Time change this weekend

From Deacon Ron Reno:

Our worship service is moved to 11:30 this Sunday morning on May 18. Please note this change. The College of Saint Mary is having their graduation this Saturday morning. We are blessed to use this chapel and the fact that CSM appreciates us is another blessing.

I love that our Easter services have all ended with the “Regina Coeli.” Our choir can do it in Latin or English. It is a Marian and Christological prayer that honors the Virgin Mary during the Easter season. What a blessing for us that our choir does this medieval prayer that commemorates the Incarnation of Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

One of Father Ponec’s last Easter homilies. God bless, Deacon

Easter 3, 2020
2025-05-10_Bulletin

Chesterton High School Lenten art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

He is risen, He is risen indeed!

We continued our fast and abstinence on Good Friday with the sadness of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. That holy day of Jesus’ sacrifice (His Passion) really showed us His humanity and love that He had for us. He paved the way to salvation.

On Easter we celebrated His overcoming death with His Resurrection. This celebration of life has led us out of the darkness back into the light that Jesus offers us and for us to accept His offer of that salvation. Holy Week and the seven days leading up to Easter is the most important week of the most important person who ever lived. Don’t forget the seven days after Easter and how that would be a great week to reflect on the actions from Holy Week and perhaps a good time for our own self reflection.

Our choir chanted the Gospel of Saint Mathew on our Palm Sunday service and they chanted the Gospel of Saint John during our Good Friday service. On Easter they chanted the antiphon “Vidi Aquam” while Pascal candle was aspersed and ended with singing the “Regina Coeli”.
Our choir does so much for the love of God.

God willing, Father Andrews and Anneliese will be here this week. They are a blessing to us. Pray for traveling mercies for them.

Pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. God bless, Deacon

Easter(2025)

Good Friday and Easter information and more

Just a reminder, our Good Friday service will be at 6 PM at the College of Saint Mary Chapel. Our Easter service will be at our normal time on Saturday.

We were blessed to have Father Andrews and Anneliese for our Palm Sunday Mass. The choir chanted many Palm Sunday Antiphons including “Hosanna to the Son of David” leading up Exodus 15 and Mathew 21. During the distribution of the palms the choir also sang the appointed Antiphons. Our choir did a lot for this Palm service including chanting the “The Passion of St. Mathew.” Thank you Nick, Lynda and Julia for your great voices and your love of God. It was wonderful to have Father here for the Aspersion of Holy water on our people. Father offered the anointing of Holy Oil to all that needed it. Thank you Father for all you do.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God., who of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our lord. Amen…Collect for Palm Sunday. God bless, Deacon

2025-04-12_Bulletin

Passion homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

God willing, Father Andrews and Anneliese will be here for Palm Sunday. We need to pray for traveling mercies for Father, Anneliese and the Roberts family.

We were blessed to have Josh and his family at services last week. It is always wonderful have Michelle, Mikhaeli, Aubrey, and baby Will amongst us. Mario Vargas brought his brother Willy, who also has a real interest in us. Caedmon brought his girlfriend Isabelle. Caed is training to be a fireman and Isabelle is a police officer. We need to always pray to keep all our first responders safe. It is amazing to me how God has made our church family larger.

We have asked the College of Saint Mary for permission to have a Good Friday service in the chapel along with our Easter service. I hope to have a response by today. Pray for that to happen. It would be a real blessing for this mission church.

Our choir always surprise us with beautiful anthems. This week for the offertory anthem they sing ”Sabat Mater Dolorosa” parts 1 and 2 by Rheinberger. They also had a choral postlude ”Virgo Virginum” by Rheinberger also. May God continue to bless this choir.

We beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our lord, Amen… Collect of Passion Sunday. God bless Deacon

2025-04-05_Bulletin
Passion(2025)

Rose Sunday homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

Father Andrews and Anneliese will be here for Palm Sunday instead of Passion Sunday. We had planned to take everyone out for breakfast after Mass this Saturday but, God willing, that will be moved to next Saturday. Pray for traveling mercies for Father and Anneliese this Friday and his continuing travel to Minnesota.

Rose Sunday was very special with its sung Morning Prayer. Before our homily, our choir did an ancient Anthem from the late 1700’s. “Turn Thy Face from my Sins” by Thomas Atwood. It had all the Godly “wow power” of any sung anthem I have heard in recent years. We are so blessed!

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Collect for the 4th Sunday in Lent.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hates nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. This Collect is said every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.  God bless, Deacon …………. Two pieces of student art also attached.

2025-03-30_Bulletin
Lent4(2025)

New timeline for service this week and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

Saint Mary’s Chapel will not be available to us this Saturday. Our service has been moved to 11:30 Sunday. Our service will follow the usual Roman Mass this week.

