News Apostolates

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 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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On Sunday, June 6, His Grace, the Most Reverend Basile Mvé Engone, Archbishop of Libreville, Gabon, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form to twenty-one young people and adults of the Institute's parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, located in a central district of the capital city of Libreville.

In the church which is currently under construction and which can already barely contain the ever growing numbers of parishioners, His Grace then offered Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament as the parish's Choir of Saint Benedict sang various Gregorian Chants and Renaissance polyphonic pieces. After the ceremony which was attended by several hundred faithful, the Reverend Archbishop graciously received and spoke to each of the newly confirmed and their families.

During the reception, His Grace commented favorably not only on the extensive progress of the church construction, but also on the unity and the joy shown by the parishioners — fruits of the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, patron of the Institute.

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On Saturday, May 15, just one week before Pentecost, the feast which recalls descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles, thirty-nine mostly young faithful received the Holy Ghost at the Institute’s apostolate in St. Louis, Missouri, St. Francis de Sales Oratory.

The Most Reverend Robert J. Hermann, Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis, representing His Grace, the Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of Saint Louis, after intoning the Veni Creator, spoke to the confirmands of the “Heart Knowledge” of the things of God, which is bestowed on the confirmed, bringing them an intimate knowledge of God that fills them with love for Him. Bishop Herman then proceeded to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation on the thirty-nine in the Extraordinary Form.

The Reverend Canon Michael K. Wiener, Rector of Saint Francis de Sales Oratory, then celebrated a Solemn Mass in the presence of the bishop.

A reception followed in the church hall, where Bishop Hermann greeted the faithful, posing for pictures with the newly confirmed and sharing stories of his childhood, growing up in a large, Catholic family on a Missouri farm. Many visitors who had come from far away stayed in Saint Louis to be able to attend Sunday Mass at the Oratory on the next day.

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On Sunday, May 23, Canon Thibault de Ternay, Provincial Superior for the Institute’s African missions in Gabon, celebrated a Solemn High Mass in the large church currently under construction at the Institute’s Our Lady of Lourdes parish in the capital city of Libreville. Reverend Deacon Michael Stein of Washington DC served as the Deacon; Abbe Benjamin Coggeshall of Quincy, Illinois, as Subdeacon.

Several hundred faithful of diverse nationalities and backgrounds attended this Holy Mass, which was sung by the youth Gregorian Chant Choir trained by Canon Wulfran Lebocq, Choirmaster of the Institute’s seminary in Italy.

After Mass a Pentecost festival with food and games was offered to all.

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On May 20, 2010, Thursday before Pentecost, twenty-nine candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation from His Excellency, the Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop of Oakland. Confirmations took place at St. Margaret Mary Church at 6:00 PM, followed by a Pontifical Low Mass and a reception in honor of His Excellency.

Speaking with unmistakable episcopal authority in his miter and with crosier in hand, Bishop Cordileone addressed the confirmandi simply and directly on the fundamental question of how to know God, love God, and serve God. Noting that our “Catholic Faith is an inexhaustible treasure chest of wisdom,” the Bishop exhorted the faithful to continue to study the faith, so that they may explain and defend the faith when called to do so. In clear terms, Bishop Cordileone encouraged the candidates to serve God practically by seeking their future vocations with diligence.

The twenty-nine candidates included both youths and adults. Among the confirmation candidates were many youthful, expectant faces, whose parents, grandparents and siblings looked on with joy as they received this important sacrament. Several had waited a year or more in order to receive this sacrament in the Extraordinary Form.

In a heart-warming role reversal, there was also a couple of husband and wife who received the sacrament of Confirmation from the Bishop’s hands, while their four young children looked on with joy and wonderment. Another poignant case was a candidate who, after many years of being captivated by the sacred liturgy, was baptized by Canon Jean Marie Moreau, and received the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist on the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, only one week previous. He was also confirmed by Bishop Cordileone, with a sponsor half his age standing proudly behind him.

Especially in the cases of the adult confirmandi, the holy liturgy in the Extraordinary Form played a significant role in their ongoing conversion and the deepening of their Catholic Faith, culminating in this sacrament.

The liturgy in the Extraordinary Form was indeed profound and beautiful on this occasion. The Master of Ceremony for the Bishop was Canon William Avis, from the Old St. Patrick apostolate in Kansas City, who came to Oakland to assist in this liturgical event. The photographs captured many visual highlights of this occasion, while the uplifting sounds of polyphonic motets by Monteverdi, Byrd, Schütz, and Pachelbel were captured in the aural memory and in the hearts of those who were present.

The celebration of Oakland’s Confirmation 2010 concluded with a reception after Mass in the church hall, where Canon Moreau, as the Institute priest responsible for this apostolate, welcomed Bishop Cordileone as the guest of honor. A bountiful and festive dinner was prepared by the confirmandi families for the Bishop, priests, and congregation, at least 200 of whom attended the dinner.

Special thanks to Mr. Jay Balza and to Miss Josemine Miranda for the photos.

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The Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson visited the St. Francis de Sales Oratory on Sunday, March 14^th for the first time as Archbishop of St. Louis. His Grace wished to be present at the official Archdiocesan celebration of "25 Years Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in St. Louis," to show his support for the ever-growing community attending the traditional Latin Mass.

This stately old church was brimming with many guests and friends from near and far, as the magnificent liturgy of Laetare Sunday unfolded. The Oratory’s choir, augmented by the angelic voices of the St. Francis de Sales children’s choir, sang Hans Leo Hassler’s "Missa Secunda."  Archbishop Carlson delivered the sermon during the Solemn High Mass, celebrated by Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz, Vicar General in the Institute and Provincial in the US.

Mother Caroline-Marie of the Trinity, Mother Superior of the Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest, who had come from Gricigliano to visit with Sister Marie of the Love of God, was on hand to greet His Grace. On his brief tour of the Convent on the Oratory’s campus, the Archbishop was able to witness the impressive progress made there since the renovation began last summer.

At the reception in the Oratory hall, Archbishop Carlson expressed his satisfaction with the work of the Institute in the Archdiocese.  He further underscored the importance and necessity of having competent and diligent "care for the dignity of the liturgical celebrations according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite" within the Archdiocese.

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Saint Mary’s Oratory in Rockford prepared a beautiful "Saint Joseph altar" in keeping with the traditional custom in honor of the feast day of the Patron of the Universal Church.

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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