(Letter from Msgr. Schaedel for bulletin of October 3, 1999)

Dear Parishioners,

October is the month of the Holy Rosary. And Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary, is patroness of our parish. The Feast of the Holy Rosary is this Thursday, October 7. If the patronal feast of a parish does not land on a Sunday, the parish is allowed to transfer the celebration of that feast to a Sunday so more people may celebrate it.

Today (Sunday) we observe here the Feast of Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary. We will have a Solemn High Latin Mass at 10:00 a.m. To my knowledge, this is the first time we have had a Solemn High Mass (Priest, deacon, subdeacon) here at Holy Rosary Church for decades. Thanks to Father Duvelius, we have arranged it.

Thursday, October 7, is the actual feast. As usual, there will be a Latin Mass at Noon. We will have also have Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and the praying of the rosary at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday to observe the feast.

The feast itself has an interesting history. It recalls the crucial victory of Christian Europe over the Moslems at the naval battle of Lepanto—October 7, 1571. The victory was attributed to the Blessed Mother, invoked through the rosary. But remember that this memorial is not of a past event. It reminds us of meditation on the mysteries of Christ with the help of Mary.

Pray for our parish and for those of us on the pilgrimage to France. We will be praying for you.

Monday, October 4, is the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. The Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg staffed Holy Rosary School for years. The Franciscan presence was with us more recently in the person of Sister Jean Marie Cleveland, O.S.F. Pray for all Franciscans on Monday.

Do you know anyone interested in finding out more about the Catholic Church? This year we are teaming up with our neighbor, Saint Patrick Parish, for the RCIA Program. (The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) If you know anyone who wants to know more about the Catholic Faith, or if you would simply like to update yourself, call Sister Jean Marie at 631-5824 soon.

By the time you read this, we fifty pilgrims will be in France. This weekend (October 2-3) we are scheduled to be in Paris and in Nevers, the burial place of Saint Bernadette. We shall see her incorrupt body there. We will pray for all of our loved ones back home. You can participate vicariously in this pilgrimage by praying with us each and every day. Please join us in the degree that you can by praying with us each day for the following intentions:

Sunday, October 3, 1999—Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time and Feast of Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin—(Paris and Nevers, burial place of Saint Bernadette)—For all women religious who so generously serve the Church in our archdiocese; for their needs and their intentions; for an increase in vocations to the religious life

Monday, October 4, 1999—Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi—(Nevers, Paray-Le-Monial, Shrine of Saint Margaret Mary; Lyon)—For a greater awareness among all Christians of the great love of the Heart of Christ for each person; for a deeper appreciation of Christ’s love for us in the Eucharist and in the Sacrament of Penance

Tuesday, October 5, 1999—Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time—(Ars, Home of the Cure of Ars, Saint John Vianney)—For all priests serving the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, for our seminarians and other young men considering the priesthood; for an increase in vocations to the priesthood

Wednesday, October 6, 1999—Feast of Saint Bruno and Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher—(Lyon and Avignon)—For the intentions of Pope John Paul II, for the Holy Father’s health and for his ministry

Thursday, October 7, 1999—Feast of Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary—(Avignon and Lourdes)—For the needs and the intentions of each of our archdiocesan parishes; for a greater devotion and understanding of the role of Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church

Friday, October 8, 1999—Friday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time—(Lourdes)—For the sick and for those who care for them

Saturday, October 9, 1999—Feast of Saint Denis and his companions and Saint John Leonardi—(Lourdes and Toulouse)—For the Church and France and the universal Church throughout the world; that we may grow in our Faith as we approach the Great Jubilee and the new Christian millennium

Part of each day on the pilgrimage will be the praying of the rosary and the celebration of Mass. It would be great if you could do the same, even though you are not physically traveling to France with the group. Attend Mass each day, pray the rosary, and offer them for the intentions listed above. In a very real spiritual way you too will be on pilgrimage with us.

I can’t wait until we get to Lourdes. You can notice from the schedule above that we arrive there on the patronal feast of our parish, the Feast of Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary. When I offer Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes I shall offer it for the intentions of all members of Holy Rosary Parish.

While I am in France I am offering the following Mass intentions as well: +Norman Barnhart, _Margaret Constantino, +Anna Filicicchia, +Freida Gentile, +Matthew Iaria, +Agnes Miceli, +Don Phillips, +Tony Rene, +Vince Romano.

Pray for us as we will pray for you!

The Parish Council met again last Monday night. We finally finalized plans for the replacement of our church roof. I am so glad to finally have this decision behind us! Now we can all move from being experts on roofing to being experts on installing elevators. That’s the next major project.

We finalized some preliminary plans and schedules for special Masses at Thanksgiving and over the holidays and holydays that are coming up. The Council also discussed our Stewardship Campaign for this Fall. This will include our stewardship of time, talent, and treasure to our own families, to our parish, and to the larger Church (the shared mission of the archdiocese). You will be hearing more about this when I return from France.

Last Sunday’s Gospel was about the two sons the father asked to work in the family vineyard. The first son in that Gospel said he would do his father’s bidding, but he did not. The second son balked first, but then repented and did as he was asked. What service is God calling me to do do? Which son am I more like? That’s a good question for us to consider this week.

In God’s Providence,

Msgr. Schaedel