For the week of January 31, 2010

Thanks to the following families who helped this past week
• For speaking to prospective families during our Open House and Entrance Test: Mr. and Mrs. Matt Holke, Mr. Steve LeMire, and Mrs. Kathy Porretta
• For hosting students: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Holbach, Mr. and Mrs. Ban Van Nguyen, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rivero, Mrs. Elizabeth Tractenberg
• For taking photos at Saturday’s game against Avalon: Mr. Brian Tran

Parent Education - A Talk for Mothers
THE MASS, THE ROSARY, AND MOTHERHOOD
Friday, February 5th 2010 at 11:00 a.m.
repeated on
Sunday, February 7th 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Mrs. Amy Zak
Soccer games this week
Tuesday, February 2nd: STM vs. CVC @ San Juan Sports Park; 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, February 3rd: STM vs. Emerson @ STM; 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 4th: STM vs. SVC @ San Juan Sports Park; 3:00 p.m.

Admissions
The deadline for financial aid applications is February 1st.

Weekly Homily by Fr. Victor Szczurek, O.Praem. Among other things, Fr. Victor teaches Latin and Religion.

As we listen to the account of King David wanting to build a house for God one cannot help but wonder, was it a combination of human pride and naiveté that led this mere mortal to dream of keeping God within the confines of brick and mortar, to think that he can somehow contain Him Who created the heavens and the earth? Was it human pride and naiveté, or rather was it a profound love and simple-hearted devotion?

As we know, David was a great sinner like the rest of us; but he also was a great king who had a burning love for God. Remember, this is the man who was so excited to see the Ark of the Covenant being returned to the Israelites that he went out to greet it dancing uncontrollably with joy. He knew what a great grace it was to have God’s presence among his family and his people. He himself would later cry out in prayer: In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came to His ears [2 Sam. 22:7]. You cannot blame someone with such faith if they should dream of somehow building a dwelling place for God so that He would always be near them, capturing God, so to speak, for himself.

As we now know, David’s plan was prophetic. Not only would his son Solomon come along and build a magnificent Temple where God’s presence would be especially felt; but more importantly, God Himself would later pitch His tent among us in the Person of Jesus Christ.

With the Incarnation God would allow Himself to be contained, as it were, within the confines not of brick and mortar but of a human body; and, as if that were not enough, He would then allow Himself to be contained under the appearances of bread and wine, and placed under lock and key in every tabernacle of every Catholic church throughout the world.

How God must love us! To dwell among us night and day despite the cold indifference of so many! May we always treasure our Lord’s Presence among us in the Holy Eucharist, and may we show that we treasure this Presence by spending as much time with Him as possible.

In publishing this homily, we hope to share a portion of the spiritual treasure by which the students are enriched every day. However, this homily may not be reproduced by the parents or friends of St. Michael’s without written permission of the author.

Student Birthdays
Feb. 3rd: Esteban Gonzalez
Feb. 6th: Tuyen Vu

Prayer Requests
• Mrs. Charlesworth, mom of Br. Mark, who has a heart irregularity.
• Dr. Joe Gloudeman, dad of Fr. Francis, who battles cancer.
• Mrs. Amber Manly for a healthy pregnancy.
• Mr. Richard Nelson, grandfather of David Hall, who battles cancer.
• St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.
• Those affected by the earthquake in Haiti
• Those who suffer in the current economic crisis.
• Those who are in the armed forces.

For the week of January 24, 2010

Thanks to the following families who helped this past week
• For hosting students: The Bowe family, The Thomas Nguyen family, the Murphy family, and the LeMire family

Volunteer Opportunities
• Be a guest speaker at the January 30th Open House
• Host weekenders
• Join in sponsoring a Parent Lunch in April, May, or June. If parents would like to help underwrite the cost of a Parent Lunch, standard donations with four couples participating are $75 per couple.
• Take photos of a soccer game

St. Michael’s in the news!
St. Michael’s Abbey has accepted a seminarian for the fall who is making the news. Grant Desme discusses decision to become priest and heading to St. Michael's Abbey.

Soccer games this week
Tuesday, Jan. 26th: STM @ TVT; 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 30th STM v. Avalon. Home game. Double header starting at noon.

