On Sunday, September 9th, following the 12 noon Traditional Latin Mass (which was a Sung Mass), the Altar Society had a going away party for parishioner John E. Streff, who entered his First Year of Studies for the Priesthood with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter at their Seminary in Denton, Nebraska on September 13th. Here are some photos:
On Monday, September 3rd, Labor Day and the Traditional Feast of Pope St. Pius X, one of the new Altar Boys in training, served Holy Mass for the 1st time at the Altar of the Holy Family. Congratulations, Cody, and keep up the good work!
O Holy and Heavenly Infant Mary!
Maria Bambina,
make us to love thee,
make us little and holy,
and bless us!
She is the most amiable creature in the eyes of God,
because she was already loaded with grace
and merit, and could say,
‘When I was a little one I pleased the Most High.’”
St Alphonsus explains…
“Let us, then, rejoice with our beloved infant, who was born so holy,
so dear to God, and so full of grace.
And let us rejoice, not only on her account,
but also on our own
for she came into the world full of grace,
not only for her own glory,
but also for our good.”
The Reverend Father Jonathan M. Venner, ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD by His Excellency, the Most Revrerend Paul Joseph Swain on 1st Thursday, August 4th, the Dies Natalis of St. John Marie Vianney, celebrated his First Solemn Mass (in the Usus Antiquior) at St. Mary Church, Salem on 1st Friday, August 5th, 2011. The Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was celebrated, preceded by the Veni Creator Spiritus and followed by the Te Deum.
The Reverend Bryan J. B. Pedersen, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Robbinsdale, Minnesota, served as Deacon of the Mass and the Reverend Gregory Parrott, Parochial Vicar of Queen of Angels Church, Austin, Minnesota and Our Lady of Loreto Church, Brownsdale, Minnesota, served as Subdeacon. The Reverend John Brancich, F.S.S.P., Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Omaha, Nebraska, served as Master of Ceremonies and Homilist. Mr. Nathan J. Knutson, Diocesan Master of Ceremonies for Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, directed the Schola Cantorum, while his wife, Mrs. Lisa Knutson, was organist. The Priest of Salem served as Assistant Priest. The Reverend Fathers Charles Duman and Mark Axtmann of the Diocese of Sioux Falls were among the clergy in choir.
Fr. Venner has been assigned as Parochial Vicar at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sioux Falls.
For a good explanation of the continued use of black vestments during the Ordinary Form of the Mass (or the new Mass), go over to the Catholic Key Blog: http://catholickey.blogspot.com/2009/11/real-men-in-black-vestments.html There you will find a very good interview with Deacon Ralph Wehner, Director of the Office of Worship, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO.
In the back of the church this weekend you will find several copies of the very informative and inspirational newspaper, Catholic, published quarterly by the Transalpine Redemptorists in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. This issue is dedicated to the Year of the Priesthood.
With the Catholic is a copy of the latest work the Transalpine Redemptorists have printed: Gerardo. It is the life of St Gerard Majella, C.SS.R., one of the Patron Saints of Expecting Mothers.
I gave each Seventh Grader at our parochial school a copy of Catholic (which included a copy of Gerardo) and have asked them to write a short report on one of the articles.
Three of the brothers from this wonderful community study for the priesthood at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska. I have invited them to come out to Salem next month and visit our parochial school, and speak at our weekend Masses, on the work this community is doing for the Church, and to introduce our parish to the Archconfraternity of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. For more information on the Transalpine Redemptorists, go to http://papastronsay.blogspot.com/. For more information on the Archconfraternity of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, go to http://www.archconfraternity.com/.
On Friday, August 28, I witnessed the marriage vows of a young couple from the Latin Mass Community in Sioux Falls and celebrated a Sung Nuptial Mass in the Extraordinary Form. The Pastor of St. Katherine Drexel, Fr. Joe Vogel, and his staff were very hospitable to us (we asked to use their beautiful new church for the wedding since St. Joseph Cathedral is being renovated, and the Church of St. Mary in Sioux Falls already had a wedding scheduled for Friday evening).
This was the first time the Traditional Latin Mass was celebrated in this new church. I hope that it will not be the last.
Very interesting video taken by 10th grade parishioner John Streff, with the help of his younger brothers Mark and Andrew. John and his brothers enjoy ringing the church bell before High Mass and during the Elevation of the Sacred Host and the Precious Blood.
Click here for the video: Tour of the Bell Tower
Father Weixelberger, the second Pastor of St. Mary’s, Salem, purchased the first church bell, which was christened “Maria” on May 5, 1891 by the Very Reverend A. L. Ricklin from Sioux Falls, under delegation of Bishop Marty. Realizing that the first church was too small for the growing parish, Father Weixelberger began making plans for the new church. Unfortunately, he died in early November, 1896.
The consecrated bell in our tower was the victim of “graffitti” in the 1960′s – the artwork of students from St. Mary’s High School (which closed in 1970) who used to climb the tower to smoke (I am told!). Anyone interested in cleaning the bell? If so, contact the Pastor at rpmartinus@gmail.com.
