On Sunday, May 11th the Shrine of Christ the King had the grace of receiving in His Excellency, the Most Reverend Archbishop François R. Bacqué, Apostolic Nuncio & Apostolic Visitor. Both the Institute’s Prior General, the Very Reverend Monsignor Gilles Wach, and Monsignor Schmitz, the Institute’s Vicar General and Rector of the Shrine, accompanied His Excellency. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Archbishop Bacqué, celebrated a Pontifical High Mass and offered an inspiring homily on the virtue of Hope. These reasons for Hope he saw before his very eyes with a church full of young families, members of the Shrine from diverse ethnic backgrounds, the sanctuary full of altar boys, and the choir loft full of youthful voices. He commented upon this beautiful spirit of unity and visible growth during the reception which followed the Mass. His Excellency charitably took the time to graciously greet all of the faithful individually.

We thank His Excellency for visiting us in the apostolates and for encouraging us to continue our apostolic work as secular canons under the protection of Our Lady the Immaculate Conception and under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales, St. Benedict, and St. Thomas Aquinas.