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June 29, 2025, Ss. Peter and Paul

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul, commemorating the martyrdom of these two apostles in Rome. It is a great celebration for the whole Church, and in some parts of the world, their feast day is even observed as a Holy Day of Obligation, although not here in the United States. Their feast day is also special to me personally, as a priest:

 
First, because of the time that I spent living and studying in Rome, the city of their martyrdom. On the rooftop of the Pontifical North American College, where I lived and studied for four years, was written a large inscription in Latin, which is taken from a hymn for their feast day:

O ROMA FELIX QUAE DUORUM PRINCIPUM ES CONSECRATA GLORIOSO SANGUINE

(O happy Rome, which is consecrated by the glorious blood of two princes)

Second, because on June 29, 2019, I was ordained to the priesthood on their feast day, and so I celebrate my ordination anniversary every year on the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul. This year I celebrate six years as a priest. It has already been more than I could have imagined: often challenging, very rewarding, and certainly never boring!

This year their Solemnity is also somewhat bittersweet for me, since it is the last weekend that I will serve as Parochial Administrator here at Our Lady of the Lake. Although sharing your sadness at the circumstances that led to my appointment here in March, I have been blessed by my time here with you. And although I was only here for a few months, I will miss the community that I have come to know while I was here.

This coming Monday, Msgr. Greg Higley will move here to Our Lady of the Lake, and on Thursday, July 3, our dean, Fr. Joe Corel, will come to install him as pastor at a special 5:30pm Mass. Please come to welcome him and to pray for him as he begins his ministry here.

On Monday I will be moving back to Jefferson City, where I will continue my full-time work as Judicial Vicar, in which role I am primarily responsible for the daily operations of the Tribunal office. I will also be assigned to provide weekend Mass coverage at parishes throughout the diocese for my brother priests who are ill or on vacation. As such, I have little doubt that I’ll be visiting Our Lady of the Lake again soon. Please keep me in your prayers, and know of mine for this parish community.

Fr. Berhorst