Bishop’s Note
It sure has been rainy these past few dreary days, but we should always lift our spirits by recalling that the Good God has brought the rain. Even if the rainy weather does not make us happy, we should try to remember that the rain is helping someone or something somewhere close by. There are many other people besides you and me whom God watches over. So when things don’t go your way, know that they are going someone else’s way, thanks to God’s Providence. You know, the only way to always be happy and at peace is to accept everything that God sends. St. Teresa of Avila, a very practical saint, once said, “There is no such thing as bad weather. All weather is good because it is God’s.”
I honestly don’t know how Fr. Lehtoranta is able to keep up with all of his duties. I only know that his work is indispensable and that it would be impossible to do what we do without him. The rest of the Fathers have been stepping up to relieve him a little from the daily Masses and sermons. Twice a week, he teaches the seminarians during the Mass period. I am very proud and grateful to have a priest like Fr. Lehtoranta who is devoted to his duty and is so careful to teach the kids to be charitable, obedient, and to follow God’s Laws. I remember meeting Father for the first time at the Brooksville Seminary when I was just a young priest and still working in the seminary. Father was visiting and thinking of entering the seminary, which he did the next year. For me, the most touching memory was the privilege I had of baptizing him conditionally while in Florida. It was in the evening, after dinner, and I was nervous as a cat, but Father Lehtoranta was so patient and so thankful. Little did either of us know that in a few years time we would be working together at SGG.
Fr. Simpson has been busy matching stone for the unfinished part of the cloister. It is hard to find a perfect match, but I am sure it will be fine. The hope is that the project will be completed in time for Forty Hours later in October. It is interesting to see Father working on these projects—he feels right at home dealing with them and seems to enjoy it all. Over time, you will see repairs being made to the church grounds…and you might even catch Fr. Simpson in work mode. If you ever see him in regular work clothes then you’ve caught him actively fulfilling his role as M.P. (Maintenance Priest). Fr. Brueggemann helps in a lot of ways, too. He takes care of setting the squirrel traps and dissuading them from going back into the roof of our church.
This week we begin the month of the Holy Rosary and of the Holy Angels. Rosary Sunday is only one week away and we are looking forward to hearing our guest speaker. I hope you can join us for our daily October Devotions consisting of the Rosary, Litany of Our Lady, and the October Prayer to St. Joseph. On Wednesdays and Sundays we include Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Oh what feasts we have this week! The Guardian Angels, St. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, St. Francis of Assisi! Come and join us in honoring these great saints.
– Bishop McGuire