Fr. Marvin Steffes, C.PP.S. returned to St. Edward Catholic Church to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination. Fr. Steffes was the first CPPS pastor here and he served as Pastor for 12 years. He was ordained on June 1, 1958 in Carthagena, OH.

Below is what was in the parish bulletin. The Bulletin also has more pictures.

The Very Reverend Marvin James Steffes, C.PP.S.
Pastor, Provincial, and Principal
Fifty Years a Priest

Fr. Steffes served as Pastor of St. Edward Church from 1979 to 1990. He succeeded, Fr. Ricardo Chavez, a diocesan priest. Fr. Steffes was the first CPPS pastor here at St. Edward.

Fr. Steffes was ordained June 1, 1958. His first solemn High Mass was offered at St. Anthony Church in Detroit. After ordination he served in Detroit, MI and in Cincinnati, OH, as a parochial vicar. He taught at Carroll High School in Dayton, OH before doing graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati. On finishing his studies, Fr. Steffes came to California to serve as teacher at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa and in 1969 he became the principal.

In 1970 Fr. Steffes was elected to provincial leadership, serving as Councilor and as provincial Treasurer. In 1974 he was elected as Provincial Director. After leaving Provincial Leadership, he served as a hospital chaplain for a year before coming to St. Edward in 1979.
After St. Edward he was administrator at St. Anthony in Manteca (1991), administrator at San Agustin Church in Scotts Valley and at St. Joseph in Spreckles (1994), and as Pastor at Christ Child Church in Las Gatos (1995). Currently he is retired and living at our Mission House in Berkeley with plans soon to relocate to our retirement center in Ohio.

Many long time parishioners have wonderful stories to tell about his time here. Sr. Mary Joseph Lyons, OP, was principal of the school during some of his years here and remembers him as a “wonderful pastor.” She reports that he was good to work with, very cooperative and always consulted with her about the school. She liked his homilies, saying he “had a way with words, he got to the point and said it nicely.”

I served four years with Fr. Steffes here at St. Edward from 1984-88. I remember particularly a homily he gave on Holy Thursday in 1988. The homily was my first real introduction to the scriptural image of the Lamb of God, and its centrality to our celebration of the Eucharist. Later that year, when I told him that I would not be renewing my contract but instead would be entering the seminary, Fr. Steffes wondered aloud how he could be upset and happy at the same time. One picture I treasure and which hangs on my wall is a photo of Fr. Steffes laying hands on my head during my ordination to the priesthood.

On this day we gather at St. Edward for a special Mass at 10:00am to thank him for being such a good friend, teacher and Pastor; for his devotion to Jesus Christ and his faithfulness to the Mission of St. Gaspar del Bufalo. Happy Anniversary, Marvin. Ad Multos Annos.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 4:42 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:34 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Responding to God who calls me to follow Christ by a special vocation and in your presence Father Director, trusting in God who is ever faithful, and begging the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians, of St. Gaspar, our founder, and St. Francis Xavier, our patron, I, Jeffrey Robert Keyes, of my own free will, promise fidelity to the Society of the Precious Blood in accordance with its constitutions and statutes, giving myself entirely to the service of God for the rest of my life.

At the Liturgy of Hours, the following reading from St. Gaspar’s letters was proclaimed. It was chosen because of the import of the words I have placed in bold text:

I suggest three things in particular for our consideration during these days.

First, that we examine ourselves in the light of the question which the Mellifluous Doctor (St. Bernard) was accustomed to ask his monks: Why have you come here? For what purpose are we in the Society? To cooperate with the great designs of divine Providence in the sanctification of ourselves and others; to be united in the bond of charity and to imitate more closely the life of Jesus Christ....

I am in the Society to look after the life of my soul, to offer myself for the glory of God with a holy abandonment in God himself, and to train myself in humility and obedience, all this with the purpose of knowing better his divine Will by being completely reliant upon him as I should.

The second point about which we must examine ourselves is the love that we are to show towards our Society and towards one another. We should always act according to the spirit of the Lord. ? We should act in such a manner that we, too, might have stamped upon our hearts the saying of the great St. Francis Xavier: “May my right hand be forgotten if I should forget you” (Cf. Ps 136 (137):5.) In this matter, may our love be very, very special. Let it be generous and outgoing, patient and longsuffering, judicious and vigorous.

May God grant that in the case of our Society the words following may be verified: “The blossoming vines give out their fragrance.( Song 2:13)” The cultivation of a vineyard requires skill, toil, vigilance and fruitful rain. Likewise, in the cultivation of our communities, we need special graces. These are obtained through prayer, through exerting ourselves in accomplishing good works, in being orderly and in being vigilant to gather the awaited fruit. In a marvelous way, our Prescriptions and our Rule, which cannot be too highly recommended, serve as our support.

Finally, the third point for our meditation is our activity in furthering those objectives which lead towards the glory of the Lord. This we do in seeking to give them permanence through the Associations which our Society promotes, using the means that it designates as well as the practices which it encourages. Here, let the apostle St. Paul speak. In his letters he reveals a very profound ardor for the salvation of souls and their constant perfection. The love of Christ compels us. (2 Cor 5:14) In all our trouble I am filled with consolation and my joy is overflowing.( 2 Cor 7:4)

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 5:25 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Her Feast is February 4th.

The texts for here Mass can be found here.

There is a bunch of stuff about her in the archives.

Venerable Merlini's homily at her funeral.

From the Vatican website

This is the second reading from today's Office of Readings.

