Every Sunday at 10:00 AM, and Every First Saturday at 8:00 AM

Every third Sunday at 10:00 AM

At the invitation of Fr. Peter Zorjan, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Silvis, and St. Patrick Parish, Colona, Fr. Gardner has begun to say the Traditional Latin Mass (Mass in the Extraordinary Form) at Our Lady Guadalupe Church.  Slvis is a town of 7,600 near Rock Island, IL.  The Mass will be offered on the First Saturday of the month at 8:00 am.  So far, there has been a very positive turnout… Deo gratias!

In his recent Festival Letter, on the Real Presence, Bishop Daniel Jenky highlighted the importance of reverence and care for the Blessed Sacrament and for the things that pertain to the Altar and the Church.  The Bishop wrote that: “…genuflecting, blessing with Holy Water, the Sign of the Cross, kneeling, intentional architecture, the location of the Tabernacle, multiple candles, bells rung during the Liturgy, carefully prepared sacristies and sanctuaries, the care of the sacred vessels and linens, prayer before and after Mass encouraged a kind of shared awe before something experienced as numinous and wondrous.”

Indeed, our preparations for Holy Mass, our attention to the vestments, paraments, sacred music, and even our attire at Mass all speak to our love and devotion for the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The Traditional Latin Mass is a beautiful and efficacious tool for helping souls to appreciate the mystery and truth of the Real Presence.  But, most importantly, it is the Sacrament of our Lord’s Holy Body and Blood and the Sacrifice of Propitiation for the sins of the world.

Through the intercession of Mary, Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, may we all strive to worship Our Eucharistic Lord in Spirit and in Truth.  Amen.

Luke Suarez, Altar Boy for the Traditional Latin Mass, and French Horn player for the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, recently  was awarded the Robert Durnbaugh Award.  This award was established in 2003 to honor the memory of Robert Durnbaugh, “musician, arts administrator, and tireless supporter of music education in the Elgin area. Mr. Durnbaugh’s contributions as a passionate member of the EYSO Board of Directors helped enlarge EYSO’s public visibility, financial base, and philosophical mission”.

Luke intends to use his award money to offset the expense of attending the Interlochen Horn Institute in Michigan this summer.  Luke’s family is active at Holy Rosary.  His mother, Kori, is Schola Director.  His sisters, Natalie & Clare, are members of the Schola.  His brother, Benjamin, also serves at the Altar.  And his dad, Peter, and his brother, Isaac, are ushers at Mass.

Congratulations to Luke and his family!  Deo gratias!