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Working alongside the adult men, the boys helped prepare the camp site, and watched as the tractor evened out the ground. The bigger boys chopped wood: enough for their camp, and some left over for the girls’ camp which would use the same campground two weeks later. Then the tents went up, including the largest one which would house the Altar for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, celebrated everyday during camp.

Thus began the 2010 St. Michael’s Patrol Boys’ Camp, from July 19 to 23. Led by four priests of the Institute, two seminarians, three oblates, and assisted by men from the Holy Name Society, sixty-eight boys shared a week-long community life consecrated to the Blessed Mother and St. Michael, and centered on Christ.

In rain or shine, the daily routine began with Holy Mass, breakfast, clean-up, spiritual conference given by one of the priests, then energetic team activities. Four teams, each composed of boys varying in age from 10 to 18, and each headed by a team captain, studied the lives of saints together, worked together in friendship, and plunged into competitive play of all kinds. A chaplain was available for each team to provide spiritual guidance throughout the day.

By assisting at Holy Mass everyday, going to confession, minding the saints, obeying the priests and their elders, working with diligence, and playing hard and fairly at their games,   the young men learned something important: namely that the Altar is the source of leadership, virtues, and Christian living.

When evening came and the healthy appetites had been satisfied at dinner, the campers turned their attention to building the bonfire and preparing to share the lives of their patron saints in skits. Before turning in to their respective tents for a good night’s sleep, one of the priests closed the evening with a benediction.

Camp ended with everyone participating in the Stations of the Cross, an award ceremony, and extinguishing the candle which had been lit throughout the duration of the camp. Perhaps in a less articulated but equally tangible way, they also took with them the basics of laying an eternal fire in their hearts, because the placement of the spiritual foundations matter too.

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The week of summer camp opened with a beautiful ceremony in which the camp was consecrated to the Blessed Mother. The Institute’s devotion to the Blessed Mother and her maternal guardianship over us were represented by a candle which stayed lit for the duration of  the camp. Three priests, one seminarian, two oblates, and twelve ladies from the St. Mary’s Oratory’s (Wausau, WI) Altar and Rosary Society superintended a week of rigorous physical activities and spiritual growth for our campers, age 10 through 18.

For the ninety-eight girls who attended the Company of the Immaculate Girls’ Camp (August 2-6),  this year’s summer camp will be remembered not only for its cooking contest, fun games and horseback riding, but the company of saints, including Saints Gianna Molla, Therese of Lisieux, Teresa of Avila, and Saint Joan of Arc.

The lives of these and other saints were introduced to the campers each day in formation talks given by priests of the Institute.  In teams, the young ladies adopted a “patron saint” for their team, and made banners to represent the spiritual values they studied.  Then in the glow of the evening camp fire, in song and friendship, the teams enacted skits on the lives of their team’s patron saints.

Under the protection of Our Lady, and countless guardian angels, the daily routine of the summer camp included praying and playing: daily Mass, confessions, Rosary processions, Capture the Flag, scavenger hunt, Olympics, and the favorite, Cooking Contest—all capped with a presentation of award certificates on the last day.

“Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.” The words of the Marian hymn Salve Regina were sung in unison by the young ladies, the entire staff of this year’s camp, and the parents present in the closing ceremonies of the camp. As the camp candle was extinguished, the campers departed with the light of Christ, the love of the Blessed Mother, and the prayers of the saints in their minds and hearts. Farewell, Summer Camp 2010—till next year!

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At the height of summer, 33 youngsters, age 8-14, mostly from Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest apostolates in various parts of the country, converged in Kentucky during the first week of August to participate in the Institute’s first Children’s Choir Camp.  Amidst the tranquil surroundings of the Ursuline Sisters motherhouse, the children flourished in deepened friendship, serious study, and fun play—even with the oppressive, 100-degrees-plus temperatures!

For most of the children, the place of music in the Classical liturgy is already a familiar part of their young lives, having heard and sung sacred music as part of Holy Mass they attend with their families. The choir camp gave them a unique opportunity to understand and to practice in greater depth this beautiful component of the ageless Classical Liturgy.

Under the capable camp directorship of Mr. Nick Botkins, the Director of Sacred Music and Master of the Choirs at St. Francis de Sales Oratory, the Institute’s apostolate in St. Louis, the rigorous curriculum was a balanced mixture of music theory, musicianship, vocal technique, and composition for advanced students taught by Mr. Botkins and composer Mr. Jacob Bancks, studies in Latin history, grammar, syntax and vocabulary with Byzantine scholar Mr. Joseph Reidy; and Gregorian Chant with Mr. Aristotle Esguerra.

A typical day at choir camp included several hours of rehearsal, core classes, prayers, meals, and plenty of fun and recreation. College-age camp counselors led campfire Rosaries, and dedicated choir mothers ensured that all felt comfortable in the week-long home away from home. Each day ended with chanting of the Litany of the Sacred Heart in the gorgeous chapel of the Ursuline Sisters.

