Notes on the Transitions,
Number 7 in a Series

Here is the text of the Q & A documents we handed out earlier this weekend. It includes the new Sunday and daily Mass schedules for Holy Rosary and Visitation. Coming Together in Christ Transitions at Holy Rosary and Visitation, No. 3 The parish transition teams are committed to answering your questions and keeping you informed about the upcoming changes […]

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A Prayer to Saint Monica

Dear Saint Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius, and your beloved son, Augustine; your prayers were answered. Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede […]

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Notes on the Transitions,
Number 6 in a Series

Here is the text of the Q & A documents we handed out earlier this weekend. It includes the new Sunday Mass schedules for Holy Rosary and Visitation. Coming Together in Christ Transitions at Holy Rosary and Visitation, No. 2 The parish transition teams are committed to answering your questions about the upcoming changes at Visitation and Holy Rosary. Over […]

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Actuosa Participatio

Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s great Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, famously calls for “fully conscious and active participation” in the Liturgy (SC 14). In this, the Council Fathers echoed the words of Saint Pope Pius X in his Motu Proprio Tra le sollecitudini of 1903. But what does that mean? Fifty and more years on, it’s become quite […]

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Saint Bernard

No, not that one. Today is the feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Born in 1090 to a noble Burgundian family near Dijon, he entered the monastery at age 23. In less than three years, he was sent by his abbot to found a new monastery in Vallée d’Absinthe on 25 June 1115. Bernard named this new monastery Clairvaux, meaning […]

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Notes on the Transitions,
Number 5 in a Series

Here is the text of the Q & A documents we handed out this past weekend, minus the pastors’ introductions. Coming Together in Christ Transitions at Holy Rosary and Visitation The parish transition teams are committed to answering your questions about the upcoming changes at Visitation and Holy Rosary. Over the next few weeks, we plan to print out sheets […]

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Today’s Solemnity of the Assumption

This morning’s Mass at Holy Rosary was the last solemnity celebrated together by the parishes of Holy Rosary and Saint Joseph. Father Maurer celebrated the Mass to honor Our Lady and give glory to God, and it was beautiful, uplifting, and holy. Father chanted the prayers. We chanted the Ordinary of the Mass in English. Francine read from the Revelation […]

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Notes on the Transitions,
Number 4 in a Series

Last night, the Holy Rosary and Visitation parish Transition Teams met together for the first time. The meeting was chaired by our incoming pastor, Very Rev. Nicholas Wichert. Also there were our current pastor, Rev. Jacob Maurer, and Leigh Stringfellow from the office of the Vicar of Clergy. This is a great bunch of folks. It was interesting to meet […]

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On the Vigil of the Assumption

On the 15th of August 2004, Francine and I walked into Saint Patrick’s Church in Tacoma. This was the Solemnity of the Assumption, and ever since we have counted this as our “Catholic anniversary”. On that day, I discovered in a moment that every doubt I ever had about the truth of Christianity had collapsed. God in His wisdom had […]

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The Pieces are Starting to Fall Together

Our credencials arrived from Santiago a couple of weeks ago. I’m starting to compile updated albergue and Mass information. I’m checking airline tickets every Tuesday. I’m still trying to find all of the bits and bobs to complete my gear. In some cases, I know that what I’m looking for is “around here somewhere”, but I’ll be darned if I […]

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Transfiguration

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, one of the more important (if overlooked) feasts of the liturgical year. Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white… This event definitively revealed the divinity of Christ. It appears […]

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Notes on the Transitions,
Number 3 in a Series

Last night, the Holy Rosary Transition Team met for the first time with our new pastor, Very Rev. Nicholas Wichert, as well as our current pastor, Rev. Jacob Maurer. The meeting was ably facilitated by a number of folks from the Archdiocese, including Deacon Eric Paige and Leigh Stringfellow from the office of the Vicar of Clergy. They were great, […]

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Our Lady of the Snows

Today is the Memorial of the dedication of my favourite church building in the world, the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, also known in English as Saint Mary Major. It is occasionally known by the title of Our Lady of the Snows. When we were in Rome back in 2005, our apartment was just a few blocks from […]

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