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Yesterday a 3-alarm fire nearly destroyed the Shrine of Christ the King, a center for the traditional Mass on the south-side of Chicago, entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King. Ironically this was the second fire to gut this magnificent church. Built in the 1920’s by German immigrants, the church suffered its first fire in the 1970s. Afterwards it sat for many years in a dilapidated state, virtually unusable, while the neighborhood fell on hard times. In 2003 Cardinal George entrusted the church to the Institute. With vision, courage, and hard work, the Institute has been restoring the church, a project that has costed millions of dollars. The shrine has attracted a vibrant community of church-goers and has revitalized the neighborhood through community service. Fund-raising is already underway to restore the church. See the Institute’s website

Pictures (above and below) of the shrine from a 2008 entry on our website (see link)

The shrine as it looks today.

The treasured 18th century Spanish statue of the Infant King, which stood over the altar, was rescued, as was the tabernacle. Later the firefighters located the missing arm (see below)

A sister who runs a shelter next door said, “I know the spirit of the priests there and this will not stop them. I’m sure they will rebuild.”   Anyone who wishes to help can go to the Institute’s website or a special fund-raising page.

1. Ember Days – Wednesday, September 23rd, Friday, September 25th, and Saturday, September 26th will be EMBER DAYS.

Our Pastor has encouraged the parish to keep the traditional practice of fasting and abstinence on these days, as well as to attend Holy Mass for the sanctification of the season of autumn.

The Ember Days at Holy Innocents are always observed with, at least, a Sung Mass.

2. Solemn Festive Mass for Our Lady of Mercy – On Thursday, September 24th, 2015, Holy Innocents Parish will observe the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy as part of the prayers offered for the intentions of the Holy Father during his visit to the USA, during his visit to the boundaries of our Parish (Madison Square Garden is within the parochial boundaries of Holy Innocents Parish), and in anticipation of the Year of Mercy.

O God, Who by means of the most glorious Mother of Thy Son, wast pleased to give new offspring to Thy Church for the deliverance of Christians from the power of the heathen: grant, we beseech Thee, that we too, who love and honor Her as the foundress of so great a work, may by Her merits and intercession be ourselves delivered from all our sins and from the bondage of the evil one. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ…

May Our Lady of Mercy guide us in the practice of real works of mercy, and may God, through Her, free us from the power of the modern heathens who usurp the name of mercy at the expense of justice and the true teachings of Holy Mother Church.

3. Special Lecture – On Church and State by Mr. Charles Coloumbe.

On Saturday, September 26th, 2015 Mr. Charles Coloumbe will have a lecture on Church and State at 7 PM in the parish hall of the Church of the Holy Innocents.

Charles Coloumbe is a prolific author, lecturer, and  Catholic historian. Charles presents an unmatched life story –from military officer training, to standup comedy, and speaking at Oxford Union– he is sure to present the most engaging, thought provoking, and purposive symposium of 2015 in the Tri-State area.

For more information, please contact Jon Mangin to reserve your place! You can e-mail him at JDMangin@gmail.com or call toll free 1-877-845-3798.

Admission is $20 per ticket at the door. Call ahead for a 50% discount! All are welcome!

Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference
Oct. 1-3, 2015

liturgysociety.org/conference.html

Union League Club, 38 East 37th Street
Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, Mott St. between Prince and Houston
Sheen Center for Thought and Culture, 18 Bleecker St.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR IMPORTANT CONFERENCE ON THE LITURGY
Registration Deadline is September 22.

Registration is now open for the Society for Catholic Liturgy’s 20th annual conference. Renowned scholars, musicians, artists, and architects from all over the world gather in New York City to discuss this year’s theme: “The Liturgy: It Is Right and Just.”

The Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco will deliver the keynote address at the Union League Club on Thursday, October 1. And on Friday, October 2, at 9 AM, he will celebrate a Solemn Pontifical Mass (Usus Antiquior), accompanied by a sixteen-voice choir, at the historic Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral on Mott St.

Two days of lectures will follow at the Archbishop Fulton J.Sheen Center for Thought and Culture on Bleecker St.

Speakers will include Dr. William Mahrt, of Stanford University, who will discuss how the various styles and hierarchies of Gregorian chant melodies coordinate with the action of the liturgy.

Dr. Michon Matthiesen, of the University of St. Mary, will explore the nature of the act of liturgical worship in terms of the virtue of justice.

Fr. Michael Lang, a priest of the Oratory of St Philip Neri in London, Lecturer in Church History at Heythrop College, and editor of the journal Antiphon, will assess the central importance of the Last Supper tradition for the shaping of the early Christian Eucharist.

The Pastoral Track of the conference will offer practical workshops for parish and diocesan personnel. Topics will range from a presentation on liturgical preaching by Fr. George Rutler, to building and funding parish and children’s programs in sacred music, to remedying architectural problems in churches.

And there will be plenty of opportunity for socializing at breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. All are welcome for three days of learning, prayer, and camaraderie.

For more information about the conference schedule, and to register, go to: http://liturgysociety.org/conference.html.

Founded in 1995, the Society for Catholic Liturgy is a unique organization that brings together faithful Catholic scholars and artists from around the world to recover, discuss, and promote the rich liturgical tradition of the Church. The Society holds an annual three-day conference, and publishes Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal, which deals with important theoretical and practical questions in the fields of liturgy and sacramental theology.

Solemn Mass, according to the 1962 missal, being celebrated at the shrine in 2006.

This year from September 18-20 the “Pilgrimage for the Restoration” will once more make its way to the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, NY and celebrate its concluding liturgy – no longer, alas, in the main shrine church. But they will encounter a shrine soon to be under new management. For the Jesuits are leaving after 130 years. The shrine – which has just undertaken a major fundraising drive –  will remain open – at least for now. The shrine will rely on visiting priests to carry on as reported – somewhat inelegantly – by the local press:

“The Jesuit ministry will leave the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, but visiting priests and nuns will still conduct Masses there.” The Leader-Herald

“Unlike a church, however, the shrine — resting place of four Jesuit saints — cannot be closed and sold off. Instead, it will transition to more of a tourist destination, with new signs and other enhancements to present information to visitors.” “With the loss of the Jesuit priests, the shrine will focus more on its role as a religious destination rather than a church community.” The Daily Gazette

I cannot say I am sorry to see the Jesuits go – what with their contemptuous and insulting treatment of the FSSPX pilgrimage last year and the hostility shown in recent years to the “Pilgrimage for the Restoration.” They have dug their own grave. But what of the future?

” [T]he Jesuits will turn over daily management of the shrine to Parish Property Management, Inc., which is a facilities management company founded to serve religious communities and institutions. It already helps manage the shrine. The company manages more than 200 religious properties across the eastern coast of the United States and Caribbean Islands.” The Amsterdam Recorder

So for the time being the shrine of the North American Martyrs  continues to welcome pilgrims and “tourists.” I would hope that a shrine of such great saints will remain intact and accessible to all!