Forthcoming Ordinations to the Priesthood

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

has the joy of announcing the forthcoming ordinations to the Priesthood

of

Rev. Brother Yousef Marie, F.SS.R.

and

Rev. Brother Magdala Maria, F.SS.R.

The Ordinations will take place on 22 June, 2013

in the church of the Fraternity of St Peter, 

the 

Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini,

36 Via dei Pettinari 

00153 Rome.

Further details will be made closer to the date.

We thank our Ordinary

His Lordship the Right Reverend Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B.

Bishop of Aberdeen 

and

the Very Reverend Fr John M. Berg F.S.S.P.

Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter

for the privilege of receiving sacred ordinations 

within the Eternal City

near our Holy Father

and 

close to the Chair of St Peter.

Unexpected photo from Pakistan.

Today Shamiel, our Catholic friend

sent us this photo to announce that

the Catholic and our Calendar has arrived

in his city of Pakistan.

Below: Shamiel and friends from the Catholic community

of his city.

Thanks be to God for the Internet in that it makes 

international Catholic friendships possible!

Through the Heart of a Mother

Mrs Monica Seeber (1928-2009)

"A vocation comes from the heart of God, 

but goes through the heart of a mother," wrote Pope St Pius X. 

Today, the third Anniversary of the death of Mrs Monica Seeber,

the Mother of our Father Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.,

Father sung a Mass of Requiem in Our Lady's Chapel, Stronsay.

To few people could the words of the Holy Pope 

be more truly applied

than this wonderful lady.

 The Collect for the Deceased Mother of a Priest

Deus...

O God, who hast commanded us to honour

our Father and our Mother;

in Thy mercy have pity on the soul of my mother,

and forgive her her trespasses;

and make me to see her again in the joy of everlasting brightness.

 Through Christ our Lord.

 Amen. 

Crossing with Father this morning 

from Papa Stronsay to Stronsay

on his way to remember his dear mother

at the Altar of God

 one could not help be reminded

 of this image of the

 Mother of all priests with her son, 

St John, the Model of all priests;

and of the words of Mrs Seeber's holy patron, St Monica
to her priest son St Augustine,

"One thing only do I ask of you,

 that you remember me at the Altar of Our Lord

 wherever you may be."

 

The Servant of God Archbishop Fulton Sheen wrote:

"As God consulted with Mary

to ask if she would give Him a human nature,

so He often consults with the mother of a priest

to ask her consent to the continuation of His priesthood."

What a beautiful tribute this morning of a priest son

to his beloved mother

who most surely gave that consent with all her heart.

Happy Anniversary!

It is with a deep sense of gratitude and love,

 that all the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

 offer their heartfelt congratulations to

our Father Michael Mary's parents

 Ivan and Jo Sim

 on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

 What volumes of example are spoken

 by the faithful fulfilling

 of your vows of fidelity for life

made to each other those sixty years ago. 

May God continue to bless you,

 your wonderful children

 and your children's children,

 and lead you all one day

 into the inaccessible light

 of His eternal Beatitude in Heaven.

Your spiritual grandchildren.

Вечная память! Vechnaya Pamyat! Eternal memory!

Today a Good Shepherd passed into eternity.

Bishop Michael Hrynchyshyn, C.SS.R., R.I.P.

In a blessed falling asleep,

grant, O Lord, eternal rest
unto Thy departed servant
Bishop Michael

and make his memory to be eternal!

Вечная память! Вечная память! Вечная память!

Vechnaya Pamyat! Vechnaya Pamyat! Vechnaya Pamyat!

Memory eternal! Memory eternal! Memory eternal!

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy saints:

where sorrow and pain are no more;

neither sighing but life everlasting.

Thou only art immortal, the Creator and Maker of man:

and we are mortal formed from the dust of the earth,

and unto earth shall we return:

for so Thou didst ordain,

when Thou created me saying:

“Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.”

