Cure of Ars - Shrewsbury MO

August 25, 2009

11 am Mass

I did find out after Mass that the priest who celebrated Mass was actually a visiting priest, but was the pastor at one time.

After driving right past the entrance, as the Church is set back from the street behind the trees, I arrived. The Church building is essentially a box attached to another box. I initially couldn't find the entrance but after following the crowd...I managed.

The Church of Cure of Ars is small church. I'm convinced it is about the size of my high school Chapel (St. Elizabeth Academy), meaning it probably doesn't hold more than 250-300 people. It also looks like the church was only supposed to be a temporary church until the parish had funds to build a proper Church. Every time I looked at the ceiling, I thought I was in a banquet hall.

However, appearances can be deceiving. Father said Mass incredibly reverently and followed the book word for word. There was a Chalice veil, and the Precious Blood was kept covered during the Eucharistic Prayer. Father even sang/chanted the opening and closing prayers.

The music selections were very traditionally minded and played on the organ.

Opening: The Church's One Foundation

Offertory: When Love is Found

Communion: Taste and See

Closing: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

The Kyrie was in Greek (YAY!) and the Gloria was in Latin (WOW!). I was kind of disappointed the rest of the Mass parts were not in Latin, but as Fr. Z says "Brick by Brick."

The homily was probably one of the most intellectually stimulating homilies I've heard in a long time. Father linked the nature of marriage to the centrality of Christ and how marriage mirrors the relationship of the Trinity and also how this ties into the relationship between the Church, priests, bishops and the Pope. Father also mentioned St. Athnasius (?) and threw in some uncommon words such as exegesis and some Latin phrases, specifically the one about how bishops are "With Peter and Under Peter" (if you know the actual Latin, drop me a comment with it!).

The pastor, who was a monsignor (purply-cassock), came out to help with Communion and stayed to greet people after Mass.

I will have to say, there weren't great hordes of people who were late, unlike other parishes I have visited. Also, the parishioners were appropriately dressed; no teenagers with unbrushed hair and daisy dukes or females with dresses and skirts so tight or short, you wonder how they are genuflecting or kneeling in them.

A lovely experience this morning indeed.

Parish website (courtesy of Archdiocese)

Pictures!

View from the Back Pew!

Statue of St. John Vianney, Cure of Ars

(why, yes, I did photoshop the door...my reflection was in it!)

Our Lady's Grotto

(This is how I imagine Lourdes looked. Sorry it's blurry...)

Until next Sunday!