LINCOLN (SNR) - The virtues of joy and hope were manifested in the May crowning at St. Michael Parish in Lincoln May 1. The parish and all parish families were consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Alexis Woita, art teacher at St. Michael School, organized the efforts. All St. Michael parish students were invited to paint rocks with images of flowers. Woita created a YouTube video which showed children how to paint the rocks).
The rocks were then brought to the grotto of Mary in front of St. Michael Parish throughout the day. Children and families also brought fresh flowers to the grotto. The gifts of painted rocks and freshly cut flowers allowed families to participate in May crowning while observing social distancing and other safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the May crowning, St. Michael pastor Father Kenneth Borowiak consecrated St. Michael Parish to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
He was assisted by assistant pastor Father Andrew Schwenka and Deacon Alec Sasse. Father Nicholas Kipper, diocesan moderator of the curia, in residence at St. Michael Parish, was also present, as were seminarians Joe Allen, Christian Schwenka and Dominic Winter.
Consecration means setting oneself aside for service to God. The Church has always advocated consecrating oneself to Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin Mary who is the perfect model of discipleship.
Father Borowiak noted that it was St. Michael who came to the aid of Mary and the Church in battling Satan as recorded in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 12:7 ff).
“We, as a parish under the patronage of St. Michael, now ask Mary’s protection during this Covid-19 pandemic,” Father Borowiak said. “We ask Mary for her intercession to her son Jesus for protection from the coronavirus, the unity of families, for job and financial security, the presence of the Holy Spirit in all families’ lives and especially that our children will continue to strive for excellence in their lives,” he added.
On May 1, Archbishop José Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, reconsecrated the United States to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Mother of the Church.
“When we consecrate ourselves to our Immaculate Mother, we entrust all that we have and are to the one person that God the Father prepared and entrusted His Son to in a unique and singular way,” Father Schwenka said. “We give her all that we have and, in return, we receive all the merits and graces that she won for us through her perfect participation the saving action of her Son.”
Photos and video of the May crowning and the text of consecration are on the parish website at: stmichaellincoln.org.
