Our very first Holy Week–with heartfelt gratitude to CMRI priests Fr. Stephen Sandquist and Fr. Timothy Geckle, Mater Dei seminarians Dominic Lehnen and Philip Lawrence, Congregation Mater Dei Sisters Mary Catherine and Josephine Marie, and our own Ben Geckle for making all our ceremonies especially reverent and lovely.
We will have Mass at 8 am on Saturday, Feb. 22, followed by a chapel work day to finish projects and prepare for Holy Week ceremonies. Fr. Sandquist is bringing four seminarians to help. We are so grateful! Our chapel will not have Mass on Ash Wednesday. Fr. Sandquist will be going to Sacred Heart in Topeka that day for Mass at 6 pm.
This Sunday Fr. Sandquist will do the blessing of the candles ceremony and then, with four seminarians, lead us on a procession. It is our chapel’s very first one, and so it is quite exciting!
Here the Priest recites Five Orations, each ending thus: Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R: Amen. Then the Priest blesses the candles with holy water and incense. During the distribution of the candles, the Choir sings the following Antiphon, which is repeated after each Verse of the Canticle Nunc dimittis:
During the Procession, Chanters and Choir alternate in singing the Verses of the following Antiphons. If time warrants, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin also may be sung.
When we return, all giddy, we will have the high mass.
Then the Mass is celebrated. During the Gospel, and from the beginning of the Canon to the Communion, the faithful hold the lighted candles in their hands.
A SUNDAY MORNING LOW MASS
Fr. Sandquist will offer Mass for us at 10 am this Sunday to accommodate his travel schedule to the CMRI priests’ meeting. Father will hear confessions beginning at 9:30. We will return to the regular schedule the following Sunday: Confessions at 1, Mass at 1:30.
A SUNDAY AFTERNOON HIGH MASS
Four CMRI seminarians will be visiting our chapel on Feb. 1-2. On Saturday they will assist us with chapel work projects, and on Sunday they will sing, so we will be able to have a High Mass for the Feast of the Presentation/Candlemas.
Our Lady of Fatima Mission Chapel 