Admissions
• St. Michael’s Entrance Test is Saturday, January 30th at 9 am. Please contact the school office to register.
• The deadline for financial aid applications is February 1st. Financial Aid Application


Parent Education
A talk for mother: THE MASS, THE ROSARY, AND MOTHERHOOD
Friday, February 5th 2010 at 11:00 a.m. and repeated on Sunday, February 7th 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Mrs. Amy Zak

Annual Giving Program Underway
Annual Giving is our yearly appeal to St. Michael’s families, alumni, and friends inviting them to support the current educational program with a financial gift. This gift is distinct from the obligations of tuition and fees. By generating this additional income, the St. Michael’s is able to provide an exceptional moral and intellectual formation program which is much greater than the tuition income affords. Make a gift which reflects what you have received from God over the last 12 months; ask your company and friends to match or double your gift. (Fulfillment deadline: June 30th ) Pray for the success of the program.

Weekly Homily by Fr. Godfrey Bushmaker, O.Praem.
Among other things, Fr. Godfrey is an associate pastor in SS Peter and Paul in Wilmington, CA.

Before bottles were easily available, wineskins were used for storing and serving wine. Wineskins were bags usually made from goat hides. After the skin was removed from the animal it was tanned over a fire. Then all the openings were sewn shut except for the neck. Before the neck was sewn shut, fresh grape juice was poured in, then it was also sewn shut and stored away, and the fermentation process began.

As the new wine fermented, it expanded, and it would stretch the new wineskins quite a bit. Therefore putting new, unfermented wine in old wineskins (that were already stretched and dried out) would result in almost certain disaster. Once the fermentation process began and the wine expanded; an old, dried out skin would split open and both the wine and skin would be lost.

The gospel invites us to compare our hearts to wineskins. Are they pliable and able to conform to any growth that following the gospel may demand? As members of the faithful, we have to be watchful that we not allow our hearts to become rigid and unable to accept changes or recognize them as improvements.

We need to keep our hearts docile so the Lord can change in us those areas that need improvement. And, if we reflect on it, we shouldn’t be surprised if those areas that seem to be targeted for change by heaven are precisely those areas that we’re least inclined to change.

The new wine is nothing less than the perfection of a life lived with Christ, and it’ll stretch you to the limits, if you allow it. The new wine skins then become a new creation, or a new man, as St. Paul puts it. Our Lord won’t pour his new wine into the old man (he’d just burst and make a mess).

This would be as if our Lord came to merely put a patch on the old Jewish Law like the gospel’s patch of new cloth on an old garment. If the patch got wet, it would shrink and tear the garment, and the hole would get worse than it was to begin with. Our Lord isn’t a band-aid placed on the garment of the Old Law, he’s a whole new garment: a new way of living. In the same way, our Lord doesn’t want to be merely a patch on our garment of life, he wants to be our entire wardrobe.

We’re always being called to conversion, to change and to conform ourselves to our Lord’s image, but we often resist. For some, it’s because we feel safer with things tried and tested. But this can be used as an excuse to hide behind when we’ve settled into a nice comfortable rut that we’re too lazy to move out of. This can be especially dangerous for those of us in the sanctuary, because in the spiritual life, to stop advancing, is to fall backward.

And for the students, no doubt you have discovered that a number of preferences and habits you could indulge while living at home with a room to yourself, just aren’t possible now that you have roommates and deans. For some of you it may be the first time you’ve been forced to consider another’s needs. It’s a time of great change for you, but also an opportunity to answer the Lord’s call to advance toward perfection, to develop new habits and virtues that’ll help propel you toward a bright and successful future when you leave this hilltop.

But remember that our Lord won’t be poured into an old wineskin: stiff in its settled personality, assumptions about life, prejudices about people or inflexible plans for the future. Our Lord demands freedom to change any aspect of our lives, and in return, he’ll reward us with a degree of glory and happiness in heaven which will have us, as the saying goes, bursting at the seams.

In publishing this homily, we hope to share a portion of the spiritual treasure by which the students are enriched every day. However, this homily may not be reproduced by the parents or friends of St. Michael’s without written permission of the author.

Prayer Requests
• Mrs. Ermelinda Carino, who recently lost a lung and now struggles to afford the oxygen she needs.
• Mrs. Amber Manly for a healthy pregnancy
• Mr. Richard Nelson, grandfather of David Hall, who is battling cancer
• St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.
• Those affected by the earthquake in Haiti
• Those who suffer in the current economic crisis.
• Those who are in the armed forces.

