WEEKLY BULLETIN April 10, 2005 Good Shepherd Sunday (2nd Sunday After Easter) Vol. 4 No. 20 ========================================================================== CONTENTS ARTICLES 1. PRESS RELEASE Letter of H.E. Bishop Fellay regarding the death of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II 2. The Society of St. Pius X is Catholic by Fr. Francois Laisney 3. I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD: and I know mine, and mine know me From the Liturgical Year, Vol. 6 by Dom Gueranger, OSB PHOTO REPORT +POPE JOHN PAUL II, RIP (1978-2005) (Karol Wojtyla, 1920-2005) OTHER Anthem to Our Lady during the Easter Season ========================================================================== ARTICLE 1 PRESS RELEASE ========================================================================== Menzingen Easter Saturday 2 April 2005 The Superior General of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X and his two Assistants, together with all its members: bishops, priests, brothers, sisters as well as the faithful, join in the prayer of the Universal Church at the announcement of the passing away of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. We commend his soul to the mercy of God the Father and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There will be a Requiem Mass said in each house of the Society for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father. The Society of St. Pius X, founded by Mgr. Marcel Lefebvre, applauds the fight undertaken by Karol Wojtyla for the protection of life and his efforts in the moral sphere. Nonetheless, it feels it a duty to repeat that it has always disapproved of the indefatigable efforts of Pope John Paul II towards ecumenism, efforts which have led to a weakening of the Faith and of the defence of Truth. The Society is aware of the superhuman task awaiting the future Supreme Pontiff and prays the Holy Ghost to enlighten the Cardinal Electors. It hopes the new Vicar of Christ will be able to take up the helm of the Church with a steady hand and make good the damage caused in the wake of the Second Vatican Council: liturgical unity and the unity of Faith have been dissolved and doctrinal errors have spread amongst all the clergy. While we wait and hope for this, it is now time to pray for him who has just entered eternity. (sgd.) Mgr. Bernard Fellay Superior General of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X ========================================================================== ARTICLE 2 The Society of St. Pius X is Catholic by Fr François Laisney, FSSPX (cont’d from Palm Sunday —last part) ========================================================================== To be in union with the Pope does not just mean with the Pope of today, disregarding all the past; it means union with the Pope and all he represents, i.e. the Faith of Peter, faithfully handed down through the centuries and entrusted to the present successor of Peter, not to be changed nor mixed with novelties, but to be “religiously guarded and faithfully explained.” CONCLUSION In keeping Catholic Tradition, the Society of St. Pius X is perfectly Catholic and awaits the time when the principle of fidelity to Tradition will find again its place in the thinking of those who have received authority in the Church “unto edification and not unto destruction” (2 Cor. 13:10). We are doing a good work for the Church, as the visitation of our Society by Cardinal Gagnon testified; we await for their approval, and entrust our work to Our Blessed Lady, Mother of the Church. + ========================================================================== ARTICLE 3 I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD: and I know mine, and mine know me From the Liturgical Year, Vol. 6 by Dom Gueranger, OSB ========================================================================== Divine Shepherd of our souls! How great is thy love for Thy sheep! Thou givest even thy life to save them. The fury of wolves does not make thee flee from us; Thou becomest their prey, that we may escape. Thou didst die in our stead, because Thou wast our Shepherd. We are not surprised at thy requiring from Peter a greater love than thou didst require from his brother Apostles—Thou didst will to make him their and our shepherd. Peter answered Thee without hesitation, that he loved Thee; and Thou didst confer upon him Thine own name, together with the reality of Thine office, in order that he might supply Thy place after Thy departure from this world. Be Thou blessed, O Divine Shepherd! For Thy having thus provided for the necessities of thy fold, which could not be one, were it to have many shepherds without one supreme shepherd. In obedience to Thy command, we bow down before Peter, with love and submission; we respectfully kiss his sacred feet; for it is by him that we are united to Thee; it is by him that we are Thy sheep. Preserve us, O Jesus, in the fold of Peter, which is Thine. Keep far from us the hireling who usurps the place and rights of the shepherd. He has intruded himself, or been intruded by violence, into the fold and would have