On January 28, 2008, the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, we were blessed with the first official visit of our new bishop, His Excellency Michael Mulhall, to Saint Hedwig’s and Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy.  Appointed for the diocese of Pembroke last spring, and ordained on the feast of Saint Matthew on September 21 last fall, Bishop Mulhall is new at his task, but young, orthodox and enthusiastic.  In his homily to the parishioners and students, the bishop focused on the role of the teacher in transmitting truth:  the teacher, whether from the pulpit, in the classroom or within the home or workplace, is in fact a window on the truth; this requires humility, and a submission to God’s word and His Church.  In an iconic representation of this submission, the professors at the Academy then knelt before the bishop and recited the Oath of Fidelity, required of all Catholic university teachers according to Ex Corde Ecclesiae.  Such a sacramental sign gives those who teach the grace to fufill their roles as transmitters of the truth more fully, clearly and easily by uniting us to our bishop and, through him, to Christ and His Church.

The Mass was beautiful, and made even more so under the musical direction and organ playing of Maestro Uwe Lieflander, who leads the chorus and schola at the Academy.  With just three short weeks of weekly practice, Maestro Lieflander had the students singing polyphonic Palestrina, Bruckner and Mozart.  At the risk of sounding trite, the music was indeed heavenly.  As Vatican II declared, such musical treasures of the Church are more valuable than all her other artistic treasures (and if you have ever seen Saint Peter’s or the Sistine chapel, that is saying something).