The Bishop’s Note
Last week’s Vigil ceremonies with thirty Confirmations and a baptism was quite the shot in the arm for our parish. What a joyful day it was, just as it should have been, since the Holy Ghost was there! Our joy continued into this week as we had two more baptisms. William and Kayla Long’s very first baby was baptized on Saturday morning. I would like to congratulate them both on their new baby, now an adopted child of God. I also want to extend my congratulations to Levi and Jacinta Giese on the baptism of their little one, Martin Joseph. Adding to the joy of the occasion, little Martin was able to be baptized by his uncle, Fr. Simpson. Deo gratias!
This week begins with a period of sadness. Two of our parishioners died last week and their funerals are back to back. Rob Brockman died in a car accident, and leaves behind two children…please pray for them! His funeral will be on Tuesday. Kathy Verity, a dear and faithful soul, died not unexpectedly and was well fortified with the sacraments. Her funeral will be on Wednesday. Pray for the repose of these souls. It is, after all, our duty to do so. Our Faith reminds us that we will one day, perhaps not so far off, join them. Let us live according to the Faith, pray for final perseverance, and just pray. In this way, we will be found worthy of the promises of Christ.
Sadness is never meant to be a permanent state on this earth. Joy, which comes from possessing the Holy Ghost in our souls through sanctifying grace, IS meant to be our normal state. As long as we possess the Holy Ghost in our soul, we will always have reason to be joyful. In fact, not even the occasional sad event will ever fully take away our joy. In any case, sadness always gives way to joy at some point. It certainly does this week as we turn our hearts to adore our Eucharistic King on Corpus Christi and throughout its octave. The feast of Corpus Christi will be for us a full day of prayer. I hope you will join us! The clergy will chant the entire Divine Office, the most powerful prayer after the Mass. Then next Sunday we will celebrate the morning Masses before the Blessed Sacrament exposed and will have the happiness of seeing some of our children receive Our Lord in Holy Communion for the very first time!
School ends this Friday and the children go home for the summer. We sure will miss them. Parents, do try to get your children, especially the First Communicants, to church often in the summer for an extra Mass and Holy Communion. We have so much to offer everyone that it seems like it would be difficult not to come to church! Camps, a bonfire, YAG, the 13 Tuesdays in honor of St. Anthony, monthly Rosary processions, and a lot more!
Bishop Nkamuke gave minor orders to four of his seminarians on the Feast of St. Bede the Venerable. Later in June, three of our seminarians will receive orders. Please pray for our seminarians and their professors.
Blessed Feast of the Holy Trinity! I send you my blessing in their Name!
– Bishop McGuire