us take him as the master. But he knows not the sheep, and the sheep do not know him. Led, not by zeal, but by avarice and ambition, he flieth at the approach of danger. He that governs through worldly motives is not a man to lay down his life for others. The schismatic pastor loves himself; he does not love Thy sheep; how could he give his life for them? Protect us, O Jesus, from this hireling! He would separate us from thee, by separating us from Peter, whom Thou hast appointed Thy Vicar; and we are determined to recognize no other. Anathema to him who would command as in Thy name, and yet not be sent by Peter! Such a pastor could be but an impostor. He would not rest on the foundation. He would not have the keys of the kingdom of heaven. To follow him would be our ruin. Grant, then, Good Shepherd, Jesus! That we may ever keep close to Thee and to Peter; that as he rests upon Thee, we may rest upon him; and thus we may defy every tempest, for Thou, dear Lord, hast said: A wise man built his house upon a rock; and the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded on a ROCK.1 + 1 St Matt. vii 24, 25. ========================================================================== ANNOUNCEMENTS ========================================================================== FOR THE HOLY FATHER JOHN-PAUL II Of your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father, John Paul II who passed away last Saturday, April 2, 2005 in his private apartment at the Vatican City. He was buried in St. Peter’s Basilica following the funeral services last Friday, April 8, 2005. NOVENA FOR THE CONCLAVE On the occasion of the coming election of the new Sovereign Pontiff, Mons. Fellay asks the Society as a whole to prepare for this event by a novena from April 9-17. It is now on-going. A flyer containing the prayers may be obtained at the church entrance. MEDICAL MISSION IN TANAY We are calling the medical and dental practitioners of our priory to help in our Medical and Dental Mission in our Mass center in Tanay, Rizal. This will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2005. Also, we need more medicines: if you know people whom we may contact for medicine donation, or if you can help us get medicines for free, please speak with Fr. Salvador. We are still receiving medicine donations until April 16. For more information on how you can help in this mission, please contact church office at 725-5926. WOMEN’S RETREAT Date: May 23-28, 2005 Venue: Lobo, Batangas Fee: P2,500 (covers food/board & lodging) Retreat Sign up forms are now available at the entrance of the church. Submit them at the church office. HELP FOR OUR YOUTH PILGRIMS Solicitation letters to help our youth-pilgrims are available at the veranda. Any amount will surely help our youth make this year’s pilgrimage. God bless you. INT’L FATIMA PILGRIMAGE (Extended deadline for reservation!): The deadline for the payment of reservation fee (US$200-non-refundable) is at the end of April, 2005. For more info, visit www.sspxasia.com. ========================================================================== SUMMER ACTIVITIES ========================================================================== 2005 CRISTEROS’ SUMMER FORMATION CAMP FOR BOYS and YOUNG MEN ONLY! Sign-up forms and flyers which contain the schedule and activities of the formation camp are now available at the table in the veranda! For ages: 12-30 yrs old Date: April 25-30, 2005 Venue: Legaspi, Albay Chaplain: Fr. Salvador Deadline: April 17, 2005 The camp includes a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Penafrancia in Naga City. For inquiries, please speak with the Cristeros or with Fr. Salvador. More information may also be obtained from the Cristeros’ Bulletin Board at the church basement. APOSTLES OF MARY’S FORMATION SESSIONS For men and women (15-30 yrs old) Dates: May 6-10, 2005 Venue: Bohol For inquiries, please speak with Mr. Jerwin Aguinaldo or Fr. Soliman. BOHOL YOUTH PILGRIMAGE Dates: May 12-14, 2005 Chaplain: Fr. Soliman TRIP OPTIONS A. Land Tour: for young men of the parish Departure date: May 8 Return date: May 20. Only 3 slots are available! Contact: Fr. Soliman. B. BY SEA & AIR: Information on departure dates, air fare and available airlines going to and from Bohol will be posted at the church veranda next Sunday. ========================================================================== PHOTO REPORT +POPE JOHN PAUL II, RIP (1978-2005) (Karol Wojtyla, 1920-2005) ========================================================================== (Top) Fr. Soliman during the absolution of the catafalque after the Requiem Mass for the deceased Pope last Thursday, April 7, 2005. A Requiem Mass for the Holy Father was also offered by Fr. Onoda last Tuesday, April 5. (Below) Pictures of the funeral services for the deceased Pope officiated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Ratzinger, last Friday, April 8, 2005, at St. Peter’s in Rome. ========================================================================== ANTHEM TO OUR LADY DURING THE EASTER SEASON ==========================================================================