For the repose of the soul of Pat Greco, great grandmother of freshman, John Michael Mikolaycik

For the week of January 17, 2010

Thanks to the following families who helped this past week
The Holke family for carpooling students.
The Saglietto family for hosting an admissions reception in their home.

Volunteer Opportunities
• Be a guest speaker at the January 30th Open House
• Host weekenders
• Join in sponsoring a Parent Lunch in April, May, or June.
• Take photos of a soccer game

Academics
The Senior Class of 2010 has begun its Matura. Each senior has selected a topic reflecting his own personal interest. Employing diverse research strategies, the senior studies this topic in a depth and with a breadth that crosses academic disciplines and information avenues. The student's careful research will become a paper, of not less than 20 pages, which reflects excellent writing and MLA stylistic requirements. A portfolio of accompanying work will verify the thoroughness of the research, the growth in critical thinking, and the clear expression of oneself in the writing process. The senior will critically rethink key aspects of his research and will present it by designing a project that reflects one or more dimensions of the chosen topic. In an extensive oral exposition, the senior will present his research conclusions and reply to questions from a panel of experts in his selected area of investigation.

The topics chosen by the Class of 2010 are:
• Automotive Aerodynamics
• Biodigester
• Diverse methods to learn how to play the piano
• History of Airline Safety Features
• History of the United States Air Force
• Magic Tricks
• Michael Jordan's Basketball Career
• Monastic Breweries
• Musical Parody in the Sixties: Allan Sherman
• Online video games technology and its effects on society
• The History and Significance of the Forty-Niners during the California Gold Rush
• The History of Mixed Martial Arts and its growing influence as a sport
• Water Purification

Soccer games this week
Tuesday, Jan. 19th: STM vs. Emerson @ STM; 3:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 22nd: STM @ Southlands Christian; 3:00 p.m.

Admissions
• St. Michael’s entrance test is Saturday, January 30th at 9 am. Please contact the school office to register.

Small is Big by Fr. Victor Szczurek, O.Praem.

“Americans are rediscovering the small school” (Bruce, 2000). After decades of building and promoting mega-schools, many—teachers, administrators, parents and students—are beginning to see that smaller is better.

Since the goal of any school system is the education of the student, it is precisely the student who ought to be the primary focus when considering school size; and when it comes to choosing between a large school and a small school, there is just no contest.

Personal relationships among students, teachers and even parents tend to be stronger in small schools. “In a small school it is not unusual for teachers, administrators and school board members to know each other well” (Barker, 1986).

Student morale is usually higher in small schools. Fewer students mean more opportunities for all to play a role in the school’s activities; hence a greater sense of school pride is often found in the smaller schools. Most importantly, the learning environment in smaller schools is far superior. A small student-teacher ratio is always beneficial to learning—a fact no one would doubt. Think about it. What happens in large schools when a student is struggling in a particular subject? He or she is put into a smaller class or given a private tutor. This common practice alone bears witness to the fact that learning is much easier when the teacher is not overburdened with large classes and can give more attention to the individual students.

Because of the many educational advantages found in smaller schools, teacher morale also tends to be high in such schools. Teachers feel like they can give themselves more to what they do best, namely teaching, and suffer fewer disciplinary and bureaucratic distractions.

One teacher summed it up thus: [In a small school] “it’s much more difficult for a kid to fall through the cracks and there are less cracks to fall through” (Chicago Sun-Times, August 31, 200, p. 7, as quoted in Small Schools: Advantages for Students). It’s very simple: if you want a good education, choose a small school.

References
Barker, B. (1986) The advantages of small schools. ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools Las Cruces NM. Retrieved on October 26, 2009, from http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-923/small.htm

Small Schools: Advantages for Students. Retrieved on October 26, 2009, from http://smallschools.cpsk12.il.us/students.html

Parent Education
A talk for mother: THE MASS, THE ROSARY, AND MOTHERHOOD
Friday, February 5th 2010 at 11:00 a.m. and repeated on Sunday, February 7th 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Mrs. Amy Zak

Annual Giving Program Underway
Annual Giving is our yearly appeal to St. Michael’s families, alumni, and friends inviting them to support the current educational program with a financial gift. This gift is distinct from the obligations of tuition and fees. By generating this additional income, the St. Michael’s is able to provide an exceptional moral and intellectual formation program which is much greater than the tuition income affords. Make a gift to which reflects what you have received from God over the last 12 months; ask your company and friends to match or double your gift. (Fulfillment deadline: June 30th ) Pray for the success of the program.