From the Constitutions of 1857 and the letters of Blessed Maria de Mattias

For the triumph of his mercy and to show his infinite love for us, our divine redeemer, Jesus Christ shed his precious blood with great suffering and humiliation, as the price of salvation and glory. He gave it all, he gave it for all, and he does not stop giving it. His Blood is a fountain, or rather, a life giving river available to all. It springs up and flows on unendingly for all the sons and daughters of Adam and remains with them accompanying them every moment of their life on earth to make them holy and to bring them to eternal joy in heaven.

This lowly congregation which lives and labors under the glorious title of the most precious Blood of Jesus Christ must itself take on the shape and pattern of a living image of that divine love with which it was shed, and of which it was and is symbol, expression, measure and pledge.

The spirit of this holy work is all charity. We have carved this word in our minds and on our hearts. I repeat: Charity! Charity toward God and our dear neighbor. I have placed everything in the hands of the most holy Virgin.

May our hearts never withdraw from that perennial fountain flowing from the loving wound of the side of our most loving Spouse Jesus Crucified! Here all our poor labors borne for love of him, will be sweetened. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus Crucified and we can be sure he will not let us perish, provided we are faithful to him. Oh! what a beautiful honor to please God; in short, to live entirely in God.

What a beautiful consolation it is to see the spouses of the divine lamb, the Adorers of his most precious Blood, motivated by one sole will, the will of God, forming but one heart and one soul, and thus united, making the heaven resound with a hymn of thanksgiving to the infinite goodness of God, while at the same time they offer the blood of his Son for the reconciliation of heaven with earth, or earth with heaven. We are called to labor in the vineyard of Jesus crucified. Oh! What a beautiful honor it is for us to weary ourselves so that souls may be forever happy in the beautiful Jerusalem where Jesus will reunite us one day!

Be strong in the vocation you have chosen which will one day reunite all of us in heaven with Jesus our Spouse carry the palm of victory in our hands and chanting the glories of the divine Blood.

Canticle of the Blood of Christ

Clap your hands, all you peoples, Sing unto God with a voice of jubilation.

For God the Almighty has shown us mercy.

For God has not spared God's own Son, but has delivered Him up in our behalf.

That we might be redeemed by His Blood and freed from our sins;

That justified in the Blood of Jesus we might be saved from God's anger;

That we who were separated might be reconciled through the Blood of Christ.

0 Lord, my God, what can I render unto you for all the good you have bestowed upon me?

I will take the chalice of salvation and I will call upon the power of this Blood.

Sing to Jesus, all you saints, and make known the memory of His holiness.

For God has loved us and washed us in the Blood of Jesus who has become our helper and our redeemer.

Blessed forever be the Blood of Christ which has wrought such wonders in us.

Blessed be Jesus for all eternity, and may the heavens and the earth be filled with the glory of His Blood.

Come; let us adore Christ, the Son of God, who has redeemed us with His Blood.

Maria de Mattias

from Adorers of the Blood of Christ, 1993 Prayer Booklet, Wichita Center

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 9:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

God of goodness,
you chose Gaspar del Bufalo
to be a prophet to the nations,
a preacher of the good news of salvation,
and an apostle of the Precious Blood.
By his intercession
grant that we may experience
the abundant graces
which flow from the Lamb who was slain.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.

Fr. Dennis Chriszt, CPPS originally submitted the prayer above as a possible opening prayer for the Solemnity of St. Gaspar.New Mass texts were later submitted to the Vatican for approval. They are currently only available in Latin and Italian, though the English text has been submitted and is awaiting approval.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 8:51 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 1:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Blessings to all on the Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood.(July 1st) In a world where little is precious or sacred, maybe it is time to reflect on the true freedom given to us in the Most Precious Blood. The following is an old article of mine, basically my homage to St. Gaspar's letter 57. I post it here to move it from my old blog and to make it available for any new readers.

Blood is not pleasant to think about sometimes. Some become squeamish. At the same time, blood has a central place in some of our violent movies and other entertainment. There we do not pay attention to it. It is not real in the movies. Still, spend a few moments thinking about blood, your blood. Stop. Take your pulse. Blood is central. It is powerful. Its action, its force, what it carries, gives us life. It moves faster, we move faster. It fails, we fail. It is the silent, ever present essence of the power of life.

Our ancestors had a vastly simpler, maybe primitive approach to blood. It was simply where life met death and death met life. Fresh, warm, crimson blood was an offering, a sacrifice, a gift back to God, taking the substance of the life God had given and, giving it back, offering it all. We flinch when the priest passes among us on Easter morning scattering the water of the newly blessed font over the people. Can you imagine what it was like in the desert when inaugurating the covenant Moses took half of the blood of the bulls and splashed it on the people? This was before dry cleaning was even imagined. You were stained. It didn’t come out. It was an enduring mark of life. Life branded you, stained you, claimed you as belonging to a covenant with life itself. It was remarkably more than the privileges of membership, and you can’t leave home without it. This primitive approach developed through time to an elaborate ritual in the holy of holies where the blood of sacrifice was placed in the temple’s inner heart on the mercy seat. Blood was a way to communicate with God, to approach the very limits of life and death and receive in return his life and forgiveness.

