This Week: Easter V

“How the Cross Looks Now”  –Bp. Charles McGuire

The Bishop’s Note
It has been said that every mother must have a priestly heart. One cannot even think of the priesthood without immediately thinking of sacrifice. Priest and altar go together. A priestly heart seems to have no thought other than to offer sacrifice to the Lord. The Vatican II religion has always tried to separate the notion of sacrifice from the priesthood. Indeed, the fact that have re-moved the Supreme High Priest, Our Lord Jesus Christ, from His cross in their churches points to this very fact. You see the result of this in the world. It would be almost just as ridiculous to think of a mother who did not offer sacrifice on the altar of her heart for her children. Today should be a day on which we do more than treat Mom to dinner or send her flowers. These things are empty gestures unless accompanied by a true love and respect. Today we ought to resolve to honor, love, respect, and assist our Mothers on a consistent basis. But most of all, we ought to pray and offer sacrifice for her.

Fr. Arnoldo seemed to have enjoyed his short visit with us. Miguel, a parishioner of his, acted as translator for everyone. It was so nice to see both of them. Father has plans to build a church in a better part of Tijuana, close by the convent. It looks like it will be a beautiful church, built in the Gothic style. He says it will take “mucha fe!” (a lot of Faith) to accomplish it, and that it will probably not be finished in his lifetime. He has al-ways dreamed of having a seminary, so the church will be named St. Thomas Aquinas. I look forward to seeing him again in July when he will assist with ceremonies in Dos Ríos, where Fr. Martín resides; and again in November when I visit Tijuana and Mexicali for Confirmations.

Tomorrow, May 11th, is the fourth priestly anniversary of Fathers Simpson, Brueggemann, Ojeka, and Okerulu. All four of these priests are doing much good in Our Lord’s vineyard. I don’t know everything that the Nigerian priests are doing, but I do know that Fr. Okerulu teaches in their seminary, and Fr. Ojeka does a lot of pastoral work in the missions. Fr. Brueggemann, likewise, teaches in our seminary, while Fr. Simpson does a lot of very good mission work. Pray for these priests of God. Pray for their perseverance, above all.

Fr. Simpson is in Milwaukee today, Fr. McKenna is in Dallas, and Fr. Brueggemann will be in Illinois for this evening’s Mass. Fr. Lehtoranta is here with me to assist with the May Crowning. Speaking of Fr. Lehtoranta, he went with the school on a field trip last week. I did not get a lot of details, but it seems the weather was nicer than expected (no doubt, an answer to
prayer), and all the children had a very good time.

This week is a week of prayer, re-member! Today’s Gospel sets the tone, and the next three days are Rogation, or “asking” Days, while Thursday is a Holy Day of Obligation. Let’s gather up all of our intentions and give them to Our Lord before His Ascension, so that when He does ascend into Heaven He will lay our petitions at His Father’s feet.

– Bishop McGuire

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