What a Sunday!

Solemn High Mass at St. Francis deSales Oratory... coffee/donut hour following Mass, kids playing, Mom and Dad being ever-so warmly welcomed back ... home to change into comfies before heading out to an afternoon at the home of good friends... visiting with many friends over delicious wine and snacks... kneeling together for Canon's prayer of blessing... back home to watch the boys' cherished "Sunday night movie".....

What a lovely Sunday.

Happy Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Farewell to Father Lockwood

For the past 15 months, Father Gregory Lockwood has been pastoring the flock (under the title of Parochial Administrator) at our parish, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Unfortunately for us he is leaving the St. Louis Archdiocese and will take new positions as Vocations Director for the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph as well as Parochial Administrator of Christ the King parish there, effective July 1, 2011.

When Father came to St. Elizabeth's, we had not been regulars there for many years, though it was the parish in which we lived. Over the years since we were married there in 1999 and then began our family, my husband and I became better acquainted with, and grew to love, the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM). Our desire to grow as Catholics and raise our children in the 'old' rite drew us away from St. Elizabeth's and to churches where it was, or still is, regularly celebrated.

We were familiar with Fr. Lockwood, having assisted at Masses he had celebrated on Sunday afternoons at another parish, and so when we learned of his assignment to St. E's, just a mile from our home, we were delighted. It was not long before we were attending the regularly-celebrated TLM at 1:30 on Sunday afternoons. It was perfect for our family on many levels.

Our two boys learned to serve the TLM literally at the feet of Fr. Lockwood. As they learned their Latin responses, when to (and when not to!) ring the bells, how and when to reverently assist in getting the sacred items Father needs, etc., Father was always patient and encouraging to them. And though 'Hekyll and Jekyll' as Father sometimes fondly referred to them, still have a way to go in perfecting their service at the Altar, I know they will never forget where and with whom they first began as then-8 and 10 year old boys.

Father has been helpful in our spiritual growth, always guiding us in his wise but down-to-earth manner. If there were one recurring, but ever-appropriate theme imparted to us by Father it would be that in all of life's situations, 'someone needs to be the adult'.

Thank you, Father, for all you have done for us at St. Elizabeth of Hungary church. Your steadfastness, your humor, your compassion, your guidance and direction will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. You were our faithful shepherd, and we love you! We pray that God will bless you abundantly in your new parish and position in the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph.

* * *

A farewell gathering for Fr. Lockwood will be held following the 10:30 a.m. Mass (and prior to the 1:30 p.m. TLM) on this Sunday, June 26, in the cafeteria (lower level) at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. All are invited!

Prayer Against Storms

So many tornadoes, so much devastation. It is incredible to watch the TV and computer reports of the areas which have been hit so hard. Lord, have mercy on all those affected!

It's looking like the St. Louis area is in for another severe weather day tomorrow. We keep this prayer posted in the basement area where we go when the sirens blow. It, along with our Rosary, offers much comfort to us all, but especially to the boys, who are particularly bothered when we are under tornado warnings. We've used it more often this year than we'd like, but thanks be to God, we have been kept safe and unharmed, even when one twister hit less than a half-mile from our home (the 12/31/10 tornado). And so I share it, again, with you:

The Prayer or Blessing Against Storms
(found on page 28 Pieta Prayer Book)

At each '†', make the Sign of The Cross

Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in Peace.† God became man,† and the Word was made flesh.† Christ was born of a Virgin.† Christ suffered.† Christ was crucified.† Christ died.† Christ rose from the dead.† Christ ascended into Heaven.† Christ conquers.† Christ reigns.† Christ orders.† May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning† Christ went through their midst in Peace,† and the word was made flesh.† Christ is with us with Mary.† Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Juda, the Root David, has won.† Holy God!† Holy Powerful God!† Holy Immortal God!† Have mercy on us. Amen!

God bless you and keep you safe!

First Friday Mass

First Friday Mass of the Sacred Heart (Traditional Latin) will be celebrated by Father Gregory Lockwood at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church this Friday morning, April 1, at 6:30 a.m.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church
1420 S. Sappington Road
Crestwood, MO

Do come join us!

Lenten Reading

With Lent just around the corner I am considering once again what I might read during the 40 days leading up to Easter. I have a few ideas, but haven't taken anything off the shelf or ordered anything new yet.

My dear sister-in-law gave me Dante's Divine Comedy for my last birthday and I'm thinking this would be a great time to delve in. Also, I've thought of trying to make a practice of reading at least some Sacred Scripture daily. And we have many good books on our shelves here at home, just waiting to be read and studied.

But with so many good Catholic book choices out there, I'm wondering, what are your reading plans this Lent?

God bless you with a holy and fruitful Lent!

First Friday and Ash Wednesday

Father Gregory Lockwood will offer upcoming Masses in the Extraordinary Form at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, 1420 Sappington Road in Crestwood, on the following dates/times:

First Friday
Mass of the Sacred Heart will be offered tomorrow morning, March 4, at 6:30 a.m.

Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday Mass with distribution of ashes next Wednesday, March 9, at 12:00 noon.

Do come join us!

In the Bleak Midwinter

The following poem by Christina Rossetti (1872) is perhaps best known to us as a beautiful carol sung at Christmastime. And with the Christmas season officially past, my posting of it is late, liturgically speaking.

But when I awake as I did this morning, to an unexpected 4-5 inch fresh blanket of snow, atop a 2-3 inch layer of ice and snow from recent days, and flakes are still gently falling, the line "snow on snow" immediately comes to my mind.

I looked up the poem and read it, with the familiar tune singing in my head. The first stanza paints the scene we awoke to today; those following how Our Lord the Infant King came to this earth in just such a scene, His own Dear Mother, shepherds and kings adoring him, and how I might as well.

Certainly we are beyond this scene on the liturgical calendar, but on the calendar of our hearts it is always time to consider our own love and adoration of Him who came to us one bleak midwinter; today's lovely snowfall brings it to my mind again.

In the Bleak Midwinter
By Christina Rossetti

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

* * *

God bless you!