Holy Redeemer's 125th Celebration

An article from the Marshall Independent. I have added some pictures that I took at the end.

History on the table
by Cindy Votruba

MARSHALL - Parishioners got the chance to remember some of the good old days of mass at Holy Redeemer as they approached one of the tables set up for the church's 125th anniversary celebration Sunday.

A table filled with various vestments, chalices, books and other items used during the masses of the past at Holy Redeemer Church were on display.

There was an ablution cup that was filled with water and used after communion as well as a few maniples, which are liturgical vestments.

"Everything has been in the sacristy," said Holy Redeemer parishioner David Johnson, who helped organize the display. "That little sacristy holds a lot of stuff." Johnson said a couple of items were borrowed from the Lyon County Historical Museum, which included a green vestment.

Johnson said it took a little time to find things to go into the display.

"We spent the last two Fridays (sorting)," Johnson said. And, he said, there's still plenty more in the sacristy.

Jon and Jennifer Hansen of Marshall and their sons, Seth, Joshua, and Caleb looked at the items on the table. Jennifer Hansen said she remembered when altar boys used patens, a circular-shaped platter with a handle. It was used to catch crumbs from the Eucharist host.

"Mom, what are these called?" Caleb Hansen asked his mother as they looked at different-colored chalice covers.

"That's the top of that, to cover the chalice," Jennifer Hansen said.

Val Blair of Marshall closely inspected the bottom of one of the chalices, noting a familiar name.

"This is H.O. Gregoire's," Blair said.

After setting down the chalice, Blair looked through the different chalice covers.

"I had to look it over," Blair said.

Blair found a small silver-colored piece and asked Johnson what it was. He said it was used during a baptism.

"I don't know what it's called, I'm looking for someone who knows," Johnson said.

Parishioners Mariann Vandeputte, Marie Gluth and Betty DeVos marveled at all the historical church items on the table.

"The vestments are just beautiful," Vandeputte said.

"They've changed a little," Gluth said.

Gluth said she remembered other altar pieces that weren't part of the display Sunday.

"We used to have decorative candelabras," Gluth said.

After learning about the history behind the items stored in the sacristy, Johnson said he would like to see something happen.

"If I could have my wish, I'd like to see all this used again," Johnson said, referring to the old chalices, chalice covers and other altar decorum.

Quote of the Day

... being a Catholic means that you’re part of a faith community that possesses a clearly defined authority and doctrine, obligations and expectations. It means that you believe and accept the teachings of the Church, especially on essential matters of faith and morals; that you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish; that you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly; that you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially.

--Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence

Congratulations Deacon Zachary Peterson

On Saturday November 7, 2009 Zachary Peterson was ordained to the Order of Deacon in an incredibly moving Christ-filled ceremony.

Congratulations Deacon Zachary. You can be assured of my family's daily prayers as you continue your journey toward priesthood.

Zucchettos

Today I had the privilege of attending the ordination Mass of one of our parish's seminarians to the Order of Deacon. I hope to write a more detailed post about the event when I am not so tired. After the Mass though my friend Jon's son asked a question about the bishop's zucchetto. He wanted to know if the color meant anything special.

For those who do not know what a zucchetto is: It is the small cap that many bishops wear on the top of their head. In the case of our bishop it was purple in color. Any member of the Roman Catholic clergy can wear a zucchetto and the color does denote rank. The Holy Father wears a white one, a cardinal will wear a red or scarlet one, a bishop wears purple, and priests and deacons wear black. While a priest or deacon can wear one, it is a pretty rare event. Only bishops and cardinals may wear a zucchetto at Mass.

Traditional Latin Mass celebrated in Diocese of New Ulm

[NOTE: The following article appeared in the November 2009 issue of the Prairie Catholic. This news is encouraging to me because not only has the number of EF Masses being celebrated in our diocese doubled, but so has the number of priests celebrating them.]

On July 7, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI wrote a letter titled Summorum Pontificum to the Universal Church granting explicit permission for the Mass to be celebrated in Latin as it was according to the Missal of 1962 for those of the faithful who request it, as well as the celebration of other sacraments as they were at that time.

The Holy Father asked the bishops of the Church to do what they can to make the celebration of this Mass available. Pope Benedict called it the extraordinary form of the Mass to distinguish it from the Mass that is presently celebrated in English.

Soon after the Holy Father’s letter, Bishop John C. Nienstedt, third bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, (2001-2008) established a monthly Traditional Latin Mass in the
Diocese of New Ulm offered at the Church of St. Michael in Morgan on the 2nd Sunday of every month at 11:30 a.m. For the past two years that Mass has been celebrated.

