We are pleased to announce that the renovation of the restrooms in the Oratory hall is now complete! The mid-October update showed the completed men’s restroom.  The following photos show the refurbished new ladies’ restroom in the hall.

Compared with the deplorable conditions only a few months ago (see old photos here), these new, bright and clean facilities are a tremendous improvement for the gathering of our families in the hall for many years to come!

For logistical reasons and for the comfort of our Oratory families in the cold winter months, it was decided to renovate the women’s restroom although we had not yet collected all the necessary funds.

Thanks to your generosity, the funds are slowly coming in.  So far we are $17,635.00 short of our collection goal. (The cost was $31,000 for both restrooms, for materials only.)  Your help is deeply appreciated!

It took less just under two months to complete the first phase of renovation: the overhaul the men’s restroom. We are pleased to report that, from the new ceramic-tiled floor to the new drop ceiling, and including the fixtures, lighting, painted walls – everything is new and clean!

The cost of materials for the renovation so far is $15,000, of which $9,180 have already been collected. The total cost would have been far greater had we not received the generous donations of labor cost from the two contracting companies: Brooks Plumbing and OAS Construction Company. We are very grateful to these companies and to all benefactors who have contributed.  We need just $6,000 more to cover the total cost of phase one.

In the meantime, for both logistics and hygienic reasons, we have begun work on renovating the ladies’ restroom this week. With the cold weather coming on, our families and guests would be better served if both restrooms were functional. The material cost for this phase will be $16,000.

It must be emphasized that the cost borne by the Oratory is only for materials. We are deeply grateful to both Brooks and OAS Construction for their generosity in donating the labor portion. Without this kindness and their competent work, this much-needed renovation would not be possible.

While less glamorous than restoring the art and architecture of this church, repairing the Hall restrooms underscores the fact that Saint Francis de Sales is more than a historic landmark. This is where a community gathers for worship and for mutual support.

We would be grateful for your continued help to finish this task.  Any donation towards this effort would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your generosity!

In 2011, one part of the hall which is long overdue for overhaul is the restrooms. Both the men’s and the women’s bathrooms have fallen into deplorable conditions. Without immediate attention, hygiene and safety are becoming serious concerns, especially because the hall is again in heavy use by our families and by children on campus during the week.

In late July, we began to address this issue by remodeling the men’s bathroom first. The work involved removing the existing tile floor and all fixtures, installing new fixtures, partitions, drop ceiling, lighting and ceramic floor tiles, then repairing the wall and painting. At this writing, we have reached the midpoint in the renovation of the men’s room, after passing the code inspection by the city.

Thanks to the generous donations of labor for this project by Brooks Plumbing and O.A.S. Construction Co., the cost of this project is only for the materials. A total of $30,000 is needed to completely renovate both bathrooms, $15,000 per bathroom for the purchase of fixtures, plumbing supplies and other construction materials.

Right now we are collecting funds to complete the men’s room renovation.  We still need $11,900.  After we have received the funds for the men’s room, we will begin the renovation of the women’s bathroom.

This is an important project as the St. Francis de Sales Oratory community continues to grow. Your support is vital and is deeply appreciated. Please donate for this project!

Present condition of the women's bathroom in the hall

Work in progress, ready for code inspection

Drop ceiling being installed (September, 2011)

• Thomas S. says: It is part of the railing outside the Sacristy on the courtyard side of the church.
• JJR says: This is one of the handrails outside the church by the side sacristy door.
• Mary says: A railing post going up to the sacristy from the courtyard side entrance.
• The Pekny Family says: This is at the base of the stairwell railing, outside that leads to the sacristy.
• Mary Hayworth says: Is the photo of the railing/stairs that leads to the Sacristy?
• Matt Grahek says: I believe that is one of the newel posts on the exterior stair to the sacristy.
• Bill Miller says: I believe that this is a photo of a post at the bottom of the stairwell that leads to the Sacristy from outside.
• Michael S. says: This is the post at the bottom of the sacristy steps. The left one if you are looking from the bottom of the steps towards the church.
• Clary Redd says: Sacristy staircase
• Natalie Ortwerth says: That is the bottom of the handrail out of the side entrance of the Church near the school. The steps are curved and the steps are covered, I believe.
• Emily Wichmer says: I guess it’s the banister on the outdoor staircase to the sacristy.
• Marc Pekny says: This would be the railing post going to the sacristy from the courtyard?
• Hootiecootie says: Is this the post on the sacristy steps?
• Nikki Benjamin says: I believe that is part of the railing at the bottom of the stairs which go up to the Sacristy.
• Jay Petrick says: Is this on the spiral staircase leading out of the sacristy and into the parking lot?
• Kate Serafino says: I think it is the end of the railing to the spiral staircase that leads to the sacristy. :) Nice picture, Mr. Abeln!
• Stephen Haller says: This is the bottom post of the stairwell leading up to the sacristy from the inner courtyard of the Oratory.
• Jay Petrick says: Spiral staircase from sacristy to the parking lot?
• Cole Underwood says: Its at the end of the stairs to the sacristy
• Marc says: The post at the bottom of the stairwell going to the sacristy from the courtyard?
• Lily says: The metal staircase going up to the sacristy.

