St. Francis Catholic School - Episcopal Decree

24th February A.D. 2014

St. Francis Catholic School

+ EPISCOPAL DECREE +

"On the day 24th of month February, Lord year 2014, with the power by the given me law, I establish Conservative Catholic Girls School as a part of Saint Francis of Assisi Diocese, which is my and school managment common decision. It should be understood that diocese takes Conservative Catholic Girls School under it's wings for take care of growing in Roman Catholic Church. The group is called "St. Francis Catholic School".
Being under the wings of the diocese means that the area where the school is localized, is the diocesan territory. Under this decree, the Diocese reserves the exclusive right to exercise the liturgical celebrations on St. Francis Catholic School territories. A priest who wants to perform liturgical celebrations on the school territories, but he is not a member of the clergy of our diocese, is committed to the necessary and prior contact with the bishop of the diocese in order to obtain proper permission.
As a practical guardian, personal tutor I set Sister Wendy Aulder with role of Postulant. Sister duties are lead the girls and boys in St. Francis Catholic School, and help in daily duties associated with prayers.
In the close future will be established a Mother Superior for St. Francis Catholic School.
The decree is valid from the date of publication. Amen.

Cardinal Raphael Zimer

Bishop of Saint Francis of Assisi"

Welcome Father Rodrigo Alfonso

24th February A.D. 2014

Welcome Father Rodrigo Alfonso

We would like to announce we welcome Father Rodrigo Alfonso, who begins the priesthood formation. In the beginning Father Rodrigo is Novice Priest. Father is serving as a soldier in many military RP groups and in the end of formation Father will become his career as a military chaplain.

Some Father words:

"My name is Rodrigo. I have spent much of my time in SL with people in military RP groups. This is the reason why it is my wish to take God's word to every corner of SL. I've been fortunate enough to meet kind hearted people and it gives me satisfaction to be able to guide them spiritually. I've been in many military group both modern and old ones. You can find me helping in Oceana, Olds or Caenne also in any pirate sim. 

Please feel free to IM if you need to ask something I'll be pleased to help

God Bless you all."

Our diocese does not perform any sacraments, so there will be not any priest ordination, but we prepare special blessing ceremony for Father by which his formation will officialy start.

Blessing ceremony of Father Rodrigo Alfonso novitate will be held today, 24th February 2014, at 12:00 AM SLT in Saint Francis Cathedral (Mass with blessing). You are all welcome. 

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, 23rd February A.D. 2014

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr, St. Serenus, Gardener and Martyr

SAINT POLYCARP 

Bishop, Martyr

(+ 167)

        St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of St. John. He wrote to the Philippians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of heresy. When the apostate Marcion met St. Polycarp at Rome, he asked the aged Saint if he knew him. "Yes," St. Polycarp answered, "I know you for the first-born of Satan." These were the words of a Saint most loving and most charitable, and specially noted for his compassion to sinners. He hated heresy, because he loved God and man so much.

        In 167, persecution broke out in Smyrna. When Polycarp heard that his pursuers were at the door, he said, "The will of God be done; " and meeting them, he begged to be left alone for a little time, which he spent in prayer for "the Catholic Church throughout the world."

        He was brought to Smyrna early on Holy Saturday; and, as he entered, a voice was heard from heaven, "Polycarp, be strong." When the proconsul besought him to curse Christ and go free, Polycarp answered, "Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me wrong; how can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?" When he threatened him with fire, Polycarp told him this fire of his lasted but a little, while the fire prepared for the wicked lasted forever. At the stake he thanked God aloud for letting him drink of Christ's chalice. The fire was lighted, but it did him no hurt; so he was stabbed to the heart, and his dead body was burnt. "Then," say the writers of his acts, "we took up the bones, more precious than the richest jewels or gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, at which may God grant us to assemble with joy to celebrate the birthday of the martyr to his life in heaven!"

SAINT SERENUS 

Gardener and Martyr

(+ 307)

        Serenus was by birth a Grecian. He quitted estate, friends, and country to serve God its celibacy, penance, and prayer. With this design he bought a garden in Sirmium in Pannonia, which he cultivated with his own hands, and lived on the fruits and herbs it produced.

