Letter from Our Seminarian

A letter home from our seminarian, Robb Lester. Please keep him in your prayers!

October 10, 2017

Dear Fr.  Allen and Corpus Christi family,

It has been 2 months since I arrived at St Joseph Seminary, or St Ben's as it’s called.  I have been busy from the start, settling in and making new friends and learning so much. The weather is not far off of from what I know from Charleston, with threats of hurricanes, too; I'm thankful that Irma didn't bothered you too much.  The campus is beautiful and peaceful.  Though there’s not a Bojangles anywhere near me, I have found it engaging and fun all at the same time.  

There are about 150 seminarians here from the southeast US.  I am the only one from the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter so I spent the first few weeks teaching those who were unaware of who we are.  My formation advisor is a Catholic priest whose father was an Anglican minister, so he is most assuredly supportive of my discernment.

Each day is filled with morning prayer, classes, Mass with the monks, evening prayer and lots of studying.  We do find time to socialize, play ultimate frisbee and of course, eat!  There have been day trips into New Orleans and Baton Rouge; (I prefer the piney woods and swamp of St Ben's to either city).   It is encouraging to see other young men like myself coming together to pray and build lasting relationships for the work of the Kingdom.

Recently on a Friday a few weeks ago, we had a Penance service and Silence day.  We went to confession and Mass and then the rest of the day we were silent.  No talking, not even during meals.  It gave us time to build the interior life that all of us need for our relationship with Our Lord.  No distractions of the outside world.  Saturday, after Silence had been completed, I drove to Houston to our Cathedral.  It was the weekend for the candidates of the Instituted Acolytes, coinciding with the Feast Day of Our Lady of Walsingham. I met the other seminarians of the Ordinariate, with the exception of one who studies in Rome. It was good to bond with them as we discern the path we are on together.  We prayed Evening Prayer with the candidates for Instituted Acolytes and had a wonderful dinner with the cathedral parish.  It was comforting to see familiar faces from home as Dr. Lackey was there as a candidate for Acolyte, along with Mrs. Lackey.  

Sunday morning arrived and I, along with the other seminarians, vested for Mass.  It was the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham.   The processional hymn was “Hail thee, Festival Day”, a favorite of my entire family (both my sisters have used this for their weddings for the recessional hymn!)  In case you didn’t know, I was trained as an altar server by my mother back at Holy Communion.  She taught that a server should keep facial expressions to a minimum, no smiling or weird faces.  While I kept that lesson in my mind I could not help but feel joy as I sat in the cathedral and before long I knew there was a smile on my face.  I felt the joy of being there, at Mass, a Catholic Mass, something that, when as a former Anglican, I never thought I would feel.  Back then, I thought being a Catholic meant giving up worshiping in the beauty of holiness.  I remember being cautioned as I was converting that I wouldn’t find the same liturgy in the Catholic church as I had known in the Episcopal church.   Yet, I have found the liturgy, even better than before.  It’s wonderful!  It’s beautiful!  We have a bishop who cares to preserve and enrich our patrimony.  We have a beautiful cathedral to worship in.  We have young Catholics who love the beauty of the Mass of Divine Worship.  As I drove the 5 hours back to school, I knew that the decision to swim the Tiber was what God had been calling for me to do.  I have so much joy and peace about my life in the One True Catholic and Apostolic Church.  I give thanks that Benedict XVI gave this opportunity to us and our Holy Father Francis supports us by giving us Divine Worship and Bishop Lopes.  I pray that with the intercessions of Our Lady of Walsingham, the true queen of England, we all shall become one.  

I thank all of you for your prayers for me in my discernment.   I look forward to seeing all of you at Thanksgiving.  Until then, please know that you are in my prayers.

In Christ,

Robb

Duruflé's Requiem for All Souls' Day

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This All Souls' Day, the choir of St Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church will perfect our praise and prayer with the singing of Maurice Duruflé's setting of the Requiem Mass. Mass will be celebrated according to the Ordinariate form. Please join us, and invite your friends. To add names of the faithfully departed for whose repose the Mass will be celebrated, please contact the parish office: stmarys1789@bellsouth.net; 843.722.7696.

22 October: The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

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Collect of the Day  O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee: mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R/ Amen.

Lesson  Isaiah 45.1,4-6  Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I clothe you, though you do not know me, that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Epistle   1 Thessalonians 1.1-5b  Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

Gospel   Matthew 22.15-21  At that time: The Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle Jesus in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax.” And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Then he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

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NOTICES

ALL SAINTS’ DAY (Holy Day of Obligation): 1 November; Mass at 8AM and 6PM.

ALL SOULS’ DAY: Mass at 8AM (said) and 7PM – Duruflé Requiem.

WEDNESDAY SCHOOL: Christian Formation for children and adults beginning 4 October; 5.30PM, family supper; 6PM, class. Go to corpuschristicsp.org to RSVP for supper and register children for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd!

KEEP IN TOUCH! Sign up for our weekly newsletter at corpuschristicsp.org/contact

RSVP for Wednesday School, 18 October

Planning on joining us for Wednesday School on 10/18? Please RSVP so that we may adequately plan and prepare! If your children will be attending Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and are not already registered, please click here to register.

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15 October: The 18th Sunday after Trinity

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Collect of the Day  Lord, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil: and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R Amen.

