I wish you all a Blessed Christmas season and many graces for the New Year. As we start the New Year allow me to give you an update on some of the various projects in the United States District.

We are finally settling into our new district house, which is located closer to the Kansas City airport in the countryside just outside Farley, Missouri.

This project began back in January of 2003 when it was apparent that the former district house would soon be too small to meet the needs of both the district headquarters and the local parish of St. Vincent’s, which is our third largest parish in the United States. At the same time, we were considering the idea of a house of studies for priests desiring to work with the SSPX and although the house would soon be too small for the district and priory it could accommodate as many as ten priests for this new house of studies. It was also decided that Kansas City, because of its central location in the United States, would still be the best place for the district headquarters and so the search for a suitable property began.

Many properties with existing buildings were viewed over the next six months but none seemed to fit the need for a religious/office building without major and costly remodeling. Then a parishioner from St. Vincent’s approached us with the idea of buying land and building a new district house. He himself had been looking for land to build a new home on and had found a beautiful 88 acre parcel, but thought it too much for his own needs. After getting estimates on new building construction and looking the property over we decided that not only would the price be comparable to what buying and remodeling would cost but we would also have the advantage of building a house to fit our needs. We then agreed to purchase and split the property with him and so obtained 48 acres on which to build.

Plans for construction were then set in motion and Mr. Chris Erlendson, a parishioner from St. Mary’s, Kansas, was hired for the project. Blueprints were drawn up and ground was broken in August 2004. Construction then began in late September 2004 with plans to finish within 18 months. Numerous delays, however, extended the work for an additional 8 months until November 14th when the occupancy permits were granted and the long awaited move happened.

Meanwhile the priory in Kansas City was slightly rearranged in order to accommodate the four priests who had been waiting to enter our priests’ training program. Further remodeling will need to be accomplished to house more priests and thanks to your generosity the funds are available to do this in the near future.

Also many of our parishes and schools continue to see growth (e.g., in Phoenix, Arizona, Our Lady of Sorrows Academy has doubled its enrollment in one year.) In order to help some of our schools meet the costs of expansion, one very generous benefactor came forward with the idea of a matching fund drive. Backed with his various offers, totaling $900,000, campaigns were started by a handful of our schools. Many benefactors, seeing the opportunity to double their donation came forward and by the end of December all of these schools had met their goals with the exception of one, which plans to do their fund drive in the Spring.

Our largest parish, the Immaculata Chapel in St. Mary’s Kansas continues to expand year after year. Plans for a new church, needed to accommodate the 2500 parishioners, have progressed to the point of schematic drawings. Fundraising for this project may take some time, but then again, with a handful of generous benefactors like the one above this dream could soon become a reality.

In Post Falls, Idaho, Immaculate Conception Church and Academy also continues to expand with nearly 1500 faithful. Plans are being prepared to begin construction of a new boys’ high school building on a recently purchased 20 acre property. When this is completed we hope to move our priory to the new property and eventually construct also a larger church to accommodate the growing number of parishioners.

Notre Dame de La Salette Academy, our boys’ boarding school in Olivet, IL, now in its second year, is also planning expansion of its dorm facilities to accommodate more students.

In Syracuse, New York, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Church and Academy has recently purchased an old elementary school building located on 40 acres, some 15 minutes from our present location. This property should be able to meet our school needs for quite a few years and we plan to eventually build a church and new priory on site.

In likewise, we see the need for expansion in many of our other churches and schools across the United States: the fruits of Archbishop Lefebvre’s work continue to multiply.

As we start this New Year, I wish to thank you for your support of the work he began, which continues to flourish with God’s blessing. Both your material and even more importantly your spiritual support are necessary for us to continue this very important work of saving souls. We need but work as good servants, cooperating with His grace, and He will give the increase.

Be assured of prayers for all of you throughout this New Year.