A few images of Lent 2010

This was the repository this year. Simple and tasteful.

The Holy Sacrifice, celebrated on Palm Sunday.

The Sacred Images of the Church, covered with violet cloth,
and adorned with native palm branches.

Southern palms

I am the vine; you the branches:
he that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same beareth much fruit:
for without me you can do nothing.
__St. John XV:5

The life of Grace is connected by the will of God with the created order. Grace is almost always communicated to us through the agency of visible, tangible, sensible creatures. The palm branch is one such creature. The Church has made use of branches of palm, olive or what other tree may be available to the faithful and recalling the Lord's own words in which He calls Himself the vine, in the Sacred Liturgy. Here in Southern Louisiana we are blessed with the palmetto tree, whose branches are cut by the faithful during Passiontide and blessed on Palm Sunday for use in the Liturgy and in the homes of the faithful as a sacramental.

After the branches are cut, they are washed to remove any uninvited bugs and placed on a table in the sanctuary ready to be blessed.

After the Mass the branch held by the priest is placed over the doorway of the church.

The sacred images are covered in violet and branches are placed at the base of these statues.

Ite Missa Est. The Mass of Palm Sunday has ended, the crucifix is covered, and palm branches adorn it, a sigh of Christian hope in the glory soon to come. (someone forgot to put out the Altar Cards).

How do Nuns view the Mass ?

This is what a cloister nun sees when she assists at Holy Mass.
Please note the progress of Tradition (the Crucifix has been place prominently over the Altar.

IIIrd. Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux

Sam Gallip Jacobs
Third bishop of the diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

Bishop Jacobs was born in Missouri but moved to Louisiana as a young child. ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette by Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux, he was incardinated into the diocese of Lake Charles after its creation.

On July 1, 1989, Pope John Paul II named Jacobs Bishop of the diocese of Alexandria, and he was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Francis Schulte of New Orleans.
In 2003 he was translated to the diocese of Houma-Thibadoux becoming the third bishop of the diocese.

He has served the Church in the United States as chairman of the NCCB’s office of Evangelization. He sits on the bishops committee on the laity; marriage; evangelization; Youth; and family life. Bishop Jacobs is also director of the national office of the Charismatic Renewal.

***

Bishop Jacobs' Apostolic succession:
+S. Jacobs cons. by ++F. Shulte::
++J.Card. Krol::
+ G. Card. Cicognani::
+ R.Car. Rossi::
+G.Car.de Lai::
+++St. Pius X.

A Lenten Update.

Today is Tuesday after the first Sunday in Lent. Thus far the sisters in Lockport have adopted the Usus Antiquior (that's the old rite for you Latin minimalist types), and the Chapel has started using the Traditional rite for both daily and Dominical Masses. I have also started to familiarize myself with the local non-traditional citizenry. It is my hope to reintroduce the many lapsed Catholics of Gibson to the life of the Church and the practice of the Sacraments. It is my hope that I can do this in as a traditional manner as possible, but that is going to take some time.

The rectory at the Chapel in Gibson

A view of Bijou Black from the back of the the Rectory (this is my back yard folks)

Another view of the Chapel property


The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Gibson Louisiana. At one time this was the parish Church of Gibson, dedicated to Saint Patrick



This is the Old (Novus Ordo) Altar at the Monastery in Lockport. A newer better constructed and Traditional Altar has been set up. Pictures of the newer Altar will be coming in future postings.

Saint Patrick's New Orleans.

I have been asked to help at Saint Patrick's on Camp Street New Orleans (the Saint Agnes of the South). This is a great honor for me and a high point in my stay in Louisiana. I have posted a number of photos to best capture the "feel" of the place.

This is the High Altar of the church during Sunday Mass. Note that this is not the old Mass being celebrated--no altar cards, no sub-deacon.

The Sanctuary of the church with the gates at the rail open

This is the outside of the building. The rectory is the gray blue building next to the church.

Point of interest. I ran into a parishioner of Exultation of the True Cross Hanover Pa. after my first Mass last Sunday.

God Bless you all.

NEWS AT LAST

Good Morning from Gibson Louisiana (home of Tradition)

High Alter at Gibson on the morning of January 2, 2010


Cemetery in back of Monastery

Sorry that it has taken me so long to post to the blog, I have not had access to a computer in a very long time.

The retreat went well in Washington, and the ride down south seemed endless (How did Sherman do it?). We arrived at 7:00pm on New Years day and headed to the Nuns in Lockport to say Mass and drop Frs. Michael and Brian at the Monastery lodgings (a very nice trailer). Father Van and I came back to Gibson to the rectory to prepare for the next day (Saturday) when I got to meet the home-schoolers who attend the chapel.

Father Brian takes a look at the High Altar