KANSAS CITY, MO
8-4-2011

On Sunday, July 24th, St. Vincent de Paul Church in Kansas City, Missouri observed the transferred solemnity of its titular saint (July 19th). The parish also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the church's re-dedication by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, as well as the 20th anniversary of the establishment of its academy.

Still the largest church the SSPX owns in the United States, when Archbishop Lefebvre first entered it on May 23, 1980, a few days after its purchase, he jubilantly remarked: "C’est magnifique, c’est une cathedrale!"

Because of its large size and central location in the States (the seminary was then on the East Coast), the Archbishop designated St. Vincent's as its "Episcopal Cathedral" where ordinations would be held.

This honorific title was fulfilled nearly a year later—Saturday, May 9, 1981—when His Excellency gave the tonsure and minor orders to several seminarians from the Ridgefield, CT seminary. This was also the first time that subdeacons were ordained for the SSPX in the United States.

On the next day—Sunday, May 10th—in the midst of a standing-only crowd of 1500 faithful, Archbishop Lefebvre solemnly re-dedicated St. Vincent de Paul Church for Catholic worship, then during a Solemn Mass, gave several children their First Communion. He also confirmed a large group as Soldiers of Christ.

These events earned St. Vincent's the local nickname of the "Archbishop's Cathedral", a testimony to its proud legacy and connection with that great defender of the Catholic Faith, Marcel Lefebvre.

Now the SSPX's third largest parish in the United States District, a High Mass was celebrated by the District Superior, Fr. Arnaud Rostand on Sunday, June 24th. During his sermon, Father highlighted the importance of the spiritual graces that the church of St. Vincent's has brought to souls, particularly through the intercession of its patron.

And despite the scorching heat, nearly 200 faithful attended the festivities held afterwards in the parish hall which included hot dogs and pot luck sides, KCMO's Boulevard Brewery beer, a sno-cone machine and a balloon man. A variety of singers and musicians presented their talents, and one young lady offered her delightful book-reading skill to the younger children.

A display table of historic photographs of the church's 2-month summer restoration in 1980 (also in scorching heat) and of the Archbishop's 1981 and 1985 visits were on hand for all to view. Specially printed holy cards commemorating the anniversary were also available for the faithful to take as a memorial.

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News contribution from St. Vincent de Paul Church.

Photos courtesy of Chris Walter and Louis Tofari.