Cardinal George in Special Ceremony at the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

This came across the Email Wires today:

Cardinal George in Special Ceremony at the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

(Chicago, November 26, 2007) A historic landmark church in Chicago, once on the road to demolition, will be the site of a rare ceremony following Christmas, on December 29^th. During the course of a Solemn High Mass in the traditional Latin form, Francis Cardinal George will solemnly crown a statue of the Infant Jesus at the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, formerly known as St. Gelasius Church in south side Woodlawn. The antique wooden sculpture from southern Spain will be the central piece above the future high altar of the church that is now being restored. The event will also mark the beginning of regular use of the once shuttered church for Sunday Mass.

The magnificent church building, designed by revivalist architect Henry Schlacks in the 1920s, was the center of much controversy when in 2003 it was slated to be razed but eventually was made a historic landmark of Chicago. Originally known as “St. Clara Carmelite Church,” it had been commissioned by Carmelite Friars of the Old Observance to replace a smaller structure of this parish founded by German immigrants in 1894. The church had the distinction of being the National Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux, where weekly novena prayers were held beginning on the very day of her canonization in 1925 until the mid 1980s. Vicissitudes affecting the neighborhood, a fire in the 1970s, disrepair and a dwindling congregation eventually led to the church’s closure in 2002.

However, after its near brush with destruction, St. Clara/St. Gelasius Church was given new life when Cardinal George invited the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to take charge of it. The Institute is a society of priests established in 1990 in Florence, Italy, under the Ecclesia Dei indult. Priests of the Institute of Christ the King celebrate Mass and all the sacraments according to the 1962 liturgical books -- the traditional form of the Latin Rite recently given new impetus by Pope Benedict XVI in his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. The group’s experience in reforming and restoring church buildings to their former beauty, coupled with the track record of growth in the “Latin Mass” milieu, made the Institute of Christ the King a good fit for the task of transforming the gutted former St. Gelasius into a living church.

Indeed, since the Institute began regularly offering Mass in 2005 at their Chicago location using a provisional chapel in the adjacent rectory, the congregation has increased from not a single person to an ever growing group of faithful, which required that a second Mass be added on Sundays for lack of space. In June 2006, the church received its decree of erection as the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

The Cardinal’s ceremonial crowning of the Infant Jesus during Christmastide this year is of special significance for the church. The first Mass ever offered inside the building was on Christmas 1924, a few years prior to its completion. And 2007 marks the 80^th anniversary of the dedication of the church, on May 15, 1927. Those who attend the Solemn High Mass at 1:30 pm on Saturday, December 29^th, will be treated to what many describe as the “transcendent beauty” of the Latin Mass, with its ancient prayers chanted in Latin, studied and choreographed movements, moments of silent prayer, incense, traditional vessels and vestments, and timeless music. Members of the Chicago Chorale will sing William Byrd’s four-voice polyphonic setting of the Mass, as well as motets by Tomás Luis de Victoria and Josquin de Près. The Gregorian Chant will be provided by the Shrine’s own schola.

This Christmas season, the ever-growing congregation at the Shrine of Christ the King will be moved from the basement-chapel in the rectory to the historic church when regular Sunday Mass again returns to the once-shuttered building. On Christmas Eve, Mass will be at 11:00 pm. On Christmas Day there will be the traditional “Mass at Dawn” at 8:00 am (Low Mass) and the “Mass during the Day” at 10:00 am (High Mass). For more information call 773-363-7409.

ICRSS Ordination St Louis MO Part 2

Once again..

I present to you

The continuation of the Ordination

Part 2 the final part to this wonderful liturgy

Rumor: New ICRSS Location

With the ordination of the new Institute Priest's This Blogger has heard a rumor that Fr. Talarico will be sent to St. Anthony of Padua Chapel in West Orange, NJ.

This is a Unconfirmed Rumor, Fr. Talarico did tell me that he was headed to the east coast but did not tell me where, he said it was not "Official" Yet, but if this rumor is true this is another awesome step.

Now where is that Motu Proprio.........

UPDATE:

A Reader of this blog Contacted me and gave me some more info:

I was reading your blog from Monday. I'm a parishoner at St. Anthony's in West Orange, NJ. The rumors you have heard are true. The announcement was officially made last weekend at Mass. Fr. Andreas Hellman is coming to assist with Masses in July. Fr. Talarico will be visiting in late July and coming permanently in September to serve as rector

DEO GRATIAS!

Video for ICRSS Ordination PART 1

NOTE:
I am not a Professional Video Dude
I am not a member of the choir, and also partially known to be tone deaf,
there are also parts of the video that I forgot my missal and was somewhat off track

if you can drudge through these things Please enjoy PART 1 of the Ordination Video that took place last Friday.

God Bless you

Pictures First Mass of Father Avis and Reception

I hope These Pictures of Father Avis' First Mass Speak for themselfs

ICRSS Ordination in St. Louis

God has graced us with the special privilege of being able to attend the Ordinations at the Cathedral Basilica in St Louis and the First Mass' at St. Francis De Sales Oratory,

The ceremony was one of the most solemn occasions I have ever witnessed and I hope to share it with you, my brothers and sisters in Christ through the use of modern technology.

First Some Quick Pictures, sorry about the quality as I had to take them with my cell phone as our regular digital camera was dead. I had re-charged the batteries the night before but it looks as if they did not want to stay charged so the Phone camera was my only option.

I did Video tape ALMOST the entire Ordination and will post the video upon my return to the KC metro area. And could make DVD's if there is enough interest

We did not get to stay for the reception after the Mass as we had a flat tire and had to get it fixed before dark.

the first pictures are of the ICRSS - Institute Of Christ the King Sovereign Priest - Ordination's in St Louis followed by a few of one of the First Mass'

Video to come in the up coming days after I return.

Before the Ordination


During the Mass
The Laying of Hands

First Mass
Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz, the U.S. Provincial of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest Gives a REALLY REALLY REALLY!! Good Sermon ( did I say it was REALLY good?)
"Official" Picture After the First Mass


Additionally These other very Fine Blogs also have Pictures of the GLORIOUS event:

Kansas City Catholic: Archbishop Burke of Saint Louis, MO, Ordains Two ICRSS Priests, June 15, 2007

St. Louis Catholic

Rome of the West


I am home now and have started the video process

Stay tuned