St. Gaspar would invite us to this same reflection, but then would ask us to spend a few more moments reflecting on God’s blood, divine blood. His letters indicate it is too little to call this blood significant. Somehow our words do not convey its grandeur. This blood was the flaming outburst, the burning expression, the extravagant generosity, of a God of unreasonable and unimaginable kindness. (1) The human body of the Son of God becomes the holy of holies, and now the blood on the mercy seat is the blood rushing through his precious heart. His death on the cross and the tearing of the veil in the temple indicate that the presence of the divine has been snatched from a temple of stone and placed in the temple of a human heart where it is most defeated, overwhelmed or broken. We may think that God has abandoned us in our struggles; yet, in fact, he is closest to the broken and forsaken. You who once were far off have been made near through the Blood of Christ. (2)

This blood has a voice, a piercing cry. For Gaspar the sound of this blood extinguishes any noise of sin. (3) This voice cries out clearly on behalf of sinners and any who are broken. This voice cries to the heavens when life is lost or blood is shed. This is precisely where a devotion to or spirituality of the Precious Blood identifies us. Reciting a devotion is untruthful if it does not correspond to devoted living, and a spirituality is empty if it is not a way of life. A Spirituality of the Precious Blood drives us to follow that voice, to take it up as our own. St. Gaspar would plunge us into these mysteries, (4)bending to its gentle crushing force that urges us on to a courageous love, first for the ineffable love of God, and in the same beat of the heart, to a love for all people, especially those who are far off. Yes, blood can be messy, but it is sacred too.

NOTES
1. Letter 57
2. Eph. 2:13
3. Letter 52
4. Letter 57

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 1:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

...my 17th anniversary.

Pictures here.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 2:42 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

February 4th is also the Feast of St. Maria de Mattias.

The above picture hangs in our museum in Albano, a place I visited recently. I also had the joy of attending Maria's Canonization, an event that was completely skipped by CWN which is when I cancelled my subscription. Why subscribe to something that fails to report on the Catholic World? You can find stuff about her canonization by searching the archives of my old blog for reports.

Material about her life can be found here.

Here is the sermon that Venerable Merlini preched at here funeral.

Pope John Paul II's homily at her canonization can be found here.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 12:14 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

...to Dayton. CPPS meeting, computer staying home, I will be back Thursday.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 5:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Today is the fifth anniversary of this memorable statement.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 4:12 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

I cannot imagine what it must be like to minister in a new country, a country that is not your own. Still, since Wednesday I have seen it in the face of Fr. Jerard. His is such a gentle and joyful face, yet filled with wonder at all the things around him. He has been in the country for about 40 days at our center in Ohio and travelling with other members, but on Wednesday he arrived here at his new home.

Let us all welcome the Reverend Jerard Raj IradayanathanIradaya, C.PP.S., a Precious Blood Missionary who has been assigned to work among us for the next five years. He comes to us from our Indian Vicariate.

I met him on Wednesday with the Sunderaj family, and he expressed delight to be able to hear his own language in this new country. We treated him to an Indian feast at the Sunderaj house, and then brought him to the parish where the team was waiting for him. All in all it has been a full week, and soon we will get him settled, get him a drivers license, and we will be an international house ministering in an international parish.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 8:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

...says Pope Benedict.

The Pope requested pilgrims "to pray that modern humanity may experience the power of the Blood of Christ, poured out on the cross for our salvation."

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 4:16 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Evangelium Vitae 25

"The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground" (Gen 4:10). It is not only the voice of the blood of Abel, the first innocent man to be murdered, which cries to God, the source and defender of life. The blood of every other human being who has been killed since Abel is also a voice raised to the Lord. In an absolutely singular way, as the author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, the voice of the blood of Christ, of whom Abel in his innocence is a prophetic figure, cries out to God: "You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God ... to the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel" (12:22, 24).

It is the sprinkled blood. A symbol and prophetic sign of it had been the blood of the sacrifices of the Old Covenant, whereby God expressed his will to communicate his own life to men, purifying and consecrating them (cf. Ex 24:8; Lev 17:11). Now all of this is fulfilled and comes true in Christ: his is the sprinkled blood which redeems, purifies and saves; it is the blood of the Mediator of the New Covenant "poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Mt 26:28). This blood, which flows from the pierced side of Christ on the Cross (cf. Jn 19:34), "speaks more graciously" than the blood of Abel; indeed, it expresses and requires a more radical "justice", and above all it implores mercy, 19 it makes intercession for the brethren before the Father (cf. Heb 7:25), and it is the source of perfect redemption and the gift of new life.

The blood of Christ, while it reveals the grandeur of the Father's love, shows how precious man is in God's eyes and how priceless the value of his life. The Apostle Peter reminds us of this: "You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Pt 1:18-19). Precisely by contemplating the precious blood of Christ, the sign of his self-giving love (cf. Jn 13:1), the believer learns to recognize and appreciate the almost divine dignity of every human being and can exclaim with ever renewed and grateful wonder: "How precious must man be in the eyes of the Creator, if he ?gained so great a Redeemer' (Exsultet of the Easter Vigil), and if God ?gave his only Son' in order that man ?should not perish but have eternal life' (cf. Jn 3:16)!". 20

Furthermore, Christ's blood reveals to man that his greatness, and therefore his vocation, consists in the sincere gift of self. Precisely because it is poured out as the gift of life, the blood of Christ is no longer a sign of death, of definitive separation from the brethren, but the instrument of a communion which is richness of life for all. Whoever in the Sacrament of the Eucharist drinks this blood and abides in Jesus (cf. Jn 6:56) is drawn into the dynamism of his love and gift of life, in order to bring to its fullness the original vocation to love which belongs to everyone (cf. Gen 1:27; 2:18-24).

It is from the blood of Christ that all draw the strength to commit themselves to promoting life. It is precisely this blood that is the most powerful source of hope, indeed it is the foundation of the absolute certitude that in God's plan life will be victorious. "And death shall be no more", exclaims the powerful voice which comes from the throne of God in the Heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21:4). And Saint Paul assures us that the present victory over sin is a sign and anticipation of the definitive victory over death, when there "shall come to pass the saying that is written: ?Death is swallowed up in victory'. ?O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' " (1 Cor 15:54-55).

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 6:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Required reading for the month of July.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 1:22 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

The Precious Blood Community rejoices in the ordination of Steven Dos Santos, C.PP.S. to the priesthood, celebrated this morning at St. Edward Church. Steve is shown here with Bishop Joseph Charron, C.PP.S. of the Diocese of Des Moine, Iowa during the Prayer of Consecration.

