From the desk of Monsignor Bride
Last week during my trip to Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, I took a detour. Before leaving, Bishop Cote had said to me that the next time I was in the Baltimore/Washington area I should stop and see the Basilica of the Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in downtown Baltimore.
To put all of this into perspective, the See of Baltimore is the first diocese established in the United States Catholic Church. All other Sees, all other dioceses were born from this Mother Diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. Father John Carroll was the first Jesuit Catholic Priest to become a Bishop in the USA. In 1784 Father Carroll was selected by the authorities in Rome to become the superior of the missions in the 13 states. In 1789, Pope Pius VI created the Diocese of Baltimore and Bishop John Carroll was named the first Bishop. It is very interesting that the creation of the Diocese of Baltimore removed the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church of the colonies from the spiritual jurisdiction of the Vicar Apostolic of London – just as the colonies had passed the Declaration of Independence from the Crown. It is most interesting that in 1808 Bishop Carroll was elevated to become the first Archbishop of Baltimore with the dioceses of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Bardstown and Wheeling as suffragan dioceses of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore.  The Catholic Church was indeed growing.
After the Revolution, plans were developed for a great American Catholic Cathedral to be built. It would be the first major religious building built in America after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.
Archbishop John Carroll chose the architect and designer Benjamin Henry Latrobe as the designer of this magnificent new Cathedral.  Lathrobe had designed the Capitol in Washington and Archbishop Carroll desired to build a modern church for its time, an architectural symbol for the Catholic Church that did not date back to the Middle ages and did not look like European cathedral churches. He wisely chose B. Henry Lathrop, who was very instrumental in developing a new-classical design for the new federal city of Washington.  Architectural professionals have long thought the Basilica in Baltimore represented the finest example of neoclassical architecture in the world.  When Cardinal Keeler of Baltimore decided to renovate the Cathedral, it was his desire to restore the Cathedral because over time many of the historical and pure elements of the Cathedral had been changed.
A visit to the Cathedral in Baltimore is a must for anyone who wishes to come to an understanding of the development of the faith of the Catholic Church in the United States and how the hallmarks of our faith were presented to the newly founded democracy.  For instance, because Catholicism always had an element of secrecy about it, the Architect chose clear glass windows so that all on the inside could see outside and all on the outside could see the actions inside. Key to all this were the restoration of the windows, the adaptation of the sanctuary to the needs of modern liturgy while retaining completely the elements of the marble used for the first altar. In a word, if you are in the area, stop and visit. You will not be disappointed, but rather your faith will be enlivened and strengthened.
                                  Monsignor Bride

Mass of Anointing - NEXT SUNDAY
Our annual Mass of anointing will take place at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 25, 2007.  This Mass is for all seniors.  It is for anyone with a chronic or disturbing illness.  Anyone undergoing testing, treatment for a serious illness should be anointed.  This Mass at 2:00 p.m. DOES FULFILL your Sunday obligation.
Come yourself!   Invite a friend who might not be able to come because there is no ride. Bernice Ray is coordinator of this.  Call Bernice (442-4255) if you know of someone who might need a ride.
                      MINI- PARISH MISSION
ON RECONCILIATION
Each year, during the first week of Lent, we have a mini-Parish Mission (3 nights) on reconciliation.
It is appropriate that we begin the first week of Lent
 (Mon 2/26 - Tues 2/27 - Wed 2/28) with going to Confession. Many wait until Holy Week for this.  This misses the opportunity to practice Lent in all its fullness.  
Monsignor Robert L. Brown, Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, will give this year’s mini-Mission.  Monsignor Brown is an accomplished preacher, a spiritual director to many, and a wonderful priest. We are delighted to welcome Monsignor Brown to Our Lady of Perpetual Help for this important time in our parish and in the spiritual life of our people.
Monsignor Brown will preach at the Mass each night.  Following the Mass Monsignor Brown and Monsignor Bride will hear confessions.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS ARE PRAYED EACH FRIDAY OF LENT AT 6:30 P.M.
ASH WEDNESDAY IS A DAY OF FAST (MEANING ONLY ONE FULL MEAL) AND A DAY OF ABSTINENCE (NO MEAT)!
Every Friday is Day of Abstinence.

 Monsignor Bride’s 40th Anniversary of Ordination  --  May 4, 2007 --
Monsignor  will celebrate a Special Mass on Saturday, May 5th, at 5:00 P.M.
followed by Pot Luck Supper in Hall.
This celebration will be a Pot-Luck Supper with parishioners bringing various foods for the supper, as we did for Sister Michelle’s 25th Anniversary here with us.  Monsignor will  purchase Roast Beef for the meat and the other dishes of Pasta, Bread, vegetable, salad, hors d’oeuvres, dessert will be brought by all parishioners. This will truly be a celebration of Monsignor’s priesthood with all parishioners participating, please God.  Mark your calendars now and plan for this wonderful Saturday evening event on May 5th.

CRUSADE OF PRAYER ON  fRIDAYS
7:30A.M.   Morning Mass
8:00A.M.  Exposition of  the Blessed Sacrament
                 followed by   Morning Prayer             
8:15 A.M. to  4:45 P.M. Individual Adoration and
                 Praying for Vocations  all day in  Church
4:45 P.M. Evening Prayer /Benediction/Closing

                      TRUE LOVE WAITS…         For High School Young Adults – 4-Part Series on March 4, 11, 18, 25th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM – At. St. Bernard’s High School, 1593 Norwich-New London Tpke. (Rt. 32), Uncasville. (Meet in the cafeteria.)  A straightforward presentation on love, sex,  consistent with Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.  Includes 3 seminars and a closing Mass.  At the closing Mass, participants have the opportunity to make their own commitment to God to integrate their sexuality and their spirituality as adult men and women.  Parents and friends are welcome to attend.  To register, or for more information, call the Office of Family Life at (860) 889-8346, ext. 283 or 282.
  
Choir practice 
this Thursday, February 22nd  at 6:30 P.M.

Please pick up your Rice Bowl Box for your Lenten outreach for the poor.
 

                             Announced Masses

Monday, February 19TH   7th  Week of Ordinary Time                        
7:30 A.M.  Parishioners of OLPH
Every pastor is required by Canon Law to have a Mass offered for the parishioners of his parish once a week. This is called the “Pro Populo Mass.”

Tuesday, February 20th   7th  Week of Ordinary Time                      
7:30 A.M.  Donald Callahan  (M/M Edmund Gannon)  
Wednesday, February 21st
                  ASH WEDNESDAY                                    
7:30 A.M. Intention of Mary Orris (OLPH Ladies Guild)
6:00 P.M.  Veronica M. Cronin (Capano Family) 
Thursday, February 22nd  Chair of St. Peter                                 
 7:30 A.M.  Jean-Robert Richard  (Sister, Jessie Butus)                  
Friday, February 23rd   St. Polycarp
Msgr. Bride’s Birthday
7:30 A.M.  Intention of Celebrant
6:30 P.M.   Stations of the Cross