Feast of the Visitation

Mary discovered from the angel Gabriel that she would have a child who would be the Messiah. So what does she do next? Today's Gospel tell us that she went "in haste" to her relative Elizabeth who was pregnant and stayed with her for about three months.

It is a good lesson for us to serve those in need around us.

Memorial Day Masses

Memorial Day Masses will be held at each of the five archdiocesan Catholic cemeteries on May 30 at 10:00 a.m. The celebrants are listed below. 
        
Calvary Cemetery-Archbishop George Lucas, Father Mike Grewe, Deacon Bill Hill
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery-Father Al Salanitro, Deacon Tim Mulcahy
Resurrection Cemetery-Archbishop Elden Francis Curtis, Deacon Stephen Grandinetti
Saint Mary Magdalene Cemetery-Father Joseph Taphorn, Deacon Marty Warwick
Saint Mary Cemetery-Father Dennis Stolinski

In addition Fr. Wee will celebrate Mass in our church at 9:00 a.m.

Fr. Damian's Birthday

 Earlier this month Pope Benedict visited Venice.

There he said:

In our day too, with its new perspectives and their complex challenges, Venice is called to take on important responsibilities with regard to a culture of hospitality and sharing in order to build bridges of dialogue between peoples and nations; a culture of harmony and love which has its solid foundations in the Gospel.

Today Fr. Damian is celebrating his birthday in Venice as he travels through Italy with his nephews. We expect that he is enjoying that spirit of hospitality and having a very good time. We're anxious to see which gondola he got to ride.

Of course, he already had a good host in Rome (parishioner and seminarian John Norman.)

Happy Birthday Fr. Damian!

Gone Fishin'

Last week the 4th Grade Classes got

prepared and took a Fishing Field Trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy the summer!

Last Day of School

As the last day of school, it was the

last day of many routines.

 Then with some farewells, all the students left.

 

 

 



St. Mary's in Joplin

This was how St. Mary's Catholic Church

in Joplin, Missouri looked a week ago.

This is how it looked after the tornado.

The following is a quote from the News-Leader.com based in Springfield, Missouri :

The Rev. Justin D. Monaghan is the priest for the parish, which serves nearly 650 families. Monaghan, who lives in the church rectory next door, sought safety in a bathtub when the tornado hit.

The residence was severely damaged, a spokeswoman for the Catholic diocese said, but parishioners came and helped dig their priest out. Monaghan was not injured and spent the night with a church family ...

One week before our Tornado Recovery Collection raised $3,924. That same day, in their bulletin ...

... they suggested that every family ought to have an emergency plan and an emergency kit. That way, if anything ever happened, they would be prepared.

At St Columbkille, Gretchen Reid has been suggesting that the parish ought to have a disaster plan in place so we can hep the community in case of an emergency. If you are interested in helping with that effort, contact the parish office and we'll put you in touch with Gretchen.

Q & A with our Associate Pastor Elect

Rev. Mr. Vogel will be ordained a priest on Saturday, June 4th at 10:00 a.m. in the Cathedral. Effective June 23rd, he will be our Associate Pastor. He was recently kind enough to answer a few questions as we anticipate his arrival.

Do you know much about St. Columbkille parish?
Not very much yet. Only from what Fr. Zuerlein told me and from some of the things mentioned on the website. I read through the history of the parish found there. I am also reading about our patron St. Columbkille. [The parish] looks to be very active in so many ways. I am excited to meet people and become a part of their lives in the parish.

Are there certain things you hope to do or ministries you’d like to be involved with?
Teaching the beautiful truth of our Catholic faith and helping others to experience Christ working in their daily lives to bring them peace and freedom is an important part of being a spiritual father. There looks to be many ways in which I can to do this from being in the school to adult education. Of course my involvement in any specific aspect will be to aid Fr. Zuerlein in guiding the parish.

Now that your ordination to the priesthood is in sight, what emotions are you going through?
In one aspect, it is hard to believe that I am finished with school and will be ordained a priest. For any calling from God, one can always see reasons why one may not be ready, but that makes us dependent upon our relationship with God for the grace we need to do his will. While I have learned much already, I know that I still have more to learn so that I can better give my whole self for the good of others. I ask for the prayers of the people of the parish - and you are in mine as well - that together we may grow ever more in the image of Jesus Christ. St. Columbkille, pray for us.

Are you done with your studies or do you have more left?
I have completed my seminary studies, having graduated from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary on May 13.

Thank you for giving us a quick sense of you. We look forward to welcoming you here in one month.

BASIC wasn't about baking but...

 In December BASIC (Beginning Apologetic Studies In Catholicism)

began meeting. Whether the studies were on How to Use the catechism,...

... Marriage, Divorce & Annulments, ...

... Mary or ...

... Last Things, it seemed Denise Andersen
always baked a cake to match the subject.

Thank you!

8th Grade Graduation

Last night the soon to be graduates lined up for pictures ...

 and more pictures ...

 ...and more. They also had a chance to chat and laugh.

Then they were up for Mass followed by graduation.

 

There was a blessing from the teachers:

This was a speech from the

8th Grade Dinner the week before:

Kindergarten Graduation

Today our Kindergarten students were back

 in their room for the last time as they

 got their caps for graduation.

 

 

They traveled to the Social Level for the big ceremony.

 

In addition to getting their diplomas and

saying goodbye, they also entertained.

We even ended with treats.

Congratulations!

Our new Associate Pastor will be ...

... Fr. Kevin Vogel.

He will be newly ordained for the Omaha Archdiocese on Saturday, June 4th. St. Columbkille will be his first assignment. Fr. Damian has spoken with him and looks forward to his arrival at St. Columbkille effective June 23rd.

Our soon to be Fr. Vogel grew up on a farm near Howells, NE as a member of Ss. Peter and Paul parish. He attended Howells Community Catholic Schools, Howells High School, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney, receiving a BS degree in Physics. He studied pre-theology at Conception Seminary College then theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO. He has one older sister and three younger siblings.

We look forward to welcoming

 Fr. Vogel to our parish.

Welcoming the Roman Missal

A few weeks ago about 120 of our parishioners gathered to learn about the upcoming changes in the Roman Missal. David Batter and Fr. Damian led the explanation of what is changing and why.

If you missed it, we have the handouts and a number of

the videos used here on our parish website.

Eighth Grade & Mass with the Archbishop

Today was the last day of school for our 8th grade students. So today we look back at their visit to the Cathedral during Catholic Schools week when they met Archbishop Lucas.

 

 

 

At the Zoo

Since the start of the school year, Kindergarten and 7th grade students have been paired up as Mass buddies and sit together at all-school Masses each week. Today they went to the zoo together.

 

Groups are put together of the Mass buddies. The 7th Grade students plan where they will visit in the zoo, carry their buddy's lunch and stay with them all day.

 

 

 It was the perfect weather today.

 

 Everyone enjoyed it.