Fr Dave has been Installed

Today Archbishop George Lucas celebrated our noon Mass.

During Mass, Archbishop Lucas installed Fr Dave Reeson as our pastor. Fr Dave said it feels good to be legitimate now.

In his homily, Archbishop  Lucas said we have gotten to know Fr Dave well enough to realize that he did not send us the perfect pastor. But he also said he did not send Fr Dave to the perfect parish.

Fr Dave had a few comments after Mass.

The Women's Guild had a great reception dinner afterwards which was enjoyed by everyone!

More than Locks, Leaks, Lights and Loans

The following is from a Facebook post by the Omaha Archdiocese in July:

New pastors are not given keys to the parish and turned loosed on the freeway. They participate in a "New Pastor Orientation" day at the chancery. During this day they learn about human resources, business management, finance, insurance, law, etc. In the picture, new pastors Fathers Marc Lim, Dave Reeson, and Christopher Onuaha meet with Tim Hogan of Catholic Mutual Group to talk about insurance issues.

The Perfect Pastor

The perfect pastor preaches exactly 10 minutes. He condemns sin roundly but never hurts anyone’s feelings. He works from 8 a.m. until midnight, and is also the church janitor.

The perfect pastor makes $40 a week, wears good clothes, drives a good car, buys good books, and donates $30 a week to the parish. He is 29 years old and has 40 years experience. Above all, he is handsome.

The perfect pastor has a burning desire to work with teenagers, and he spends most of his time with senior citizens. He smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his parish. He makes 15 home visits a day and is always in his office to be handy when needed.

The perfect pastor always has time for the parish council and all of its committees. He never misses the meeting of any parish organization, and is always busy evangelizing the un-churched.

The perfect pastor is always in the next parish over.

If your pastor does not measure up, simply send this notice to six other parishes that are tired of their pastor, too. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the parish at the top of your list. If everyone cooperates, in one week you will receive 1,643 pastors. One of them should be perfect.

Have faith in this letter. One parish broke the chain and got its old pastor back in less than three months.

Lastly, being a pastor is more than locks, leaks, lights and loans. It’s about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

We'll add that Fr. Dave will officially be installed as our pastor by Archbishop Lucas during the noon Mass on Sunday. The Women's Guild will have a reception afterwards in the Social Hall.

Archbishop Sample's Play by Play of the Installation

Above is a picture of Pope Francis as he prayed at the tomb of St. Peter before the Installation Mass which was at 3 a.m. local time.

As he watched the televised Mass, Archbishop Alexander Sample (@ArchbishpSample) tweeted his thoughts. Archbishop Sample is the Archbishop-designate of the Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and is the Bishop Of Marquette in Michigan. Here were his tweets:

I'm watching live the inauguration of Pope Francis' pontificate. A glorious day in Rome and for the whole Church! Laudetur Iesus Christus!

Very moving to see Pope Francis pray before Mass at the tomb of St. Peter - called the "confessio" below the papal altar in St. Peter's.

Pope Francis begins the Mass in Latin. An international gathering, so he uses the universal language of the Church.

Pope Francis receives the pallium and the ring of the fisherman as Mass begins - powerful symbols of his office.

Pope Francis does not chant the Collect but recites it. Interesting.

Six cardinals representing the whole college come forward to show their filial respect and obedience to the new Pope.

The Pope uses the confiteor as the Act of Penitence.

The Kyrie from the Missa de Angelis and Gloria sung alternating with the choir.

Pope Francis has his head bowed and looks very much deep in prayer during the singing of the Gloria.

The Pope is wearing very simple vestments. The Cardinals chasubles look more ornate than the Holy Father's

Oops! Now comes the Collect of the Mass - the other prayers he said before the Penitential act were upon receiving the ring and pallium

First reading in English. Sounds like North American English.

I see Msgr. John Cihak next to the cantor of the psalm. He is a master of ceremonies and a priest of the Archdiocese of Portland

Msgr. Cihak works in the Congregation for Bishops and will soon be one of my priests (2 weeks from today I will be installed in Portland)

Second reading in Spanish.

The Gospel will be chanted in Greek by an Eastern deacon. The Church breathes with both lungs (East and West) on such an occasion!

It should be said that the Mass today is the Mass of the Solemnity of St. Joseph - patron of the universal Church. How appropriate!

