First Saturday March 5, 2011

Ms. Beth gave the DOVES a workshop on how to polish the patens.
We discovered the names of the families who donated the patens to the parish, engraved on the bottoms.
Ms. Beth uses 'Twinkle' brass cleaner to remove the tarnish off the patens and a soft jewelers cloth to polish them to a sheen.
We also learned ways to remove wax off the candle stick holders and candle plates.
Putting the brass candle holders in the oven on 300 degrees for 5 minutes, and quickly wiping them off gave them a sparkling sheen.
The candle plates go into the freezer for 5 minutes
and then are chipped with a plastic knife.
The daughters worked very well at assisting in this work.
After our packed lunches and the Angelus at noon,
we were off to a great Saturday with our families.

Sharon Willoughby
†A.M.D.G.†

Father Furlong, Priest and Friend

Temporary Adoration Chapel

Father Seamus Ward, S.J., passed into his eternal reward on February 22, 2011.
May the repose of his soul, through the mercy of our Lord, rest in peace.

Our First Saturday Holy Hour March 5, 2011 was dedicated to the priesthood.
We offered prayers for the intentions of the priests who have brought so much to our lives, as well as our Bishops and the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
Our thanksgiving especially to our own parish priest,
who generously offers Confession during our Holy Hours.

This was the First Holy Hour that our beloved Father Seamus was with us in eternity. He served the parish in Key West, Our Lady Star of the Sea, when not in his beloved mother country, Ireland. He was a loving priest and cherished friend. May our loss be heavens gain.

Sharon Willoughby
†A.M.D.G.†

First Saturday February 5, 2011

February is for Lovers and the DOVES were invited to lunch after our Holy Hour in appreciation for their work in the sacristan ministry. We were especially grateful to the sacristans who have been teaching us the work of the sacristan ministry since we began last July 12th, the feast of Saint Veronica. Ms. Cynthia was there to enjoy the day with us.

Our catechesis centered around the Sacred Heart Devotion and the Sacred Heart Home Enthronement. The teaching of the Sacred Heart Enthronement offered by His Eminence, Cardinal Raymond Burke was shared with the daughters and mothers who attended. The plant before the Sacred Heart is the one we use to reserve the water when preparing to wash the linens used during the Holy Mass.

Sharon Marie Willoughby
†A.M.D.G.†

Notre Dame Parish in Bethlehem, Pa.
February 26th, 2011

We visited this parish Church while attending the National Wrestling Tournament, where our son was invited to compete after placing third in the State Competition in February. In 1968, I received First Penance and First Holy Communion there. In 1969, Confirmation. The Sisters of Saint Joseph prepared us for these Sacraments. It was such a blessing to return to this place where we would stop in and 'pay a visit' to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament on Saturdays when I was very young.
The Monsignor of the Parish happened to be in the Church when we arrived. He warmly greeted us and offered us his priestly blessing before leaving us to our prayers.

The artistic mosaic behind the Tabernacle of the DOVE reminded me of our sacristan ministry back at home. We remembered the DOVES in our prayers and offered the Anima Christi before leaving.

Sharon M. Willoughby