March for Life Sursum Corda Brigade 2015

With the blessings of Monsignor Schmitz, Sursum Corda will have it's 2nd Annual March for Life Trip as a Midwest Brigade this coming January, 2015.

Who? Young Adults aged 18 - 35 and 16/17 year olds.  There are only 30 available places left!  Register now!

Where? Chicago will be the starting and ending point.  We will remain in D.C. for two nights.  The hotel rooms are already reserved.  We are traveling in a 56 passenger Charter Bus.  Rout details include a Mass in Euclid, Ohio on the way to the March and in Columbus on the way back from the March.

**For those travelling from the St. Louis area, a carpool to Chicago can be organised - please contact sursumcordastlouis@gmail.com after you have registered for assistance in finding others who are going as well!

When? January 21st - 23rd, 2015

The Charter Bus will be leaving from Chicago early Wednesday morning, January 21st with D.C. arrival in the evening.  The March is on the 22nd, and we will also attend the Pontifical High Mass at Old St. Mary's that evening.  Departure for Chicago in the morning of Friday, the 23rd after breakfast.

**Those coming from outside the greater Chicago area should plan on an additional 2 days to the itinerary: travelling to Chicago on Tuesday, January 20th and returning on Saturday, January 24th.

Why? Because "we are the generation that will put an end to abortion." Because last year's successful trip is worth renewing!  Because youth is made for heroism!!!

What do you need to participate?  

Please mail the following to:

Sursum Corda, 6415 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago IL 60637

• Check for $200 (includes 2 nights at hotel and bus) payable to Institute of Christ the King 
• Registration form
• Signed insurance waiver (for those under 18, your parents must sign for you).  There will be designated chaperones.  

Please e-mail sursumcordastlouis@gmail.com to receive necessary registration forms and waiver

Your place will not be reserved until registration is paid and forms are signed & submitted!  Verbal commitment does not suffice.  First come first serve.  Jump on this quickly!  I encourage you to actively seek family, friends, and benefactors to support you in finding the registration fee money.

Hope to see y'all there!

December Sursum Corda Events

For the month of December, we will be having two separate events.

The first event will be Saturday, December 13th and will be a fun outing to Steinberg Rink for ice skating!  This will be a casual opportunity to better know our fellow Sursum Cordians, and have Canon Todd enjoy a benefit of our Midwest winters (being from Louisiana, he didn't get to ice skate often!)

This event will take place in the morning, starting with 8am Mass, followed by breakfast in the convent.  If those who are attending could please volunteer to bring breakfast food (bagels, juice, cereals, other small dishes, ect...), Canon Todd would be very grateful!  E-mail sursumcordastlouis@gmail.com and let us know if you can contribute food.  After breakfast, we will head out to Steinberg Rink in Forest Park to ice skate.  Please bring $7 for admission and $5 for rental skates.  *Note that Steinberg only takes cash payment*

If you can't make the ice skating, hopefully you will be able to attend the second event on Saturday, December 20th.  Sursum Corda will be having a Christmas potluck dinner.

The event will start with Adoration at 6pm at St. Francis de Sales.  Afterwards, we will head to the convent for Canon Todd's 2nd conference in his series on the Holy Mass.  This talk will cover the history of the second half of the Mass, from the Canon onwards.  Finally, join us for dinner and bring your favourite Christmas food!  We will be organising people to bring food in the following categories:  drinks, main dishes, salads, and desserts.  Please e-mail sursumcordastlouis@gmail.com to let us know if you are coming and what you will be bringing!

As always, all young adults ages 18 - 35 are more than welcome!  Bring your friends!

Hope to see y'all there!