Steve reads this blog so I would appreciate it if you could post a comment here offering him your prayers and congratulations.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 3:24 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

... May 8th is my 16th anniversary of Profession as a Missionary of the Precious Blood.

(October 26 will be my 15th anniversary of Ordination)

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 1:07 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

April 7, 2006 is the 500th anniversary of the birth of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. I invite everyone on Friday to pray for our congregation through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier as we remember the anniversary of his birth. Blessing to you in this Lenten journey.

St. Francis Xavier, many are the needs of the Church in our day. The workers in the vineyard of the Lord are few; the enemies of the Church, many. We implore you to obtain from God priestly and missionary vocations who will courageously extend God’s kingdom and apply the merits of the Blood of his Son. Intercede at the throne of God that Christians everywhere may spread the true faith through genuine witness of Christian life and love. May the message of God’s love penetrate to the far corners of the earth. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit unite us all in one faith. Amen

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 6:35 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

The Newest edition of the Cup of the New Covenant is now on-line.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 9:57 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

In much the same traditions as Brian Michael Page and Aristotle Esguerra, here are the selections for the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. We transfered the Solemnity of St. Gaspar to the Sunday and used the prayers and readings from the feast.

Prelude: “Prelude on ‘O Sacrum Convivium’�? Gerald Near
Introit: “By All Your Saints Still Striving�?
Sign of the Cross: chanted in English
Greeting: chanted in English
Confiteor: recited in English
Kyrie: Mass XVI
Gloria: Congregational Mass, John Lee
Collect/Opening Prayer: chanted, English
First Reading: spoken
Verbum Domini: spoken, English
Psalm: Alstott, Psalm 96, Proclaim His Marvelous Deeds
Second Reading: spoken
Verbum Domini dialogue: spoken, English
Gospel Acclamation: Alstott
Dialogue before the Gospel: spoken, English
Gospel Reading: spoken
Verbum Domini: spoken, English
Homily Topic: To be good news for others, and never to be overcome by evil: Jesus, St. Gaspar and Pope John Paul being our best examples.
Credo: recited in English
General Intercessions: spoken
Offertory: “Tu Es Sacerdos�? Robert Kreutz
Hymn: Glory Be To Jesus
Orate fratres dialogue: spoken, English
Prayer over the Gifts: chanted in English
Preface dialogue: chanted in English
Preface: chanted in English
Sanctus: Community Mass, Proulx
Eucharistic Prayer: I, chanted in English. Chant for entire prayer taken from Missale Romanum 2002
Mysterium Fidei: Community Mass, When we eat this bread
Per ipsum: chanted, English
Amen: Community Mass
Lord's Prayer invitation: chanted, English
Lord's Prayer: chanted in English
"Deliver us, Lord": chanted, English
Doxology: chanted, English
Pax Domini: chanted, English
Agnus Dei: Community Mass
Communion: “Life Giving Bread, Saving Cup�? Chepponis
Communion Motet: “Adoramus te, Christe�? Theodore Dubois
Concluding prayer: chanted, English
"Ite, missa est" dialogue: recited by Deacon
Closing Hymn: “For All The Saints�?
Postlude: Fugue in G Major, Bach

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 1:06 PM | Comments (14) | TrackBack

Blessed Day to all!

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 2:44 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

The Solemnity of St. Gaspar del Bufalo is approaching. The Congregation of Divine Worship in Rome has recently approved the new prayers for the feast. These prayers are vastly superior to the old prayers and readings. Unfortunately the official text is still only in Latin or in Italian.

Thanks to the assistance of a friend in Rome we have some unofficial English translations

Die 21 Octobris
SANCTI GASPARIS DEL BUFALO, presbyteri
Fundatoris Congregationis
Solemnitas

Ant. ad introitum
Psalm 16(15):5-6

O LORD, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.
The lot marked out for me is my delight:
welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!

Dicitur Glória.

Collecta

Almighty and merciful God,
who gave us the priest Saint Gaspar del Bufalo
as a tireless missionary of the Precious Blood of Christ
and a witness all ablaze with love for you and for his neighbor;
through his intercession,
hear the voice of the Blood of your Son
as it rises from the earth,
one with the great cry of a humanity oppressed by evil.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.

First Reading
Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
Announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
"Your God is King!"
Hark! Your watchmen raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
For they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
All the ends of the earth
will behold the salvation of our God.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations

Sing to the LORD a new song;
Sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD, bless his name;

Announce his salvation day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, His wondrous deeds.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved
He governs the peoples with equity
.
Second Reading
Hebrews 13: 12-15, 20-21

Therefore, Brothers and sisters, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that he bore. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia
Luke 4:18

The Lord has sent me
to bring good news to the poor
to let the oppressed go free,

Gospel
Luke 4:16-21

At that time Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

Prayer over the Gifts

May the bread and wine that we bring to you, Holy Father,
as we celebrate the feast of Saint Gaspar
be the sign of our self-offering
and express our dedication to your service
and to that of our neighbour.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface

Truly it is right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.

For you grant us the joy of this feast of Saint Gaspar,
the faithful priest of your Church,
who while bearing suffering for her sake, did not waver.
Helped by the Blessed Virgin Mary,
he energetically preached the Gospel;
he faithfully dispensed the Blood of the Lord,
and as the faithful imitator of Christ,
was a brother, a friend, and a defender
to the poor and the oppressed.

And so, with all the angels and saints,
we praise you all together,
as ceaselessly we sing:

Ant. Ad communionem
Cf. Jn 15,13

No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.