As of October 2009, a second Mass each month is being celebrated according to the Missal of 1962 on the 4th Sunday of every month, at the Church of St. Michael in
Morgan, also at 11:30 a.m.

At this time, the Mass on the second Sunday of each month is a High Mass by Msgr. Robert Wyffels, and the Mass on the fourth Sunday of each month is celebrated as a Low Mass by Fr. Mark Steffl. For those who wish, attendance at these Masses counts for their Sunday obligation to attend Mass.

A Web site has been established that will be updated regularly with information (schedules and times) on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of New Ulm. Visit [LINK REMOVED: I have removed the link to this site. After reviewing the site I have problems with some of their content -- Dave]

'We are never alone,' Pope exclaims on All Saints Day

'We are never alone,' Pope exclaims on All Saints Day

Vatican City, Nov 1, 2009 / 09:58 am (CNA).- To the faithful gathered on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus, Pope Benedict XVI presented the communion of saints, a “beautiful and comforting” reality that says “we are never alone.” In particular he held up the ancient cult of martyrs in the early Church, and in this Year for Priests, “the saintly priests, both those canonized…and those many more that are known to the Lord.”

Pope Benedict also spoke of Monday’s commemoration of the faithful departed, also known as All Souls Day. "I would ask,” he said, “that this liturgical memory be lived in a genuine Christian spirit, that is, in light of the Paschal Mystery.”

Benedict XVI explained that Christ died and rose again and opened the door to the house of the Father, the kingdom of life and peace: “Those who follow Jesus in this life are welcomed where He came before us. So as we visit cemeteries, let us remember that there, in the tombs, are only the mortal remains of our loved ones awaiting the final resurrection.”

Pope Benedict concluded his remarks by teaching that the most proper and effective way to honor and pray for the faithful departed is by offering acts of faith, hope and charity: “In union with the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we can intercede for their eternal salvation, and experience the deepest communion, as we wait to find ourselves together again, to enjoy forever the Love that created and redeemed us."

After the Angelus prayer, the Pope recalled the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration between the World Lutheran Federation and the Catholic Church. "That document,” he said, “attests to an agreement between Lutherans and Catholics on the fundamental truth of the doctrine of justification, a truth that brings us to the very heart of the Gospel and the essential issues of our lives.”

The Holy Father expounded on the acceptance and redemption of man by God, saying, “Our existence is part of the horizon of grace. It is led by a merciful God who forgives our sin and calls us to a new life following in the footsteps of his Son. We live by the grace of God and are called to respond to his gift. This frees us from fear and gives us hope and courage in a world full of uncertainty, anxiety, suffering."

This anniversary, the Pontiff explained, is an occasion to remember the truth about the justification of man, witnessed together, to unite Catholics and Lutherans in ecumenical celebrations and to further investigate this issue and others that are the subject of ecumenical dialogue.

“I sincerely hope that this important anniversary will help bring forward the path towards the full visible unity of all the disciples of Christ.”

Pater noster/Oratio Dominica

Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

Our Father / Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgve those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Bishops' campaign declares war on abortion funding in health care

Bishops' campaign declares war on abortion funding in health care

Washington D.C., Oct 30, 2009 / 05:50 pm (CNA).- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is calling on Catholics nationwide “to prevent healthcare reform from being derailed by the abortion lobby,” the conference said on Friday. The unprecedented campaign encompasses 19,000 parishes across the country, and asks the faithful to fight for restrictions on abortion funding in the health care bills by contacting their congressmen.

Because the USCCB has championed the cause of health care reform for over a decade, their current effort is extraordinary.

“The bishops want health care reform, but they recoil at any expansion of abortion,” explained Helen Osman, USCCB Secretary for Communications.

The bishops, who described the mobilization of parishes as “a make or break effort,” have already told Congress in a letter, “If acceptable language in these areas cannot be found, we will have to oppose the health care bill vigorously.”

While the grassroots effort does not appear to have risen to the level of outright opposition, the bishops also reiterated in their bulletin insert that “our nation is at a crossroads. Policies adopted in health care reform will have an impact for good or ill for years to come.”

The time line for influencing members of Congress appears to be short, with a vote on the bill expected in early November.

The Catholic bishops are also pushing for affordability, access to health care for legal immigrants and the protection of consciences.

“Genuine health care reform is much needed and should protect the life and dignity of all people from the moment of conception until natural death. Mandated coverage for abortion should be excluded and longstanding policies against abortion funding and supporting conscience rights should be included. No one should be required to pay for or participate in abortion,” they said, reiterating that no current bill meets these criteria.

UPDATE:

To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to Congress go to www.usccb.org/action. You will be redirected to a form that you can fill out and sent to your reps.