III. Additional members:

Mr. Arthur Connick, Financial Analyst, Chevron Corporation, San Ramon, California

Mrs. I-Wen Connick, Communications Specialist, Walnut Creek, California

Mrs. Kristin Myles, Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP, San Francisco, California

Mr. Steven K. Wichmer, Esq., Bernhardt and Wichmer, P.C.

Friends of St. Francis de Sales, Inc. is pleased to announce this week the expansion of its Board of Advisors.

II. His Highness, Paul, Duke of Oldenburg, Brussels, Belgium, and Bad Homburg, Germany

His Highness, Paul, Duke of Oldenburg, is no stranger to either tradition or nobility. A descendant from an old and illustrious lineage which included Queen Victoria and Czar Alexander II, and great-great grandson of the last German Kaiser Wilhelm II, the Duke was inspired by the beauty of the traditional form of the Latin Mass to explore the Catholic Faith.  He converted and was received into the Catholic Church in 1999. In his native Germany, the Duke is a passionate spokesman for the cause of family values in society, which he actively promotes in both political and social arenas. The Duke has been a long-time friend and supporter of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. We are grateful for His Highness’ willingness to serve  on the Board of Advisors and to actively support the restoration project at St. Francis de Sales Oratory.

Friends of St. Francis de Sales, Inc. is pleased to announce this week the expansion of its Board of Advisors.

I.  His Grace, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis

First and foremost, we are grateful that His Grace, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis, has graciously accepted our invitation to become an honorary member of the Board of Advisors. In addition to the moral support His Grace gives to our endeavors, Archbishop Carlson’s membership on our Board of Advisors enriches the entire restoration campaign with spiritual resources found in the Church. His honored presence is deeply appreciated.

Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory is deeply grateful to all the volunteers, including many families, who have contributed countless hours of spirited labor to this effort.  We are also deeply indebted to BELFOR Property Restoration, whose professional expertise, efficiency, and quality workmanship shine through in these photographs.

The renovation work speeds ahead in various sections of the Convent.  The continuing, generous support of all our benefactors is also evident in photos showing the work in progress, below:

Photos courtesy of Mark Scott Abeln

This 60-second ad will run on St. Louis’ Classic 99/KFUO-FM about the upcoming Summer at the Oratory event on the weekend of August 22-23.

Listen to the Commerical (MP3 file)

A year ago, the convent on the campus of St. Francis de Sales Oratory was vacated for the last time. The rooms were emptied and the lights turned off. With disuse and lack of maintenance over the years, the convent has become a dilapidated shell of what it once was. Except for a few rooms used occasionally, the air is stale, windows dingy, paint peeling, fixtures broken, and the walls and floor shabby with a covering of dust.

Pope Benedict XVI greets Sister Marie of the Love of God

All this is about to change.

Two weeks ago it was announced that the women religious branch of the Institute of Christ the King, with the name of Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest, will be exploring the possibility of establishing a community in the US. The Oratory is the perfect location to host the Sister Adorers since it already has a convent facility. The first sister, Sister Marie of the Love of God, would arrive at the end of August.

Restoring the convent to a habitable condition became an urgent top priority for the Friends of St. Francis de Sales. We are deeply grateful that numerous volunteers, including many families, immediately responded to an appeal for help to fix up the convent. From these willing hands, many man-hours have been applied to stripping floors, cleaning, and removing debris.

In addition, through the introduction of a friend of the Oratory, BELFOR USA, a global leader in property restoration, has offered to undertake this renovation effort on a pro bono basis. Within one week of hearing about our great need, BELFOR USA dispatched representatives to assess the scope of the project so that work may begin immediately.

BELFOR USA, with a branch office in St. Louis, specializes in property restoration, working closely with insurance companies, notably in recovering commercial and residential properties due to water, fire, and wind damage in severe disasters. Their proficiency in this sector of the renovation industry has hinged on many innovative techniques derived from years of R&D efforts.

In a generous and magnanimous response to this community need, BELFOR USA is applying their leading-edge professional expertise to help us solve our problem. The package of services they are donating includes thoroughly cleaning, painting, and repairing the front steps and foyer, a suite (two rooms and bath) for Sister Marie, the kitchen, and two community rooms. Initial work to prep the work areas began on Tuesday, August 11, so that the bulk of the renovation may begin on Thursday, August 13. We are deeply moved by this magnanimous spirit of public service shown by our new friends, BELFOR USA.

Indeed, the Friends of the St. Francis de Sales Oratory are very blessed with many generous helpers who are contributing to this endeavor in various ways: by connecting us to generous benefactors such as BELFOR USA, and by donating time and labor to do additional work to complete this renovation so that we can welcome the first Sister Adorer to the US.

