PLEASE JOIN ME

We received a letter from our Bishop this past Friday afternoon.  He asked that it be placed in the bulletin but unfortunately it was too late for us to be able to do so.  We did post the letter on the doors of the church and read it at all of the Masses.  But it is such an awesome request that it is replacing Monday Diary in hopes of getting the message out.

It is part of the great history of our faith that, when we face difficult times, we were called as a body to acts of prayer and penance to bring healing and ask for guidance.  We read about people of faith fasting, praying and wearing sackcloth and ashes as we as a people look to realign ourselves with all that God calls us to.

Currently we face a scandal in the Church.  Moreover, the we fully acknowledge when it had not been responded to well at all.  The bishops of the United States will be gathering beginning November 11th to call each other to accountability, develop a response and be better shepherds.

During this week leading up to their meeting, our Bishop is dedicating himself to prayer and fasting and has asked us to pray along with him:

For healing of those who have been abused.

For the just punishment and conversion of the perpetrators and those who covered up abuse.

For the bishops, that they may be holy shepherds who will do all they can to keep the sheep entrusted to them from harm.

I will join him and prayer and encourage you to do so also.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck

INSTALATION OF BISHOP PEREZ

It has been a busy few days around here and so I am way behind on posting.  Yesterday was the installation of Bishop Perez.  Here's a shot of some of us waiting to get things started.

I parked across the street and saw this great view of the cathedral.  Another priest and I laughed when we admitted to going to confession just before hand just in case there was someone who wanted to do some damage during the ceremony.  Coming across a couple other priests and telling them the story, they admitted to doing the same thing.

If you are really interested in how everything went (it went well) there are plenty of videos for watching the ceremony.  What you probably did not see is that the city was as nervous as we were worked hard to make sure we were safe.  Here are some of the dump trucks filled with sand that were used to block off the streets around the cathedral to make sure nobody tried to ram the area with a truck bomb.

There were a few bomb sniffing dogs and police everywhere.  It was touching watching a police officer walk a couple of elderly nuns across the street.

Here is the bicycle brigade that was making the rounds.

The mounted police made an appearance.

Police cars lined up in front of the cathedral as the procession made its way in.  There were rumors that there were snipers on the top of a building or two but that is unsubstantiated.  But let me tell you, I felt safe!

I felt safe enough to take this shameless selfie with Bishop Perez

It is a shame that we live in that kind of world that we have to take such precautions.  But we made it in safely and enjoyed the celebration.