This post on the staircase to the Sacristy is an example of many considerations which must be made in our restoration effort: preserving the beautifully crafted architectural elements from the past is not a trivial matter.

One big challenge for our restoration effort is repainting the exterior surfaces, especially the extensive wrought iron railings and ornamental work on the church campus. As in all older structures built before 1978, the paints used for exterior elements may be problematic because of the lead-based formulation commonly used. Removal and repainting must be done with utmost care for the safety of people as well as for the environment. Not surprisingly, the preservation of even a simple fence is a very costly endeavor.

Always seeking help to preserve the beauty of the Oratory, we would be grateful for knowledgeable help from individuals and businesses who specialize in handling old paint in an environmentally safe manner and in conformance with local  regulations.  Donations for this specific task as well as for all other restoration tasks will be most welcome and gratefully received. Unless we receive support for this work, beautifully crafted wrought iron work such as this will continue to deteriorate.

Photo credit: Mr. Mark Abeln, Rome of the West

Golden Brick Award 2011 for Courtyard Renovation

For the third time since 2008, the Oratory has received the annual Golden Brick award from the DeSales Community Housing Corporation; this time, it’s for the courtyard garden project. In accordance with its mission to promote the renewal of the Fox Park and Tower Grove East neighborhoods, the Corporation recognizes outstanding projects which improves and beautifies the neighborhood. On behalf of the Oratory, Canon Michael K. Wiener attended the reception on Thursday, June 16, and gratefully accepted the award from Executive Director, Mr. Tom Pickel.

Previously, the Oratory had been recognized for the renovation of the sacristy (in 2008) and the renovation of the convent (2010.)

In contrast to the previous two awards, the “2011 Golden Brick” highlights an exterior improvement of the church. The courtyard garden project began with the installation of a wrought iron gate, delineating a garden space between the rectory and the convent. Once excavation began, it was discovered that underneath the asphalt was a lovely old brick courtyard. Over half of the salvaged old bricks were of very good quality, and are reused today in the paved walk way in the newly designed garden.

An American poet from the Nineteenth Century, Lucy Larcom, once wrote, “He who plants a tree, plants hope.” Slowly, the small trees, shrubs, and perennials are gradually taking root in this garden on the St. Francis de Sales campus. Where the ground was once paved with hard asphalt, soft rich earth now nourishes an urban oasis of verdant plants and pretty flowers.

The visibly vigorous plantings on our campus are indeed lovely additions to the Oratory’s exterior and reflect the growth of the Oratory community. This garden project was made possible through the generous donation of a benefactor, and many man-hours of hard work contributed by a Oratory members. As on previous two occasions, this Golden Brick award belongs to all of you, for without the dedication and unwavering support of all Oratory members and friends, the continued restoration of St. Francis de Sales would not be possible.

The work has begun with the competent expertise of Clayco Inc., helped by a donation from a generous donor of the Oratory. So far, the asphalt between the rectory and the convent has been excavated and the debris hauled away.

The removal of the asphalt yielded a wonderful surprise: underneath was an old, broken, but lovely brickwork surface. Many of the old bricks were well preserved enough that they could be salvaged and re-used to make a new walkway in the redesigned garden.

The work continues this Fall as we prepare the grounds for further construction by digging out the walkway and laying down a 4-inch layer of gravel. We can always use more help in this effort to enhance the church grounds. Please contact the rectory if you are interested in contributing.

In June, thanks to the initiative of a dedicated family, the gardens around the church underwent a complete facelift. New plantings of perennials flourished over the summer months, bringing a new verdant liveliness to the landscaping around the Oratory.

In July, a new lighting system was installed to highlight the church tower at night, making the illuminated tower as prominent a part of St. Louis’ nightscape as it is during the day.

In August, the crumbling concrete steps leading up to the convent, unsightly and a potential safety hazard, were torn down and rebuilt.  

New light poles were installed to direct illumination towards the tower.

Workmen rebuilding the convent steps, August 2010

 

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.

Emergency work was ordered and performed on the stained glass windows on the north side of the Oratory this Christmas.

One of the consequences of the shifting foundation of the church tower is the cracking in the masonry and the bowing of the historic stained glass windows of the church. The windows most seriously affected are the ones on the north side, on the right side of the choir loft. Unfortunately, the structural damage of the windows has reached a point where it is now necessary to remove the stained glass segments in order to save them.

Detail of damaged stained glass window, showing daylight streaming through the opening created by the bowing of the wondow.

Close-up of damaged section   Due to compressive stress exerted on the main church building by the tower whose foundation has shifted, one of the stained glass windows has been seriously affected.  The metal support of the stained glass artwork has been bent outward over time, resulting in a gap in the seam.  Immediate intervention is necessary to maintain the integrity of the window and to salvage the irreplaceable artwork.

