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| Cardinal Raymond L. Burke delivering his address at Ss Cyril & Methodius Parish in Sterling Heights, MIchigan where Holy Trinity Apostolate's 2012 Lenten Symposium was held. |
I was grateful to be able to attend the 15th Annual Lenten Symposium by Holy Trinity Apostolate in nearby Sterling Heights on March 13th. It was also a privilege to be able to photograph the event speakers. Over 1000 were in attendance. The theme was "The Christian Vocation: A Call to Martyrdom."
It started with Mass at 8:00 AM, celebrated by Cardinal Burke. Ss Cyril & Methodius is an ethnic Slovak parish in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights. What is interesting to note about the parish is that there may be more non-Slovaks there. People are drawn by the simple, more traditional character of the parish where there are literally well over 100 altar boys (females do not serve at Mass in this parish, but there are no shortage of activities for their involvement in other things).
The parish has one of the highest vocation rates in the Archdiocese of Detroit. It seems each year there are one or two men from this parish being ordained. Truly, if anyone is wanting to know how to increase vocations, dioceses should be studying those parishes that have high rates. You won't find gimmicks and campaigns drawing them. What you will find is a focus on the spiritual life - daily Mass, Adoration, Marian devotion, and wholesome spiritual reading with an emphasis on Scripture, saints, and church docs.
Below are some pictures I took at the event as an attendee.
What I want to direct your attention to is that EWTN and HTA collaborated so that what was taped of Cardinal Burke will be aired this Sunday on EWTN. Note that it says Part 1. I believe the talk may be broken up into two segments, each 30 minutes during the "Vaticano" time slot.
EWTN On Location: Holy Trinity Apostolate - Lenten Symposium (Talk 1)
Sun. Mar. 25 at 10 AM ET"Holy Trinity Apostolate presents their 15th Annual Lenten Symposium on The Christian Vocation: The Call to Martyrdom. Guest speakers include: Raymond Cardinal Burke, Mother Margaret Georgina Patton, O.S.B., Mother Olivia-Frances Arnold, O.S.B., Joan Lewis - EWTN Vatican Correspondent, The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron – Archbishop of Detroit, The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda - Bishop of Gaylord, MI, Msgr. John A. Abruzzese, S.T.D., and Fr. John G. Dumas."
It's now on the EWTN Homepage: http://www.ewtn.com
One note is that Bishop Hebda could not make it and, in his place, Fr. Jacques Daley, OSB, took his place.
CD's and DVD's are available for purchase on all talks at the website for Holy Trinity Apostolate. Keep in mind that when you make a purchase you are helping the apostolate with costs required to make these things, other proceeds go to bringing more great speakers to other events. So, please consider a purchase. Regrettably, there is no online option to buy - you have to print out the form and mail it in with your payment. For those who want everything with the click of a button, it's one more thing to offer up during Lent - LOL.
Immediately after Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was carried by Cardinal Burke to the parish chapel where Adoration took place throughout the day.
Vic Faust, who is a local news anchor with the ABC affiliate, was the event MC and did a great job, as always.
First up was Fr. John G. Dumas, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, who spoke on The Mystery of Redemption and Salvific Suffering
Next up were Mother Margaret Georgina Patton, O.S.B. and Mother Olivia-Frances Arnold, O.S.B. who talked about "Cultivating a Sacred Space as a Place of Martyrdom: A Monastic Witness". If that name Georgina Patton sounds interesting, it's not your imagination. She is related to General George Patton (granddaughter).
Fr. Jacques Daley, O.S.B. spoke in place of Bishop Hebda of Gaylord on White Martyrdom
After lunch it was Cardinal Raymond Burke on Christian Martyrdom in the Thought of the Servant of God, Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
Cardinal Burke permitted me to photograph his ring.
Following Joan Lewis was Msgr. John A. Abruzzesse, S.T. D. who spoke on "Becoming the Instrument of Your Martyrdom: Reflections on the Life and Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales". Msgr. Abruzzesse is the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City.
I could not get all of those sitting on the panel because of how they were seated. In this photo we see (left to right), Fr. Jacques Daley, O.S.B., Cardinal Burke, Msgr. Abruzzesse, Mother Olivia-Frances Arnold, O.S.B, and next to her (on screen), Mother Margaret Georgina Patton.
Local ABC News affiliate, WXYZ, did a brief story on Cardinal Burke's appearance at the conference. Cardinal Burke is the Prefect for the Apostolic Signatura (some liken it to the Church's "supreme court"). His Eminence is also a member of numerous other dicastries, committees and councils.
The event closed with Benediction, led by Fr. Lee Acervo. He is the associate at St. Joan of Arc in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and he has a blog! Add it to your feed, you won't be disappointed.
Here are just some of those men who serve at the altar
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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
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