All we go down to the dust;

and weeping o’er the grave we make our song:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Bishop Michael Hrynchyshyn, C.SS.R.

Born 18 February, 1929.

Ordained Priest 

25 May, 1952.

Josyf Cardinal Slipyj.

Bishop Michael was consecrated Bishop 

by Josyf Cardinal Slipyj, 30 January, 1983.

He was appointed Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians in France 

27 November, 1982 - 21 July 2012.

and Apostolic Exarch of Great Britain 

29 sept 1987 - 24 June 1989.

He was Postulator for the Cause for the Beatification of

the Servant of God Metropolitan Andrei Szeptychy; 

and

Advisor to the Congregation of Oriental Churches.

+

He was a spiritual father and faithful friend for over 30 years.

Requiescat in Pace.

Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

Tu es Sacerdos in Æternum!

Today Fr. Michael Mary celebrates 34 years of Holy Priesthood! What a great example of perseverance to us all. Please join us in thanking God for the many graces He has bestowed upon Father during these years!

Thank you Father for the many years you have given to the service of Holy Church as well as to us, your community - may our good God give you many more to come!

The Passing of Mrs. Hollowood, the Mother of Br. Paul Mary

Of your charity
please remember the soul of
Mrs. Patricia Hollowood,
the mother of our Brother Paul Mary,
who passed into eternity
6 March, 2012,
in Melbourne, Australia.

Mrs. Hollowood with her son Brother Paul Mary,
as she arrived to visit Brother on Papa Stronsay,
2nd February, 2003.

Requiem Mass will be sung for the repose of her soul,
Wednesday, 7th March,
Papa Stronsay.

Réquiem ætérnam dona ea, Dómine:
et lux pérpetua lúceat ea.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.

Requiéscat in pace.
May she rest in peace.

DEUS, cui proprium est...
O GOD, whose property is
ever to have mercy and to spare,
we humbly supplicate Thee
for the soul of Thy servant Patricia,
which Thou hast this day called out of this world,
that Thou deliver it not to the hands of the enemy,
nor forget it forever,
but command for it to be received by the holy angels
and taken to Paradise, its home,
so that,
since it hath hoped and believed in Thee,
it may not bear the pains of hell,
but possess everlasting joys.
Through our Lord.

(Collect from the Mass of the Day of Burial.)

Thank you.

Thank you Father Anthony Mary, confrères and friends
for the kind messages that you have sent me.

I remember you all, your families and your intentions
at the altar of God.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is our greatest mainstay
during this earthly exile.
After Baptism and the Holy Mass
my greatest treasure is the monastic calling.

Of that calling, St Gregory of Nyssa said:

To find God is to seek him unceasingly.
The reward of the search is to go on seeking.
For to find God is never to have had your fill of desiring Him.

I ask the grace to ever seek after Him
and that He never gives up on me.
Thank you for your prayers.

Fr Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

Profession Day, 2 February, 1972, aged 18.
I am on the left with Br M. with whom I had been a novice
the previous 12 months.
Christchurch, New Zealand.

40 Days and 40 Years

The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
is 40 days after Christmas
(which was according to the Law of Moses).

The number 40 has an important significance
in the workings of God’s plan of salvation.
At the Flood the rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights.
The children of Israel ate Manna for 40 years in the desert.
Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights in the mountain with God
before he received the ten conmmandments.
David slew Goliath on the 40th day.
David reigned for 40 years.
Solomon reigned for 40 years.
Elias in the strength of the food given him by the angel
walked 40 days and 40 nights
unto the mount of God, Horeb.
And most importantly Our Lord fasted for
40 days and 40 nights in the desert
and tarried 40 days amongst us before His Ascension.

This year,
on 2 February,
Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
Fr Michael Mary celebrates the
40th anniversary
of his entry into Religion and the service of God.

Father Anthony Mary
and all the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer
join with all his family and friends
to wish Father a
Happy Anniversary,
a long life and a crown above.
We wish him many blessings
and assure him of our filial devotion and prayers.

