Sunday: Mass with Bishop Olmsted on EWTN

It's nice to see EWTN spreading it's wings around the country, bringing us some of the beautiful liturgies out there. You may recall some months ago, they brought us the Mass from St. John Cantius in Chicago. Now, this Sunday at 11:30 (assumed to be local time or 1:30 EST), they will broadcast a Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas Olmstead.

Musica Sacra brings us details, as follows:

On March 26th at 11:30am Eastern time, the Holy Mass will be shown from Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in the Diocese of Phoenix on EWTN. The Most Rev. Thomas Olmsted will be Celebrant. The Cathedral Schola, which sings the Solemn Mass every Sunday at 11:00am, will sing the Introit, Communio and the Ordinary of the Mass, along with some solid Catholic hymns. The Schola is made up of professional musicians.

Remember, just because you don't have cable doesn't mean you can't watch this. If you are accessing the internet with some kind of broadband, like SBC, you can watch it right online. Just go to EWTN, and place your cursor over "Television" in the upper left hand side of the menubar and select Live-TV, followed by a connection. I'm not sure which connection is best for the lower end of high speed. It might take a couple minutes to buffer and if the video isn't that good, you'll still be able to listen from your PC.

Bishop Olmstead has done wonders in the Phoenix area. This is a bishop who understood that a diocese needs cloistered nuns who would be the fuel for the engine. Not many today understand the power of prayer.

On a related note, recall that when Mother Angelica's order was getting too big - a pure grace of God - it had to spread it's wings. This resulted in Bishop Olmsted giving a small handful of sisters from Mother's order a new home in the Phoenix diocese where the are now growing!

Related reading on Bishop Olmsted, and on the Poor Clares in Phoenix:

Bishop Finn - on a roll - new Benedictine Community (Te Deum - scroll down to read about the Poor Clares in Phoenix)

Update on Desert Nuns (Te Deum)

Bishop Olmstead Blesses future home of Poor Clares (Catholic Sun)

Bishop in the Desert: An IgnatiusInsight.com Interview (Ignatius Insight)

New Phoenix Bishop Shows Impressive Leadership - Dares to Directly Address Homosexuality(LifeSite)

Olmsted's Stamp on Diocese (East Valley Tribune)

Last, but not least, is the website of the Desert Nuns - something worth checking in on now and them. They have a section of photos showing their progress.

Bishop Olmsted blesses future home of the "Desert Nuns"

Update on the Desert Nuns

Last night on EWTN's Life on the Rock, the Desert Nuns returned to pay a visit and provide an update on their progress on the outskirts of Phoenix, AZ.

A cloister can only get so big before something needs to give. Typically, once a maximum number is reached, 4-5 nuns will leave the original motherhouse and create a new cloister. This is how an order grows. Well, Mother Angelica's order was bursting at its seams with young women called to a life of prayer. Soooooo, off they went - 5 sisters - out into the desert, where they were invited by Bishop Thomas Olmstead. This is one smart bishop and he understands that a bunch of women in a cloister is nothing to scoff at. It is a power house of prayer that can benefit the entire community, as well as the Church.

From their website:

Our Founding Monastery (Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Alabama) is overflowing with vocations. We were literally bursting at the seams with over 40 Sisters! And so, following the lead of Divine Providence and at the kind invitation of the Bishop of Phoenix, Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, we have been blessed with the awesome opportunity to establish a Throne for Our Eucharistic King in the West!

The sisters were answering questions about vocations and one question that always seems to come up, is how to make parents and friends understand. One of them replied that it is not necessary to make them understand, but in time many learn to accept and understand. Some soon realize they did not lose a daughter, but gained 40 of them.

Something to ponder if you are in this situation, is something my father taught me from when I was very young.

He would ask, "who do you love the most?"

I would respond, "I love you and mom the same!"

His response: "Wrong answer....you should always say you love God the most. Family comes second."

Many parents do not understand and family can make it difficult. This can be the very first test and in the end it strengthens the character. He must be first in all that we do, whether it is following our hearts into a vocation, or raising a family, or living a single life.

The sisters also recommended that young people discerning spend plenty of time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. This is so true. When you are stilled by the silence of adoration, and you go freqently, it is when God begins to really poor graces down that are needed. It comes in the form of strength to work through that which is difficult. It comes in the form of love and understanding for those who are struggling with your decision. You can listen to their concerns, and listen with a compassionate ear. Smile, pray for them, then go where your heart leads you regardless.


They have a running photo section and I would encourage you to click the picture, go to their website and bookmark it for future updates. One young woman just joined them and they ask for our prayers for her as she goes through formation.