There is little doubt in my mind that in the past number of years there has been confusion among the Faithful in the Church with regard to "Holy Days" on the Church calendar especially when it comes to the "Obligation" to participate in Mass under pain of mortal sin (as is the case for Sunday Mass). Basically, when a Holy Day falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday it is obligatory for Catholics to participate in a Mass for that Holy Day. When it falls on a Saturday or Monday, Catholics are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to participate in Mass that day but are not obliged to do so. The exception to that is on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8) in the United States when participation in Mass is obligatory since Mary is the patroness of our country under that title. HOWEVER, since this year we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Advent on December 8 and IT takes precedence on the calendar, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated on December 9 throughout the Universal Church and here at Sacred Heart at 10:00 a.m. without the obligation to participate in Mass.
I have a sense that when the Church started having Masses of Anticipation on Saturdays back in the early 1970's for reasons which included a shortage of priests and began having Sunday evening Masses to practically provide another needed Mass for the Faithful, the bishops recognized that it would be confusing to more than a few as to which Masses were being offered for the Holy Day and which for that Sunday when a Holy Day fell on a Monday or Saturday. In addition, there was concern for the health (at least the mental health) of some priests who might have to celebrate many Masses in a short period of time when Holy Days were Obligatory and on Monday or Saturday.
I ask all of you to consider coming to celebrate Mass on traditional Holy Days no matter what day they are celebrated out of zeal for serving the Lord and worshiping him NOT ONLY when the Church obliges us to do so. Practically speaking we could celebrate only one Holy Day Mass whether it's obligatory or not here at Sacred Heart Church because of our large seating capacity (though I do not plan to do that here). I hope to see as many of you as possible this Monday at 10:00 a.m. for the Mass celebrating the Immaculate Conception of Mary as we ask for her help for our country in the areas, we definitely need her intercession to be what Christ her son calls us to be.
I have a sense that when the Church started having Masses of Anticipation on Saturdays back in the early 1970's for reasons which included a shortage of priests and began having Sunday evening Masses to practically provide another needed Mass for the Faithful, the bishops recognized that it would be confusing to more than a few as to which Masses were being offered for the Holy Day and which for that Sunday when a Holy Day fell on a Monday or Saturday. In addition, there was concern for the health (at least the mental health) of some priests who might have to celebrate many Masses in a short period of time when Holy Days were Obligatory and on Monday or Saturday.
I ask all of you to consider coming to celebrate Mass on traditional Holy Days no matter what day they are celebrated out of zeal for serving the Lord and worshiping him NOT ONLY when the Church obliges us to do so. Practically speaking we could celebrate only one Holy Day Mass whether it's obligatory or not here at Sacred Heart Church because of our large seating capacity (though I do not plan to do that here). I hope to see as many of you as possible this Monday at 10:00 a.m. for the Mass celebrating the Immaculate Conception of Mary as we ask for her help for our country in the areas, we definitely need her intercession to be what Christ her son calls us to be.
Some of you may remember awhile back when I informed you at least through a "robo-call" that two young men with adult supervision were going to wash parishioner's windows while weekend Masses were going on here at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. These were the twelve and fourteen year old youngsters who broke into our church a few months ago and armed with a hammer did some damage to two doors and a window. I went to the juvenile court twice when they appeared before a judge and while he was firm with them, and after addressing me and get my approval, he ordered each of them to do 40 hours of community service and asked if they could do most of it at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Their parents which had to make restitution for the damages they did to the parish property and have their hours of service done by December 12, 2019 at which time they would come before the judge again. We found work for the young men to do besides the window washing that I mentioned above. I spent some time with them as they worked and also communicated with their family members who stayed with them to supervise their work. I am happy to day they have already completed their hours and did so with a humble attitude and with plenty of effort. I am convinced that they have grown in a positive way through their community (parish) service and I believe they will stay out of trouble in the future. One of them even went over his 40 hours to finish spreading mulch on our church grounds. Though they did indeed commit a crime in what they did during the night to our building (and no doubt startled those who were in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that night), I feel good that these "first time offenders" made retribution in a number of ways, and experienced a faith community, in Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish that is merciful as Jesus calls us to be and as he was when it come to sinners.
