Upcoming Event at the Oratory

A NEWSLETTER from Saint Francis de Sales Oratory:

Dear Faithful and Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory,

This Sunday, September 14, feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross marks the first anniversary of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum becoming effective. This anniversary fills us with great joy and gratitude to Divine Providence and to our Holy Father. The publication of the Motu Proprio has strongly contributed to the growth and development of our Oratory.

At St. Francis de Sales Oratory we are very blessed that through the great pastoral wisdom of His Grace, The Most Rev. Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura and Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis, the principles and intentions of the Motu Proprio had already been implemented since the foundation of our Oratory. Over the last three years the Oratory has developed as a spiritual center for the whole Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Oratory is the church with the most confessions in the whole archdiocese and many people from all over this archdiocese and beyond come for confessions. Innumerable priests and seminarians from various dioceses visit the Oratory and attend Masses. The development of the Sacred Music at the Oratory sets standards for the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. I thank everyone who generously contributes to these and to all the activities at the Oratory.

On the occasion of this first anniversary of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum our Institute has been invited to celebrate a Solemn High Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. I am honored to be the celebrant of this Mass. The Mass will be broadcasted by EWTN: Sun 9/14/08 7:00 AM and Mon 9/15/08 11:00 PM Encore.

It is with great joy that I have the occasion to welcome my successor as Rector of St. Francis de Sales Oratory, the Rev. Father Michael K. Wiener. His arrival is an expression of great continuity in the life of our Oratory. We invite all of you to my farewell Mass at the Oratory and to the installation of Fr. Wiener as Rector next Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 10:00 am. A reception will follow in the church hall.

With my best regards and the assurance of my prayers in your intentions

Yours devotedly in Christ the King

Fr. Karl W. Lenhardt
Episcopal Delegate, Rector, Vice Provincial