After the Crowning

After the May Crowning yesterday, the

second grade students had two more activities.

 The first was lining up for a group picture.

 

 

 

 

The second was enjoying a breakfast with their families. It was prepared and served by parents of the third grade children who did it last year.

It was fun!

May Crowning

Today was the May Crowning

 at St. Columbkille Catholic School.

 

 The Second Graders, fresh from their

 First Communion, led much of the singing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessed are you among women

First Communion

Yesterday we practised for First Communion. Everyone learned how we would go in and out and which way to go for communion, so today we could concentrate on the sacrament. Everyone also got to taste unconsecrated hosts and wine so that wouldn't be a surprise.

Today, we did it!

 

 

 Thank you to the parents, catechists

 and everyone who got them ready. To those

 who received their First Communion today ...

Congratulations on your

 First Communion!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

Yesterday there was an anticipatory Cinco de Mayo Fiesta for the 5th grade students at St. Columbkille Catholic School. It started with a picnic.

 

Each class had their own pinata.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was even a conga line.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo



What price would you pay for freedom?

The 1917 Mexican Constitution created laws that attacked the Catholic Church: seizing church property, outlawing religious orders, taking control of church matters—and went even further. The Constitution also prohibited priests from voting, the Church from even commenting on any public policy, and would not allow priests to wear their clericals or vestments outside their churches. President Calles, who was virulently anti-Catholic (and a Freemason), enforced these restrictions vigorously after his election in 1924. He also required state licensing of priests; thus the state could limit the number of priests by not licensing them. When priests continued to serve the Catholics of Mexico without being licensed, they were forced underground.

The results of this persecution were war and martyrdom. The forthcoming movie For Greater Glory depicts both aspects by telling the story of the army formed by Catholics in opposition to the Calles’ government, the execution of priests, and the martyrdom of José Luis Sánchez del Río, a young boy. The Cristeros, who took their name from the great cry, “Viva Cristo Rey!” were making progress against government troops when the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Dwight Morrow (Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s father) intervened to negotiate a truce, which unfortunately allowed the government to continue the persecution.

Pope Pius XI wrote three encyclicals denouncing this persecution. The persecution finally ended when a Catholic president, Manuel Avila Camacho, was elected in 1940. When Blessed John Paul II visited Mexico in 1979 it was still illegal for him to celebrate Mass in public. In 1992, a new Constitution amended the anti-Catholic provisions of the 1917 version.

The most famous martyr is Blessed Miguel Pro, the Jesuit priest executed on November 23, 1927. Father Pro entered Mexico illegally and had to wear disguises and hide to celebrate the Sacraments. When captured, he was accused of plotting against the government and condemned without trial. President Calle ordered his execution photographed in great detail, hoping to incite fear in the Cristeros army. But the photographs had the opposite effect and Catholics began to show great devotion to the martyr—soon the government forbade the distribution of the very photos it had publicized!

Pope John Paul II beatified Miguel Pro in 1998; he also canonized 25 Martyrs of this period on May 21, 2000. Thirteen more martyrs, including young José Luis Sánchez del Río were beatified in 2005 in Mexico.

Here is the trailer for the movie, coming in June, which tells the story of an impassioned group of men and women who each make the decision to risk it all for family, faith and the very future of their country, as the fim¹s adventure unfolds against the long-hidden, true story of the 1920s Cristero War ­the daring people¹s revolt that rocked 20th Century North America.

St. Philip

One of the saints we celebrate today is one of the apostles, St. Philip. Philip was born in a tiny village of the Holy Land, called Bethsaida, birthplace of St. Peter and St. Andrew. When the disciples drew lots to find which part of the world they would go to preach, St. Philip drew the continent of Asia, also called Asia Minor. He was aided in his holy duties by his sister Miriam and the Apostle Bartholomew.

In Phrygia in western Asia Minor, the threesome came to Ophiorhyme; that is, “Serpent’s Town,” so-called because the inhabitants worshiped serpents and a viper called Echidna. Images of the viper and serpents filled the town, including the serpent temple with its statue of Echidna.

St. Philip approached the creature and placed his hand on it, causing the snake to die immediately. He then converted the thousands of cult members to Christianity. This greatly upset the pagan leaders. Because of this, St. Philip, his sister Miriam and St. Bartholomew were condemned to die on the cross. When the crosses were raised with the three nailed to them, the sky darkened and the earth rumbled. The pagans immediately tried to appease God by removing the three from their crosses. Miriam and St. Bartholomew lived, but St. Philip died on November 14, his last breath praising the Lord.


Italian professor Francesco D’Andria has announced the apparent discovery of the tomb of St. Philip, one of Jesus Christ’s apostles, at the ancient city of Hierapolis in the Aegean province of Denizli. Professor D’Andria has been leading archeological excavations at the ancient city for 32 years.

Profesor D'Andria said, "Until recently, we thought the grave of St. Philip was on Martyrs’ Hill, but we discovered no traces of him in the geophysical research conducted in that area. A month ago, we discovered the remnants of an unknown church, 40 meters away from the St. Philip Church on Martyrs’ Hill. And in that church we discovered the grave of St. Philip.

“St. Philip is considered a martyr. In fact, the church built in his name on the Martyrs’ Hill is, for this reason, also called Martyrion, despite the fact there were no traces of the grave of St. Philip. As we were cleaning out the new church we discovered a month ago, we finally found the grave. With close examination, we determined that the grave had been moved from its previous location in the St. Philip Church to this new church in the fifth century, during the Byzantine era. We are extremely happy and proud to have discovered the grave of a saint whose name appears in the bible – this surely is an important discovery for religious tourism, archaeology and Christendom."

St. Philip, pray for us.

Saving $575,000

With the wise guidance of the Finance Council, we were able to refinance our debt on the Education Center. One of the blessings of the financial downturn is the low rate of interest. With the help of Nebraska Elementary and Secondary School Finance Authority and American National Bank we will be able to shorten our payback to ten years and save $575,000 in interest on the 2.7 million we still owe on the building. Little by little we have been cutting down on this debt and the end is in sight!

Thank you to everyone who helped!

Visiting the Zoo

Last Thursday at Sacred Heart Preschool we

planned a trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo

 We saw the remodeled aquarium.

 

  There was a lot to see.

 

 

There was even a baby giraffe.

 

 It was fun to be at the zoo with our friends.

 

We had a lot of fun at the zoo.