The Bishop’s Note
There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the death of Charlie Kirk this week. Certainly, it is a sad event. I will not discuss the issue here, but would simply like to remind you to trust Our Lord’s Divine Providence. This, as well every event under the Lord’s sun, is planned from all eternity and some greater good will proceed from it. In the meantime, what should we do? Well, it is our obligation to pray for our country and our leaders. Our obligation also to pray, in our private devotions, for Charlie’s soul—for only God knows if he cooperated with a special grace and converted before the end. We cannot offer a public Mass for this intention, but we can pray privately for it. May Christ the King one day reign over our country…for that we pray. But make sure we have a lot of that He reigns in your own soul!
We have a lot of special intentions to pray for this week. Sick people, recovering people, young mothers with difficult pregnancies, temporal necessities, and the list goes on. It can be no coincidence that it is the month of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady and also that of the Holy Cross. Let us hand over all of our needs to the Blessed Mother and bury our sorrows in her heart, asking her for the courage to stand with her in the shadow of the Cross. Heaven awaits!
There have been many joyous occasions here at Church, and we mustn’t forget them! The Sodality of charity arranged a nice fall festival last Sunday with all sorts of games and prizes. I had never been to one of these events before this year, but I must say that it was so very enjoyable as well as encouraging to see all of you having a good time! The next day we celebrated Our Lady’s Nativity with a beautiful High Mass which was extremely well attended by homeschool families and our own school children alike. I don’t remember ever having seen such a good attendance on that feast before. The pizza and birthday cake were a welcome treat for all! Fr. Lehtoranta took the seminarians on an outing on Wednesday, concluding with a trip out to Cracker Barrel. Sr. Eulalia and Sr. Ulrica renewed their Oblation at the High Mass on the feast of the Holy Name of Mary. I can just imagine how pleased the angels in Heaven were by this. After all, their Oblations consist in giving their lives to the service of the Church and striving to lead a holier life. Isn’t that what life is all about anyway?
On a personal note, I was very touched by all of the birthday greetings and generous gifts that I received this year for my 44th birthday. It was doubly celebrated, once on my birthday itself, and a second suprise party was given by the mother’s group two days later—my sister came all the way from Chillicothe to be there. St. Gertrude’s has always been home, but it is on occasions like this that make one realize how much we are all a spiritual family.
Attached you will see a picture of the altar that was purchased recently by Fr. Benegas to go in chapel he is building in Argentina. Work is progressing as he gets to spend a few months in his hometown. Keep this project in your prayers.
The seminarians have returned to Seattle and begin classes this week. As you fast on the Ember Days, do remember them!
-Bishop McGuire