This Week: Pentecost XV

“What I Learned from Bp. Dolan and Fr. Cekada”  –Fr. Vili Lehtoranta

The Bishop’s Note
In last week’s note, I promised to give an update on the latest mission trip. Everything went very well, actually, despite the fact that I got pulled over in the town of Moorehead where the speed limit suddenly drops from 70 to 55 mph and where many state troopers are on patrol. I remember this from past trips to North Dakota, but I must have missed the first sign. The officer was very respectful and professional and even let me off with a warning. I really do attribute that to Our Lady.

Each of the four places which I visited has grown, and the people are very enthusiastic. There were many children in each place, too, which bodes well for the future. Pray for our new soldiers of Jesus Christ. About 26 were confirmed on this trip. At St. Teresa of Avila in Grand Forks, North Dakota, we were surprised to have about 70 souls in attendance, and 10 confirmands. The mission normally does not sing a High Mass except on rare occasions, but they not only sang the Mass but also managed the Confirmation ceremony. That was very impressive. The servers also did a fine job. The onsite chickens were a plus! Some of the children were teaching me about the different kinds of chickens and telling me their names and which ones they hatched. It was really quite a nice moment on the trip.

St. Joseph of Arimathea was also well attended. There was only one server and he was not used to serving for a bishop and had never served for Confirmation before, but he did a great job and pulled off the ceremony with ease. Six confirmands received the Holy Ghost at this mission. Again, everyone was very kind.

Some of the Brueggemanns met me at Holy Face Mission in Effingham, Illinois. Fr. Brueggemann brought two of his brothers, Chris and Vincent, to serve Mass, and his sister Anna, to be a sponsor for one of the confirmands. They were very helpful in setting up for the ceremonies. I think we had eight confirmands. It was nice to meet the newer faithful and to get reacquainted with the ones who have been there for years.

Fathers McKenna, Simpson, and Brueggemann are doing a fantastic job in the missions. The people are very
pleased with them. It is clear that they take very good care of the flock. I am very happy to see the growth and enthusiasm of everyone in the missions. May Our Lady obtain their perseverance.

Dolores Zimmerman, a longtime parishioner and former sacristan at St. Hugh of Lincoln, died this past week. She was as faithful as they come. I remember she attended nearly every Mass offered at St. Hugh’s over the years and that she was an excellent sacristan. Her twin sister used to call her “Sister Superior” because she was the older twin and because she was a take-charge kind of person in the sacristy. Dolores will be greatly missed. Her funeral is this Thursday. So, yet again, I will be traveling to Milwaukee, this time to offer her Requiem Mass. It will be a short jaunt, though, going up on Wednesday and coming back on Thursday. Please say a short prayer or two for the repose of her soul.

Meanwhile, here at St. Gertrude’s, the roofers are still hard at work. Even with the hundred-degree heat they have been working full days. School has begun again and it is good to see the children. We have a good number of students again this year. Our goal is to give them a classical Catholic education, but most of all, to give them an appreciation and deep love of their Faith. Heaven is our ultimate goal. Without the proper discipline it will be impossible for them to attain it. As long as the families, faculty, and priests work together and are on the same page this discipline will be possible. Of course, without the grace of God all of our efforts will be worth nothing. Let us ask this grace from our good Savior.

September is the month of the Sorrowful Mother. What-ever you are doing, stay with Our Lady. It can never be said enough that devotion to her is a “must.” All of the saints, theologians, and popes have taught the need of this devotion. It is a sign of predestination to heaven. Parents, if you wish your children to love God above all things, instill in their hearts a love of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She will be their guide, counsellor, consoler, and mother, and she will ensure that they will get to heaven. Sweet Heart of Mary, be our salvation!

– Bishop McGuire

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