Prayers please for a man of prayer.

The old Exarch.
Ecce sacerdos magnus...
Behold a great priest...

Bishop Michael Hrynchyshyn, CSSR
is seriously ill tonight
and in intensive care in Paris.
Please offer a Hail Mary for him.

Here is a man of the Church and of his Ukrainain Rite.
Still at his post at 83 years of age.
Humble, prayerful, learned.

Bishop Hrynchyshyn
has been the promoter of the Cause for
Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytski
for several decades.

Always a father.
This is a true bishop.
Please pray for him tonight.

He is the Apostolic Exarch of France, Benelux and Switzerland
for the Ukrainians
since his appointment on 21 October 1982.
He was consecrated bishop on 30 January 1983.

Requiescat in Pace

Yesterday, Monday 10th October my grandfather,
Desmond Wimsett, passed away.

Please pray a "Hail Mary" for his soul.


Requiescat in Pace!

— Br. Martin Mary, F.SS.R.

Flying visit.

When we came to Papa Stronsay in 1999

my brother, Tony, who lives in England,
said that he would fly up
to visit us.

Tony flying.
That was quite a goal to achieve.
We are a long way from England
and at the time
he didn't have his own plane.

Twelve years later, though,
5th June, 2011,
he landed on the Stronsay airfield having
piloted his plane solo from
Elsworth, near Cambridge in England.

It was a wonderful visit.

Two days, after having cut an airstrip,
Tony landed his plane on Papa Stronsay.

Two brothers together!
Thanks be to God and Mary!
Thank you for coming Tot!

(Posted by: Fr. Michael Mary)

Ad multus annos!

Ad multus annos!
To many years!

Thanks be to God
for the 79th birthday of my mother.
This photo was taken of her in November 2009.
She enjoys good health.
May she enjoy many years more!

Fr. Michael Mary

Mr. Craig Smith, R.I.P.

Of Your Charity
Please Pray for the Soul
of
Mr. Craig Smith, R.I.P.
the Father
of our
Brother Dominic Mary, F.SS.R.

Who Passed away in
Palmerston North,
New Zealand,
on
10th March,
and will be buried
tomorrow,
15th March, 2011.

Brother Dominic Mary with his Father and Mother,
when they visited Papa Stronsay,
5 July, 2004.

DEUS, cui proprium est...
O GOD, whose property is
ever to have mercy and to spare,
we humbly supplicate Thee
for the soul of Thy servant Craig,
which Thou hast this day called out of this world,
that Thou deliver it not to the hands of the enemy,
nor forget it forever,
but command for it to be received by the holy angels
and taken to Paradise, its home,
so that,
since it hath hoped and believed in Thee,
it may not bear the pains of hell,
but possess everlasting joys.
Through our Lord.

(Collect from the Mass of the Day of Burial.)

We offer our deepest sympathy to
Brother Dominic Mary, his Mother, brother and sisters
and assure them of our union with them at this time
through our Masses, rosaries, prayers and affection.

Réquiem ætérnam dona ei, Dómine:
et lux pérpetua lúceat ei.
Eternal rest grant unto him. O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Requiéscat in pace.
May he rest in peace.

Letter from Christchurch after the 7.2

We ask our readers to join us
in praying for the people of Christchurch who have been through a tremendous shock,
and especially in thanking God that there was nobody killed in the 7.2 earthquake
that struck the city in the early hours last Saturday morning.

The earthquake was the same magnitude as that which killed 200,000 people in Haiti
and left 2,000,000 homeless.

It is a great blessing that Christchurch escaped such a disaster
and that so many were saved from a sudden and unprovided death.

Here follows some homely news from Brother Xavier in Christchurch.
It was not intended for publication but it gives us a report of what he lived through.

Br. Xavier Maria, F.SS.R.
Reporting from Christchurch.

Laudetur Jesus et Maria semper Virgo!