        One day there came thither a woman, with her two daughters. Serenus, seeing them come up, advised them to withdraw, and to conduct themselves in future as decency required in persons of their sex and condition. The woman, stung at our Saint's charitable remonstrance, retired in confusion, but resolved on revenging the supposed affront. She accordingly wrote to her husband that Serenus had insulted her.

        He, on receiving her letter, went to the emperor to demand justice, whereupon the emperor gave him a letter to the governor of the province to enable him to obtain satisfaction. The governor ordered Serenus to be immediately brought before him. Serenus, on hearing the charge, answered, "I remember that, some time ago, a lady came into my garden at an unseasonable hour, and I own I took the liberty to tell her it was against decency for one of her sex and quality to be abroad at such an hour." This plea of Serenus having put the officer to the blush for his wife's conduct, he dropped his prosecution.

        But the governor, suspecting by this answer that Serenus might be a Christian, began to question him, saying, "Who are you, and what is your religion?" Serenus, without hesitating one moment, answered, "I am a Christian. It seemed a while ago as if God rejected me as a stone unfit to enter His building, but He has the goodness to take me now to be placed in it; I am ready to suffer all things for His name, that I may have a part in His kingdom with His Saints" The governor, hearing this burst into rage and said, "Since you sought to elude by flight the emperor's edicts, and have positively refused to sacrifice to the gods, I condemn you for these crimes to lose your head."

        The sentence was no sooner pronounced than the Saint was carried off and beheaded, on the 23d of February, in 307.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

Readings:

• Book of Leviticus 19:1-2.17-18. 
• Psalms 103(102):1-2.3-4.8.10.12-13. 
• First Letter to the Corinthians 3:16-23. 
• Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:38-48. 

The Holy Mass will be celebrated by bishop c. Raphael Zimer at 

12:00 PM SLT in Saint Francis Cathedral

TELEPORT

IMPORTANT: Today is the last Sunday of month. Tradition of our diocese says that the last Sunday Mass of month is held in the style of old liturgy in Tridentine Rite (in Latin language). Gospel and Readings will be normally read in English language. The Holy Mass will be held on the High Altar of Holy Virgin.

Have a blessed Sunday!

Episcopal statement - DONATIONS

21st February A.D. 2014

EPISCOPAL STATEMENT

DONATIONS

Dear parishioners.

Due to unexpected financial problems, we suspend the construction of the new cathedral building.

Since today, every your donation will go for a tier for diocese parcels (Cathedral and Curia). The situation is the result of my RL issues. Every week we have to pay 2100L$. We have paid tier form our private pockets and your donations were allocated for diocese development (for example cathedral improvements, new buildings, images, cathedral furniture) - unfortunately, for some time, we have to resign from diocese detailed development and improvements and focus on collecting money for pay tier. In the worst case we will have to close our diocese. Please gather in Christ, pray for us, because this is trial time and moment of confrontation material and spiritual worlds.

We really look forward for your help...

God bless You all.
Cardinal Raphael Zimer
Bishop of Saint Francis of Assisi Diocese 

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, 16th February A.D. 2014

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 St. Onesimus, Disciple of St. Paul, Bl. John de Britto, martyr

 

SAINT ONESIMUS

Disciple of St. Paul

(1st century)

        He was a Phrygian by birth, slave to Philemon, a person of note of the city of Colossæ, converted to the faith by St. Paul. Having robbed his master and being obliged to fly, he providentially met with St. Paul, then a prisoner for the faith at Rome, who there converted and baptized him, and sent him with his canonical letter of recommendation to Philemon, by whom he was pardoned, set at liberty, and sent back to his spiritual father, whom he afterwards faithfully served.

       That apostle made him, with Tychicus, the bearer of his Epistle to the Colossians, and afterwards, as St. Jerome and other Fathers witness, a preacher of the Gospel and a bishop. He was crowned with martyrdom under Domitian in the year 95.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

BLESSED JOHN DE BRITTO

Martyr

(+ 1693)

        Don Pedro II. of Portugal, when a child, had among his little pages a modest boy of rich and princely parents. Much had John de Britto—for so was he called—to bear from his careless-living companions, to whom his holy life was a reproach. A terrible illness made him turn for aid to St. Francis Xavier, a Saint so well loved by the Portuguese; and when, in answer to his prayers, he recovered, his mother vested him for a year in the dress worn in those days by the Jesuit Fathers. From that time John's heart burned to follow the example of the Apostle of the Indies. He gained his wish.

