek, then hold out his ring for you to kiss. We went over this many times. On the day of the Confirmation, a young boy knelt down to receive the sacrament. Everything was going well until I presented my ring for him to kiss. Instead of kissing it he gave me a nice fist bump! The same thing happened to me as I did Confirmations in Colorado during the summer. It reminds me of the times when my nephews were only toddlers. When they went up to receive the first blessing from Fr. Larrabee and Fr. McKenna, they received the blessing but weren’t sure what to do when the priests put their hands out for them to kiss. So they did what they thought best and licked the priests’ hands! These things catch us off guard but are pretty entertaining stories!
Sisters Eulalia and Ulrica renewed their oblation after the school Mass on the feast of the Holy Name of Mary. It was a very simple, but beautiful ceremony. How edifying it was to witness two souls offering themselves to God and St. Gertrude’s. It is truly a selfless act, one which is so very pleasing to the good God. Pray for our oblates and their perseverance.
The seminary year starts up this week. Alfonso Capetillo returned this year, and Christopher Brueggemann entered for his first year of seminary. I wish them well and pray for their perseverance as well. I hope you will do the same. Fathers Lehtoranta and Brueggemann are teaching in the seminary. Fr. Lehtoranta has Latin and Apologetics, while Fr. Brueggemann covers Philosophy and Latin. It will be a busy year for them, but I am confident that all will work out well.
Fr. Benegas, my very first priest, recently arrived at his new assignment in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he will assist Fr. Manuel. The chapel was headed by Fr. Bacerra who recently died of a fast moving cancer, if my memory serves me right. Fr. Benegas should be there for at least six months.
Fr. Contreras, of the Company of Jesus and Mary in Argentina, seems to be doing well, though he says he will soon require knee surgery. His assistant, Fr. Noel, has been in Boston preaching retreats with Fr. Richards. I am sure he is glad to finally return to the monastery in Argentina.
We are still house hunting for the oblates. Things sell pretty quickly around here, but we are looking. I know St. Joseph and St. Anthony will help us to find the perfect one. I am hoping it will happen this fall.
I hope you enjoy the picnic this afternoon.
– Bishop McGuire