Weekly Homily by Fr. John Henry Hanson, O.Praem.
Among other things, Fr. John Henry teaches English at St. Michael’s

In this morning’s gospel our Lord “interrupts” our lives with this proclamation: “This is the time of fulfillment.” We need to be interrupted in this way. I wonder how many Christians live their lives as though they were in a time of fulfillment. We have just completed the Christmas season, which has fulfillment as its theme: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son.” But has that recent celebration changed the way we look at our lives? Are we fulfilled people?

Many are not, even among Christians. Many are still searching for something. Maybe the modern pastime of “surfing” the Internet is symbolic of this. Many are seeking their place in this world, this community, this family. Everybody, in some way, is looking for love. Some are looking for it in a father, a mother, or in friendship and acceptance. Some need to find peace. None of these are wrong things to look for. Each of us is looking for something, because we perceive (correctly) that something is missing. No one is exempt from the search—because no one is exempt from original sin. We all enter this world missing something. But whatever type of fulfillment each of us is searching for, somehow it has everything to do with the kingdom that Christ announces: This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.

It is no coincidence that when the Lord announces the kingdom, especially in the Sermon on the Mount, He at the same time announces the fatherhood of God. St Paul tells us that the Father has called us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. It is in that kingdom, in the Church, that all seeking ends, that every desire must resolve itself, in the knowledge that we have a Father who has called us to belong to Him. His kingdom is not something big and impersonal. It is as private and as personal as one’s bedroom, wherein the Lord tells us that we must seek the Father in secret.

One of the greatest truths that Jesus came to reveal to us is that God is our Father. He spends a good portion of the Sermon on the Mount teaching us: You have a Father in heaven—who sees you, knows you, hears you, cares for you. In fact, have you ever wondered by our Lord devotes entire section of the Sermon on the Mount to fear, worry, anxiety, and trust? Jesus seems to speak about trivial things: clothing, food and drink. But He knows that these are exactly the types of things that preoccupy us. When we don’t think that we are being taken care of, or that situations are beyond control, we act as though we had no Father. And so we worry and try to control everything--apart from God’s providence.

The Lord Jesus, and all His saints, urge us to stop this. You cannot be fulfilled as a Christian, much less become a saint, if you do not find your joy and confidence in going to the Father as Father. St Augustine in one sermon pleads with his congregation: “O fugitive, where will you flee from your God? Turn to Him and you will meet your Father.”

We heard a few days ago in the gospel, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me: he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed… ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” Shouldn’t we allow these things to take place in our lives? Isn’t this the type of fulfillment that the Father wants to send us in sending us His Son?

The Lord told us to call God Father knowing full well that no one born into this world has a perfect experience of fatherhood. Fathers make mistakes, fathers sin, fathers struggle in many ways. Jesus is calling us to trust the Father as our Father, even as the Father tells us to trust His beloved Son and to listen to Him.

The Father has also called us into his kingdom, the Church, knowing also how imperfect our expectations of it might be. But the Son has told us what to expect from His kingdom on earth: it is hidden, open only to children, accommodating people from the east and from the west, a marriage feast; it includes weeds and wheat, it starts small and grows into something great, a merchant searching for fine pearls, a dragnet holding every type of fish: that is the portrait of the Catholic Church painted by her Founder. Not the same portrait we would paint. That is because we need God to tell us where to go to find our fulfillment, to find where we belong.

And today He interrupts our lives, our plans, our preoccupations, and says: Come after me, come into my kingdom, and I will show you the Father.

In publishing this homily, we hope to share a portion of the spiritual treasure by which the students are enriched every day. However, this homily may not be reproduced by the parents or friends of St. Michael’s without written permission of the author.

Prayer Requests
• Mrs. Ermelinda Carino, who recently lost a lung and now struggles to afford the oxygen she needs.
• Mr. Jack Doherty who is battling cancer
• Mrs. Betty Evans, who has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma
• Mrs. Marilyn Garvey’s recuperation after surgery.
• Mrs. Amber Manly for a healthy pregnancy
• Mr. Richard Nelson, grandfather of David Hall, who is battling cancer
• St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.
• Those affected by the earthquake in Haiti
• Those who suffer in the current economic crisis.
• Those who are in the armed forces.

