The Bishop’s Note
We begin the month of the Angels to-day as we honor our Guardian Angels and bless and dedicate the children to their own angels. Tomorrow we honor the prince of angels, St. Michael the Archangel, and have planned a Solemn High Mass for the occasion. Tori Yang, one of our new students, was conditionally baptized last Friday and will be making her First Holy Communion tomorrow, which will make the feast day extra special.
Dr. Stanislowski reports that this school year is going especially smoothly thus far. The children are doing well with their studies. Sr. Ulrica’s classroom has three little critters for the class to observe. Liam Lotarski brought two very large hornworm caterpillars; Sister brought in a colorful Monarch caterpillar which should be changing into a butterfly soon. It is one thing to learn from a science book, but quite another to learn by actually observing God’s creation before one’s very eyes. We are waiting to see what Miss Mikesell comes up with later this year, since in the past she has found some interesting things to bring in.
Bishop Nkamuke arrived just yesterday and will be spending about a month with us for a bit of a vacation. The clergy are looking forward to getting to visit with him and hearing stories about his growing apostolate. It is important for him to get a break and we are glad that he feels enough at home to take it right here at St. Gertrude’s.
We have a busy week ahead with First Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. But what great feasts there are! The Guardian Angels, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, and then Rosary Sunday! Of course, with the great feasts come great graces, too. Keep yourselves ready, and come to Mass on those days. Don’t forget the Rosary Confraternity Breakfast and talk given by our guest speaker, Fr. Andrew Nowrouz, next Sunday. He works in Modesto and Martinez, California with Fathers Thomas Zapp and Julian Larrabee. It will certainly be a very edifying talk.
I am doing Confirmations at St. Hugh of Lincoln today, but will be back tomorrow. Fr. Brueggemann is due back from his long time away. He was at St. Hugh’s last weekend, then at the seminary in Seattle for the week, and in Dallas this weekend. Whew! That is a lot of traveling!
Angels! Think angels this month! They will certainly be thinking of you, as they are your guardians.
– Bishop McGuire