The Bishop’s Note
Autumn finally arrives this week, but we have yet to see any changes in the weather. It sure has been on the warmer side recently, hasn’t it?! Weather seems to be a boring thing to talk about though, so on to the cats! The usual three are doing the same as always and a new one wandered onto the property and has been hanging around the cloister for several days now. She looks a little worse for wear but it is a cute little thing and is not the least bit afraid of people. In fact, she is always looking in through the cloister windows, trying to sneak in whenever someone opens a door, and follows us around the property. We don’t know if she has an owner, but hopefully she will find her way home soon.
The parish picnic is today. We have changed things up a bit this time around. Sharon Woods has been the location for the picnic for many, many years now, but because of lack of availability we had to move it to Winton Woods this year. Besides, the bees were really bad over in Sharonville and it will be nice to have a little change. I know many of you don’t like change, but don’t let it scare you away from such a fun event! It’ll be great!
Sometimes I wonder why we worry about things and don’t have more confidence that God hears our prayers. He is a loving God, our Father, after all! Renee Fernandez’s surgery went well and her baby survived even though the physicians gave only a 10% chance of a successful surgery and a 1% chance that the baby would survive. Let it be a lesson to all of us. Certainly, we ought to rejoice with the Fernandez family and offer many prayers of thanksgiving. Deo gratias et Mariae!
I am off to Milwaukee this Friday, the feast of the North American Martyrs, and am looking forward to seeing the whole group there. For several years, I was the pastor there and visited St. Hugh of Lincoln often, but things changed suddenly after Bishop Dolan died and I was consecrated. Now, it is generally only a visit once a year to do Confirmations, which is the purpose of this week’s trip. Fr. McKenna has done a good job there. Over the last few years the chapel has gained many new parishioners and the parishioners I knew as teenagers are now in the work world and are preparing for their future careers. It will be good to see them again!
Matthew Schneider, one of our school children, served as MC for the Ember Friday Mass. We are proud of each and every one of our altar servers and very thankful for their hard work and dedication. The same goes for our choirs—both the school choir and the Sunday choir (and Schola). Taking such roles in the true worship of the one God is the greatest thing this side of Heaven!
May Our Lady of Sorrows help you to stand courageously by the Cross of her Divine Son!
– Bishop McGuire