From the desk of Fr. Mike...

 

Recent news from the diocese

                     Even without a sitting bishop, the Diocese of Fresno moves along.  Along with the recent successful clergy convocation on the New Roman Missal, the local Church continues to grow and serve God's people in many ways.

                     As far as new churches being built, St. Peter's Church in Lemoore is under construction and is expected to be completed by the June 29, 2011, on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.  If a bishop is not yet named, Msgr. Myron Cotta, Diocesan Administrator will bless and dedicate the new church, which when completed, will seat nearly 1500 people, a far cry from the little church that now only seats 300 people.  St. Mary's Church in Fresno is now waiting for the final approval from the city of Fresno on their new church, and once given, will begin construction immediately.  Bishop Steinbock was able to bless and officiate at the groundbreaking that took place this past October 1st.  The Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Reedley is also completing its final stages the permit process before construction commences.  Bishop Steinbock was able to bless and officiate at their groundbreaking in early October.  All three new churches will replace the old and very small buildings now in use in their respective parishes.

St. Anthony Retreat Center in Three Rivers is still waiting for its final approval from the county of Tulare.  They are confident that that approval will come by the end of spring, and they too can move forward with constructing the new Youth Center, a long-time dream of so many.

 

Taken from Zenit.org ("The World seen from Rome")

The first U.S. convent for the feminine branch of the Norbertine Order was established in the Fresno Diocese with the solemn profession of nine sisters. The sisters, called "canonesses" due to the specific vocation of the Norbertines, made their final and perpetual vows on Jan. 29. This marked the transition of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph of Tehachapi, California, from the status of an "Association of the Faithful" to "full integration in the Norbertine Order, the Diocese of Fresno, California, and the Roman Catholic Church as an independent canonry of Norbertine canonesses," a press release explained.

The prioress, Mother Mary Augustine, stated, "This is truly a sacred and landmark day for our young community, a day that we have been looking forward to ever since our founding back in 1997."

Mother Mary Augustine, a native of New Caldonia, joined with four other women to found a new community on Oct. 7, 1997.

Father Eugene Joseph Hayes, the abbot of St. Michael's Abbey, their "mother abbey" in Orange, California, founded the community as a public association of the faithful.

In May of 2000, Bishop John Steinbock welcomed them as the first community of cloistered nuns in the Fresno Diocese. He set the date for the solemn professions for Jan. 29, 2011 along with the abbot general of the Norbertine Order.

The press release noted that the bishop "expressed on several occasions how much he was looking forward to the solemn professions." However, he was unable to be physically present as he passed away Dec. 5 of lung cancer.

Meanwhile, the community settled in the Tehachapi Mountains of California and increased to 20 members, some of whom entered as young as age 18.outh Center, long a dream of so many.