        On December 17, 1662, he entered the novitiate of the Society at Lisbon; and eleven years later, in spite of the most determined opposition of his family and of the court, he left all to go to convert the Hindus of Madura. When Blessed John's mother knew that her son was going to the Indies, she used all her influence to prevent him leaving his own country, and persuaded the Papal Nuncio to interfere. "God, Who called me from the world into religious life, now calls me from Portugal to India," was the reply of the future martyr. "Not to answer the vocation as I ought, would be to provoke the justice of God. As long as I live, I shall never cease striving to gain a passage to India."

        For fourteen years he toiled, preaching, converting, baptizing multitudes, at the cost of privations, hardships, and persecutions. At last, after being seized, tortured, and nearly massacred by the heathens, he was banished from the country. Forced to return to Portugal, John once more broke through every obstacle, and went back again to his labor of love.

        Like St. John the Baptist, he died a victim to the anger of a guilty woman, whom a convert king had put aside, and, like the Precursor, he was beheaded after a painful imprisonment.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

Readings:

• Book of Sirach 15:15-20.
• Psalms 119(118):1-2.4-5.17-18.33-34. 
• First Letter to the Corinthians 2:6-10.
• Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:17-37. 

The Holy Mass will be celebrated by bishop c. Raphael Zimer at 

12:00 PM SLT in Saint Francis Cathedral

TELEPORT

Cardinal Bishop Raphael Zimer will also celebrate Consecration of the All Saints Church in City of Detriot Parish today at 10:00 AM SLT. All welcome.

Have a good Sunday!

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, 9th February A.D. 2014

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINT APOLLONIA, Virgin and martyr, Martyrs of Alexandria

At Alexandria, in 249, the mob rose in savage fury against the Christians. Metras, an old man, perished first. His eyes were pierced with reeds, and he was stoned to death. A woman named Quinta was the next victim. She was led to a heathen temple and bidden worship. She replied by cursing the false god again and again, and she too was stoned to death. After this the houses of the Christians were sacked and plundered. They took the spoiling of their goods with all joy.

        St. Apollonia, an aged virgin, was the most famous among the martyrs. Her teeth were beaten out; she was led outside the city, a huge fire was kindled, and she was told she must deny Christ, or else be burned alive. She was silent for a while, and then, moved by a special inspiration of the Holy Ghost, she leaped into the fire and died in its flames.

        The same courage showed itself the next year, when Decius became emperor, and the persecution grew till it seemed as if the very elect must fall away. The story of Dioscorus illustrates the courage of the Alexandrian Christians, and the esteem they had for martyrdom. He was a boy of fifteen. To the arguments of the judge he returned wise answers: he was proof against torture. His older companions were executed, but Dioscorus was spared on account of his tender years; yet the Christians could not bear to think that he had been deprived of the martyr's crown, except to receive it afterwards more gloriously. "Dioscorus," writes Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria at this time, "remains with us, reserved for some longer and greater combat."

        There were indeed many Christians who came, pale and trembling, to offer the heathen sacrifices. But the judges themselves were struck with horror at the multitudes who rushed to martyrdom. Women triumphed over torture, till at last the judges were glad to execute them at once and put an end to the ignominy of their own defeat.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

Readings:

• Book of Isaiah 58:7-10.
• Psalms 112(111):4-5.6-7.8-9.
• First Letter to the Corinthians 2:1-5.
• Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:13-16.

The Holy Mass will be celebrated by bishop c. Raphael Zimer at 

12:00 PM SLT in Saint Francis Cathedral

TELEPORT

You are very welcome. God bless You.