Lesson  Isaiah 25.6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of choice wines, of fat things full of marrow, of choice wines well refined.  And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.  He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.  This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Epistle  Philippians 4.12-14, 19-20  Brethren: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.  I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel   Matthew 22.1-14  At that time: Again Jesus spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people, in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come.  Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.'  But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.  The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy.  Go therefore to the streets, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.'  And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.  "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?'  And he was speechless.  Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'  For many are called, but few are chosen."

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Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Following the Homily, the Celebrant and Servers process to the Lady Altar for the Consecration of Corpus Christi Catholic Community to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the 100th Anniversary of the final Fatima apparition and miracle of the sun, using the form composed by Pope St John Paul II. All invited at the same time to entrust their own lives, families, and holy resolutions to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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NOTICES

WEDNESDAY SCHOOL: Christian Formation for children and adults beginning 4 October; 5.30PM, family supper; 6PM, class. Go to corpuschristicsp.org to RSVP for supper and register children for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd!

DAILY MASS: Monday through Thursday, 8AM; First Fridays, 12PM, Adoration & Benediction to follow.

ROSARY: Tuesdays, 5.15PM

KEEP IN TOUCH! Sign up for our weekly newsletter at corpuschristicsp.org/contact

Letter from Fr. Allen: October 6, 2017

+JMJ+

Dear friends,

Always we have so much to be grateful for, so many causes of joy, and at the same time, we don't have to look far to be reminded that "the whole world groans in travail," and that the ravages of sin and rebellion and the rejection of God's love are to be seen all around us, sometimes in the most startling and horrific of ways. That happened again this week in the terrible massacre in Las Vegas. There are no words adequate for this kind of evil, which seems so far to have no rationale whatsoever, however twisted, irrational, or unjust, but rather just one individual's cult of death. .

In the coming days and weeks there will be much conversation (often heated, no doubt) about gun control and other measures to help prevent this kind of deadly violence - and those are very important and necessary discussions to have. But the problem goes deeper than politics. Before his Passion, our Lord characterized the age between his Ascension and his return in glory to judge the quick and the dead as one of "wars and rumors of war." But the response of the Lord's disciples to these horrors can never be retreat but rather joyful witness to the culture of life, to a sure and certain hope that perseveres in the face of the death, to the power of mercy and forgiveness. So let us pray for the repose of those who died, for healing for the survivors, and strength to be compassionate signs life for those who struggle in the valley of the shadow of death.

This Sunday evening at 5.30 is our monthly Evensong & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. We have a very fine little choir to lead our praises. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring friends to experience the beauty of our patrimony and, I hope, the warmth of our community.

Our Wednesday School program got off to a great start this week. Please do join us - and I want especially to thank Scarlett C., Kathryn W., and Hayden & Alice C. for leading Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for our children. See below to RSVP for supper and register children for Catechesis.

God bless you!
Fr Allen

Mass Intentions

It is the ancient tradition of the Church that priests may apply the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for a particular intention of the faithful and receive an offering for doing so. The intentions are usually for the sick, the faithful departed, or in gratitude for some blessing received. On Sundays and Holy Days, at least one parish Mass must be offered pro populo – that is, for the intentions of all the people of the parish. Now that we have weekday Mass established in conjunction with St Mary's, you may have one of these Masses offered for your intentions.

If you would like a Mass offered for a special intention, please contact Becky in the parish office (email; 843.722.7696 ) to schedule the Mass. In both the Diocese of Charleston and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter (for Corpus Christi), the suggested donation for a Mass is $10.

Want to learn more about Mass intentions and why we pay for them? Read on.

RSVP for Wednesday School, 11 October

11 October 2017

Planning on joining us for Wednesday School on 10/11? Please RSVP so that we may adequately plan and prepare! If your children will be attending Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and are not already registered, please click here to register.

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8 October: The 17th Sunday after Trinity

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James B. Janknegt, Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Collect of the Day  Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always precede and follow us: and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R/ Amen.

Lesson  Isaiah 5.1-7  Let me sing for my beloved a love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.  He digged it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard.  What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it?  When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?  And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard.  I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.  I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.  For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry!

Epistle  Philippians 4.6-9  Brethren: Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel  Matthew 21.33-43 At that time: Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, "Hear another parable.  There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country.  When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.  Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them.  Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'  But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.'  And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes'?  Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."

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VIEW THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EVENSONG & BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Tonight! 5.30PM, refreshments to follow.

FATIMA JUBILEE: This Friday, 10/13. 100th Anniversary of final apparition of Our Lady & Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. Mass at 12PM. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for veneration from 11AM. Rosary and devotions to follow Mass.

WEDNESDAY SCHOOL: Christian Formation for children and adults beginning 4 October; 5.30PM, family supper; 6PM, class. Go to corpuschristicsp.org to RSVP for supper and register children for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd!

DAILY MASS: Monday through Thursday, 8AM; First Fridays, 12PM, Adoration & Benediction to follow.

KEEP IN TOUCH! Sign up for our weekly newsletter at corpuschristicsp.org/contact

Evensong & Benediction: Sunday, 8 October, 5.30PM

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Join us for Evensong & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; share in the beauty of the Anglican patrimony now at home in the Catholic Church.