We were blessed to have Father Andrews and Anneliese for our service this week. Father and Deb led this annual meeting and we took care of the business end of this mission church.

We are in the Lenten season and doing our self reflection during this time. We also need to take time and give thanks for all the blessings we have too. One blessing we had this week was having Father here and having the full Mass. Please take time to personally thank him and Anneliese for the love they have our small group. They travel all the way from Fort Collins Colorado to share their love of God with us. We should never take that for granted. It truly takes all of us to make this mission church functional. Please thank Deb for doing the business end of this church. Thank Nick and the choir for how hard they work and practice for every MP and Deacon’s Liturgy, that is done in the chapel. Thank David Sopscak for maintaining our web page. That presence has led many new people to check us out. We have new members because of that presence……… God’s children doing His work.

As we continue to follow Christ this Lenten season, beg Him for the grace to help you make the God loving change on the way you see yourself and work on seeing Him in others. We are compelled to face ourselves and be like Saint Patrick who confessed “I, Patrick, a sinner.” We are all works in progress; our commonality is our love of God. God bless, Deacon

Lent3(2024)
2025-03-22_Bulletin

Septuagesima homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

O LORD, we beseech thee favorably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offenses, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. Collect for Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima is Latin for seventieth. The period is sometimes called pre- Lent. It is really an ancient pre-lenten tradition Septuagesima is the beginning of our shortest liturgical season. It helps ease us from the joy of Christmas to the seriousness of Lent. It takes a more somber tone without being as strict as the Lenten fast. The season is seventeen days long and it includes the three Sundays before Ash Wednesday. The length never changes but the start date is dependent the movable date of Easter.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of David Sherwood who has passed. May the perpetual light shine upon him. Pray for God’s armor and protection for Nick who has been dealt a heavy load of grief over the last 6 months. Deacon

Septu(2025)

Purification homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

“Light to lighten the Gentiles and be the glory of thy people Israel.” Christ’s Presentation in the Temple and Mary’s purification closes out our Christmastide and another 40 days to the glory of God. While we do celebrate our Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany this next week, we continue our love of being our part of the body of Christ. Our discipleship never ends and we are looking forward to our Gesima Season (pre-Lent) and prepare for our Lenten season. The pre-lent season became part of our first Book of Common Prayer and came to us by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1549. We will discuss our ancient “Sarum Missal” prayers and readings more in our upcoming emails.

O GOD, who knowest us to be in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany collect.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy Majesty, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple collect.

Continue praying for the people of California displaced by fires. God bless, Deacon

Purification(2025)

Second Sunday after the Epiphany Homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

We are closing in on the Third Sunday after the Epiphany with some upbeat warmer weather coming this weekend. God willing we are hopeful for mid 30’s. The windchill in Omaha on Tuesday was -28 degrees below O and it was brutal early.

Our liturgical period has been revealing the divinity of Jesus and lasts until the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple on February 2nd. We have been enjoying our Epiphanytide collects (special prayers) this season and it gives us a chance to reflect on those collects. This Manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles allows us Christians to know our faith, His presence has given to the Gentiles (Christians) our chance for Salvation. Please read Father Andrew’s homily and how we must rise up to the challenge as Jesus did from His comfortable life in Nazareth, to be the savior of mankind and our chance to know God.

O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for the first Sunday.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for the second Sunday.

Continue to pray for the Californians and their children who have lost their homes, schools and businesses by these devastating wildfires.

EpiphII(2025)
2025-01-18_Bulletin

First Sunday after the Epiphany homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

As we celebrate Epiphany, our choir always does things over and above. Nick, Lynda and Julia sang a French Christmas carol “Ou ’S’en vont Ces gais Bergers.” I didn’t understand a word but it was beautiful. The choir also sang the Kyrie- “Missa de Minuet a Noel” and the Gloria. This (God’s) Mission church is small but mighty and a great deal of that goes to the choir doing God’s work. Thank you Nick, Julia and Lynda.

After our service, we gather together for coffee and treats. This week the Robert’s family brought a special egg dish and scones. We are blessed to have this family who have a great love of God, be part of our family. It was also very special to have Josh, his children and Nick’s Godchildren join us. Mom and Dad were there too. Our coffee hour has some very interesting conversations going on and the sound of children make it special.

Please keep in mind and have prayers for all of the families who have lost their homes and schools in California. Some areas in Los Angeles look like war torn Europe after World War II. I was almost in tears when I saw the destruction as it was occurring: I have spent time in California and know how beautiful a place it is .The fires are still burning and those families need all the prayers we can muster. God bless, Deacon

2025-01-11_Bulletin
EpiphI(2025o)