Upcoming Events at the Oratory

An email newsletter from Saint Francis de Sales Oratory, in Saint Louis:

Saint Francis de Sales Oratory

2653 Ohio Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri 63118

www.institute-christ-king.org

314-771-3100

14 August 2007

Email newsletter contains information about:
Summorum Pontificum, the Holy Father’s Motu Proprio,
Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady,
Restoration Children’s Theater production of J.R.R. Tolkien’s the Hobbit,
SFdS Organ Recital,
Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady,
Feast of St. Louis, King of France
SFdS K of C BBQ

Dear faithful and friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory,

Since the release of the Papal Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum St. Francis de Sales Oratory has seen, once again, an increase of faithful who come to experience an integral part of our Catholic piety and tradition. The Motu Proprio underlines the importance of the presence of the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite for the life of the whole Church. It also encourages us in our mission and in our profound gratitude towards our beloved Holy Father, our venerated Archbishop and the superiors of our Institute, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

We are very happy that this encouragement also finds its expression in the activities of many faithful and groups at the Oratory. Therefore, I am sending to you this email as an invitation to take part in this vitality of the Oratory:

This Wednesday, August 15, 2007 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. We will be offering Holy Mass at 8am; 12:10pm, and a Solemn High Mass at 7pm. Confessions will be heard beginning half an hour before and during these Masses.

It is with great joy that I can announce to you the production of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “the Hobbit” by the Children’s Restoration Theater. This will take place in the Oratory hall (church basement) on Friday, August 17^th and Saturday, 18^th at 7:00pm. There will also be a small reception to follow the last show on Saturday, by Mr. Mike Kenney of Two Mikes Catering. The proceedings of this event will be for the restoration of St. Francis de Sales Oratory. I am most grateful to the children, their parents and all those that are involved in this event because it is a very beautiful way to make us aware of our obligations as good stewards of what we have received from our ancestors.

On Sunday August 19^th at 2:00pm St. Francis de Sales Oratory will be the place of an Organ Recital, performances by our student’s Mr. Andrew Kenney and Mr. Francis Feingold. Featured works include but not limited to Zipli, Bach, Pachelbel, Clarke, Buxtehude, Boellmann….This is a FREE concert, however, a free will offering will be taken up to benefit the ongoing restoration work of the Oratory. It is a great joy for all of us to experience on this occasion the talents and gifts of two young man of our congregation. The last restoration of our organ that was built in the 20ies took place in 1964. It is almost a miracle that the beautiful instrument still works. We hope that through your generosity we will be able to maintain it until we will be able to restore it in an adequate way.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007, is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We will have a Solemn High Mass at 7pm followed by a candlelight procession to the altar of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

August 25^th and 26^th the St. Francis de Sales Knights of Columbus council #14067 will have a BBQ here from 11:00am-7:00pm each day. Featured items include pork steak, chicken, bratwursts, hamburgers, hot dogs. All meals come with two sides, and dessert. The proceeds from this event go to the restoration of the Oratory.

Sunday, August 26, 2007, we will celebrate the external solemnity of St. Louis IX, King of France, and Patron of our Archdiocese, of our City and of our Cathedral. There will be a Solemn High Mass at 10 am followed by benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.

In thanksgiving for His Holiness’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest will hold the Forty Hours devotion at the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Chicago, beginning the day the Motu Proprio comes into effect, Friday, September 14^th.

This will be an occasion to thank God Almighty for this grace given to the whole Church, and to pray for our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, for Holy Mother Church, for all bishops and priests, religious and all our intentions.

The Forty Hours devotion takes place over a period of three days. Whether in a contiguous period of forty hours or whether the Blessed Sacrament is reposed during the night, the same liturgical privileges and indulgences apply. All are invited to attend this wonderful occasion. Please visit the main website of the Institute for future information and a sign up sheet. www.institute-christ-king.org .

Many of you have seen the signs outside of the oratory and have noticed that two of our church entries needed to be closed temporarily. This is necessary because we want too make sure that no one who comes to the oratory gets into any danger. Unfortunately, some of the terracotta elements high up on steeple need fixing. As you know well we want to help everyone to make his way to heaven, but we do not want to cause that people make their way there immediately. Therefore, we are most grateful to the City of St. Louis, the Fire Department and the Buildings Division which have helped us in a most trustful cooperation to identify the problems and to get them resolved. As always we kindly encourage everyone to donate to this important project. The First Friday Solemn High Masses at 7 pm and the Masses at the altar of Our Mother of Perpetual Help on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm are celebrated for the restoration of the oratory, but also in the intentions of all those who contribute to it.

Ordinary schedule of Masses at the Oratory:
Daily: 8:00am
Sunday: 8:00am Low Mass, 10:00 Solemn High Mass
Tuesday: 6:30pm Low Mass, followed by Perpetual Help devotions
Thursday: 7:00pm Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament with Benediction
First Friday: 7:00pm Solemn High Mass
Holy Days: 8:00am, and 12:10pm, 7:00pm Solemn High Mass
Confessions/ Holy Rosary 30mins before all Masses

With my best regards and the assurance of my prayers

Yours devotedly in Christ the King,

Fr. Karl W. Lenhardt
Vice Provincial
Rector