A Shower of Roses Brightens a Dark Night: Celebrating the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

Visitation Monastery

"After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses. I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth.” ~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Nearly a hundred devotees braved the cold and rain Thursday evening to celebrate Solemn High Traditional Latin Mass in honor of the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux at Visitation Monastery (8902 Ridge Blvd.) in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Commonly known as the “Little Flower,” the great saint remains an immensely popular and influential figure, and it showed with the terrific turnout.

Profoundly loved by my forebears, especially by my father who had a special devotion to St. Thérèse, I feel a strong tutelary connection to her. I count her among my many familial patrons and could not miss this extraordinary opportunity to venerate her.

High Altar

The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was sung by Celebrant and Homilist Fr. Joseph Zwosta, in residence at St. Mark RC Church in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Fr. Jason N. Espinal was the Deacon and Mr. Urban Hannon was the Subdeacon. Servers Robert Jurman, Brian Hilley, Jorge A. Fernandez Vidro, Thomas Vaniotis, Roberto Barrientos, Andres Barrientos, and Paul Schuman dutifully assisted the sacred ministers. The Ordinary of the Mass and motets were composed by director and organist David Adam Smith and gloriously chanted by Art Bryan Manabat, Enrico Lagasca, Alexander Wentworth, and Antonio Rambla.

Thank you to the sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary for warmly welcoming us inside your beautiful chapel and monastery grounds. Special thanks to Cindy Brolsma and Brooklyn Latin Mass for your hard work and dedication. Once again, it was a privilege to celebrate our faith together.

* * *

Opening Mass for the Jubilee Year (2019-2020) in honor of the Centenary of St. Margaret Mary’s Canonization will be held at Visitation Monastery on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 7:30pm. Plenary Indulgence Granted under usual Conditions.