Its done! Over a year ago, OLGC began the project to bring the portraits of six Saints and Blesseds to the back wall of the music room, near the front of the church. The project is now complete! On Friday after the 8am Mass, on the Eve of All Saints, Fr John will bless the wall. All are welcome to participate after Mass. The paintings depict six American men and women of modern times, who in their varied vocations and stations in life, shone the light of Jesus Christ to the dark world around them. By their example and their prayers, we too are called to the exact same task in our own vocations and times: to surrender to God in a way that the light of Jesus Christ may shine through us and bring others into a relationship with Him. Solanus Casey, Elizabeth Seton, Fulton Sheen, Frances Cabrini, Pierre Toussaint, and Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us your brothers and sisters in Plymouth, that we, like you, might radiate the love of God more perfectly to our family and friends, so as to bring everyone we know into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, just as you did. Amen. Left to Right: Solanus Casey Father Solanus served at parishes in Manhattan and Harlem before returning to Detroit, where he was porter and sacristan for 20 years at St. Bonaventure Monastery. Father Solanus’ sense of God’s providence inspired many of his visitors. Blessed be God in all his designs was one of his favorite expressions. Elizabeth Ann Seton First native-born American citizen to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She was married, but after her husbands death in 1803 she moved back to America, where she became Catholic. She founded many schools and in 1809 founded the first religious community of sisters in North America called the Sisters of Charity of St. Josephs. Fulton Sheen Venerable Fulton Sheen, ordained a priest in 1919 in the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois. Sheen is recognized for his love for Christ and the Church and his ability to evangelize in a clear, concise, and charitable manner. He was on radio and TV for many years in the United States, and even won two Emmys in his time. He died in 1979 and is currently interred at St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City. Virgin with the Angels by William-Adolphe Bouguereau This is an original oil painting, but a replica of the Virgin with the Angels by Bouguereau. Frances Xavier Cabrini An Italian-born religious missionary, became the first canonized American Citizen. In November 1880, she and six other women who had taken religious vows with her founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.) Mother Cabrini and her congregation founded numerous schools, orphanages, and even hospitals. She had a love for the missions and especially for the poor and the sick. When she died in 1917 she had personally helped to open over 67 institutions. Pierre Toussaint Pierre Toussaint was a former slave from the French colony of Saint-Domingue who was brought to New York City by his owners in 1787. There he eventually gained his freedom and became a noted philanthropist to the poor of the city. in 1996 he was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II, the second step in the process. Toussiant is the first layperson to be buried in the crypt below the main altar of St. Patricks Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, normally reserved for bishops of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York . Kateri Tekakwitha St. Kateri Teckakwitha is the first Native American to be declared a Saint. Her feastday is July 14. She was baptized at the age of twenty in 1676 and incurred the great hostility of her tribe. Although she had to suffer greatly for her Faith, she remained firm in it. Kateri went to the new Christian colony of Indians in Canada. Here she lived a life dedicated to prayer, penitential practices, and care for the sick and aged. She died of illness on April 17, 1680 at the age of twenty-four. She is known as the Lily of the Mohawks.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:59:44 +0000