The Canons — Dom Daniel, Dom Elias & Dom Gabriel — held missions in St. Patrick & St. Rocco in March, 2011. At that time, they also celebrated the patronal feast with St. Patrick’s for the first time, participated in the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Blessing of the Table of St. Joseph for the Sons of Italy and attended the confirmations at St. Rocco. Now a year later, they are no longer guests, but now together with Dom Bruno call Glen Cove home. Much has happened since our last update and we endeavor with this post to tell some of that story in pictures.
Dom Bruno preaching to the children's choir
Mardi Gras
This year the Society of St. Vincent de Paul hosted a Mardi Gras party to raise fund for their charitable endeavors. Dom Daniel pitched in by making pancakes. They must have been good since he was sold out.
Dom Daniel serves the last pancake.
Mardi Gras - burning the palms for Ash Wednesday. Dom Daniel instructed the children on the tradition of burning the palms from the previous year to make the new ashes. Here the children contribute palms collected from St. Patrick's & St. Rocco's parishioners.
Mardi Gras - Dom Daniel & the Solemn Smashing of the Alleluia (or an updated version of the Medieval custom). Following the burning of the palm, the children smashed the alleluia in preparation for Lent, when Alleluia is not spoken again until the Easter Vigil.
D. Benedict’s Nachprimiz at the Church of Saint Rocco
It is a noble custom of our abbey that a newly ordained canon make the rounds of the abbey parishes to offer a Mass of Thanksgiving (Nachprimiz) so that the new priest can impart his priestly blessing. Last Fall we welcomed Dom Maximilian. This winter, it was Dom Benedict’s turn. He and the other canons who are serving in Norway made a pastoral visit the Canonry of St. Leopold in February.
Dom Benedict's Nachprimiz - incensation of the gifts
Dom Benedict's Nachprimiz - Elevation of the Blessed Sacrament
Greeting the faithful after Dom Benedict's Nachprimiz
Dom Daniel, Dom Lukas, Dom Benedict, Dom Elias, Dom Alois and Dom Albert in front of St. Rocco
Following the Nachprimiz, the Canons -- Dom Elias, Dom Albert, Dom Alois, Dom Benedict & Dom Lukas -- joined the parishioners for the monthly First Sunday Breakfast.
Having shown up late (because he had to celebrate the 11:30 a.m. Mass) Fr. Daniel picks up his breakfast in the kitchen at St. Rocco.
Solemn Vespers at St. Patrick-on-the-Hill
With numerous lay faithful in attendance, seven canons sang Evening Prayer for the second Sunday of Lent. This was the largest gathering of canons of Klosterneuburg in the New World ever!
Seven Canons of Klosterneuburg chanted Evening Prayer on a solemn occasion in the presence of the faithful.
Dom Benedict cantors at Solemn Vespers
The senior canon of Klosterneuburg present, Fr. Alois, pastor of our parish in Bergen, Norway, presided at Solemn Vespers.
Fr. Bruno incenses the faithful (with a thurible) at Solemn Vespers
Confirmations at St. Patrick & St. Rocco
Bishop Murphy customarily celebrates the confirmations during the first year of a new pastor’s assignment. St. Patrick and St. Rocco, therefore, welcomed the bishop of Rockville Centre to celebrate confirmations on March 10th and March 19th.
Bishop Murphy honored both parishes with his celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The procession on the Solemnity of St. Joseph at St Rocco.
Bishop Murphy preaching to the confirmandi.
Bishop William Murphy confirmed fifty-one young Catholics at the Church of St. Rocco on March, 19, 2012, the Solemnity of St. Joseph.
St. Rocco's Confirmation - Offertory Procession
Glen Cove’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The annual parade took place on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, March 18th. The Canons joined Fr. Bob Romeo, pastor of St. Boniface Catholic Church in neighboring Sea Cliff and local Dean, at the parade. The route runs about a half an hour by foot. The entire parade took over two hours.
State & local elected officials, dignitaries and organizers of the parade before the parade.
Dom Daniel & Fr. Romeo, Chaplains for the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, are joined by Fr. Bruno & Fr. Elias near the end of the parade route (where St. Patrick's stands).
The Parade Grand Stand
There are many other stories to tell about our new life in America but no photos to show. It suffices to say that we are very happy in our new home in America. Our canonical life has taken shape. We have prayed the office daily in the parish church of St. Patrick since last August. The day ordinarily starts at 5:45 a.m. with Matins & Lauds. At midday, we pray Sext & in the evening, generally at 5:15 we prayer Vespers and Compline, following the custom of Klosterneuburg, whichpermits common prayer more easily in the context of a busy pastoral life. We have received numerous guests and most importantly, we have been warmly embraced by the people of St. Patrick & St. Rocco. We look forward to doing great things for God together.
A special thanks to Rocco Ieraci and Tony Gallego for the many wonderful photographs.
A blessed Holy Week & Happy Easter!