Dear Rev.Father,

I hope you are all well at the Papa.

As for us here we are in one piece. The most damage to our property was the monastery chimney: some of the bricks fell off. Greg, Ben Price and Daniel came today and took the flue out, and some of the bricks that were still on the roof, and have covered the hole with a tarpaulin.

Most of the houses in St. Albans area had their brick chimneys damaged.

St. Alphonsus House sustained no damage except for a small statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that broke in three.

In the Oratory the angels, candles and crucifix fell. The altar moved about 30cm to the left. The tabernacle was still on altar with the gradines, and Our Lord was safely in the ciborium still standing. The Infant of Prague fell and broke His hand holding the world. Our Holy Father St. Alphonsus didn't move as he is blue tacked to his pillar. Our Lady of Fatima fell, pillar and all. The only thing that smashed were glass vases with flowers. Our Lady was found on tile floor in the corner untouched. St.Joseph, at the entry of the Oratory, and not tacked down, didn't move nor were the flowers that were in front of him. The little statue of St. Jude did not fall either.

There is no damage to the Oratory building so far.

A lot of other areas were worse than us with the earth opening up, brick buildings falling down, smashed windows, crushed cars,water pipes damaged and so on. In some areas people have to evacuate their homes. Some of the CBD area has been cordoned off.

The Catholic Cathedral has smashed windows and cracks in the walls and the Cathedral now is not in use; Masses are being said in the presbytery. As for us here, we still have Mass in our Oratory.............. tremors included.

We are expecting strong winds tonight and they say we could have another earthquake but are not sure. We have had over 20 tremors some reaching 4.9--5 on the scales.

Br. Paul Mary, F.SS.R. ...thinking it was only a tremour...

Fr. Clement and Br.Paul were in the monastery when the earthquake happened. I had just moved out, the day before, into the little hut across our "Little Tiber" river in the garden.

Fr. Clement Mary.
...like being on a ship in the rough seas...

Fr. Clement said it was like being on a ship in the rough seas, the monastery bell was ringing as well. Br.Paul woke from a deep sleep thinking it was only a tremor, as his sister had told him once of her experience in NZ during am earthquake, and how the people she had stayed with told her not to worry it's only a tremor and happens all the time!

I was on my bed saying a Hail Mary and if She didn't come to my aid I was in for a early morning swim, as there is nothing holding the little hut down. The night before as I was praying my night prayers I said my prayer to my gaurdian angel three or four times and I had wondered why?............

Father I hope and pray that your family are alright. I know they felt the shocks as far as Dunedin and to Wellington.

God bless Father, please pray for us.

Regards to Fr.Anthony and the Brothers,

Onwards from Pole to Pole!

Your devoted son Br. Xavier Maria, F.SS.R

P.S. Will email you some more when I can as power could cut out at anytime.

Mrs. Valerie Potkins, R.I.P.

On Wednesday 4th August
we celebrated Requiem Mass
for the soul of our dear friend
Mrs. Valerie Potkins, R.I.P.
of Worthing, England.

The Mass was offered at 10.30 a.m.
which was the same time
that her funeral Mass was being offered in England.


O God, Whose nature it is ever to have mercy and to spare:
we suppliantly entreat Thee
on behalf of Thy handmaid Valerie
whom Thou hast this day bid to pass out of this life;

deliver her not we beseech Thee, into the hands of the enemy,
nor be Thou unmindful of her for ever:
but command that she be taken up by Thy holy angels,
and borne to our home in heaven: ...

that having put her faith and trust in Thee,
she may not undergo the pains of hell,
but obtain the joys of everlasting life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son
Who livest and reigneth with Thee
in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
One God for ever and ever. Amen.

[Collect for the Mass of Burial]

IN Paradisum deducant te Angeli,
in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres,
et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.

Chorus Angelorum te suscipat
et cum Lazaro, quondam paupere,
aeternam habeas requiem.