Restoration of the Oratory is anticipated to be a long and arduous process. It began at the High Altar, which is now in use every day of the year, followed by the renovation of the Sacristy, supporting the work at the High Altar. And now the renovation of the convent: it is a sure indication that this growing community welcomes the prospect of Sisters living and serving among us again. The long-term restoration of St. Francis de Sales cannot be accomplished without the support and participation of individuals and families committed to its future. The work to renovate the convent is a wondrous and hopeful sign that the gradual transformation of the Oratory will not be of the physical edifice only, but will reflect the revitalization of the community as well.

The lights of the convent were turned off for a while. But they are coming back on.

BELFOR Property Restoration provides a single source recovery solution specializing in commercial and residential properties due to water, fire, and wind damage.  BELFOR provides water mitigation, mold remediation, document restoration, electronic restoration, reconstruction, consulting, and continuing education programs. Corporately owned with 184 locations globally in over 20 countries. For more information about BELFOR USA see: www.us.belfor.com

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What can you do to:

1) Support the Cardinals at Busch Stadium (a great American Tradition),

2) Support the St. Francis de Sales Oratory (a great Catholic Tradition), and,

3) Have fun?

Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory cordially invite you to join us to watch the St. Louis Cardinals take on the LA Dodgers on Monday, July 27, at 6:10 pm.

For a minimum donation of $100, this special vantage point from the luxury suite comes with convenience and comfort: restroom facilities and big screen TV for replays. Thanks to a generous donor, the Oratory has 20 tickets for Monday night’s game against the Dodgers, currently the National League West Division leader. Another generous donor has provided a superb weather forecast (Monday only), making either indoor or outdoor seating a great way to spend a summer evening with Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory.

Please reserve your spot by calling the Oratory as soon as possible (314) 771-3100.

Come experience the oratory ~ support the Oratory ~ celebrate our common rich heritage

The city of St. Louis has a regal connection which goes back to the year 1297, when King Louis IX was proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church. By naming the new city after Saint Louis, the early settlers placed their new community under the patronage of a great king and saint. It is a tribute to their hopes and dreams that they wished to appropriate the saintly attributes for themselves and all future residents of this emerging city, and that they wished to ask for the saint’s intercessory prayers and protection.

The feast day of King St. Louis, the patron saint of our city, is August 25. It is customary, just as it was for the early French explorers and settlers, to reflect on the qualities which make a saint a saint, and to make a festive celebration on his feast day.

On the weekend of August 22^nd , we at St. Francis de Sales Oratory invite everyone to join us in a celebration to honor King St. Louis and to introduce all comers to the Oratory.

Only a few years ago the Oratory was in danger of being closed and razed to the ground. Thanks to the vision of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, the church and the surrounding campus with several buildings were preserved and entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest so that it may bring new life to the church and neighborhood. A return to the best elements of tradition – family, genuine friendship, respect for cultural history, and religious values – is the motivation for our efforts here. St. Francis de Sales was once a center of both religious and social life for its members, and it is again.

On Saturday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m, in celebration of this occasion, we are bringing back to life a tradition of festive summer bazaars and sizzling barbecues. The courtyard between the Church and the school will be transformed into a garden setting. Activities for children (face painting, clowns, games, etc.) and adults (silent auctions) will be held, while hourly drawings will be held for “attendance prizes.” A variety of refreshments will be served, including the Knights’ famous barbecue. The music group Jazzwind will entertain in the courtyard.

On Sunday, August 23, the External Solemnity of St. Louis of France, after the 10:00 Mass, the Knights will again be in the courtyard between the church and the school, serving their barbecue. Organ recitals inside the Church, as well as music from Jazzwind outside, will be performed.

In support of the Oratory’s on-going restoration efforts, your generous support of this endeavor will be greatly appreciated.

In a letter of instructions left by King St. Louis to his son Philip, he wrote, “If the Lord bestows upon you any kind of prosperity, thank him humbly and see that you become no worse for it, either though vain pride or anything else, because you ought not to oppose God or offend him in the matter of his gifts. Be kindhearted to the poor, the unfortunate and the afflicted. Give them as much help and consolation as you can. Thank God for all the benefits he has bestowed upon you, that you may be worthy to receive greater.”

Come join us, get to know us, and together, let’s honor the patron saint of St. Louis.

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales cordially welcome Professor Howell, and cordially invite all faithful at the Oratory and their friends to hear Professor Howell’s presentation on “Corpus Christi: How and Why the Church Celebrates the Eucharist.”

This presentation will take place on Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2009.

At the Oratory, the Feast of Corpus Christi will be celebrated on Thursday, June 11, 2009, and as an External Solemnity on Sunday, June 14, 2009, with a Solemn High Mass and Eucharistic Procession.

