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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Boniface exemplifies German Baroque style

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.