Happy Birthday Fr. Dave

Last week the parish surprised Fr Dave with an early celebration of his birthday. 

His actual birthday is today. 

So Happy Birthday Fr. Dave!

Happy Birthday Fr. Vogel

Today is Fr. Vogel's birthday. Since he is spending it at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), it only seems appropriate to show a picture from his trip trip two years ago when we had this glowing collar.

We pray that this is a day filled with joy and celebration!

Happy Birthday Fr. Dave!

Fr Dave is out of the country on his "mission to the boat people," but it's his birthday today. So keep him in your prayers in a special way today.

Happy Birthday Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict was toasting a group of Bavarians in the Vatican gardens accompanied by his older brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, and his longtime private secretary as part of his birthday celebration today.

Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Benedict's honor this morning, saying he hopes God "supports him and gives him much joy and happiness."

"The emeritus pope thinks about death and is preparing for his death," saind Benedict's secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, "It's a Christian art, because preparing for one's death means preparing to meet God."

Happy Birthday Mary

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated at least by the sixth century, when St. Romanos the Melodist composed a hymn for the feast. The feast spread to Rome in the seventh century, but it was centuries before it was celebrated throughout the West.

The source for the story of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal gospel written about A.D. 150. From it, we learn the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, as well as the tradition that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anna and told her that she would conceive. (Many of the same details appear also in the later apocryphal Gospel of the Nativity of Mary.)

The traditional date of the feast, September 8, falls exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It is an important feast, because it prepares the way for the birth of Christ.

Happy Birthday Mary!

 

The above information was taken from about.com

Happy Birthday Pope Francis!

On Saturday Pope Francis visited the Vatican's Pediatric Dispensary of Santa Marta. Run by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul as well as volunteer doctors, it treats some of the poorest of Rome.

The children had a short program for the Pope and presented him with a cake. Afterwards he also met with the mothers -- all of whom wanted a picture of him with their child.

Today is his 77th birthday.

Here is the story from Rome Reports:

Happy Birthday Fr Steve!

We pray it is full of blessings!

Happy Birthday Fr. Damian

Happy Birthday Fr. Vogel

Today some students at St. Columbkille Catholic School sang to Fr. Vogel:

Happy Birthday Mary

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated at least by the sixth century, when St. Romanos the Melodist composed a hymn for the feast. The feast spread to Rome in the seventh century, but it was centuries before it was celebrated throughout the West.

The source for the story of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal gospel written about A.D. 150. From it, we learn the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, as well as the tradition that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anna and told her that she would conceive. (Many of the same details appear also in the later apocryphal Gospel of the Nativity of Mary.)

The traditional date of the feast, September 8, falls exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It is an important feast, because it prepares the way for the birth of Christ.

Happy Birthday Mary!

 

The above information was taken from about.com

Happy 135th Birthday St. Columbkille Parish

It was on August 22, 1877 that St. Columbkille Parish was established. The thirteen Papillion, Catholic families built the church and rectory as shown above. Today you can see that the former rectory is still there and a brick house stands where the wood frame church once sat.

As those 13 families were simply delighted to have a church and borrowed $650 at 10% interest for the $1500 construction cost, they may never have imagined the parish today at over 2900 families.

The second church was built in 1923 and could seat 250 people. The first event in the "new" church was the Christmas Cantata" performed by the students of Sacred Heart Academy on Friday, December 21. The first Masses were said on Sunday, December 23rd.

The third (and current) church was dedicated in 1982. It was designed so as not to disturb the big beautiful tree in front of it. Unfortunately that tree died a few years later.

Since then a bell tower and courtyard have been built in front.

But besides the physical changes, the parish continues to grow and thrive in our mission to "go and Make Disciples."

For more on the parish history, click here.

Happy Birthday Church!

As we celebrate Pentecost today, there is an option in Mass of a blessing. It goes like this:

May God, the Father of lights, who was pleased to enlighten the disciples' minds by the outpouring of the Spirit, the Paraclete, grant you gladness by his blessing and make you always abound with the gifts of the same Spirit

Amen

May the wondrous flame that appeared above the disciples, powerfully cleanse your hearts from every evil and pervade them with its purifying light.

Amen.

And may God, who has been pleased to unite many tongues in the profession of one faith, give you perseverance in that same faith and, by believing, may you journey from hope to clear vision.

Amen.

Happy Birthday Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict turned 85 years old today. His celebration today included dancers from his native Bavaria as well as meeting with Bishops from Bavaria as well. He is the oldest pope since Pope Leo XIII who lived to be 93, dying in 1903. Thursday will mark the 7th anniversary of his election as pope.

Today, in his reflection, he spoke of two saints who have inspired him: St. Bernadette of Lourdes and St. Benedict Joseph Labre.

Pope Benedict also said, “I don’t know what awaits me. The light of the Risen One, however, is stronger than all darkness and also helps the Pope to go forward with confidence.” For more on his day and his message, click here.

Happy Birthday Fr. Vogel

Today is Fr. Vogel's birthday.

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Mary

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated at least by the sixth century, when St. Romanos the Melodist composed a hymn for the feast. The feast spread to Rome in the seventh century, but it was centuries before it was celebrated throughout the West.

The source for the story of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal gospel written about A.D. 150. From it, we learn the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, as well as the tradition that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anna and told her that she would conceive. (Many of the same details appear also in the later apocryphal Gospel of the Nativity of Mary.)

The traditional date of the feast, September 8, falls exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It is an important feast, because it prepares the way for the birth of Christ.

Happy Birthday Mary!

 

The above information was taken from about.com

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!

Happy Birthday Fr Wee!

It was a busy birthday for Fr Wee.

He took on all challengers in Ping Pong.

While no one was able to beat him, afterwards

Fr Wee did offer his opponents Reconciliation.

Afterwards he was a popular taget in the Tidal Wave.

He was serenaded with Birthday songs.

He had birthday cake ...

and shared it with his friends.

Happy Birthday Fr. Wee !

Happy Birthday Fr Damian

With all the ups and downs of life, we pray that you continue to enjoy the ride.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday

Today when we celebrate the day the Holy Spirit descended upon those in the upper room, we celebrate the start of the Church. Today is then a day to celebrate the birthday of the Church.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Fr. Damian!

We're hoping you get some quiet time to relax with a glass of wine and reflect today.

Happy Birthday!