(MAY the angels lead thee into Paradise;
at thy coming may the Martyrs receive thee,
and bring thee into the holy City, Jerusalem.

May the Choir of Angels receive thee,
and with Lazarus, once a beggar,
mayest thou have eternal rest.)

Requiem aeternam dona ea Domine;
et lux perpetua luceat ea.
Requiescat in pace. Amen.

(Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord;
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.)

Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour, Sunday 27 June

Solemn First Vespers.

Psalmody.
(Ps. CXXI.)

Laetatus sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi :* ...
I rejoiced at the things that were said to me:
We shall go into the house of the Lord.

Magnificat Antiphon:
Sancta Maria, succurre miseris, ...
Holy Mary, succour those in misery,
strengthen the faint-hearted, comfort the sorrowful,
pray for the people, intercede for the clergy,
plead for all women consecrated to God.

... sentiant omnes tuum iuvamen, ...
May all experience Thy help -
all who are celebrating Thy holy feast.

Benedicamus Domino.
Let us bless the Lord.

Mass of the Feast.

Celebrated by Father Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.
on his 19th anniversary of Ordination.

Offertory.
Offerimus tibi, Domine, calicem salutaris, ...
We offer unto Thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation,
beseeching Thy clemency,
that it may ascend in the sight of Thy divine majesty
with a sweet savour,
for our own salvation and for that of the whole world.
Amen.

Consecration.
Haec quotiescumque feceritis,
in mei memoriam facietis.
As often as ye shall do these things,
ye shall do them in remembrance of Me.

The Passing of Father Anthony Mary's mother

Father's Mom
-19 September, 2009 -
(left click on the photos to see them bigger)

We send our deepest sympathy
to Father Anthony Mary,
to Mr. Pat Seeber,
and to Father Anthony Mary's brothers and sister,
on the passing of
Monica Jeanne Marthe Seeber, R.I.P.,
who died today, 12 December 2009,
in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Pat and Monica
- 54 years of marriage -

The blessed parents
of
a daughter and eight sons.

Monica Jeanne Marthe Seeber

Born in Gent, Belgium, 25 April 1928
Daughter of John and Yvonne Taylor
Married Patrick Leo Seeber,
in Salisbury, S. Rhodesia, 14 May, 1955.

This morning, Saturday, 12 December, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Father Anthony Mary offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass near his dying mother and administerd to her the holy Viaticum. Mrs. Seeber’s beloved husband Pat and daughter Elise were also present. Immediately after Mass they prayed together the chaplet of Divine Mercy and then began the Holy Rosary during which Mrs. Seeber, peaceful and conscious to the very end, passed into her eternity at 11.00 A.M.

Requiem aeternum dona ea, Domine.

Et lux perpetua luceat ea. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Father Anthony with his Mother, Bishop Fellay and his Father
after his Ordination to the Subdiaconate.
- 31 March, 1990 -

Mrs. Seeber receiving the First Blessing from her priestly son
on his day of Ordination.
Econe, 27 June, 1991,
Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour.

A priest, one evening, made his weary way
Into a graveyard where his mother lay;
And scarcely had he reached the humble mound
Than tears stole out to bless the hallowed ground.
Beside the humble grave the priest then knelt
To tell the sorrow that his heart then felt.
Full many a messenger of sorrow went
To make excuse that yet no monument
Stood guard o’er his mother’s sacred head,
To honour her who lay among the dead.

And then a voice came swiftly from the tomb:
“My monument was builded in my womb;
My greatest laurels, greatest praise were won
The hour that thou became my priestly son.
Behold the mothers that beside me lie,
Whose monuments point proudly to the sky
Of all these honoured mothers, everyone
Would change her tombstone for a priestly son.
Go, then, my son, and never more lament
That o’er my grave there stands no monument;
Return thou to the desert sands of sin,
And win the lost sheep to the fold again;
For all the souls in heav’n whom thou hast sent
Fore’er proclaim thee as my monument.”