We should all know an Act of Contrition by heart.

Work on memorizing one if you don’t already know one: the card in the confessional may have been removed for some reason (as was the case last Sunday… chair penitents often forget to return it)… it saves time which other penitents in line appreciate… in an emergency, when you are far from a priest, you can readily say the Act in that moment of peril or danger… in the unhappy event of falling into mortal sin, we should soon say the Act of Contrition, then resolve to go to Reconciliation in order to obtain a penance and absolution from a priest.

For those of us who already know an Act by memory, I commend you… now please ask your child or grandchild if he or she can provide you the definition of the word ‘detest’ or ‘dread’!

Congratulations Bishop-elect Hennen! DioBaker gain is DioDav’s loss

Father Thom was one of several Davenport priests who responded to then Bp Martin Amos’ invitation, when Summorum Pontificum in 2007 was promulgated, to learn and offer the TLM for those stable groups in the Davenport diocese who requested it. He faithfully responded and was on the rota of priests offering the TLM for years, whom we counted on/ whom I later counted on as pastor of a TLM site – myself, who was his first vocation to deal with as Davenport’s Director of Vocations- to in turn continuously provide the Mass of the Ages for a number of years, going forward, up until the COVID ceased all masses at Old St Mary’s in Davenport.

As VG of our Diocese, he supported the creation of the Chaplaincy for the Community celebrating the pre-conciliar rites in the Diocese of Davenport last year, when we were between bishops… And has never interfered since that time. A good man and a great priest! Deo gratias for Baker – for Fr Thom.

Our Blessings and Thanksgivings, prayers of commendation and support to Eli

Who is leaving us after this week for the new seminarians’ retreat preceding his beginning priestly formation for the Diocese of Peoria in Winona, MN. Please pray for him and his family.

Eli, pictured above, is on my immediate right in a photo taken at Old St Mary’s, Davenport Easter Sunday 2019. He has offered to God a decade of altar service, most recently as a MC at High Masses at Holy Family.