Here's some info I just found on the Diocese website talking about Vocation Awareness Week coming up on January 10-16, 2010. Vocations are very important and you can find info about what you can do to help as a family or individual. Here's a brief summary from the site...

The observance of National Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the National Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year as the beginning of National Vocation Awareness Week. In 1997 this celebration was moved to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which marks Jesus’ initiation into public ministry. At his baptism Jesus is named the Beloved Son of God. With this celebration we recommit ourselves to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Initiated through our baptism we too are commissioned to proclaim Good News with our lives.

To download materials or learn more visit www.dioceseofgaylord.org/inside/2010-vocation-awareness-week-315.

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Some great photos and video taken by Art Gonzalez at Bishop Hebda's Ordination on 12/1/2009 at the Cathedral in Gaylord, Michigan. Thanks for sharing Art!

View Bishop Bernard Hebda's Ordination 12-1-09 at Picasa

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Here's another article with some quotes from the ordination I hadn't seen yet. I'm still waiting to watch it, hopefully I will soon!

Read Bishop Hebda says Gaylord appointment was answer to prayer in the Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper

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What a fun night! The Bishop Elect's Homily was fantastic! I'll be posting some pictures soon provided they turn out. Please check back!

Here's an article from the blog Whispers in the Loggia with some info about last night's vespers.

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As a convert I didn't grow up experiencing any of the traditions of the Catholic Church. So tonight I get to experience something new on the eve of the ordination of our new bishop. I'll be heading to Gaylord for Solemn Vespers tonight at 6 p.m. in the Cathedral. I didn't find out until the last minute that I'll get to go and needless to say I'm very excited. An article from the Petoskey News-Review breaks down the events for tonight and tomorrow. Here's what's happening tonight (no ticket required, all are welcome!)

The liturgy will include psalms, a scripture reading of the day, and the Bishop-elect Hebda will make his Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity as he prepares for his Episcopal (bishop) ordination the following day. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Unfortunately I didn't receive a ticket to go to the ordination on Tuesday, so if you are going, please share your experiences in the comments!

Read New bishop to be ordained in the Petoskey News-Review

Photo from the Petoskey News-Review

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Sounds like DFE Blogger had a "unique" experience in a recent trip to Rome...

The afternoon saw a meeting with Fr. Dan Gallagher, a priest of the Diocese of Gaylord and former Sacred Heart Seminary professor who currently works for the Vatican's Secretary of State. He gave us a tour through the Apostolic Palace. It was an experience. We had an awesome view of Rome, St. Peter's, and the Apostolic Palace from the roof/porch area. It was an "insider's look" at some places the average tourist doesn't see and it gave us a view of the city that the average photographer doesn't get.

You can read about the entire trip in the article Touring Rome at SHMS Desert Formation Experience Blog.

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This past Sunday on Pentecost, Bishop Patrick Cooney gave permission to offer publicly the Extraordinary Form of the Mass in the Diocese of Gaylord. For all the details check out the diocese article Diocese to offer Extraordinary Form of Mass beginning May 11.

The current schedule for the Extraordinary Form is every Sunday beginning at 12:45 pm at Holy Rosary Church in Cedar, Michigan. Father Donald Libby is the the celebrant.

I have attended a few of the private masses and I've found it a great way to increase my knowledge of the Liturgy. I am also at the early stages of trying to learn Latin, but I've found the masses easy to follow with the books provided at the mass.

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Saw this link of some Easter Reflections written by Bishop Patrick Cooney. Here's a sample...

As we celebrate the Easter feast and, indeed, celebrate it for the whole Easter season, we must be very thankful to the Triune God. We must be thankful because we have been chosen and we have been inaugurated through the Lord’s passion, death and Resurrection, and the sending of the Spirit into being his people, his body. It is a wonderful privilege and a great honor for all of us. It is equally important that we realize this each day of our lives and we live it out through our love for everyone who comes into our life. It is a love which we demonstrate through our words and actions that we are genuinely concerned about the well being of everybody and we reach out to them with a helping hand in the best way we can.

Reaching out to others and showing our love to our neighbors is a very important part of our faith. I know I struggle with it on a daily basis, but I can only keep trying to love as Jesus did. It's not always easy, but I figure if I can do it, then every little bit will help this world be a better place for my family, especially my children.Let's keep Bishop Cooney in our prayers as he continues his recovery.

Read Bishop Cooney: Easter Reflection 2008 at Gaylord Herald Times

PR: wait... I: wait... L: wait... LD: wait... I: wait... wait... C: wait... SD: wait...

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