The Bishop’s Note
Black Cat got himself hurt while I was away last week-end and has been hobbling along on three legs until we got him to the vet on Friday. (Thank you, Miss Mikesell!) He kept me company in my office for a couple of days, and we took walks back and forth between the rectory and church. He would walk part way, always wanting to stay close to my side, and then eventually allowing me to pick him up and carry him the rest of the way.
Last week’s trip to Connecticut and New Jersey went well. Fr. Rodriguez organized a parish barbecue the day before Confirmations. Fr. Richards, Br. Jerome, and Br. Gerard and a couple of their parishioners came up from Sacred Heart in the Boston area. Even the griller came all the way up from Boston! We had Mass at 4, which was well attended, and then a nice meal. The next day, Sunday, was a very busy one with twelve Confirmations in Connecticut and 3 more in New Jersey. The drive to New Jersey is a long one, but Father does it every other weekend, while on one of the other weekends he flies to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to offer Mass for a growing mission. Below, you can see the picture of the stained-glass window which was scorched by a demon that had been cast out of a soul and left the chapel. I told you about this in last week’s bulletin.
Fr. McKenna has gone to Milwaukee for the week-end, but we are joined by one of our seminarians, Poncho Capetillo, whom Fr. Ercoli has so kindly permitted to assist us with Forty Hours. Bishops are pretty much useless when it comes to Forty Hours since they cannot do a Solemn High Mass and a Pontifical is not practical during this devotion. So I will sit on the sidelines with my brother bishop, Bishop Nkamuke, and let everyone else take care of the ceremonies. This Forty Hours has snuck up on us, but it came at a perfect time. We can sure use the graces, and there are so many favors to ask, so much reparation to be made to the Sacred Heart, so much to thank Him for. Our Lord comes out of the tabernacle to be with you. All you have to do is show up—and there He is, the King of Kings, Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, of angels and men, and of all things, and He has His heart ready to bestow graces.
Today is the feast of Christ the King. How fitting that it should also be the closing day of Forty Hours. It is a re-minder that the true solution to all the political problems of the day is right here in the monstrance. A person can vote over and over again, but until Christ the King is al-lowed to reign there is no true hope that our country, or society in general, will be fixed in any meaningful way for any length of time. Until people have realized that the country and society will only be saved by the extension of the reign of Christ the King there will be no change for the better. So, fall on your knees before the tabernacle and pray for this intention. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come!
– Bishop McGuire