Let it snow!

St Kateri PSR Pageant

Mary getting some big news from the Archangel Gabriel... Thanks to all who helped, the pageant was a great way to set our minds on the story of the Incarnation as we prepare for the Feast of the Nativity and for the return of our Lord in glory!

Requiescat in Pacem, Fr. Bert Iffert

Former Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Equality, Fr. Bert Iffert fell asleep in Christ on Friday morning after long illness. Please say a prayer for the repose of his soul.

Fr. Iffert's obituary is here.

Happy Birthday, St. Mary's! (with homily text)

And a Blessed Immaculate Conception to all. Celebrations were a success as we began solemn Adoration at 8:00am, with Holy Mass at 9:00 and 5:00 and great dinner following. Lots of work went into planning and executing the day; thanks to all who participated! The day of Adoration was wonderful. As I popped in and out of church through the day, I rejoiced to think that here in this little town, the Holy of Holies waits for us, always with us, always inviting our love and communion. To worship Him is why St. Mary's is here - and why we are here. Venite Adoremus!

Click here for homily text...

Building Committee Interviewing Architects

The St. Kateri Building Committee has put in some long sessions lately as we tighten the lasso on the single biggest decision of the whole project: the choice of architect. Many portfolios were considered, consultation around the diocese was done, and eventually three were scheduled for interview.

McCrery Architects, Washington, D.C.
White and Borgognoni, Carbondale
Cram and Ferguson, Concord, MA

Each brings certain advantages, and each is expected to come in at a different price point. The last interview is scheduled for December 20th, after which we will submit a "Request for Proposal" to those architects under final consideration. This is somewhat analogous to a "bid", inviting specifics about services and fees.

Altar Society Christmas Party

Many were on hand for the celebration, which featured a festive setting, games, and great food, and even a crackling fireplace... sort of. On sale was jewelry and other items fashioned out of small scraps of stained glass recovered from tornado rubble. Very nicely done!

Winter Nights...

... don't you love them?

Repairs at St Mary's

Replacement of the dangerous soffits is nearing completion. The project was complicated by the difficulty of removing heavy concrete sections without endangering workers or windows. The concrete will be replaced with white aluminum soffits.

Field Trip #2: Belleville Area

Our second architectural tour took us to four recently/currently constructed churches in the St. Louis metro east area - all parishes in our diocese.

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Immaculate Conception in Columbia is a massive construction effort now underway.

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Holy Trinity in Fairview Heights is another very large church, recently consecrated.

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Corpus Christi in Shiloh is a smaller parish church, dedicated this year

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St. Clare O'Fallon, visible from I-64 at Green Mount Road, takes major design cues from the Basilica of St. Clare in Assisi, Italy

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Field Trip #1: Evansville

Members of the Building Committee toured some churches around Evansville in search of architectural ideas and inspiration! Select photos below:

(click for larger photo)

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St. Phillip's Church near Mount Vernon, Indiana was recently built and offered some inspiring features.

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St. Agnes displays beautiful St. Meinrad sandstone inside and out.

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St. Boniface exemplifies German Baroque style

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Sacred Heart is a replica of the chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mundelein Seminary

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St. Anthony displays slender columns and a striking mural of Christ Pantocrator in the apse

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St. Mary soars into Gothic arches, a ribbed ceiling, and features an interesting Baptismal font. Do you recognize the saint on the left in the grotto?

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St. Benedict Cathedral is in the Roman Basilica form, with a very Italian-looking belltower and a very nice baldacchino (the structure over the altar)

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Sr. Kathleen McGuire and Companions Honored on the 20th Anniversary of their Martyrdom

On a very momentous Sunday, we honored the 20th anniversary of the martyrdom of five Adorers of the Blood of Christ from the motherhouse in Ruma: our own Sr. Kathleen McGuire, Sr. Agnes Mueller, Sr. Barbara Ann Muttra, and cousins Sisters Mary Joel Kolmer and Shirley Kolmer. It was also the day of the canonization of our patroness, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and the date St. Kateri parish was officially established. Kathleen and Kateri are the Irish and Mohawk variants of the same name... thanks be to Providence for arranging things so beautifully.

Popcorn Day Parade 2012

The bells fell a long way but landed softly. Though their cradles and mechanisms were mostly destroyed, the bells themselves are not significantly damaged.

Some of the parishioners who put a great deal of effort into planning the float, restoring the bells to a beautiful finish, and making the float happen!

Aside from the few who made it happen, the float was a total surprise. There were many smiles and many tears...often on the same face! A few people said they recognized the bell's voice long before it came into sight.