Saturday, December 13th
8:00am  -  Mass at St. Francis de Sales Oratory
Followed by breakfast in the convent (please volunteer to bring food!)
10:00am - Meet at Steinberg Rink in Forest Park (Please bring $7 for admission, and $5 for rental skates - Steinberg takes *cash only*)

Saturday, December 20th
6:00pm  -  Adoration and Benediction at St. Francis de Sales Oratory
~6:45pm  -  Conference in the convent
Followed by the Potluck Dinner (email sursumcordastlouis@gmail.com to let us know what you are bringing!)

If you have any further questions, please use the contact form on the right hand side of the page or e-mail: sursumcordastlouis@gmail.com

November Sursum Corda: Bowling

Now that life at St. Francis de Sales has settled down a bit (almost), Sursum Corda will resume monthly meetings starting in November!

We will start Sursum Corda on November 15th at 3pm with an afternoon of bowling at Epiphany Lanes which is run by Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church.  What better way to have fun and support our local Catholic parishes at the same time?  The cost for two hours of bowling is $24 per lane of 6 people max (shoes included); so please be prepared to pay $4 - $6 depending on how many people show up.

Afterwards, we will return to St. Francis de Sales for a low Mass at 5pm followed by a conference by Canon Todd and pizza at the convent!

For the next several months, Canon Todd will be leading the conferences with a common theme:  The Holy Mass.  We will explore the different rites, symbolism, and history behind our most powerful prayer!  So be sure to keep your notebooks and pencils close at hand!

All young adults between the ages of 18 - 35 are invited to join us at any time and welcome the newly ordained Canon Todd, as this will be his first Sursum Corda with St. Louis!  Spread the word and bring your friends!

Event Schedule
Saturday, November 15th, 2014
3pm - 5pm: Bowling at Epiphany Lanes (3164 Ivanhoe Avenue, St. Louis MO 63139; bring $4 - $6)
5:30pm: Low Mass at St. Francis de Sales Oratory
Followed by conference on the Mass and pizza in the Convent

If you have any further questions, please use the contact form on the right hand side of the page or e-mail: sursumcordastlouis@gmail.com

Day of Recollection at the Cathedral of St. Louis

Dr. Elizabeth and Michael Bradley of the Cathedral's Young Adult Group, Anima Christi, would like to invite everyone to the second installment of the Cathedral Young Adult 800th Anniversary activities, which they have been planning for months: Anima Christi Young Adults Day of Recollection.  The conference will be led by Fr. Fadi Auro and will take place on Saturday, October 4, beginning at 9 am with rosary in the Blessed Mother chapel and ending with 5 pm Mass, followed by an optional dinner.

The conference will focus on the exemplary life of our patron, St. Louis, and what his holiness as a layperson can teach us in the present day. There will be ample time for silent prayer and reflection, along with an opportunity for the sacrament of Reconciliation. Lunch will be provided (and eaten in silence).

Space is limited. RSVPs are needed by September 20th (or first-come-first-served if we run out of space). The RSVP requirement & deadline are strict (I am told "no exceptions, and 'Maybe' does not count").  RSVP's can be sent via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/546570558802845/) or by e-mailing: fiatstlouis@gmail.com

I am also told that the cost is 10 Hail Mary's for Fr. Auro, the Iraqi Christians, and one another, although a voluntary contribution of ~$10 to defray the cost of the lunch would be appreciated. The latter is by no means required ("Prayers," quoth Dr. Elizabeth, "are more valuable").

What: Day of Recollection
Where: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
When: Saturday, October 4th from 9am - 6pm (RSVP Deadline: September 20th)

Please note: This is NOT a Sursum Corda event, so please contact fiatstlouis@gmail.com for more information regarding the event or to RSVP.  Canon Ueda encourages any and all interested to attend!!

Farewell Reception

On Sunday, September 14, 2014 - the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - we will bid farewell to Canon Avis and Canon Ueda at the 10:00am High Mass. On the same occasion, we will have the pleasure of welcoming the two new priests, Canon Todd and Canon Boucheron, who will be assigned to the Oratory this coming year.

