Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus!
Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ! 

On Saturday, we celebrated the ordination of Bro. Brent Stull, Bro. Henry Hoffmann, and Eddie Hoffmann to the diaconate. Though we had hoped you could all join us, we look forward to the priesthood ordination next year! The Archbishop ordained ten to the diaconate on Saturday, nine transitional deacons, and one permanent deacon. Next year, there will be nine new priests within our Archdiocese. A sure testament that God is still at work, even in the midst of the chaos of the world. Please continue to keep Bro. Brent, Bro. Henry, Eddie, and all those progressing toward the altar in your prayers.

This is all the more significant since Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday on the traditional calendar, and this coming Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday on the reformed calendar. Which gives us a week to contemplate and meditate upon this person of the Good Shepherd. In the Gospel, Christ declares Himself to be ‘the Good Shepherd.’ This week gives us the opportunity to continue to ask and beg God to send to us shepherds modeled after Christ, who will seek to lead the Church into the ways of holiness and virtue. 

This is also a time when we should consider what we do promote and create a culture where vocations can be abundant. We ought to pray, and we should beg God to send to us priests and religious. However, we also have to encourage our young men and women to consider a vocation. That even with the ugliness of the clergy that we have seen for so many decades, that we still recognize that it is Christ the Good Shepherd that is the model and respect for the clergy is still needed if we hope to inspire our young to consider a vocation. Every young Catholic should at least ask themselves if they have the capacity to embrace a vocation to the priesthood and/or religious life. To ask themselves if they are capable to be generous with the Lord and the Church to help lead the Church and our families into greater holiness.

May we pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and strive to make a culture within our families and parishes where serious consideration can be given by the young to consider making the sacrifices necessary to be good priests and religious. This is all the more important today as we seek to raise up the new saints in our own generation.

Per previous updates, please remember that you can find suggestions here on prayers and where to watch Mass.

Also, be sure to continue to check the parish webpage calendar for the hours that church will be open, and when confession will be offered. You can find the calendar at this link: Google Calendar. This will be the most accurate and updated list, but please be sure to check daily in case something has changed. Please enter through the side door of church.

 There is Holy Water and other materials available near the side door. Holy Water bottles are available to be purchased for $1, which simply covers the cost. Please drop this in the donation box under the high pulpit. You can also drop your Sunday collection envelopes for either Old St. Mary’s or Sacred Heart and/or other donations in there as well. You can also set up online giving for Old St. Mary’s here, for Sacred Heart here, and the Oratory here.

Please note that the physical parish office is closed, but everyone is working remotely and responding to phone calls and emails during this time.

Finally, my sermon for this Sunday can be found below. Have a blessed week ahead!

Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus!
Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ! 

This particular Sunday is known by many different names. Low Sunday, First Sunday after Easter, Second Sunday of Easter, Quasimodo Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday. Today in the Gospel, we hear the Lord telling the Apostles “Peace be with  you.” This becomes the basis of my sermon which can be viewed below. As a note, I discovered today that YouTube has automatically added closed captioning for those that may have difficulty hearing it. This peace that Christ gives is important, and just as He was telling this to the Apostles on the day of His Resurrection, so He is also telling us “peace be with you.” Be sure to listen…

This past week we have had two funerals. The first was Rose Marie Buettner, this past Friday. Rose Marie is the mother of Donna Franer and the grandmother of Sr. Marie Cecile, Max, and Gus Franer. Please be sure to keep Rose Marie, and her whole family in your prayers! The second was for Philomena Hilgefort just yesterday. Philomena was just about two months old. Philomena was fortified with the Sacraments and we certainly have confidence that God called her back to Himself to be with Him and the Blessed Virgin. Please be sure to remember her parents, Tate and Lottie, and her whole family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Please also note that Bro. Brent and Bro. Henry will be ordained deacons this coming Saturday. The ordination will be private. If there is a live stream of this, I will share it when I know. Please be sure to keep them in your prayers this week and in particular this coming Saturday. At some point in the future, we will have a special Mass and reception for them, once things begin to return to normal.

Per previous updates, please remember that you can find suggestions here on prayers and where to watch Mass.

Also, be sure to continue to check the parish webpage calendar for the hours that church will be open, and when confession will be offered. You can find the calendar at this link: Google Calendar. This will be the most accurate and updated list, but please be sure to check daily in case something has changed. Please enter through the side door of church.

 There is Holy Water and other materials available near the side door. Holy Water bottles are available to be purchased for $1, which simply covers the cost. Please drop this in the donation box under the high pulpit. You can also drop your Sunday collection envelopes for either Old St. Mary’s or Sacred Heart and/or other donations in there as well. You can also set up online giving for Old St. Mary’s here, for Sacred Heart here, and the Oratory here.

Please note that the physical parish office is closed, but everyone is working remotely and responding to phone calls and emails during this time.

Finally, my sermon for this Sunday can be found below. Have a blessed week ahead!

Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere! Christus ist auferstanden! Er ist wahrhaft auferstanden! Cristo è risorto! È veramente risorto! Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Feasts and Solemnity of Solemnities, Easter Sunday; the day on which Christ the Lord triumphantly rose from the dead, conquering death and giving life to all those in the tomb. I wish everyone, on behalf of the Oratory & the parish staff, a very happy and blessed Easter! Frohe Ostern! Buona Pasqua!

Easter is the most important of all Feasts in the Liturgical Year. It is by the date of Easter, which falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox that all other moveable Feasts are determined. This was that the chant that we heard on the Ephiphany when we announced the date of Easter. 

This year was a little bittersweet. While on the one hand, we are certainly overjoyed at again celebrating Easter, on the other, it is bitter because we could not celebrate such an important feast together at Mass. But this does not change the fact that Christ has still risen from the dead. So today, put aside whatever angst or anger you may have, and rejoice. For Christ is risen from the dead!

Though simple and modified, we were able to carry out the Holy Week Rites this year. I would certainly like to thank Fr. Adrian, the brothers, and the sisters for their help in making sure we could keep Holy Week as best we could this year. As I have said before, the life of the Church continues, even if it is simpler. Over these past weeks, in addition to Holy Week, I have baptized one adult and three babies. I have received two into the Church and also confirmed one. We have heard many solid hours of confession. Many have continued to come to church to pray. Please know that we will be here when life returns to some form of routine and that we are praying for each of you. Please also pray for us. Please also pray for an end to this Pandemic, special prayers are said by us at each Mass for a swift end to this. Certainly, be sure to pray for all those who are sick, suffer economically, or have died. Please let us know if you need anything, but until we see each again, rejoice, because Christ has risen from the dead!

Per previous, updates, please remember that you can find suggestions here on prayers and where to watch Mass.

Also, be sure to continue to check the parish webpage calendar for the hours that church will be open, and when confession will be offered. You can find the calendar at this link: Google Calendar. This will be the most accurate and updated list, but please be sure to check daily in case something has changed. Please enter through the side door of church.

 There is Holy Water and other materials available near the side door. Holy Water bottles are available to be purchased for $1, which simply covers the cost. Please drop this in the donation box under the high pulpit. You can also drop your Sunday collection envelopes for either Old St. Mary’s or Sacred Heart and/or other donations in there as well. You can also set up online giving for Old St. Mary’s here, for Sacred Heart here, and the Oratory here.

Please note that the physical parish office is closed, but everyone is working remotely and responding to phone calls and emails during this time.

Finally, my sermon for this Easter Sunday can be found below. The first recording didn’t turn out with audio, so I had to do it twice. I thought the first was better, but alas, God didn’t want that one! Have a blessed week and Happy Easter!