Post communionem

O God, Eternal Father,
who have filled us full
with the Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation,
grant, through the intercession of Saint Gaspar
that we may ever hold fast in our life
to the mystery of which we have partaken in faith.
Through Christ our Lord.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 4:32 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the Blood of Christ?" (I Cor 10:16) With these words, St. Paul reminds us of the circle of communion that is created by participation in the Eucharist.

In sharing in the Eucharistic cup, God invites us to renew the covenant relationship with Him, as the basis of all other relationships. For reconciliation is indeed a gift from God, ''Who has reconciled us to himself in Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us" (2 Cor 5:18-20).

The aim of that reconciling ministry is to overcome hatred, injustice, and division. But its ultimate goal is the bringing of peace, the peace that Christ has won by the blood ofhis cross (cf. Col 1:20), the peace that reconciles all things in Christ.

The communion achieved in the reconciling Blood of Christ empowers us to be bridge builders, truth-tellers, and the healers of wounds. Our "amen" when receiving communion affirms not only the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; it invites us to be bread broken and blood poured out, life given, for the life of the world. We become as it were "living chalices" carrying the Precious Blood of Christ, that sacred balm, to those who are in need of healing in their brokenness, to those wounded by poverty, to those left half dead by the wayside, scorned and scarred by prejudice, racism, and war.

As "ambassadors of reconciliation" (2 Cor 5:20) we offer the Blood of Christ to a world thirsty for harmony with God, with humanity and with all creation. The Blood of Christ quenches the thirst for that communion in which people of great diversity can come together in deep and abiding unity, and calls us to be Eucharistic communities which embrace those who are distant, separated, or cut off.

Participation in the Eucharist strengthens and emboldens us to dream a different history, to build a new world, a world that conforms to God's plan for humanity as revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:10 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

This year he was found preaching in the presence of the Holy Father at the Synod.

Fr. Barry is our General in Rome.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Since the Beatification of St. Gaspar, his feast day has moved around the calendar.

His feast day is October 21.

Catholic On-Line gets it wrong. They have one of the old days.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 10:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The following note about our Moderator General was received from my Provincial, Fr. Angelo:

Please keep the intention of the Eucharistic Synod in your prayers. This message came to us from Fr. Barry Fischer who is one of the Superior Generals selected to participate the Synod. Fr. Barry is in a Spanish speaking small group with cardinals and archbishops from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Columbia.

Barry said that they have listened to 123 talks so far and they are half way through the 6 minute presentations. He is expecting to give his talk on Monday, October 10th. He asked for special prayers on that day! The talks should be finished about mid-week and then they will go into the proposals that are to go to the Holy Father. After the proposals are made they will be discussed and voted upon as recommendations to the Holy Father. The Synod is in session from October 2-23, 2005.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 1:03 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

In 2003 for the Formator School held in Rome I was asked to prepare and present a History of the Pacific Province. Recent events have forced the Province to close, so I did some editing and added a new conclusion. It is a rich and wonderful history with a sad ending. The Mission of St. Gaspar continues out here on the West Coast. The Document with its new ending is posted here.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 2:06 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Yesterday was the Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood. At the parish we are transfering the feast to Sunday, but we celebrated here in the heartland, the land of the cross-tipped churches, at St. Charles Center.

I tried several time to blog yesterday, but was unable. RC's email this morning explained why. Anyway, blessings on the feast, and if you are anywhere near Newark, come and celebrate.

Today, it is a drive across Ohio and Indiana to Midway Airport in Chicago for the flight home.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 3:12 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Today, a leisurely drive across the heart of Indiana, from Rensselaer, IN to Carthagena, OH. Tomorrow is the celebration of the Solemnity of the Precious Blood at St. Charles Center. It includes the celebration of many jubilees and the welcoming of new members of the the Cincinnati Province.

Today is my last day as a member of the Province of the Pacific.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 6:41 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Congratulations to Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S. who was today ordained to the order of Deacon at his home parish of St. Barnabas in Alameda. It was a fitting celebration of the Feast of St. Barnabas for the Parish family, for Steve's family and for the Precious Blood family who served the parish for 50 years. I had the pleasure of serving as Steve's Formation director.

Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PPS. and Deacon Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S.

Bishop Allen Vigneron of the Oakland Diocese ordains our newest Deacon

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 1:21 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

...is the 15th anniversary of my Incorporation (Profession) as a Missionary of the Precious Blood. (May 8, 1990)

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:47 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

HRI going well. Applying the Gospel to daily life, or at least trying.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 3:09 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Today is the Solemnity of St. Maria de Mattias, Foundress of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
Today is her 200th birthday.

Go to my post on my old blog on this day for more information about her..

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 7:52 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

St. Gaspar was born January 6, 1786.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 10:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

100% of the funds collected for Disaster relief at St. Edward Parish will be sent directly to our CPPS parish in Tamil Nadu.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 9:34 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

CPPS Parish in Tamil Nadu, India, Hit by Tidal Wave

Visitors to our site already know of the devastating earthquake and tidal wave that has struck India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and other countries. One of the parishes of the Indian Vicariate was affected by the tidal wave. Fr. Michael Peter's of the Vicariate writes:

"Sadras where our missionaries are working is badly hit by the flood this morning arround 6.40 AM and waters entered the Church and ruined the Church very badly and many died and many huts there in the village were washed away in the flood. Our missionaries, Fr. Irudayaraj and Arockiaraj, escaped from the flood miraculously. The presbytery and their vehicles are damaged. Vehicles are carried away in the waters. But the missionaries are now safe at Thirukazhagu Kunram, about 18 Km from Sadras. We have no further news. I ask you of your prayers."