For the repose of the soul of Pat Greco, great grandmother of John Michael Mikolaycik

For the week of January 10, 2010

Thanks to the following families who helped this past week
Mr. George Dimen, Mr. Tim Hanson, and Mr. Joshua Tractenberg who accompanied the students to Rome

Congratulations to our Honor Roll Students

First Honors (94% and Above)
Joshua Aaker
Jonathan Bonello
Matthew Brooks
Nicholas Cannizzaro
Adrian Chavez
Peter Goodwin
Anthony Guerra
Michael Haeuser
Nicholas Hanson
Jay Hipolito
Luke Holbach
Jacob Holke
James Howard
Alan Le
Marc LeMire
Edward Lim
Brian Nguyen
Don Nguyen
Thomas Nguyen
Hieu Pham
Alexander Porrello
Joseph Porretta
Marco Saglietto
Brian Schardt
Scott Schardt
David Suh
Joseph Terlisner
James Tran
John Tran

Second Honors (88% - 93%)
Andrew Ford
Conrad Lakomy
Daniel Lim
Vincent Lu
John Michael Mikolaycik
Dominic Perez
Michael Porretta

Announcements and Updates
Sunday, Jan. 17 College Financial Aid Meeting; 7 pm in the mobile classroom. Join us for this informational meeting directed by Mrs. Gloria Ryan. Parents from every class are welcome.

Soccer games this week
Tuesday, Jan. 12th: STM vs. CVC. Changed site and time posted on school calendar
Thursday, Jan. 14th: STM vs SVC Changed site and time posted on school calendar
Friday, Jan. 15th: STM vs Fairmont @ Vineyard Christian; 3:00 p.m.

Birthdays
Jan. 10th Spencer Manson
Jan. 12th Marc LeMire
Jan. 14th Alan Le

Admissions
Fr. Gabriel will host an Open House for any family interested in finding out more about our school on Saturday, January 16th at 3:30 p.m. in our library.


Reflection on Rome 2009 by James Tran ‘11

As you may well know, each year there is an opportunity for St. Michael’s students, mainly juniors, to tour the holy city of Rome. This memorable event took place from December 27 to January 7 with a total of 20 people going, 15 of those students. We were also blessed with the accompaniments of Fr. Gabriel, Fr. Claude, chaperones Mr. Dimen and Mr. Hanson, and alumnus Josh Tractenberg.
When we reached Rome, we dropped off our bags at the Norbertine house and immediately began touring the ancient city. During our stay we saw and walked in many of the famous sites that the metropolis offered. We saw the Colosseum, went to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel inside it, traveled to St. Peter’s and experienced an amazing view of the Vatican from the top of the basilica. In St. Peter’s the students were blessed with the chance to attend vespers with Pope Benedict XVI. They received the urbi et orbi blessing for many of their religious possessions as well. The students also visited the other 3 major basilicas, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls, as well as other churches in the vicinity that contained architecture from antiquity. They struggled up the Holy Steps on their knees as well as saw stunning architecture, such as the Trevi Fountain, and beautiful paintings from a variety of artists, such as Caravaggio. Besides the historical background that the Eternal City had to offer, there was also its culture to enjoy. Students enjoyed a variety of foods and lifestyles. They tasted the freshness of Italian pizza and the smoothness of gelato. They also shopped at a local grocery store and scoured a flea market to escape high prices.

Other than Rome, we also went to Assisi and experienced a winter climate much more to our liking. Instead of rain, there was a light snow that made the St. Francis basilica seem breathtaking. We also witnessed a new type of architecture different from the Baroque style: the Italian Gothic which emphasized in its pointed domes and high ceilings. The students also had the chance to go to Florence. There they had many opportunities to see a lot of historic art.

We learned and enjoyed much from this unforgettable pilgrimage. However, at the center of this trip was the spirituality that was present everywhere. In every church that was visited, we were in regular prayer. Mass was said everyday even if that meant waking up early or finding a different church in which to celebrate. Everywhere we turned, there was always some sign of Christ that made us feel closer to God. Along with the holiness, there was also the brotherhood that was built between friends. Truly this was a trip to remember.

Prayer Requests
• Mrs. Ermelinda Carino who recently lost a lung and now struggles to afford the oxygen she needs. • Mr. Jack Doherty who is battling cancer
• Mrs. Betty Evans who has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma
• Mrs. Amber Manly for a healthy pregnancy
• Mr. Richard Nelson, grandfather of David Hall, who is battling cancer
• St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.
• Those who suffer in the current economic crisis.
• Those who are in the armed forces.