Please join us after the Mass for a reception in the Church Hall to say goodbye to Canon Avis and Canon Ueda and to show our gratitude for their work among us. This will also give us the opportunity to meet our new priests and offer them our hospitality and support.

For any questions please use the contact form on the right hand side of the page, or contact:

St. Francis de Sales Oratory
2653 Ohio Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63118
Telephone: (314) 771-3100
E-mail: sursumcordastlouis@gmail.com

Monthly Meeting for June: Barbecue

This month, Sursum Corda St. Louis will travel to Kirkwood for a barbecue at of our member's houses.  We will meet at 4:00 p.m. there for the barbecue, as well as for sports and recreation, and a spiritual reflection. For the address or other information, please contact the Oratory.

All young adults, ages 18–35, are welcome to join us!

Date: 28 June
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Location: Kirkwood, MO. (Contact the Oratory for the address.)

For more information, please contact the Oratory at:
2653 Ohio Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63118
Telephone: (314) 771-3100 • FAX: (314) 771-3295

Monthly Meeting for May: Extraordinary Faith

For May, our group will enjoy a movie and fellowship here at the Oratory.  We will meet on Saturday, 17 May at 4:00 P.M., beginning in church with the Holy Rosary and Benediction, and then head to the gymnasium by 4:40 for various sports, including volleyball and basketball.  Afterwards, we will have dinner, and watch the first episode of a new EWTN series, Extraordinary Faith, followed by a discussion of the show.

"EWTN is debuting a new series called Extraordinary Faith.  It features the art, music, liturgy, and prayers or the extraordinary form with special emphasis on its popularity among young adults."

All young adults, ages 18–35, are welcome to join us!

Date: 17 May
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Location: St. Francis de Sales Oratory

For more information, please contact the Oratory at:
2653 Ohio Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63118
Telephone: (314) 771-3100 • FAX: (314) 771-3295

Monthly Meeting for March 2014: Silent Retreat

This month, to help us more fully participate spiritually in this season of Lent, Sursum Corda will be having a one-day retreat on the theme "Is Jesus really the center of your life?"  The retreat will begin with Holy Mass at 2:00 pm at St. Francis de Sales Oratory, and will include two hour-long sessions of Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism series, as well as a talk, the Rosary, and dinner, concluding with a group discussion on everything which the retreat covered.  The retreat will be a silent retreat, allowing each member to have the opportunity to prayerfully reflect upon the retreat's theme.

Although it is a retreat, attendance at any of the parts is optional, and members may come and go as their schedules permit.

Sursum Corda one-day silent retreat: “Is Jesus really center of your life?”
2:00 pm: Holy Mass at the Oratory
2:50 pm: Catholicism, Fr. Robert Barron
4:00 pm: Communal rosary
5:00 pm: Catholicism, Fr. Robert Barron
6:15 pm: Spiritual Talk given by Canon Raphael Ueda
7:30 pm: Dinner, followed by group discussion
9:00 pm: Conclusion of retreat

Date: Saturday, 22 March
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: St. Francis de Sales Oratory

All young adults, ages 18–35, are welcome to join us!

For more information, please contact the Oratory at:
2653 Ohio Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63118
Telephone: (314) 771-3100 • FAX: (314) 771-3295


Some images from our February meeting:

Monthly Meeting for February 2014: Recreation and Prayer

For February, our group will be enjoying a night of fellowship and games here at the Oratory.  We will meet on Saturday, 22 February at 4:00 P.M., beginning in church with the Holy Rosary and Benediction, and then head to the gymnasium by 4:40 for various sports, including volleyball and basketball.  Afterwards, we will have our usual dinner with a reflection given by Canon Ueda, and then finish the night with games and social time.

All young adults, ages 18–35, are welcome to join us!

Date: 22 February
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Location: St. Francis de Sales Oratory

For more information, please contact the Oratory at:
2653 Ohio Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63118
Telephone: (314) 771-3100 • FAX: (314) 771-3295