Update from Seminarian Andrew Rapoport

The following is a letter from seminarian Andrew Rapoport, FSSP, who recently visited Sacred Heart Church in Hollister and assisted our Chaplain Fr. Nicholas Milich at Mass:

Dear Monterey Latin Mass Community, 

It was a pleasure being able to visit for Mass on the Octave Day of the Nativity. It has been a while since I've informed the community on my progress here at the seminary, so a quick update is due. 

After spending a month at the FSSP parish in Vancouver, B.C. this past summer, I stared my sixth year of Seminary in August. My Fall semester went well. I had a number of different theology classes and Homiletics. Learning how to preach was challenging but I certainly enjoyed the experience. 

My second semester of the sixth year started this past week. My class schedule will be pretty busy. I have Bioethics, Theological Virtues, a class on the Sacrament of Penance, a music class and Scripture. 

I was informed recently by the Superior General that I have been approved for ordination to the Subdiaconate, the Diaconate and permanent incorporation into the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. The ordination to the Subdiaconate will be Feb. 11th. and the Diaconate ordination will be on March 25th., both are here in Nebraska. I ask that you please keep me in your prayers. These ordinations are open to the public, so if anyone from the community is interested in attending please let me know. 

This summer will be quite eventful for me. God willing, my whole class of ten will be visiting the Fraternity's seminary in Germany in June. While there, we will attend the priestly ordinations. We will do much sight seeing and have an opportunity to take part in the Chartres pilgrimage. 

After a month in Germany, I hope to take advantage of being in Europe and do some traveling of my own. I plan to visit Rome, Spain and Portugal. As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Fatima, I greatly look forward to visiting Our Lady's shrine. If time permits I will also visit the Portuguese islands of the Azores (I am part Portuguese and still have some distant relatives on the islands). 

After this time in Europe, I plan to go to Nigeria. One of my good friends, Deacon Charles Ike, is from Nigeria and will be ordained to the priesthood there. I volunteered to help with his ordination which will be on August 15th. During that time, I will help at the Fraternity's mission parish as well as help with a boys camp.

Following this busy summer, by God's grace I will return for my seventh and final year of seminary. 

I would like to thank you for the support you have given me these past years. The fundraiser which which was held last year was a great success; the money which was raised along with annual donations which I receive have been enough to cover my tuition for at least the rest of this year.

 I will need, however, to come up with the funds to cover my trip to Nigeria; this includes a travel visa, vaccinations and a flight from Europe to Nigeria. I would greatly appreciate any financial assistance that you might be willing to offer (no matter how small the donation). 

I greatly appreciate all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for me as I approach Holy Orders. Be assured of my prayers the Latin Mass Community. 

In Jesus and Mary, 

Andrew
.....................

NOTE: 
Fr. Andrew Rapoport, FSSP, was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on May 26th., 2018. You are welcome to watch a video of his ordination here, and read more about it here. Thank you to all who supported Fr. Rapoport throughout the years with prayer and financial help. 
If you would like to continue financially supporting Our Lady of Guadalupe seminary, please send donations to:

Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary
7880 West Denton Rd.,
P.O. Box 147
Denton, NE 68339

Restoring Sacred Heart Church - part 3

old choir loft railing

New choir loft railing

Here are before and after pictures of Sacred Heart Church's choir loft railing - a special thank you to Latin Mass parishioners Perry Hall and Adam Nannini for fabricating and installing the beautiful new railing this past week. Click the link below to see pictures from some of Sacred Heart’s construction, repair and improvement projects from this past year. Latin Mass parishioners have paid for and done repairs to and re-installment of the kneelers, repairs to the confessional, to the organ, restoration and installment of the altar, altar rail and altar steps, many other small repairs and improvements, plus the new choir loft railing is now compliant with safety laws. A huge thank you to all that have worked so hard to make our new parish home a more beautiful and safe environment for everyone~
https://goo.gl/photos/mWjXqGGEjvYo54fh7

Potluck thank you

Photo credit and thanks to Linda Renz

 

A huge thank you to Susie, Pam, Linda, and everyone that helped out hosting such a great 

potluck at the new home of our Latin Mass Community, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hollister.

Restoring Sacred Heart Church - part 2

Before the Monterey Latin Mass Community could move into our new home at Sacred Heart Catholic Church a lot of repairs and improvements needed to be made - our volunteers donated time, energy, and financial support to make this happen before the move in date. All work and supplies seen in the pictures below were generously donated in whole by the Monterey Latin Mass Community~

The Altar arrives, shipped from a consignor Back East. The Altar chosen was one 

that looked the most like the original Gothic High Altar in Sacred Heart Church.

The new-to-us Altar needed some TLC

It gets fixed up and a fresh coat of paint

It was a lot of hard work to get the Altar moved into the church and installed

Our Chaplain Fr. Milich stops by to check on progress - he has a lunch break with Adam Nannini and the other volunteers. Thanks so much to all those who did so much to help, but especially to Adam who coordinated and implemented the vast majority of the repairs and improvements in Sacred Heart Church~

Restoring Sacred Heart Church - part 1

Before the Monterey Latin Mass Community could move into our new home at Sacred Heart Catholic Church a lot of repairs and improvements needed to be made - our volunteers donated time, energy, and financial support to make this happen before the move in date. All work and supplies seen in the pictures below were generously donated in whole by the Monterey Latin Mass Community~

1/3 of all the kneelers in the church needed to be repaired and reinstalled

The building of the steps that will lead up to the High Altar

The vintage candlesticks purchased from the East Coast that look as close as possible 

to pictures of the ones that were on the original High Altar in Sacred Heart Church

Sung High Mass at our new home - Sacred Heart Catholic Church

On May 22nd., 2016, the Monterey Bay Area Latin Mass Community officially became part Saint Benedict’s Parish in Hollister, California. A Sung High Mass was followed by a taco feed reception in the courtyard of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The day before, the first Traditional Latin Mass at Sacred Heart Church in two generations was celebrated by our Chaplain Fr. Nicholas Milich after the blessing of the new High Altar. Many blessings and thanks to all who worked so hard to make this move happen~

Last Mass at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel

Today was our last Mass at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel. A huge thank you to the Queen of Heaven Cemetery management and staff for their charity and hospitality these past four years. We will be joining Saint Benedict’s Parish in Hollister as of our first Mass on May 22nd. After Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church all are welcome and encouraged to attend our taco feed reception, to meet and greet our new Parish staff and fellow parishioners.

Thank you to California Catholic Daily for posting a story about our move on their website, click here to view it.