The above message arrive at the Generalate at about 1300 hrs on 26 December. Indeed, let us keep our brothers and all affected by this massive disaster in our prayers.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:35 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

The Warrenville meeting is over. It was eventful, historic, and set the agenda for the days ahead. I am taking a few days of rest and relaxation at my old place in Chicago, seeing friends and getting caught up on some writing. I return home Wednesday for a council meeting and then back to the parish. I have been browsing through some documents on Gaspar, searching for the names of some of his friends and companions. One of them may inspire the choice of a name for the new puppy.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 7:42 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Fr. Barry Fischer, C.PP.S., Moderator General of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, preached at St. Edward Catholic Church, Newark, CA on the Feast of St. Gaspar del Bufalo.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 7:02 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

Today is the feast of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, the great priest and founder, the Apostle of the Most Precious Blood. Blessings on the day.

I am extremely happy that on his feast I am doing what he called us to, the preaching of missions and retreats. The retreat is going well, and the former confreres are most gracious.

I occurs to me that when first hearing the call of God, I may have been just a bit dyslexic. They are CSSP and we are CPPS.

To learn more about St. Gaspar, just click on the pictures above, or click here.

Scan the links on the right side bar for information about his letters or the Chronology of his life.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 7:43 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

We have an extraordinary General Assembly going on over in Rome right now. You can check for updates each day here, and there might be occasional documents posted here.

Prayers for the success of the assembly would be appreciated by all.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 9:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

I will be away for the CPPS cluster meeting. Then for a retreat with the teachers from here at the parish school. Both events are being held somewhat serendipitously back to back at the same retreat house.

It is a tough job, but someone has to do it. The retreat house sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Cruz.

The computer is staying home, but the camera is going. So check back on Thursday or Friday for a report.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 8:40 AM | TrackBack

Fr. Raymond Cera, C.PP.S. September 17, 1920 � August 13, 2004

Fr. Raymond Cera, C.PP.S., 83, died at 4:28 a.m. on August 13, 2004, in the infirmary at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio. He had been in failing health for the past several months.

Fr. Cera was born on Sept. 17, 1920, in Lorain, Ohio, to Louis and Anna Cera. He entered the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1940 and was ordained on Feb. 2, 1946.

Much of Fr. Cera�s ministry was dedicated to the field of education at St. Joseph�s College, Rensselaer, IN, where he was professor of modern languages for many years. While at the college, Fr. Cera was also engaged in parish ministry and served for a time as Director of Seminarians. For three years he served the Precious Blood Community as Secretary General in Rome.

Fr. Cera dedicated much of his life to translating from Italian into English the thousands of letters and materials written by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, and other documentation about the saint�s life so that the English-speaking world could appreciate and learn from this great apostle of the Precious Blood. One of Fr. Cera�s last projects was a collection of his talks about the life of St. Gaspar.

Fr. Cera shared his knowledge in many ways, teaching groups about St. Gaspar, submitting translations to the Community newsletter, and collaborating on other projects, always freely sharing what he had worked so hard to learn.

Fr. Cera was a natural teacher. When he spoke of the saint, his eyes would shine and his voice took on a storybook quality. He never seemed to tire of the subject to which he had devoted his scholarly life, and his enthusiasm spread to any who heard him speak about St. Gaspar.

Fr. Cera also was devoted to his family. It was their tradition to spend New Year�s Eve together. In later years, when poor health prevented him from traveling, he was still a part of the family circle as he called them at midnight, on the dot.

His survivors include two sisters and a brother-in-law, Clarice and Louis Broglio, and Laura Atkins, all of Lorain; a brother, John Cera, Rockville, Md., and several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Three brothers, Lucius, Reno and Louis Jr., and a brother-in-law, Bernard Atkins, are deceased.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Charles Center on Monday, August 16, 2004, at 2 p.m., the Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., officiating. Burial will follow in the Community cemetery.

Calling hours at St. Charles will be held Sunday from 1-5 and 7-9 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

Hogenkamp and Sons Funeral Home, Coldwater, is in charge of the arrangements.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 10:24 AM | TrackBack

The following was read at the beginning of the funeral Mass yesterday morning. Fr. Barry is our Moderator General in Rome.

Today we celebrate with love and gratitude a confrere who was very dear to all of us. I wish to pay my homage to a very good friend and to a true C.PP.S.er.

From the time Ray was my teacher at St. Joe College back in the �60s I admired him very much as a community member and dedicated professor. He taught me Spanish and gave me the necessary language skills so as to be able to face the challenges of mission in Latin America. But not only did he teach me the language skills, but he exuded a true love of language and inspired in me the desire to learn to express myself well in it. I had four years of Spanish with Ray and was his only fourth year Spanish student and that surely was something which also bonded us.

With Ray�s passing, the Congregation has lost one of her greats. He will be remembered by many in the Congregation as a man truly dedicated to the community and above all, in love with our Founder, St. Gaspar. His translations of St. Gaspar�s letters and other works concerning our Founder is invaluable. It was truly a monumental work which he continued for as long as he possibly could, up to a short time before his death. Through this work of love, many of our English-speaking members have come to know our Founder better. Our young men in formation for years have benefited from Fr.Ray�s conferences on St. Gaspar life and works. He brought our Founder alive for them and his love for Gaspar was contagious! THANK YOU, Fr. Ray, for the legacy you have left us. I bet his meeting with St. Gaspar was a very joy-filled one! And Ray probably had more than one question of clarification for our Founder!

From heaven Fr. Ray will continue to care for the Congregation he loved so much, for Gaspar�s sons. We hold you in our hearts, dear friend and confrere. ARRIVADERCI IL CIELO! (Till we meet again in heaven!).

Fr. Barry Fischer, C.PP.S.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 10:09 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Tomorrow we celebrate our 189th birthday. We were founded August 15, 1815. Let us rejoice and be glad.

