November 7th, 2021 marked an important milestone at St. Leo Oratory, the apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Columbus, Ohio.  The oratory was canonically erected as an apostolate of the Institute in October 2020 by the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Columbus.  Just over a year later, Bishop Brennan – now Bishop of Brooklyn, New York – returned to St. Leo Oratory to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Traditional Rite for the youth of the Oratory for the first time.  

 

 

 

Eight young men and eight young women were made soldiers of Christ by the imposition of the hand and the anointing with Sacred Chrism as the Bishop pronounced the words, “I sign you with the sign of the cross, and I confirm you with the chrism of salvation.” Bishop Brennan was assisted by Canon Matthew Talarico, Provincial Superior, and Canon David Silvey, Rector of the Oratory, as chaplains, with Abbé Alex Barga, an oblate assigned to the Institute’s apostolate in St. Louis, serving as Master of Ceremonies.

 

 

 

 

After confirming the youth, Bishop Brennan assisted in choir at the Solemn High Mass of the 24th Sunday after Pentecost offered by Canon Talarico, assisted by Canon Silvey as deacon and Abbé Lance Gerbig, the resident oblate at St. Leo Oratory, as subdeacon.  

 

 

 

Mass was followed by a festive reception on the church grounds in honor of Bishop Brennan and of the newly confirmed.  The joyful occasion was blessed with unusually warm November weather.