Corpus Christi Mass times:  Thursday at 8 AM (Low Mass), and 6:30 PM (Solemn High Mass); Sunday at 8 AM (Low Mass) and 10 AM (Solemn High Mass with procession.)

Notes

Dr. Howell is a noted professor of theology currently teaching at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has written numerous books and articles on various subjects related to the Faith, notably on science and religion. His articles and columns have appeared in the popular apologetics magazine “This Rock.” The subject of his current research and anticipated new publications is the Holy Eucharist, a recurring theme in many of his previous works.

Corpus Christi is Latin for “Body of Christ.” The institution of this feast by Pope Urban IV dates back to 1264. St. Thomas Aquinas’ hymns composed specifically for this feast (e.g. Pange lingua, Tantum ergo) have since become well-loved main staple in the Church’s liturgical celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

The origin of this feast and its theological implications are specifically Roman Catholic, and as such, have been especially appreciated by those who are drawn into the Roman Catholic Church by the love of the Holy Eucharist.

Dr. Howell was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1978. For 18 years, he ministered as a pastor and instructor of theology and biblical exegesis. The study of “the Last Supper” and his subsequent study of the Catholic understanding of the Holy Eucharist played a pivotal role in his decision to be received into the Roman Catholic Church.

June 3^rd – July 29^th

St. Francis de Sales Oratory and its Director for Sacred Music, Mr. Nick Botkins, are pleased to announce a nine-week course in Gregorian chant for beginners. The lessons will be offered once a week on Wednesday evening from 7:30-8:30 PM in the Oratory hall. The course runs from June 3^rd to July 29^th. Information brochure is available by contacting the Oratory (314) 771-3100.

Goal of This Course

The goal of this course is to teach beginners to sing chant, and to become well-acquainted with three different settings of the Mass that the Church has suggested for use throughout the year. These settings include: Mass XI Orbis factor (Post-Pentecost), Mass IV Cunctipotens genitor Deus, and Mass IX Cum jubilo (for Feasts of the Blessed Virgin).

Other material to be covered will include:

• The responses of the faithful
• Sprinkling Antiphon Asperges Me
• Te Deum
• Hymns for Benediction
• Seasonal Marian antiphons
  

Participants will be exposed to Gregorian chant notation (a.k.a. square notes), and brief explanations will be made regarding this notation.

Who May Attend?

Any lay people who are interested in learning about Gregorian Chant and are willing sing it at Mass is welcome. This course is designed for the beginner, thus no prior experience in Gregorian chant or Church Latin is necessary, but the ability to carry a tune will be helpful.

Faithful of the Oratory, as well as visitors from parishes are welcome. Clergy and seminarians are also welcome, if they wish to learn the above mentioned material. Participants are encouraged to bring friends to introduce them to this form of sacred music.

Course Material

Copies of all music will be provided. Please provide your own one-inch binder, and a pencil for making notes during class.

Date, Time, Location of Lessons

These lessons will be held every Wednesday evening in the Oratory Hall, beginning on June 3^rd. Each lesson will last between 45 and 60 minutes, and will begin promptly at 7:30 PM, so please be punctual. There will be time to socialize before and after each lesson. Mr. Botkins will be available to answer any question you may have regarding the course material.

Throughout the nine-week course, all participants are encouraged to attend the High Masses at the Oratory, on Sundays or feast days, to practice what they have learned.

How to Register

Send an e-mail to Mr. Nick Botkins (nbotkins@institute-christ-king.org), and please indicate your name, phone number, parish, and level of singing experience.

Fee

These lessons are offered free of charge to both diocesan parishioners and faithful of the Oratory. Donations are welcome, and will be directed towards the restoration effort.

Experienced Choristers & Musicians Who Know Chant

You are most welcome to join one of the Gregorian scholas at St. Francis de Sales Oratory:

• Gentlemen’s Schola rehearses Saturday morning from 9:15 – 10:30.
  
• Ladies’ Schola rehearses Thursday evening from 5:15- 6:30.
  

Review of the Book

Catholic St. Louis: A Pictorial History by William Barnaby Faherty S.J., with photography by Mark Abeln (Reedy Press, 2009) has just been published.  It is a collaborative effort between a noted historian of St. Louis, Fr. William Faherty, S.J., and a noted native photographer and blogger, Mr. Mark Scott Abeln (”Rome of the West,” www.romeofthewest.com).

The narrative of Fr. Faherty in this book is typical of his other works on the history of Catholic St. Louis: factual and colorful interweaving of people and events which filled the quintessential American immigration story of the Nineteenth Century. The photographic artistry of Mr. Abeln is also typical of his many published works on the Internet: technically superb, and artistically provocative.