After removal, the stained glass sections will be carefully stored, and the large openings in the window covered with painted wood for the time being. Complete restoration of the stained glass windows cannot take place until the tower foundation is stabilized. In addition, extensive work is now needed to reinforce the terra cotta columns with horizontal steel bars to maintain its stability.

The stained glass artwork in St. Francis de Sales Oratory was made by Emil Frei, Sr., who immigrated to the United States from Bavaria, Germany, in the late 1800s. The stained glass creations overseen by several generations of the Frei family are renowned throughout the country. Stephen Frei, the great-grandson of the man who designed and made these windows at St. Francis de Sales, is now managing the removal and repair of the windows. We are indebted to Emil Frei Associates, Inc. for their dedication to find an innovative solution to preserve these windows until future repair may take place. The permanent restoration of the stained glass windows will begin only when the tower foundation is stabilized.

Current interior view of the affected window from the choir loft in the church, showing the beautiful Emil Frei artwork backlit by daylight. While the stained glass sections are in storage awaiting restoration, temporary wood  inserts will be used to cover up the opening. This view of the stained glass window will not be seen again until the tower foundation is stabilized.

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

Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory is deeply grateful to all the volunteers, including many families, who have contributed countless hours of spirited labor to this effort.  We are also deeply indebted to BELFOR Property Restoration, whose professional expertise, efficiency, and quality workmanship shine through in these photographs.

The renovation work speeds ahead in various sections of the Convent.  The continuing, generous support of all our benefactors is also evident in photos showing the work in progress, below:

Photos courtesy of Mark Scott Abeln

A year ago, the convent on the campus of St. Francis de Sales Oratory was vacated for the last time. The rooms were emptied and the lights turned off. With disuse and lack of maintenance over the years, the convent has become a dilapidated shell of what it once was. Except for a few rooms used occasionally, the air is stale, windows dingy, paint peeling, fixtures broken, and the walls and floor shabby with a covering of dust.

Pope Benedict XVI greets Sister Marie of the Love of God

All this is about to change.

Two weeks ago it was announced that the women religious branch of the Institute of Christ the King, with the name of Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest, will be exploring the possibility of establishing a community in the US. The Oratory is the perfect location to host the Sister Adorers since it already has a convent facility. The first sister, Sister Marie of the Love of God, would arrive at the end of August.

Restoring the convent to a habitable condition became an urgent top priority for the Friends of St. Francis de Sales. We are deeply grateful that numerous volunteers, including many families, immediately responded to an appeal for help to fix up the convent. From these willing hands, many man-hours have been applied to stripping floors, cleaning, and removing debris.

In addition, through the introduction of a friend of the Oratory, BELFOR USA, a global leader in property restoration, has offered to undertake this renovation effort on a pro bono basis. Within one week of hearing about our great need, BELFOR USA dispatched representatives to assess the scope of the project so that work may begin immediately.

BELFOR USA, with a branch office in St. Louis, specializes in property restoration, working closely with insurance companies, notably in recovering commercial and residential properties due to water, fire, and wind damage in severe disasters. Their proficiency in this sector of the renovation industry has hinged on many innovative techniques derived from years of R&D efforts.

In a generous and magnanimous response to this community need, BELFOR USA is applying their leading-edge professional expertise to help us solve our problem. The package of services they are donating includes thoroughly cleaning, painting, and repairing the front steps and foyer, a suite (two rooms and bath) for Sister Marie, the kitchen, and two community rooms. Initial work to prep the work areas began on Tuesday, August 11, so that the bulk of the renovation may begin on Thursday, August 13. We are deeply moved by this magnanimous spirit of public service shown by our new friends, BELFOR USA.

Indeed, the Friends of the St. Francis de Sales Oratory are very blessed with many generous helpers who are contributing to this endeavor in various ways: by connecting us to generous benefactors such as BELFOR USA, and by donating time and labor to do additional work to complete this renovation so that we can welcome the first Sister Adorer to the US.

Restoration of the Oratory is anticipated to be a long and arduous process. It began at the High Altar, which is now in use every day of the year, followed by the renovation of the Sacristy, supporting the work at the High Altar. And now the renovation of the convent: it is a sure indication that this growing community welcomes the prospect of Sisters living and serving among us again. The long-term restoration of St. Francis de Sales cannot be accomplished without the support and participation of individuals and families committed to its future. The work to renovate the convent is a wondrous and hopeful sign that the gradual transformation of the Oratory will not be of the physical edifice only, but will reflect the revitalization of the community as well.

The lights of the convent were turned off for a while. But they are coming back on.

BELFOR Property Restoration provides a single source recovery solution specializing in commercial and residential properties due to water, fire, and wind damage.  BELFOR provides water mitigation, mold remediation, document restoration, electronic restoration, reconstruction, consulting, and continuing education programs. Corporately owned with 184 locations globally in over 20 countries. For more information about BELFOR USA see: www.us.belfor.com