OCTOBER 27, 2007
- the Beatification of Blessed Celine

The Resurrectionist priests concelebrated a Mass for the intention of all the Resurrection Sisters throughout the world at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, which was the exact same time that the Beatification liturgy was beginning at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. There were 29 altar servers at that Mass at our Mass here in Butiama! The parish choir did a wonderful job, as usual, in leading with the singing. The pastor also invited the 50-60 member children's choir to sing as well, so it was a very joyous Mass with a dancing entrance procession and much clapping of hands. Along with the offertory gifts of bread and wine, we three Resurrection Sisters carried up the framed picture of Blessed Celine and then put it up by the altar.

Then on Sunday, October 28, we had a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Beatification at the regular 9 a.m. parish Mass. The choir had a wonderful, wonderful surprise for us. They led the entrance procession with singing and dancing with an opening hymn that was about Blessed Celine! It was a total surprise and I was really in tears that they did that on their own. I am sure that there were many places throughout the Congregation with joyful celebrations, many of them planned a long time ago by our Sisters. Yet here in our newest mission in Tanzania, the lay people made up this song themselves with a very catchy refrain of: "Blessed Celine intercede to God for us" and the short verses went something like:"Today, we all pray and joyfully give praise. Blessed Celine intercede to God for us. Pray for the Sisters of the Resurrection of Jesus." The priests gave wonderful homilies about Mother Celine on both days and all the Prayers of the Faithful were focused on Blessed Celine and the Sisters of the Resurrection. When the pastor ended his homily by listing all the countries where we currently minister and ended with "and now in Tanzania!", the whole church clapped and they beat the drums. After Mass we gave out the prayer cards with the official beatification picture of Blessed Celine on them.

Sr Stephanie Blaszczynski CR