This collaboration proves the inadequacy of the cliché, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” While each of Mr. Abeln’s color photographs illustrates beautifully various St. Louis area churches, the collection of these photos, taken as a whole, says far more than the sum of its parts. When combined with a historical narrative, the synergistic result is an account of a people who formed the rich fabric of St. Louis society.

The history of St. Louis is Catholic Americana at its very best.  It is a story featuring a cast of characters who sequentially dominated the St. Louis scene for more than a century, and left their individual marks on the building of America – from frontier schools and  hospitals to universities. It is also a story of the Universal Church at its best.  Although they came from many lands in Europe – France, Belgium, Ireland, and Germany, they shared one common frame of reference: the Church.

Mr. Abeln’s photography of the edifices of faith illustrates beautifully the complex diversity of St. Louis’ people and their past. More than that, his photography captures a sense of the sacred which is the essence of Catholic architecture.

By its nature, most Catholic churches, particularly those of past centuries, are photogenic. Tradition, form, and function have always combined to express an other-worldly beauty.  Mr. Abeln’s selection of subjects illustrates more; he is able to bring forth dignity and beauty to show a truism: a Roman Catholic church is never empty, even when it is devoid of human presence. In addition to architectural details, the depictions include many solemnly decorated altars, stained-glass windows, side altars, and statues. The Real Presence is always accompanied by saints and angels – visibly represented by the statues and stained-glass representations, and invisibly by the collective consciousness of Catholic tradition. The collection of photographs manages to show this.

In this collection of photographs, there emerges an additional element which is not easily captured on paper. Through these beautifully composed photographs of sacred space, Mr. Abeln is able to show a dignity which beckons – an irresistible invitation to go visit the actual place, to be near the real altar, thus giving a new meaning to the American evangelical protestant term “altar call.” In contemplating these images, the reader gets the sense that, indeed, the Altar calls.

This book may be enjoyed on several levels: as a pictorial record of St. Louis’ rich Catholic history, or, with quiet contemplation, as a reminder to all Catholics that there are sacred spaces, likely inside our own neighborhood parish church, where we will find peace and solace.

The Time: 7:15 pm

The Game: St. Louis Cardinals vs Philadelphia Phillies

The Oratory has terrific tickets. Who’s coming?

The Cardinals are back for four home games next week, starting with the Phillies on Monday and Tuesday. A generous benefactor has provided the Oratory with 15 seats in a luxury suite at Busch Stadium for Tuesday night’s game against the Phillies, last year’s World Series Champion.

For a minimum donation of $100 per ticket, you and your companions will see the Cardinals resume their home game advantage from a luxurious vantage point. In addition to comfortable indoor and outdoor seating, the luxury suite includes a big screen TV to see the replays, as well as convenient restroom facilities (a bonus during the flu season).

Come support the Oratory and enjoy a great evening with friends and family in a venerable American tradition – at the ball game!

To reserve your tickets, please contact the Oratory as soon as possible. Call (314) 771-3100 and ask for Jon Roche or Dana Cole, or email sfds@institute-christ-king.org, and arrange payment by check made out to ”The Friends of St. Francis de Sales, Inc.”

This radio commercial will be broadcast on KFUO 99.1 FM (”Classic 99″).

The advisory board is composed of fourteen distinguished members of the St. Louis community from both the private and the public sector. Their offer to contribute expertise in their respective fields, backed by a collective history of generous devotion to community service, is gratefully and humbly accepted by Friends of St. Francis De Sales, Inc. as we embark on this joint endeavor to restore an important part of our community.

Board of Advisors to Friends of St. Francis de Sales, Inc.

Francis G. Slay, Mayor, City of St. Louis (Honorary Member)

Martie J. Aboussie, Executive Director, Father Dempsey’s Charity, Archdiocese of St. Louis

Theodore J. Dubuque, Jr., M.D.

Walter Feld, General Manager, St. Francis de Sales Oratory

Matthew J. Grahek, Architect, Clayco, Inc.

George J. Kerry, Catholic Youth Apostolate, Archdiocese of St. Louis

Marc T. Pekny, Business and Planning Analyst, Boeing Corporation

Thomas J. Pickl, Executive Director, De Sales Community  Housing Corporation

Charles A. Redd, Esq., Sonnenschein, Nath and Rosenthal LLP

Jon Roche, Administrative Assistant, St. Francis de Sales Oratory

Donald L. Ross, Vice Chairman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Mark S. Serafino, Regional Vice President, Omni Cable Corp.

Timothy E. Wichmer, Esq., Bernhardt and Wichmer, P.C.