Photo of Narthex at Saint Francis Borgia Church

Painting in the narthex of Saint Francis Borgia Church, in Washington, Missouri.

AD GLORIAM SS. TRINITATIS.

AD HONOR. B.M.V. ET D. FRANC. BORGIÆ

CURA MODERATORIS HUJUS PAROECIAE P.MART.SEISL.S.J.

MUNIFICENTIA PAROCHIANORUM

HOC TEMPLUM INCEPTUM MDCCCLXVI.

PERFECTUM EST MDCCCLXIX.

A rough translation (corrections welcome):

To the glory of the Holy Trinity.

To the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Don Francis of Borgia

guardians of this parish's pastor, Martin Seisl, Society of Jesus.

With priests' generosity

this church was started 1866.

Completed 1869.

Correction:

To the glory of the Most Holy Trinity, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of St. Francis Borgia, under the care of this parish's pastor, Father Martin Seisl S.J., thanks to the generosity of the parishioners, this church was started on 1866 and completed on 1869.

"Archbishop Raymond L. Burke Confers Papal Medal"

From Saint Francis de Sales Oratory:

Last Monday, June 2, His Grace The Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke, Archbishop of Saint Louis conferred the Papal Medal “Bene Merenti” on Abbé Alexander Willwebber of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest for his restoration work on several historic Catholic churches here in the United States.  This award is given by the Holy Father himself for outstanding good works for the Church.

Abbé Willwebber has been the artistic consultant for several restoration projects entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King all over the world and in the USA, like St. Mary’s Oratory in Wasau, Wisconsin, the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Chicago, Illinois, Old St. Patrick’s Oratory in Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Francis de Sales Oratory here in St. Louis, Missouri. While each of these edifices were designed in a different style—St. Mary’s in American Neo-Gothic, the Christ the King Shrine according to early Baroque churches in Rome, and St. Francis de Sales in German Gothic—the work of Abbé Willwebber has enabled each of the churches to recapture its original beauty.

A fine example of Abbé Willwebber’s work is the newly restored North Sacristy of the Institute’s Oratory here in St. Louis.  The sacristy, which is the vesting area for the priest before he celebrates Mass, has been restored to resemble a chapel built for St. Louis of France, the patron saint of our city. 

Archbishop Burke conferred the medal in a short ceremony in St. Francis de Sales’ Rectory at 7:00 p.m., followed by reception for the guest of honor and for Very Rev. Msgr. Gilles Wach, Prior General of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest; Very Rev. Msgr. R. Michael Schmitz, U.S. Provincial of the Institute, Chicago Illinois; Rev. Father Michael Wiener, Episcopal Delegate of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, Oakland California;  Rev. Father Karl W. Lenhardt, Rector of St. Francis de Sales Oratory, Vice Provincial and Episcopal Delegate of the Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum for the Archdiocese of St. Louis; Rev. Father William Avis, Vicar of  the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales; and several candidates of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. 


Father Avis, Msgr. Brier, Msgr. Wach, His Grace, Msgr. Schmitz, Abbé Alexander, Father Lenhardt


His Grace, Msgr. Schmitz, Abbé Alexander, Father Lenhardt


Abbé Alexander, His Grace

Photos and text courtesy of the Oratory.

Photo taken last night during the Our Mother of Perpetutal Help devotion at Saint Francis de Sales Oratory.

Photos of Saint Matthew the Apostle Church, in Saint Louis, Missouri

HERE ARE PHOTOS of Saint Matthew the Apostle Church, in Saint Louis, Missouri.  The church is about four road miles northwest of the Old Cathedral, in The Ville neighborhood.

The distinctive three towers of the church.

The parish was founded in 1893, and the cornerstone of the current church was laid in 1906. Priests of the Society of Jesus have pastored this church since 1959.

The nave after the end of Mass.  This is a fairly small-sized church by City standards, but has nice detail throughout.  The Altar of Sacrifice is now located in the center of the transept, but apparently most of the original liturgical furnishings have been retained.



The tabernacle, below a crucifix and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and above a depiction of the Last Supper, is in the old high altar.

The stained glass windows here are excellent, but due to negligence on my part, I failed to photograph them.



Address:

2715 North Sarah Street
Saint Louis, Missouri  63113

The Cathedral by Candlelight

A photo taken after the Corpus Christi procession. The Cathedral Basilica was lit by many candles, as well as by subtle indirect lighting.

Blurry people appear at the bottom of the photo due to the long exposure time.