Auriesville 2016 Photo Log

After missing the last few years, the Hickman family participated in the 10.5 mile long Pilgrimage walk to the Shrine of the Jesuit Martyrs in Auriesville, NY.

It was a good day of faith, family and camaraderie.  The pilgrimage climaxed with a Solemn High Mass in the Shrine basilica on the very ground where several Jesuit priests were cruelly tortured and eventually killed by their Native captives.  In addition to the many converts these courageous missionary priests and faithful help make among the Indians of the region, a flower would also sprout from that very location, one nicknamed the "Lily of the Mohawks", Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.

Gothic Architecture and the Cathedral

The windows of the Gothic cathedral and the emphasis on light as it flooded these enormous and majestic buildings are perhaps its most salient characteristic. It makes sense, then, that the architect would have appreciated the theological significance of light. Saint Augustine had conceived of human beings' acquisition of knowledge in terms of divine illumination: God enlightens the mind with knowledge. This idea of God pouring light into the minds of men proved a potent metaphor for architects in the Gothic tradition, in which physical light was meant to evoke thoughts of its divine source.

Quoted from How The Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods, Jr., Ph.D.

New Seminary Travel-Log

A couple of weeks ago, the boys and I took a quick trip to Virginia to see the progress of the new FSSPX Seminary, witness the Consecration of the Bells (made by Paccard, a French family in the bell making business since the late 1700s) and the Blessing of the Cornerstone.  We were treated to a Pontifical High Mass, a conference from H.E. Bishop Bernard Fellay, and a tour of the construction site.  It was all quite a sight to behold.  A seminary of this architecture and scale has not been built in the United States for over a century.  It represents a great hope.

The Massive Construction Site

H.E.at the Consecration

The bells that will eventually live in the bell tower of the semniary marking the liturgical rhythm of the day in addition to the class schedule.  Bell 1: Marie Joseph.  Bell 2: Thomas.



H.E. is presented with a gift in homor of the jubilee of his Episcopal Consecration

Well, a bell of course!

Lunch served by seminarians

Projected move-in date: September 2015

A seminarian giving a tour

Enjoying a local vintage after a long day.  The winery?  'Veritas' of course.

Time left over for a couple good swims

   

All Saints Day Festivities

From Left to Right: St. Sebastian, St. Kateri, St, Juan Diego, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Streets, Little Nellie of Holy God and Blessed Jose

Enter St. Florian stage left

Blessed Jose with Fr. Soos

and with Fr. Gardner

First Holy Communion

Processional with First Communicants

Bearing a crown of flowers for Our Lady



Crowing Our Blessed Mother

Receiving Our Blessed Lord

Receiving the Brown Scapular

With Godparents