Father Rick Heilman 25th Ordination Anniversary

At Saint Mary of the Assumption Church, Pine Bluff (west of Madison, among the farm fields).

At Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Pine Bluff (west of Madison, among the farm fields).

Fr Rick High Altar

Father Rick Heilman, offertory at the high altar on the occasion of his 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, at St Mary Pine Bluff Parish, June 9, 2013. This was a Novus Ordo Mass with very beautiful chant by Aristotle Esguerra and the Knights of Divine Mercy Schola.

A better picture of the high altar, right after Mass.

A better picture of the high altar, right after Mass.

Fr Rick 25th anniv party tent msgr Bartylla center

After Mass, a huge party! That’s Monsignor Bartylla in the middle on his cellphone.

Fr Rick 25th anniv party gym

There were more people in the gymnasium of the school building.

Fr Rick Steve Del table

Many lovely conversations were had. 🙂

Fr Rick woman baby

Fr Rick talks with a mom.

Fr Rick 25th anniv party Mexican dancers

There was a great Celtic band under the tent, but a highlight was a traditional Mexican dance troupe with a highly symbolic performance, here a wolf and a witch run toward a little boy in white who obviously stands for Jesus. The costumes were decorated with Christian imagery, above all Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Mexican Dancers OLG Fr Rick

Fr Rick and others watch the Our Lady of Guadalupe dancers and the Christ child.

Football toss kids Grant

Seminarian Grant Thies and kids play football toss!

Girls drumming

Kids loved the Mexican dancers’ big drums, here a group of girls are making a great noise. 🙂

The Miracle of Life Rosary Garden, a very beautiful memorial garden on the church property, adjecent to the ordinary cemetery. It is a burial place for infants who died, including miscarried or aborted babies.

I took time to visit the Miracle of Life Rosary Garden, a very beautiful memorial garden for infants including those miscarried or aborted, adjacent to the ordinary cemetery at St Mary Pine Bluff.

Saint Michael the Archange, in the Miracle of Life garden.

Saint Michael the Archangel, in the Miracle of Life garden.

Our Lady and her fountain.

Our Lady and her fountain.

The babies' marker stones.

The babies’ marker stones. No one can avoid being deeply affected by this place.

[Update: over at the excellent Badger Catholic Blog, which you should read, Aristotle posted extensive Liturgical Notes about this Mass, and Steve Karlen posted his own pictures of the event.]

2 Responses to Father Rick Heilman 25th Ordination Anniversary

  1. Congratulations, Fr. Rick, on the occasion of your 25th Anniversary of ordination to the Priesthood!

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  2. Looks like a wonderful time! Father is such a Blessing for our diocese and that garden is so beautiful!

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