La Crosse Sacred Heart Icon explained

So back in the day, a bishop by the name of Burke commissioned the Institute of St Joseph to create a Sacred Heart icon for the Diocese of La Crosse. The Cathedral and the entire diocese were concecrated to the Sacred Heart on the competion of the icon. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus by

Cor Jesu, Institute of St. Joseph, Boyd, WI

Last night I was having an online conversation with Sr. Petra and realized I wholly forgot to post pictures from my visit to Cor Jesu Oratory during the Octave of Pentecost.  Not familiar with the Octave of Pentecost, here's the background.  Everything was beautiful and I wish I could attend more often.  It's a little way east of Chippewa Falls, here's the location on Google if you would like to attend.  I was staying in Chetek so it was a bit of a haul, but worth it.  Fr. John Mary(nazarethpriest) used to be a regular out on the blogosphere, but has since I think spent most of his time on iconography and prayer. Sister told me that they have a formation series in place for the Year of Faith and the first meeting is Sept 8, then October 22.  The lay members or associates meet once a month during the school year and then for 2 days in June for retreat.  Contact them for more details.  The Institute of St. Joseph is a diocesan institute so they I'm sure appreciate any donations that come their way as they don't have any additional resources beyond this one location.  They also run Nazareth Studio where icons can be purchased.  In fact, I think Fr. John Mary did several of the icons at the Guadalupe Shrine. 

Cor Jesu Oratory
31350 Cty Highway MM
Boyd, WI 54726

Schedule(all TLM):
Sunday: 10:30 am 
Mon-Sat: 8:30 am

Consecration of the Diocese of La Crosse to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Looking for a handsome Sacred Heart Icon? 

Please ignore all felt banners while viewing this photo.

Saving the prairie churches

Last summer PBS had a program and DVD available about the saving of prairie churches. The people involved in the video were trying to maintain these churches and other buildings because of their history and memories connected to the local people.

In Edson, there is a prairie church, the former Sacred Heart of Jesus, founded by the Rev. Charles Francis Xavier Goldsmith, one of the early missionary priests in the northern Wisconsin area. The church and its property have been given to the Institute of St. Joseph, a public association of the faithful in the Diocese of La Crosse, to restore for use as a monastery and church.

We need your help. Many donations have already been received to replace roofs and insulate, but there is much more work to accomplish before the project can be completed and building codes met.

The small community does not have the money for hiring contractors, so it relies heavily on volunteers and donations. In order to save this beautiful prairie church, donations and volunteers are needed.

This church dates back to the 1860s, and the local people are very happy that it will not be torn down or sold. They want to see their little church remain. It would be very rewarding to help restore the church and other buildings.

If you can help save this Prairie church, send donations to: Institute of St. Joseph/Prairie Church, 11386 Highway Q, Chippewa Falls WI 54729; contact us at 715-288-6272; or email prairiechurch@hotmail.com

Robert J. Gwidt,
Weston

Wausau Herald

St Joseph Institute featured in Eau Claire paper

The Cor Jesu Oratory, also known as the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, is undergoing a makeover, and part of the building constructed in the 1860s will be used as a monastery for monks and nuns. The inside of the church is well-preserved.  Above: The interior of the church remains much as it was when built, with hand-carved altars and other intricate woodwork. 

Eau Claire LT

The Leader-Telegraph is charging for content?  It's not exactly the Wall Street Journal.  Time will tell if the model succeeds.  

Nazareth Priest had one correction:

The sisters will live in the former school convent and the monks will live in the former rectory.

Nice, I see the Institute of St Joseph has spiffed up their website.  I've met good and knowledgeable folks that belong to their lay movement.  I still have yet to meet the infamous Nazareth Priest though.