News

The Most Reverend Archbishop Robert J. Carlson will visit St. Francis de Sales Oratory for the first time on Sunday, March 14 at 10:00 AM.  His Grace will preach the sermon at a Solemn High Mass celebrated by Monsignor Michael Schmitz, the Vicar General and Provincial Superior of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

One year after Pope John Paul II published the document “Quattuor Abhinc Annos” (“Four Years Ago”), permitting the celebration of the Mass according to the Missal of 1962 under certain conditions, Archbishop John L. May approved its celebration in the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1985.

Canon Michael Wiener

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI, promulgated the document “Summorum Pontificum” (“Of the Supreme Pontiffs”), allowing for even wider celebration of the “Latin Mass,” now clarified as the “Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.” Canon Karl W. Lenhardt, the founding Rector of the Oratory, was named Episcopal Delegate for the implementation of Summorum Pontificum in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  The current rector of the Oratory, Canon Michael K. Wiener, also serves as Episcopal Delegate for Summorum Pontificum’s implementation in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Links

• Press Release
• Driving Directions from Google Maps
• St. Francis de Sales Oratory

In the wake of the February snow His Grace, the Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form to over twenty faithful of Saint Anthony’s Oratory in West Orange, New Jersey.  In addition to the traditional rite of the visitation of the bishop, His Grace also assisted pontifically at the throne during a Solemn High Mass offered by Canon Matthew Talarico, Vice-Provincial. A wonderful reception was then kindly offered in honor of Archbishop Myers by the many hospitable faithful of the apostolate in Father Wickens’ hall. The Institute is profoundly grateful to His Grace, Archbishop Myers, for the canonical erection of Saint Anthony’s as an Oratory of the Institute, as well as for his paternal guidance and continual support of its apostolate.

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Our Lady of Lourdes: A Growing Parish

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest has been situated in Libreville, the capital city of Gabon, for over four years. Last year our Archbishop, Msgr. Basile Mvé Engone, erected our apostolate as a parish and installed Canon de Ternay as the pastor.

The support of our Archbishop is a great blessing. Since our apostolate has become a parish, it has not ceased to grow. In 2008 we had 15 baptisms and about 150 parishioners; in 2009 we had 41 baptisms and are now approaching 500 parishioners! And this year we have 44 adults preparing for their baptism in our catechism program. In fact, at Our Lady of Lourdes parish we have more than 170 faithful in catechism spread out over 6 classes. There are 3 levels for children; confirmation preparation; perseverance; and adult catechism. We have quickly outgrown our temporary chapel.

Although the large mission church is still under construction, we were able to have Holy Mass there for the first time on Ash Wednesday.

Other activities that take place at the parish are: daily mass, three divine offices recited publically every day, daily public rosary, four adorations per week, two prayer groups Rosa Mystica and Emmanuel, English and Latin classes, each once a week, three practices a week for our St. Benedict’s Choir, and weekly Altar Boy practices and liturgical formation sessions, and on Sundays, Solemn High Mass and Solemn Vespers.

This all of course in addition to the sacramental needs of the faithful, such as confessions and spiritual direction, communion and visits to the sick and orphanages, house blessings and exorcisms. The parish also organizes retreats, summer camps, and various conferences. The most recent event was the successful Gregorian Chant session directed by Canon Wulfran Lebocq, choirmaster of the Institute’s international seminary, and crowned with the presence of our Archbishop who presided over Pontifical Vespers at the parish.

What blessings! Thank you for your continued prayers and support for the glory of God and the salvation of souls!

Reverend Deacon Michael Stein

Learn more about our African missions »

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On February 6, His Excellency, the Most Reverend David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form to over thirty young adults of Saint Joseph’s Oratory, of which Canon Andreas Hellmann is the Rector. Bishop Ricken graciously welcomed the Institute to beautiful Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral in order to accommodate the several hundred faithful who attended the ceremony. After the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Bishop Ricken assisted pontifically at the episcopal throne during a Solemn High Mass offered by Canon Michael Wiener, Vice-Provincial. A wonderful reception was then kindly offered in honor of Bishop Ricken by the many hospitable faithful of the apostolate.

The Institute of Christ the King is profoundly grateful to His Excellency, Bishop Ricken, for his paternal guidance and continual support of its apostolate at Saint Joseph’s Oratory and for opening the doors of his historic cathedral to our apostolate. The Institute is also indebted to the rector of Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral, Reverend Father John Girotti, for his helpful assistance.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ellis.

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On January 21, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Robert Finn, Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph (in which the Institute’s Old Saint Patrick’s Oratory is located) visited the international seminary in Gricigliano.

His Excellency was given a complete tour of the seminary buildings and grounds, including the various classrooms as well as the original Martelli chapel dating from the Baroque period. Afterwards a special luncheon was served in his honor. Bishop Finn expressed his joy to see the large and ever-increasing numbers of American seminarians.

His Excellency then visited the convent of the Sisters Adorers which is located a couple of miles from the seminary. There he celebrated Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the chapel and offered to the Sisters a spiritual exhortation and his paternal blessing.

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In December the Institute’s international seminary was honored to receive the visit of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Athanasius Schneider, ORC, Auxiliary Bishop in Kazakhstan, who has already celebrated Holy Mass at the Institute’s Mass apostolate in Rome at Chiesa Gesu e Maria.

His Excellency offered a Pontifical Low Mass in the seminary chapel of the Immaculate Conception and afterwards delivered a spiritual reflection to the seminarians on priestly spirituality. The Sisters Adorers also met with Bishop Schneider and received his blessing.

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Are you a member of a parish choir which sings Gregorian Chant? Are you a choir director who is starting or building a Gregorian Chant schola? Are you familiar with the basics of Chant, but wish to master the Gregorian art? Then this Chant workshop on the weekend of March 12-14 is for you.

Overview

Canon Wulfran Lebocq, center

Under the direction of Canon Wulfran Lebocq, participants will learn the fine points of the classic method of Solesmes as taught by the late Dom Joseph Gajard and will sing on Friday and Saturday at Holy Mass and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament celebrated by Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz. On the final day, participants will sing at a Solemn High Mass for Laetare Sunday.

About Canon Wulfran Lebocq

Having studied for several years with the Schola Saint Gregoire (Le Mans, France), Canon Lebocq has been serving as the Choirmaster of the schola cantorum of the Institute’s International Seminary in Gricigliano, Italy, since his ordination to the holy priesthood in 2003. He has directed and participated in three CD recordings. He directed the Institute’s schola for the November 3 All Souls Day Solemn High Requiem Mass which was broadcasted on EWTN.

Information

Please see the event flyer for details about this unique opportunity!

• Event Flyer and Schedule (PDF file)
• Map to the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago (from Google Maps)
• Photos from the 2009 Workshop

A Sample from the Institute's Schola

From the latest CD of our seminary's schola.