I would ask you to pray in a special way for the up and coming General Assembly meeting in Rome in September. It definitely will be a defining moment in our history.

St. Gaspar, the Apostle of the Precious Blood, pray for us.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 9:36 AM | TrackBack

I leave in the morning for Chicago. Sunday, 10:00am mass at St. John's in Whiting, IN will be the celebration of Br. Brian Boyle's Definitive Incorporation(Final Profession). Then Fr. Angelo and I will drive to Ohio where Monday at 2:00pm we will celebrate the life of Fr. Ray Cera. Monday night I fly back to California. I get home early Tuesday morning. A few friends and family are coming over that night for a Birthday BBQ. I will be 51.

I am still living in the guest room at the parish while the room is painted, the carpet has been taken up which reveals a beautiful hardwood floor which we will keep. Book cases are arriving soon, and I still need to buy a bed.

The first full week at the parish is drawing to a close. It is an amazing parish. I will be back to blogging soon.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 10:17 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Please remember in prayer the soul of our brother,

Father Raymond Cera, C.PP.S.

He was called to his new life in Christ on Friday, August 13, 2004. Ray was born on September 17, 1920, in Lorain, Ohio, and was ordained on February 2, 1946.

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 15, from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 16, at 2 p.m. in Assumption Chapel at St. Charles Center. Interment will follow in the Community Cemetery.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 12:56 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The Chant CD is finished and available. It can be ordered directly from Fr. Heiman.

The cost is $10.00 and $2.00 for postage.

If you are anywhere near Newark, CA you can pick up a copy from me.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:39 AM | TrackBack

Pictures from the retreat.

The retreat talks -- A+
The location -- A+
The Comraderie -- A+
The meals -- A+
Having long spaces of free time for prayer and reflection -- priceless
The Liturgies -- C-

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:34 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

The same issue of the Catholic Voice has some information about Retrouvaille.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 10:25 AM | TrackBack

I recieved word in tonight's email that Fr. Cera is in critical condition in the hospital back in Ohio.

Fr. Cera is the wonderful priest, great friend, translator of all of St. Gaspar's letters.

Please keep him in your prayers

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 9:42 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

The Catholic Voice is the paper of the Diocese of Oakland where I am now stationed. Their current issue has an article about my return to St. Edward.

The retreat was fine. More about that later.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 9:39 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The recently recorded Chant CD may be ordered from Fr. Larry Heiman, CPPS. The Cds will be $10.00 each with $2.00 shipping.

I ordered a whole bunch for possible Christmas gifts. If you are on my Christmas gift list and want one before Christmas, let me know.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 12:02 PM | TrackBack

Select pictures from the Chant institute and the recording
I took more than 300 pictures during the week and a half I was in Rensselaer. The link is to about 26 of my favorite pictures.

It was such an incredible week. I am going to do my best to be back next year. There is no one quite like Fr. Larry Heiman, CPPS. He is such a treasure.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 7:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood
July 1

Feast instituted in 1848, Pius IX, First Class Feast, 1934, Pius XI, 19th centenary of the redemption; After the Second Vatican Council it was joined to the feast of Corpus Christi, changing that feast to the Solemnity of the Body and Blood. The Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood is still observed in Precious Blood Communities.

Introit
By your Blood, O Lord, you have redeemed us from every tribe and tongue, from every nation and people: you have made us into the kingdom of God. (Rev 5:9-10)

Opening Prayer

Father,
by the blood of your Son
you have set all men free and saved us from death.
Continue your work of love within us,
that by constantly celebrating the mystery of our salvation
we may reach the eternal life it promises.
We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, One God
For ever and ever.
Amen.

First Reading
Exodus 12:21 27 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them, "Select lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood which is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to slay the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to slay you. You shall observe this rite as an ordinance for you and for your sons for ever. And when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he slew the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8,11

R./ You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits--

The Lord who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

The LORD works vindication and justice
for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

Second Reading
Hebrews 9:11 15 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

Gospel
Mark 14:12 16, 22-26 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?" And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Prayer Over The Gifts
Lord,
by offering these gifts in this Eucharist
may we come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant,
find salvation in the sprinkling of his blood
and draw closer to the kingdom
where he is Lord for ever and ever.
Amen.

Preface
Father, all powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Him you sent into this world,
that, as paschal victim,
he might free all people from the power of evil,
and redeem the lost sheep
cleansed from all sin in his Precious Blood.
All who have washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb
will follow him,
and share in eternal glory.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Communion
The cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ; and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. (1 Cor 10:16)

Prayer After Communion
Lord you renew us with the food and drink of salvation.
May the Blood of our Savior
be for us a fountain of water
springing up to eternal life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 10:06 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Date: July 1, 2004

Dear Precious Blood Network:

A vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is expected to occur in the Senate as early as mid-July. The measure, introduced as S.J. Res. 30 by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Co), reads as follows: "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any state, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."

This proposed amendment leaves legislative decisions on civil unions or domestic relationships up to the state legislatures.

Opponents to the amendment are expected to mount a filibuster, keeping the issue from a vote. Bishop Wilton Gregory and the USCCB offices ask that the following message be sent to your two U.S. Senators:

Do not allow a filibuster on the Federal Marriage Amendment so that the substance of the amendment can be voted on.

For more information please see: Click here Thank you!

Stephanie Mertens, ASC

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 9:27 AM | TrackBack

....say a little prayer for me tomorrow. I am asked to cantor one of the more intricate, difficult and most beautiful passages in the entire Gradual. The Messine Paleography is quite beautiful, but quite a turn of the vocal chords. The Improperia from Good Friday is probably one of the oldest pieces of chant we have, since some of it is still in Greek. I am a bit amazed that Fr. Heiman has put this kind of trust in me.

