Conceptual rendering of St. Joseph Oratory
How it Began
Nearly one year ago, we began this ambitious project in East Texas. We wanted to be a light in a darkening world. The past year has not been without its challenges, but the Holy Spirit is pruning, planting and growing what He has begun here. And we are listening and responding.
While our work to raise the necessary funds for the Oratory of St. Joseph continues ( see the conceptual drawings of the Oratory above and below), we have already welcomed clergy to Veritatis Splendor. In the last 6 months, we have constructed a residence for them, established apostolates for them to serve, and began construction on Holy Family Chapel, in order for Masses and the Sacraments to be offered to our families and to the wider faith community. Families are ready to start living here and the infrastructure to do that is nearly complete. We expect our first families to move in by the summer!
Our goal is for the Holy Family Chapel to be completed in time for Easter Mass, but in order to hold our first Mass and subsequent liturgies and Sacraments here, we need to furnish it.
Watch here as Father Thompson walks you through the finishing of Holy Family Chapel.
What we need
There are a number of liturgical items we need to get the Chapel ready for Easter. The donations we have received for Holy Family Chapel just about cover the remaining construction. We do not have much left for the liturgical items needed to actually celebrate Mass.
While many of the items can be purchased new, part of our mission is to preserve the beauty and goodness of our Faith. With so many churches closing, particularly in the Northeast, we hope to be able to rehome sacred vessels, statues and other liturgical items.
We have compiled a list of most of the items we anticipate needing throughout the year as we celebrate the liturgical seasons and receive the Sacraments. Please see the WHAT IS NEEDED tab above.
How you can help
You can help us furnish the Chapel, by making a donation to cover one or more of the needed items. As we mentioned, we hope to find them through the discover of a closed or closing Church. If you have contacts in this area, we welcome that information as well. Please email lwheeler@splendorhq.com with any information.
We also welcome the construction of some of the items, such as benches for altar boys, sedilia, credence table and other items that can be crafted through talented woodworking.
Imagine the joy our clergy and community will have when we can share holy ground together!
What do you do next
Click on the upper tab says What is Needed. There you will find a chart that describes all of the items needed to furnish the Chapel. The items in red are those we would like to acquire before Easter in order to celebrate Easter Mass. Once you have decided what you would like donate towards, select an amount or write in your own amount for the item. Be sure to indicate which item you are donating towards. Once that item is funded, we will remove it from the list.
Why this matters?
When we launched our first funding effort back in March of 2021, we expressed that there existed an urgency in the culture for truth to rise. We believe this now more than ever. Last year, we hoped for what we now have. Veritatis Splendor is a home that is both physically and spiritually for any person who likewise believes in this mission - that now is the time for the truths of the faith to be preserved and proclaimed for generations to come.
We are in dramatic times. And dramatic times call for bold missions.
This mission is Veritatis Splendor. And we are so grateful you are a part of it.
Please, help us open the Holy Family Chapel this Easter!
Highlights
See all activity43What is Needed
Liturgical Items for Holy Family Chapel
Compiled March, AD 2022
Needed Items
Item | Number | Comment | Approximate Cost | |
1. | Candle sticks | Donated | All 8 have been donated! | DONATED |
2. | Credence table | Donated |
| DONATED |
3. | Sedilia | 1 | Seating bench for Sacred Ministers; Can be built | TBD |
4. | Ciboria | Donated |
| DONATED |
5. | Monstrance w/ luna | Donated | 1 Monstrance, 1 luna, 1 luna case | DONATED |
6. | Consecration bells | Donated | A single silver bell | DONATED |
7. | Wall bells | 1 |
| $500 |
8. | Sizable altar cross | Donated |
| DONATED! |
9. | Liturgical books for Ordinariate Rite | Several | Missal and lectionaries | TBD |
10. | Taper candle lighter | DONATED | With bell extinguisher | DONATED |
11. | Copes | DONATED | One in each liturgical color ( green, red, black, white and violet)
| DONATED |
12. | Humeral veils | DONATED | Matching copes (green, red, black, white and violet)
| DONATED |
13. | Ablutions cup | DONATED | To place next to Tabernacle | DONATED |
14. | Aspergillum with holy water stoup | DONATED | Should get as a set | DONATED! |
15. | Holy Water stands or stoups | DONATED | For entrances | DONATED! |
16. | Holy water tank | DONATED | If we wish to offer holy water for the faithful to take home | DONATED! |
17. | Baptismal pillar | 1 | This could be built | TBD |
18. | Ambry | DONATED | For holy oils | DONATED |
19. | Holy Oil containers | 3 | One for each oil | $300 |
20. | Materials for baptisms |
| White cloth, baptismal candle, certificates | $150 for supplies |
21. | Thurible stand | Donated |
| DONATED! |
22. | Stations of the Cross | 14 | It would be nice to get a set from a closed Catholic church; ours must be no larger than 2.5 ft. tall | TBD |
23. | Wall crucifix for the Confessional | Donated |
| DONATED! |
24. | Stools for servers | 8 | Wooden stools ; could be built | TBD |
25. | A selection of cassocks and surplices |
| For boys and men to use while serving (think: processions, etc.) | TBD |
26. | Set of “torches” (portable lamps) | 6 | With stand | $600 each $675 for stand |
27. | Seating in the chapel |
| Pews from closed churches | TBD |
28. | Additional cloth for making sacred linens and altar cloths, credence-table cloths, etc. |
| We know a woman who will make the linens if we supply the fabric | $500 for fabric |
29. | “Oriental”-style rugs for the altar steps | several |
| $800 |
30. | Rug for inside confessional |
| To dampen sound | $300 |
31. | Rug for underneath the sedilia | 1 |
| $300 |
32. | Rug for sacristy |
|
| $300 |
Desired Items
| Item | Number | Comment | Approximate Cost |
1. | Tabernacle key box | 1 |
| $250 |
2. | Host container/box | DONATED | For the communion hosts for the faithful | DONATED |
3. | Gold Missal stand | DONATED | To correspond better to the character of the liturgical season | DONATED |
4. | Additional thuribles | 2 or so | Ditto. | $600 each |
5. | Prie-Dieus (kneeling benches or “kneelers”) | DONATED |
| DONATED |
6. | Holy water spoon | 1 | Gold | TBD |
7. | Houseling cloth for altar rail |
| White cloth seen on altar rails during distribution of Holy Communion | TBD |
Items we hope someone will spontaneously donate from a closed or closing church
- An awesome Statue of Saint Joseph
- An awesome Statue of Our Lady
But if not, these statues are about $10,000 each.