This morning (Tuesday) the word got out that Msgr. Francis I. Malone, pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock has been named by Pope Francis to be the new bishop of Shreveport, Louisiana. For the few who may not know, he is the nephew of one of the former beloved pastors of Sacred Heart Church, Msgr. Bernard Malone, of happy memory. As far as I know, he is only the third priest of the Diocese of Little Rock to become a bishop. I am sure there are some who wonder what goes into the choice of a priest to be a bishop?
I have never seen anything written (that can be read at least by you and me on the subject) that goes through the process of choosing someone to be a bishop. Having said that, I offer some things that I am pretty sure take place when a bishop is needed for a diocese. Firstly, it is the Papal Nuncio to the United States that is responsible for bringing resumes and recommendations to the pope who makes the final decision for someone to become a bishop. I believe he is helped by a committee that has names of priests in the United States that bishops throughout our country have submitted as those they believe have the qualities and skills that are needed both as pastors and administrators to be the chief shepherd of a diocese. Candidates also might be surfaced from inquiries that are sent out to priests of a diocese asking if they know of a brother priest who might be a good bishop. I received one of these when I was a young priest, but given the long form that has to be filled out which asked many questions in detail about my knowledge of priests that I would recommend, I never filled it out since as a young priest, I could not have given good and complete answers to the questions about any of our priests at the time. I am pretty sure a candidate to be a bishop, has to have an advanced degree beyond the Master of Divinity Degree that all men must have to be ordained a priest. I am sure that the demographics of each diocese is a factor in who is appointed where. If the diocese is very large in numbers of Catholics then usually a current bishop is asked to leave their (usually smaller diocese) and serve as a bishop of the diocese that is open. When a diocese is smaller, then a priest is usually selected to be ordained a bishop and serve in that diocese. Of course, much time and prayer is spent by many before a candidate is presented to the pope (and I'm sure the pope prays for guidance before making a decision). If you are wondering, a priest who is called by the Papal Nuncio of a country can say "no, thank you" and I am sure if that is their inclination, they give reasons why they feel unable or unwilling to accept the appointment.
Let us all pray for Msgr. Malone who is to be ordained a bishop in Shreveport on January 28 and pray for those who have the awesome responsibility to surface and recommend candidates to present to the pope (as well as the pope himself). Finally, let us pray for our bishop, Anthony Taylor, who is losing a long-time and hardworking priest who was pastor of one of the largest parishes in our diocese.
I have never seen anything written (that can be read at least by you and me on the subject) that goes through the process of choosing someone to be a bishop. Having said that, I offer some things that I am pretty sure take place when a bishop is needed for a diocese. Firstly, it is the Papal Nuncio to the United States that is responsible for bringing resumes and recommendations to the pope who makes the final decision for someone to become a bishop. I believe he is helped by a committee that has names of priests in the United States that bishops throughout our country have submitted as those they believe have the qualities and skills that are needed both as pastors and administrators to be the chief shepherd of a diocese. Candidates also might be surfaced from inquiries that are sent out to priests of a diocese asking if they know of a brother priest who might be a good bishop. I received one of these when I was a young priest, but given the long form that has to be filled out which asked many questions in detail about my knowledge of priests that I would recommend, I never filled it out since as a young priest, I could not have given good and complete answers to the questions about any of our priests at the time. I am pretty sure a candidate to be a bishop, has to have an advanced degree beyond the Master of Divinity Degree that all men must have to be ordained a priest. I am sure that the demographics of each diocese is a factor in who is appointed where. If the diocese is very large in numbers of Catholics then usually a current bishop is asked to leave their (usually smaller diocese) and serve as a bishop of the diocese that is open. When a diocese is smaller, then a priest is usually selected to be ordained a bishop and serve in that diocese. Of course, much time and prayer is spent by many before a candidate is presented to the pope (and I'm sure the pope prays for guidance before making a decision). If you are wondering, a priest who is called by the Papal Nuncio of a country can say "no, thank you" and I am sure if that is their inclination, they give reasons why they feel unable or unwilling to accept the appointment.
Let us all pray for Msgr. Malone who is to be ordained a bishop in Shreveport on January 28 and pray for those who have the awesome responsibility to surface and recommend candidates to present to the pope (as well as the pope himself). Finally, let us pray for our bishop, Anthony Taylor, who is losing a long-time and hardworking priest who was pastor of one of the largest parishes in our diocese.