For the repose of the soul of Abbot Ladislas K. Parker, O. Praem.,

Abbot Ladislas Parker, O.Praem., R.I.P.

 

+     

“But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God and no torment will ever touch them.  In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace... They who trust in him will understand truth and the faithful will abide with him in love; because grace and mercy are upon his elect.” (Wisdom 3:1-3, 9)

Our heavenly Father, the Lord of the living and the dead, has called to Himself

Reverendissimus Dom. Ladislas Francis Keresztesy-Parker,

Abbot Founder and First Abbot of St. Michael’s in Orange,

on Sunday, 3 January, A.D. 2010, at 12:05 A.M.

Francis Pürker was born in German-speaking Vaskeresztes, Hungary on December 19, 1915.  He attended school in Szombathely at the Norbertine gymnasium directed by confreres of St. Michael’s Abbey in Csorna. Upon graduation Francis entered the Abbey’s novitiate and received the name of Ladislas.  After novitiate and profession, he completed philosophical studies in the studium of the Abbey and was then sent to Rome where he pursued theological studies at the Gregorian University.  Fr. Ladislas was ordained a priest on August 20, 1940 and completed his doctoral studies in 1942 with a dissertation on “The Doctrine of St. Augustine on Hope.” Upon return from his studies Fr. Ladislas was named master of novices and professor of moral theology at the Abbey, posts he filled until escaping Communist Hungary along with his confreres in July, 1950. 

Received warmly by Abbot Sylvester Killeen and the confreres of St. Norbert’s Abbey in DePere, Wisconsin, Fr. Ladislas and his companions served in a variety of ministerial settings doing both parish and academic work in the Abbey’s widely-spread apostolates.  Fr. Ladislas, though, was the driving force enabling his fellow refugees to reunite in 1957, reestablishing both the common life in Santa Ana, California and a common apostolate at Mater Dei High School, at the invitation of Cardinal James McIntyre, Archbishop of Los Angeles.  He served on the faculty of Mater Dei until 1961 when in August a new foundation was opened as a junior seminary and novitiate of the Abbey of St. Michael’s in Csorna. 

From 1959 -1975, Fr. Ladislas was administrator of the community with its growing number of seminarians.  In June 1975 the community became an independent priory and Fr. Ladislas was elected the first prelate.  In August, 1984, following the decision of the Order’s definitory, the canonry was elevated to abbey status and Fr. Ladislas was named its first abbot.  Upon reaching 75 years of age in 1990, he was re-elected prelate.  Abbot Parker became abbot emeritus upon his resignation in June, 1995.  By that time and under his wise and loving governance the community had grown to 41 priests and nearly 60 confreres.

Dear Friends of St Michael’s Abbey,

Here is the complete schedule for the funeral rites of Abbot Ladislas Parker.  Of course, you are welcome to pray with us at any and all of these services, but keep in mind that the most important celebrations are the Funeral Mass on Saturday, January 9^th at 9:30am at the Mission Basilica of San Juan Capistrano, followed by the Burial on the same day at 11:30am at Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest followed by a Reception at the Abbey.

Grateful for your prayers for the soul of our great father and founder, and looking forward to seeing you this week, I am

Devotedly yours in Christ,

Abbot Eugene with all the Norbertine Confreres of St. Michael’s Abbey

Thursday, January 7^th

4:30pm      Reception of the body into the Abbey Church followed by Vespers of the Dead

(The body will be kept in vigil in the Abbey Church all night until Mass the next morning; please note that there is no Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament this evening)

Friday, January 8^th

12:00          Midnight - Office of Vigils with Homily in the Abbey Church

9:00am      Lauds of the Dead in the Abbey Church

11:00am    Sung Requiem Mass with Homily in the Abbey Church

 (Please note that this is not the Funeral Mass, which is tomorrow.)

4:20pm      None and the transferral of the body to the Mission Basilica

7:30pm      Vespers of the Dead with Homily at the Mission Basilica

 (Please note that there is no Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament this evening)

Saturday, January 9^th

(Please note that there is no 7:00am Mass today at the abbey.)

9:30am - FUNERAL MASS AT THE MISSION BASILICA OF

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

11:30am - BURIAL AT ASCENSION CEMETERY IN LAKE FOREST, FOLLOWED BY A RECEPTION AT THE ABBEY