Masses and services schedule

Masses and services schedule

Saint Francis of Assisi Diocese

SAINT FRANCIS CATHEDRAL

Monday: Morning Prayer, 05:30 AM SLT, Evening Prayer 06:00 PM SLT, Cathedral

Tuesday: Morning Prayer, 05:30 AM SLT, Evening Prayer 06:00 PM SLT, Cathedral

Wednesday: Morning Prayer, 05:30 AM SLT, Mass in Extraordinary Form of RR (Tridentine Latin Mass), 12:00 PM SLT - NOT DAILY, informed by the notice, Mass is held in the Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua

Thursday: Adoration of the symbol of the Blessed Sacrament , Morning Prayer, 05:30 AM SLT, Cathedral

Friday: Morning Prayer, 05:30 AM SLT, Evening Prayer 06:00 PM SLT, Cathedral

Saturday: Mass at 12:00 PM SLT, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop C. Portal, Cathedral

Sunday: Mass at 12:00 PM SLT (08:00 PM GMT), Cathedral

TELEPORT TO THE CATHEDRAL

TELEPORT TO THE CHAPEL

Requiem Mass on the Day of Death - friend Matthew

05th February 2014

Requiem Mass on the Day of Death

friend Matthew

People in Christ.

Today, at 06:00 AM SLT bishop Raphael Zimer will visit Archdiocese of Worksan, where His Eminence will assist to Requiem Mass. The Mass will be celebrated by Eminence Stephen Byers, Archbishop of Woraksan.  

Eminence Byers RL neighbor, Matthew, passed away around 4am on today, 5th February, 2014.

Requiem Mass on the Day of Death will be celebrate in St. Michael's Cathedral at 6am SLT follow by Absolution.

The service is public.

Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua

3rd February 2014

CHAPEL OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA

*          *          *

+ DECREE +

3rd February

Lord Year 2014

The Curia, Saint Francis of Assisi Diocese

Lionheart Kiara

Lord told us to peach the Good Word. Today, 3rd day of February, Lord year 2014, I create the Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua in Saint Francis Cathedral. The chapel is established on the basis of Tridentine Rite, to promote and cherish the beauty of the liturgy of the Church fathers. As a patron of the chapel I establish Saint Anthony of Padua.

The chapel is located in Saint Francis Cathedral, on the right side of Main Altar of Holy Mother. 

I do not allow the celebration of the liturgy on two altars at the same time.

Thank you God for thy generous gifts. Thou art love.

Cardinal Raphael Zimer

Bishop of Saint Francis of Assisi Diocese

*          *          *

St. Anthony of Padua
Doctor of the Church

 Feastday: June 13
1195 - 1231

Saint Anthony was canonized (declared a saint) less than one year after his death.

There is perhaps no more loved and admired saint in the Catholic Church than Saint Anthony of Padua, a Doctor of the Church. Though his work was in Italy, he was born in Portugal. He first joined the Augustinian Order and then left it and joined the Franciscan Order in 1221, when he was 26 years old. The reason he became a Franciscan was because of the death of the five Franciscan protomartyrs -- St. Bernard, St. Peter, St. Otho, St. Accursius, and St. Adjutus -- who shed their blood for the Catholic Faith in the year 1220, in Morocco, in North Africa, and whose headless and mutilated bodies had been brought to St. Anthony’s monastery on their way back for burial. St. Anthony became a Franciscan in the hope of shedding his own blood and becoming a martyr. He lived only ten years after joining the Franciscan Order.

So simple and resounding was his teaching of the Catholic Faith, so that the most unlettered and innocent might understand it, that he was made a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946. Saint Anthony was only 36 years old when he died. He is called the “hammer of the Heretics” His great protection against their lies and deceits in the matter of Christian doctrine was to utter, simply and innocently, the Holy Name of Mary. When St. Anthony of Padua found he was preaching the true Gospel of the Catholic Church to heretics who would not listen to him, he then went out and preached it to the fishes. This was not, as liberals and naturalists are trying to say, for the instruction of the fishes, but rather for the glory of God, the delight of the angels, and the easing of his own heart. St. Anthony wanted to profess the Catholic Faith with his mind and his heart, at every moment.

He is typically depicted with a book and the Infant Child Jesus, to whom He miraculously appeared, and is commonly referred to today as the "finder of lost articles." Upon exhumation, some 336 years after his death, his body was found to be corrupted, yet his tongue was totally incorrupt, so perfect were the teachings that had been formed upon it.

