St. Francis de Sales Oratory Wins Golden Brick Award

Posted June 30th, 2010

On Wednesday, June 30, 2010, St. Francis de Sales Oratory received the “2010 Golden Brick Award,” an annual award given by the DeSales Community Housing Corporation in recognition of noteworthy contribution to the improvement and beautification of the Fox Park Neighborhood.

The project which won this year’s award was the renovation of the Convent building at St. Francis de Sales. After years of disuse and neglect, the Convent was in a seriously dilapidated condition. In an effort to make the building habitable by the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest, renovation began in August of 2009. It involved  complete cleaning, stripping and refinishing of old floors, complete overhaul of the kitchen, the foyer and several rooms, repair of broken windows and window frames, re-plumbing of sinks and bathrooms, installation of new cabinetry and light fixtures, and repainting of walls and moldings.

With the help of more than one thousand man-hours from many volunteers, sisters, and a generous company, BELFOR USA, the renovation effort so far has produced a completed foyer, several rooms in the sisters’ living and sleeping quarters, dining room, a modern and functional kitchen, new stair case, new floors, and newly painted walls in the hallway and in many rooms. Due to the scope of the project, renovation continues today.

This occasion marks the second time in three years that St. Francis de Sales Oratory has received public recognition by the DeSales Community Housing Corporation for its renovation efforts. (The first time was for the renovation of the sacristy in 2008.)

Formed in 1976, the Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the renewal of the Fox Park and Tower Grove East neighborhoods of St. Louis. It bestows the Golden Brick Award to individuals and businesses who have demonstrated a commitment towards improving these neighborhoods.

The recurring award underscores the fact that restoring St. Francis de Sales has significant consequences for the renewal of the entire vicinity around the church, because it has always been and will be the anchor of the neighborhood. The multiple awards also highlight the high level of commitment of the Oratory and its members to continue the restoration effort of St. Francis de Sales.

On behalf of the St. Francis de Sales Oratory, Canon Michael K. Wiener, Rector of the Oratory and Episcopal Delegate for the Implementation of the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum,” in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, accepted the Golden Brick Award at a presentation ceremony on Wednesday evening, June 30, 2010.


Canon Michael Wiener accepting Golden Brick Award 2010


Dining room of the convent after extensive renovation


Foyer of the convent after renovation


A room in the convent before renovation

All photos of the convent courtesy of Mark Abeln of Rome of the West.

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A Glimpse of the Past

Posted June 28th, 2010

A look at the history of St. Francis de Sales church reveals the hardships and sacrifices which accompanied the building of the present church. Delayed by a catastrophic cyclone in 1896, the parishioners, led by Father Lotz persevered.  The building of the new church continued with Father Holweck after Father Lotz’ death in 1903, and was completed and dedicated in November, 1908. The following photo and text are from the 1917 Jubilee booklet.

The old church building destroyed by the cyclone of May 27, 1896

The laying of the corner stone [of the new church] took place August 11, 1895, at which almost the entire Germanic population of St. Louis and many outside delegations were present.

 On May 27, 1896, a cyclone swept over St. Louis and destroyed the old church, leaving only the sanctuary and the main entrance. This caused a great draw back in the prosecution of the Father Lotz’s plans, since many of the parish members suffered extensive material losses. The hall in the third story of the school building had to be used for services until the basement of the Church could be equipped in such a way that the Holy Sacrifice could be celebrated therein (July 1896).

 A postcard (c. 1908) showing the new church after it had been built in spite of the difficulties.

An old postcard showing the newly completed St. Fancis de Sales church in 1908. (Source: St. Louis Public Library)




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Baseball Game Fundraiser: St. Louis Cardinals vs New York Mets – Sunday, April 18, 2010

Posted April 13th, 2010

St. Louis CardinalsIt’s  a certain sign of Spring when the ball games start again!

The St. Louis Cardinals are up against the New York Mets this Sunday, April 18, at the Busch Stadium.  The game starts at 7:05 PM, with a good possibility of Adam Wainright pitching.

Once again, the Oratory has received from a generous benefactor 20 luxury suite tickets for our fundraising effort. For a great view of the game in the most comfortable surroundings (“Infield Field Box”), the tickets are bargain-priced at only $50 each. (Food and drink are not included.)

There are only 20 tickets. Please call the Oratory at 314-771-3100 as soon as possible to purchase your tickets. Make checks payable to “Friends of St. Francis de Sales, Inc.”

All proceeds benefit the Oratory’s restoration effort.

Come out and support the Cardinals and the Oratory this Sunday!

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TV Interview on KMOV News 4

Posted April 5th, 2010

Canon Michael K. Wiener discusses the on-going restoration effort on KMOV-TV 4′s Extra Edition.

(posted here with the kind permission from the producer of Extra Edition at KMOV-TV4)

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Links to St. Louis Post-Dispatch Easter Sunday Article and KMOV Interview

Posted April 3rd, 2010

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch news article by Greg Jonsson about St. Francis de Sales and its restoration may be viewed online at this link.

Two slide shows prepared by Post-Dispatch staff photographer, Christian Gooden, may be viewed online on STLtoday.com: Sister Marie of the Love of God, and St. Francis de Sales Oratory. The slide shows are accompanied by recorded comments by Sister Marie and Canon Michael K. Wiener, respectively. Individual photos may be viewed in the photo gallery.

In addition, the TV interview on KMOV of Canon Michael K. Wiener about the on-going restoration effort is available online.  

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St. Francis de Sales Oratory Featured in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and on KMOV –TV 4

Posted April 1st, 2010

St. Francis de Sales Oratory and its restoration will be a feature story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this Easter Sunday.

As a sure sign of its return to active service for the community in South St. Louis, the St. Francis de Sales Oratory has drawn the attention of St. Louis’ major daily newspaper, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

For several weeks, Mr. Greg Jonsson, a reporter with the Post-Dispatch, conducted interviews at the Oratory with Canon Michael K. Wiener, Rector of the Oratory, and Sister Marie of the Love of God, to get an in-depth look at the restoration effort. Their interviews covered a wide range of topics, including the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, the arrival of the Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest (the feminine branch of the Institute), the renovation of the convent and other buildings on campus, and the visible effect of the thriving oratory in the Fox Park Neighborhood of South St. Louis. Numerous photographs of the Oratory and the restoration in progress were taken to document the article.

Along with several interviews with Oratory faithful, Mr. Jonsson also secured an interview with the Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, to get his perspective on the importance of the Oratory here in the city of St. Louis, and its role in the renewal of the community.

The culmination of Mr. Jonsson’s reporting will be published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Easter Sunday edition. The online edition will also include the photographs and the recorded conversations with Canon Wiener and Sister Marie.

Additionally, prior to publication, KMOV Channel 4 will feature Mr. Greg Jonsson’s work, with an on-air interview of both Mr. Jonsson and Canon Michael Wiener on its weekend news program “Extra Edition.” This program is scheduled to air on Saturday morning, April 3, at 6:00 AM.

Please look for the publication of this Post-Dispatch article, and tune in to KMOV this weekend. Updates and links to the online article will follow on this blog.

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