CFP International Headquarters Blessed by Bishop

We at the Confraternity of Penitents headquarters truly live in a blessed place. And we are so grateful to God for the graces He is giving to us here.

At 1 pm on Monday, November 4, the Feast of Saint Charles Borromeo (who also lived the Rule of 1221 as a bishop and cardinal), Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend Indiana blessed our CFP international headquarters. Several CFP members in the local Our Lady, Cause of Our Joy, Chapter of the Confraternity of Penitents attended and assisted with the ceremony and pot luck collation afterwards.

Collation being prepared before the blessing. 

 Also attending were the Franciscan Brothers Minor assigned to the local friary two blocks up the street and members of the Schoenle family which donated the house and property to the Diocese for use by the Confraternity of Penitents.

Distribution of Blessing Program

Here is the text of the Blessing Ceremony and some photos. If you would like a print version of this blessing, please email us at copenitents@yahoo.com and we will send one right out to you.

Blessing begins in house chapel

Blessing of the Home of the Confraternity of Penitents   Fort Wayne, IN         November 4, 2013

Holy water is prepared.  Begin by singing “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”

BISHOP: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All:  Amen.

BISHOP: May the grace and peace of Christ be with you all.

All: And with your spirit.

BISHOP:  Brothers and sisters, when Christ took flesh through the Blessed Virgin Mary, He made his home with us.  Let us now pray that He will enter this home and these grounds and bless them with His presence.  May He always be here among you; may He nurture your love for each other, share in your joys, comfort you in your sorrows.  Inspired by His teaching and example, seek to make this home before all else a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.

Reading (Mt 5:1-12a)

Paul Schoenle, member of the family which donated the house and property, does the reading

Reader:     Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

Pause in silence for a few moments.

Psalm 51 (may be chanted)

R./            Create a clean heart in me, O God.

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Cast me not out from your presence,

and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R./            Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,

and a willing spirit sustain in me.

I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners shall return to you.

R./            Create a clean heart in me, O God.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;

should I offer a holocaust, you would not accept it.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;

a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R./            Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Intercessions

Bishop:    Brothers and sisters, let us ask God, our all-powerful Father, that this place will contribute to the building up of His kingdom and join us to Christ in faith and charity.

Reader:

·          For the leadership of Pope Francis and for all Bishops, priests, deacons, and religious who are following Christ through fidelity to His Church, we pray to the Lord.

·          In thanksgiving for Bishop Rhoades inviting the Confraternity of Penitents to come to this diocese, giving the Confraternity use of this house and property for its international headquarters, and promoting our mission of spreading conversion throughout the world.  May God bless his ministry and guidance, we pray to the Lord.

·          For the members, associates, affiliates, and friends of the Confraternity of Penitents, that all will remain true to the vocation to which the Lord has called them, we pray to the Lord.

·          For the repose of the souls of Paul Schoenle and his wife Donna and for blessings upon all the Schoenle family who so graciously made this house and property available to the Diocese for use in evangelization and ministry.

·          For all those in need of love, support, and compassion, that God’s graces through others and through us will be made evident, we pray to the Lord.

·          For all in need of conversion, including ourselves, we pray to the Lord.

·          In gratitude for God’s many blessings in the past, present, and future, we pray to the Lord.

BLESSING

Heavenly Father, almighty everlasting God, be close to Your servants who move into this home and ask for Your blessing today.

At our lowly coming, be pleased to bless  and sanctify  this house and these grounds, as You once were pleased to bless the home of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

May this place be a restful shelter of health, purity, and self-control. In imitation of Saint Francis, may there prevail here a spirit of humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the commandments, and gratitude to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Within these walls, let Your angels of light preside and stand watch over those who live and visit here. May the peace of Christ be their shelter when they are at home, their companion when they are away, and their welcome guest when they return.

And may Your blessing remain on this place now and always, so that Your servants may at last be received into the eternal dwelling You have prepared for them. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

The home and grounds are sprinkled with holy water. During the procession through the property, a litany will be chanted.

 

Andy Passino,who did much renovation work, leads the procession with the San Damiano Crucifix.

Bob Schutt, who has done much of the renovation work, carries the statue of Our Lady in the procession.

Processing through the ground behind the house

CONCLUDING RITE

BISHOP:  May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and may the word of Christ in all its richness dwell in us, so that whatever we do in word and in deed, we will do in the name of the Lord.

All:  Amen.

BISHOP:  The Lord be with you.

All:  And with your spirit.

BISHOP:  May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, X and the Holy Spirit, come upon you and remain with you for ever.

All: Amen.

BISHOP: Go in peace.

All: Thanks be to God.

Concluding blessing in front of CFP Holy Angels Gift Shop and Office housed in renovated garage behind Bishop Rhoades.

“Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” is sung as a closing hymn. 

Bishop Kevin Rhoades with Madeline Pecora Nugent and Jim Nugent, caretakers of the property and CFP headquarters.

Two great grandchildren of Paul and Donna Schoenle, whose family donated the house and property to the Diocese for use by the Confraternity of Penitents. Yum! Those brownies were good!

Thank you, Lord, for such a beautiful day and for all Your blessings!