I was rather surprised that the parish was not celebrating their patronal feast (you can move it to Sunday for pastoral reasons...), especially given that the parish doesn't have Mass on Mondays. The Monday Mass is at the mission church, Immaculate Conception in West Alton.
The music was accompanied by an organ and a choir in the choir loft.
Music:
Opening: All Creatures of Our God and King
Offertory: We Are the Light of the World
Communion: Instrumental of Make Me A Channel of Your Peace
Recessional: You Are Near (with the Yahweh..)
The Gloria was spoken but the Responsorial Psalm was sung.
After the opening hymn, Father went into a mini-homily about St. Francis taking care of all creatures.
The Deacon gave the homily today. He started off discussing what is Faith. According to Hebrew 11:1, it is the assurance of things unseen but hoped for. It is a gift from God that gives us the graces we need. The Deacon then referenced the First Reading about writing down the vision and how God will take care of it. In old times, if you wrote something down, it was assured. How can we increase our Faith? The Deacon then went on to tell 2 stories, one about a man who when faced with trials, lost his Faith, and a woman who when faced with trials, increased her Faith. How does Faith grow? Faith is strengthened like a muscle; by putting it to use. When was the last time you read a Catholic Book, Catholic Radio, prayed, went to a Retreat, etc? Our Faith grows each time it is tested (unless it breaks under the strain...) Perfection comes with Faith when we practice it. Today was also the 2nd collection for the Diaconate program. The Deacon spoke a little bit about the diaconate: how they were *married* clergy and were unpaid for the most part and how important Deacons were to the history of the Church.
Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were bells at the Consecration. During the Liturgy of the Announcements (which was really long) Father mentioned that it is Respect Life Month and there was a Life Chain later in the afternoon. He also reminded us that October is dedicated to the Mary and Our Lady of the Rosary, so that praying the rosary might be good idea.
After Mass there were doughnuts and everyone was friendly :)
Pictures:
(There are lots more pictures, I'll have them up on flickr in a few days and post the link.)
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Animals
View From the Back Pew!
St. Joseph's Altar
On the left: St. Therese of Lisieux
On the right: St. Agnes
Mary's Altar
On the left: St. Cecilia (?)
On the right: St. John
Guardian Angel
(The feast was 10/2 FYI)
St. Francis of Assisi
The Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women
(That's German)
Barque of Peter
The Holy Family
Is it just me, or is it creepy that Jesus has made a cross....
(They think....)
St. Francis of Assisi Receives the Stigmata
Note: On October 10, 2010 at 1 pm, Father David Kemna, FSSP, will celebrate his first Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Latin, TLM) at St. Francis of Assisi. Father informs us they will move the altar back to its original position for the Mass and there will be a choir/schola. Father David Kemna is the first priestly vocation from the parish in its 211 year history. Also, there is a plenary indulgence for those that assist at the First Mass of a newly ordained priest ;)
Links:
Information from the Archdiocese
Pictures from Rome of the West
I don't think that it is creepy that Jesus has made a cross. I think it shows that He knows 1) who He is and 2) what is His mission. He is pondering it, whilst not yet embracing it because it is not His time to do so.
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