Beginning this weekend, the musical instruments and choir for our Masses will be located in the choir loft. Our hope is that this new, or renewed, practice will help facilitate a more prayerful participation of everyone in the sacred liturgy. The choir has an important role in our worship and is part of the whole…
Beginning this Advent, we would like to begin a practice in the Mass that was the norm for many centuries and is still an option. I am referring to what is called celebrating Mass “Ad Orientem” or “to the East“. This describes, first of all, the ancient practice of building churches that face toward the…
From the Friars: Where are the Other Nine? One of the first things that most mothers will teach their children is to say thank you. It is a fundamental act of justice to acknowledge a gift or favor from another and express gratitude. This is rooted in the life of God Himself where the Second…
On October 7, 1571 a greatly outnumbered Christian fleet defeated the naval forces of the Ottoman Empire, effectively saving Christian Europe from imminent invasion by the Turkish Muslims. Prior to the battle, Pope St. Pius V, himself a Dominican friar, had called for all the faithful to pray the Rosary, asking Our Lady’s powerful intercession…
From the Friars: Lord Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace The Prayer of St. Francis was a constant companion throughout my college years. It spoke to me. It became my constant desire and my Rule of Life, especially since I needed order in my life during those years! I have always seen St. Francis…
All are invited to join us for the celebration the passing of St. Francis of Assisi from this world into Heaven at 7pm on Monday, October 3, 2022 at Holy Rosary Shrine. This traditional ceremony is not a Mass but a recalling of the life and death of our founder with drama, readings and songs.…
From the Friars: Woe to the Complacent So says the prophet Amos in the first reading today, and this is the gist of the message of Jesus in his parable about the rich man and Lazarus. One definition of complacent is “showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.” The rich man is…
From the Friars: The One Mediator Our Protestant brothers and sisters often accuse Catholics of disobeying the Bible by praying to Our Blessed Mother or to the Saints. They will especially quote St. Paul from today’s second reading where he says, “There is one mediator between God and Men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1Tm2:5) This…
From the Friars: Patriotism Is a Virtue It is the filial piety one holds in one’s heart toward one’s country, as a loyal son or daughter. The Latin word for “father” is pater, and the Latin word for “country” is patria, or the “fatherland.” The United States observes Patriot Day today (September 11th), in remembrance…
From the Friars: Calculating the Cost Before I was a friar I worked in construction and sometimes I had to do cost estimating. It is a challenge to consider all the factors necessary to complete a project. This very week there are several contractors who are working on bids for the new friary/office building for…