Okay, one question answered. The Pope will preach standing and without the miter.

Pope Francis highlights St. Joseph's faithful, humble care of Mary and Jesus. He is the protector even when he does not understand

Protecting Christ as St. Joseph did means that we look out for all people, especially the poor and needy - all people.

Interesting - more than once the Pope mentions also caring for the creation, the environment.

Pope: we must not be afraid of goodness, tenderness.

Authentic power is service. When the Pope exercises power, it is service as it was for St. Peter. Feed my sheep!

The Pope has finished his homily. A strong theme of protecting with goodness and tenderness all of creation and every human person.

The Pope bows deeply at the "incarnatus est" of the Creed.

Prayers of the faithful in various languages. Somewhat abbreviated it seems to me from past Masses.

I see the priests assuming their places for the Eucharistic Prayer. I wonder if Fr. Dan Moll (Diocese of Marquette )is among them.

A simpler offertory. The gifts are not presented to the Pope by the people from various countries, but simply brought to the altar.

The Mass maintains the so-called "Benedictine" altar arrangement - 7 candles with the crucifix in the middle.

The Holy Father recites the preface, not chanting it. Many speculate if his reduced lung capacity (one lung) limits his ability.

The Holy Father uses the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).

The Holy Father maintains his practice, which I have observed, of actually placing his hands on the chalice and bread at the epiclesis.

The Holy Father has completed the consecration. He looks with such devotion at the host and chalice at the elevation. Touching.

I must say that I am struck by the Holy Father's prayerfulness during the celebration of this Mass. He seems to meditate.

The Holy Father gives Holy Communion to the deacons of the Mass by intinction while the deacons kneel.

Interesting that the Holy Father has chosen not to distribute Holy Communion himself to the faithful.

Prayer after communion. Pope Francis gives us his blessing!

Amazing. They got this whole Mass in under 2 hours. Now they chant the Salve Regina. Pope Francis has a great devotion to Our Lady.

The Holy Father stands in prayer before the statue of Holy Mary during the Salve Regina. Holy Mother of the Church, intercede for him!

And now a solemn Te Deum!

Te Deum laudamus indeed. Now I must go and celebrate Mass for our new Pope. God bless you all!

Our new Acolyte

It was a few weeks back that Dave Graef was one of nine men installed as an acolyte for the Omaha Archdiocese. In 1972 when Pope Paul VI proclaimed Ministeria Quaedam he eliminated the minor orders but retained the use of Acolytes (though this ministry was adopted to present day needs.)

Acolyte is a permanent office and ministry overseen by the bishop. It is required of anyone who will be ordained deacon. The acolyte exercises some to all of the service of both servers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, even at the same liturgy. He may also help purify the sacred vessels after Communion given during Mass at the priest’s direction and then help others with the proper cleansing of them afterward.

After suitable formation, they are instituted as acolytes by the bishop during Mass. They are mandated by him as extraordinary ministers of Communion to assist the pastor in a designated parish. When one exercises ministry throughout a given liturgy, he wears the alb and sits in or near the sanctuary. When an acolyte only gives Holy Communion during Mass as an extraordinary minister, he does this in the same manner as the other ministers.

Here are a couple of the prayers from the liturgy. First, the blessing given to all those who will be instituted:

God of mercy through your only Son you entrusted the bread of life to your Church. Bless + our brothers who have been chosen for the ministry of acolyte.
Grant that they may be faithful in the service of your altar and in giving to others the bread of life; may they grow always in faith and love, and so build up your Church. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the words of the bishop speaks as the candidate kneels and receives the ceborium.

Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.
Amen

 We congratulate all the men as they have been installed as acolytes.

We pray for them as they and the Church discern whether or

not they have been called to serve the Church as deacons.

Twilight Criterium Route

Saturday is the 5th annual running of the Papillion Twilight Criterium.

We mention this because during the race part of Washington Street (aka 84th Street) is a one way street going south. So if you're planning to attend Mass Saturday, you may want to check your route or come a little early and watch some cycling first.

The Installation of Archbishop Lucas

Today at 2:00 p.m. George Lucas will be installed as the Archbishop of Omaha. You can watch it on KETV channel 7, see streaming video at http://www.archomaha.com/, watch it on EWTN or listen on http://www.kvss.com/.