On the final day of camp, the choir, now a cohesive ensemble, sang prayerfully and proficiently for the Solemn High Mass celebrated by Canon Michael Wiener, Rector of the St. Francis de Sales Oratory.  Given the participants’ own transformation over the course of the week, it seemed entirely appropriate that the camp should conclude with the Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord—a miraculous encounter, as Canon Wiener reminded all those present, with the divinity of Christ the King.

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On Monday, June 28, 2010, twelve first-year seminarians received their cassock from Monsignor Gilles Wach, Founder and Prior General, at the magnificent Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano in Florence. They were tonsured on June 29, Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, by the Most Reverend Athanasius Schneider, ORC, Auxiliary Bishop in Kazakhstan, in the seminary chapel of the Immaculate Conception in Gricigliano. Bishop Schneider also conferred the Minor Orders of Porter, Lector, Exorcist, and Acolyte, the same day to over forty young men. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop of Oakland, California, ordained a deacon and several subdeacons on Wednesday, June 30.

On Thursday, July 1, Feast of the Most Precious Blood, the Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, ordained three priests — Canon Aaron Huberfeld (Danbury, Connecticut), Canon Michael Stein (Washington DC area), and Canon Antoine Boucheron (Le Mans, France). That same evening, the Most Reverend Giuseppe Betori, Archbishop of Florence, offered Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament with Te Deum in the seminary chapel of Gricigliano. Archbishop Burke, Bishop Cordileone, and Bishop Schneider assisted at this solemn Liturgy, which was followed by a festive dinner on the seminary terrace and a fireworks display sponsored by various benefactors.

View Photos of the Week's Ordinations and Events »

Dozens of friends of the Institute from the four corners of the United States came to the Shrine of Christ the King for the national retreat of the lay Society of the Sacred Heart.

Institute superiors with Society members who have received the Cross of Saint Francis de Sales

Preached by Monsignor Wach and Monsignor Schmitz, the spiritual conferences focused on the spirituality of Saint Francis de Sales as well as on the history of the Society of the Sacred Heart, which has its roots in a lay group of Benedictine spirituality which was founded by the late Dr. Dietrich von Hildebrand during the time of the Nazi persecution.

Monsignor Schmitz Preaches

On Friday, June 11, Monsignor Wach offered a Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The next day Monsignor conferred the cross of Saint Francis de Sales to friends of the Institute who had attended the general retreat of the Society at the Shrine of Christ the King last year. The canonical Hour of Compline being part of the daily prayer life of a member of the Society, this night office of the Church was chanted as well. On Sunday, June 13, the faithful assisted at Solemn High Mass and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament celebrated by Monsignor Wach for the External Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. A festive reception in honor of Monsignor then followed.

The retreat concluded with a delightful concert given by the Axiom Brass Quintet of Renaissance and early classical music pieces—thus expressing the Institute’s mission to unite Faith and culture.

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On Thursday, June 3, Feast of Corpus Christi, Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Green Bay, Wisconsin, had the joy of welcoming Monsignor Gilles Wach, Founder and Prior General of the Institute. Monsignor Wach celebrated the Solemn High Mass, during which Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz gave an inspiring sermon on the institution of the Holy Eucharist. At the end of Holy Mass the First Communicants and numerous faithful participated in the Corpus Christi procession on the chapel grounds.

A reception in honor of Monsignor Wach then followed. Monsignor visited with all the faithful, expressing words of gratitude for their dedicated work and constant assistance in the apostolate, as well as for their continual prayers and support of the many vocations with which God has blessed the Institute of Christ the King both in the expanding seminary and convent.

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On Sunday, June 6, Monsignor Gilles Wach, Founder and Prior General of the Institute, offered Solemn High Mass for the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi at St. Mary’s Oratory in Wausau, Wisconsin. An enlightening sermon was preached by Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz, the Vicar General of the Institute and Provincial for the United States (which you can listen to online).

The magnificent Gothic architecture and altars of St. Mary’s, the splendid liturgical vestments, as well as the beautiful music provided by St. Mary’s own Choir of the Immaculate Conception and a guest choir, The Wisconsin Master Choir, made this Corpus Christi Liturgy a “glimpse of Heaven” — a feast for the senses, as well as for both heart and soul.

Following Holy Mass a grand Eucharistic procession took place. Heralded by members of the Knights of Columbus in full ceremonial dress, the path of Our Lord was paved with fragrant rose petals strewn by dozens of flower girls. The Blessed Sacrament, solemnly carried in a brilliant gold monstrance under a baldachino, was followed in procession by hundreds of adoring faithful through the streets of Wausau in the vicinity of the Oratory. Afterwards all were invited for a fine reception prepared by the many good faithful of St. Mary’s. There was singing and a children’s pageant performed by the youngest members of St. Mary’s Oratory family in honor of the visit of our Prior General.

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