The Presentation of the Lord

Sunday, 2nd February 2014

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

The Presentation of Child Jesus in the Temple

The Blessing of Candles and the Procession

The law of God, given by Moses to the Jews, ordained that a woman, after childbirth, should continue for a certain time in a state which that law calls unclean, during which she was not to appear in public, nor presume to touch anything consecrated to God. This term was of forty days upon the birth of a son, and double that time for a daughter. On the expiration of the term, the mother .vas to bring to the door of the tabernacle, or Temple, a lamb and a young pigeon, or turtle-dove, as an offering to God. These being sacrificed to Almighty God by the priest, the woman was cleansed of the legal impurity and reinstated in her former privileges.

        A young pigeon, or turtle-dove, by way of a sin-offering, was required of all, whether rich or poor; but as the expense of a lamb might be too great for persons in poor circumstances, they were allowed to substitute for it a second dove.

        Our Saviour having been conceived by the Holy Ghost, and His blessed Mother remaining always a spotless virgin, it is evident that she did not come under the law; but as the world was, as yet, ignorant of her miraculous conception, she submitted with great punctuality and exactness to every humbling circumstance which the law required. Devotion and mal to honor God, by every observance prescribed by His law, prompted Mary to perform this act of religion, though evidently exempt from the precept. Being poor herself, she made the offering appointed for the poor; but; however mean in itself, it was made with a perfect heart, which is what God chiefly regards in all that is offered to Him. Besides the law which obliged the mother to purify herself, there was another which ordered that the first-born son should be offered to God, and that, after its presentation, the child should be ransomed with a certain sum of money, and peculiar sacrifices offered on the occasion.

        Mary complies exactly with all these ordinances. She obeys not only in the essential points of the law, but has strict regard to all the circumstances. She remains forty days at home; she denies herself, all this time, the liberty of entering the Temple; she partakes not of things sacred; and on the day of her purification she walks several miles to Jerusalem, with the world's Redeemer in her arms. She waits for the priest at the gate of the Temple, makes her offerings of thanksgiving and expiation, presents her divine Son by the hands of the priest to His Eternal Father, with the most profound humility, adoration, and thanksgiving. She then redeems Him with five shekels, as the law appoints, and receives Him back again as a sacred charge committed to her special care, till the Father shall again demand Him for the full accomplishment of man's redemption.

        The ceremony of this day was closed by a third mystery—the meeting in the Temple of the holy persons Simeon and Anne with Jesus and His parents. Holy Simeon, on that occasion, received into his arms the object of all his desires and sighs, and praised God for being blessed with the happiness of beholding the so-much-longed-for Messias. Re foretold to Mary her martyrdom of sorrow, and that Jesus brought redemption to those who would accept of it on the terms it was offered them; but a heavy judgment on all infidels who should obstinately reject it, and on Christians, also, whose lives were a contradiction to His holy maxims and example. Mary, hearing this terrible prediction, did not answer one word, felt no agitation of mind from the present, no dread for the future; but courageously and sweetly committed all to God's holy will. Anne, also, the prophetess, who in her widowhood served God with great fervor, had the happiness to acknowledge and adore in this great mystery the Redeemer of the world. Simeon, having beheld Our Saviour, exclaimed: "Now dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, because my eyes have seen Thy salvation."

        This feast is called CANDLEMAS, because the Church blesses the candles to be borne in the procession of the day.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

Readings:

• Book of Malachi 3:1-4.
• Psalms 24(23):7.8.9.10.
• Letter to the Hebrews 2:14-18. 
• Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 2:22-40. 

The Holy Mass will be celebrated by bishop c. Raphael Zimer at 

12:00 PM SLT in Saint Francis Cathedral

TELEPORT

PLEASE TAKE THE CANDLES!

You are all most welcome. God bless You.

Liturgical Calendar for February 2014

Liturgical Calendar for February 2014

SUNDAYS:

02nd - The Presentation of the Lord

09th - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

16th - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

23rd - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Tridentine Mass)

All Sunday Masses are held at 12:00 PM SLT (Midday Second Life time) in Saint Francis Cathedral.

OTHER:
13rd, Thursday - Two Months after Diocese fundation, Mass at 12:00 PM SLT

To set up private service or Mass on request, please contact with diocesan clergy in-world (by sending notecard or IM).

You are all welcome to our services. God with You.