No blogging until I get back to Chicago late Wednesday.

Thursday is the Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood in our community Ordo

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 8:26 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Practice, practice, practice.

Tomorrow we record a new CD of Lenten and Triduum Chants.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 12:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Click on the Picture of the new Fr. Jeff Kirch giving me the sign of peace at his recent ordination. That should take you to the rest of the pictures of his ordination weekend.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 12:25 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

It is not everyday you get to celebrate liturgies like this, but here we are five days into this chant workshop and the liturgies have been pretty special. This music is definitely made for prayer. I had never sung Mass IX before and it is exceptionally beautiful.

Fr. Lawrence Heiman, C.PP.S.

Fr. Larry Heiman, CPPS is a treasure. He is 86, and getting a bit frail, but when he conducts the chant he has the energy of a youth. He embodies the prayer and is a wonder to observe.

Today he chanted the entire liturgy. It was my privilege to assist him, and to preach.

Here is the music for today, for the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Most of the music came from the feast day as it is found in the Proper oif Saints in the Graduale Romanum.

Introit: De Ventre, Graduale Romanum(GR) 570
Sign of the Cross, Chanted, Sacramentary
Kyrie: Mass IX, GR
Gloria: Mass IX, GR
Collect and Orations for the Feast, chanted
Psalm: Lectionary Text chanted in 7th Mode
Alleluia: Alleluia, Tu Puer, GR 571
Credo III
Sanctus: Mass IX
Eucharistic Prayer II, chanted, Sacramentary
Mortem Tuam, GR
Amen: Chant, Sacramentary
The Lords�s Prayer, chant
Agnus Dei, Mass IX
Communion, Tu Puer, GR 572
Ite Missa Est, Chanted, Mass IX

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 5:11 PM | TrackBack

This Saturday, June 26th, at 10:30 in the morning (CST), Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William Higi in the chapel of St. Joseph�s College, Rensselaer, Indiana.

Please join me in praying for Jeff as he furthers his baptismal commitment to following Jesus as a priest and member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. If you would like to drop a note of support and congratulations to Jeff you can do so in the comment box.

For his first assignment the new Fr. Jeffrey Kirch has been appointed to serve in Campus Ministry at St. Joseph�s College and as part-time faculty member.

We pray that through his ministry as a priest Jeff may always follow the example of servant leadership which has been revealed to us through Jesus Christ and the outpouring of His Precious Blood.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:34 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

The Mission Cross

Fr. Ron Wiecek, CPPS, Provincial Director, presents the Mission Cross to Steve

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 11:25 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

It is wrap up time. There is a council meeting this morning, finish some laundry and packing, and a flight to Chicago.

Tomorrow is the drive to Indiana. It is time to go to school again.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 8:11 AM | TrackBack

Steve makes his Definitive Incorporation this evening. Other religious communities refer to this as final vows. In the mIssionaries of the Precious Blood we celebrate his life long commitment to and incorporation into the community.

Father in heaven,
source of all holiness,
creator of the human race,
your love for us was so great
that you gave us a share in your own divine life.
Neither the sin of Adam
nor even the sins of the whole world
could alter your loving purpose.

In the dawn of history
you gave us Abel as an example of holiness.
Later, from your beloved Hebrew people
you raised up men and women
graced with every virtue.

Foremost among them all stands Mary,
the ever-virgin daughter of Zion.
From her pure womb was born Jesus Christ,
your eternal Word, the Savior of the world'.

You sent him, Father, as our pattern of holiness.
He became poor to make us rich,
a slave to set us free.
With love no words can tell
he redeemed the world by his paschal mystery
and won from you the gifts of the Spirit
to sanctify his Church.

The voice of the Spirit has drawn
countless numbers of your children
to follow in the footsteps of your Son.
They leave all things
to be one with you in the bonds of love
and give themselves wholly to your service
and the service of all your people.

Look with favor, then,
on the one who has heard your call.
Send him the Spirit of holiness;
help him to fulfill in faith
what you have enabled him to promise in joy.
Keep always before his eyes Christ, the divine teacher.

May he build up the Church
by the holiness of his life,
advance the salvation of the world,
and stand as a sign of the blessings that are to come.
Lord, protect and guide this servant of yours.

At the judgment seat of your Son
be yourself his great reward.
Give him the joy of vows fulfilled.
Made perfect in your love,
may he rejoice in the communion of your saints
and praise you forever in their company.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 7:59 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Congratulations to the Precious Blood Companions who have renewed their Covenant with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. They are pictured here after the ceremony in St. Barnabas Church last night with their director, Fr. James Sloan, CPPS.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 7:42 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The annual Business and Electoral Assembly of the Pacific Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood begins tomorrow in Alameda, CA. As Provincial Secretary I will be typing furiously over the next few days keeping the minutes of the assembly. The last few days have been spent preparing the final details of the liturgies. I am also the community liturgist, among other jobs I have.

Tuesday is for reports. Wednesday is a day of enrichment for the community and our lay companions. On Wednesday night the Campanions renew their covenant with us. Thurday is for more business and for the Definitive Incorporation (Life-long commitment) of Steve Dos Santos.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 8:53 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Canonization of St. Gaspar del Bufalo.

There will be a triple celebration tomorrow at St. Edward Parish, Newark, CA celebrating the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, The 50th anniversary of St. Gaspar's Canonization, and the 25th anniversary of the presence of the Precious Blood Missionaries at St. Edward. I will also be introduced as thir new pastor.

Bishop John Cummins, retired Bishop of Oakland will preside. The Homilist will be the Very Rev. Ronald Wiecek, C.PP.S., Provincial Director.

Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at 1:56 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack