Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

 

Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

 

Collect for the Mass on the Fifth Sunday of Easter

 

 Brothers and Sisters, 

 

What an amazing seventeen days it has been! From the death of Pope Francis on April 28 to the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8 the eyes of many around the world were on the Catholic Church.

In many ways we showed the world, and ourselves, the Church at its best. Whether offered for a pope or a pauper in the funeral rites we accept the reality of physical death. The dead are mourned, their bodies treated with respect, and their souls are commended to God’s mercy through Christ.

In the Conclave we pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the selection of the next Successor of St. Peter the Apostle. The announcement of Habemus Papam (We have a Pope) was welcomed by Catholics and all people of good will throughout the world will great excitement. The universal nature of the Church was revealed in the crowds gathered at St. Peter’s Square. They were men and women of every race and of many nations and languages united by their faith in Jesus Christ.

I am as stunned as anyone else that the new Pope is from Chicago and has connections to the Tulsa area. We do indeed live in an amazing time.

What kind of leader will Pope Leo XIV be? Time will tell. As an Augustinian friar, missionary and bishop, prior to his election he had the reputation as a bridge builder. This is appropriate in that the Latin title Pontus Maximus, from which we get the title Pope, means “bridge builder”. There are many bridges to be built and repaired both within the Church and the world.

I am encouraged by his papal motto of “In the One (Christ), we are one”. Despite our diversity as individuals, we are one in our faith and our relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Pray for Pope Leo XIV!

 

Our Parish

 Congratulations to Brennan Whalen and Alexys Ferguson, who were married on May 14.

Congratulations to our graduating High School Seniors receiving their diplomas in the coming days.

The Parish Landscaping Committee is having a workday tomorrow at 9:00am. Volunteers are needed to do light work in the gardens around the church and chapel.

There will be a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch in McGuire Hall after the 9:00am Sunday Mass.

There will be the Rite of Welcome at the Sunday Noon Mass for those preparing to be received into the Catholic Church.

The youth of the parish are hosting a Bake Sale in the commons after all the Masses this weekend.

That Man Is You (TMIY), our parish’s men’s ministry, meets on Wednesdays from 6:00am to 7:15am in Room 101. All the men of the parish are welcome.

Dr. Karlo Broussard will be giving his third and final presentation on the Catholic understanding of salvation on Wednesday at 6:30pm in the church. All are welcome.

Our next Night of Mercy will be on Wednesday, May 28 from 6:30-8:00pm in the church. It will include music, Adoration, Benediction and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

We will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the dedication of the St. Scholastica Chapel on Wednesday, June 11. Bishop Konderla will celebrate the 8:30am Mass, followed by a procession and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome.

Fr. Gabriel’s final Sunday at St. Benedict will be on June 15. There will be receptions in his honor after the Masses that weekend. His assignment as pastor of St. Peter and St. Paul Parish in Tulsa begins on July 1.

 

Memorial Day

 We will have Mass on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day) at 10:00am. All are welcome. Both the St. Scholastica Chapel and the parish office will be closed that day.

 

National Eucharistic Revival Procession

 On Friday, May 30, the National Eucharistic Revival Procession will be in Tulsa. There will be a procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the city streets, starting at St. Philip Neri University Parish and finishing at Holy Family Cathedral. Because the event is expected to attract large crowds our parish will be providing transportation by rented bus. There are still seats available. You are welcome to reserve a place on the signup sheet in the church commons this weekend.

 

Seminarians on Summer Assignment

Later this month we will welcome two seminarians, Joey Griggs and Sebastian Schlegel. They will be spending their summer assignment at St. Benedict.

Cortlan Potts of our parish who was recently accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese, will begin studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis this fall.

 

God bless and keep you safe.

Fr. Bryan