FLORISSANT, MO – This year, 2014, marks the 800th anniversary of the birth of King Louis IX of France, also known as St. Louis and the namesake of our city now celebrating its own 250th anniversary. In honor of the feast day of St. Louis, the archbishop of Reims, France, site of King Louis IX’s coronation, will visit the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 26.The archbishop, Thierry Jordan, will receive a private tour of the shrine Tuesday morning. He will conclude his visit with a public celebration of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 10:30 a.m. The public is welcome to attend the Benediction.
“We are honored to welcome Archbishop Thierry to Old St. Ferdinand Shrine, where one of America’s saints, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, mentored famous pioneer Jesuit priest Peter DeSmet,” said Florissant Mayor Thomas P. Schneider. “St. Rose Philippine Duchesne served the Florissant Valley community with her school for girls for many years in the early 19th century.”
Old St. Ferdinand Shrine, located at 1 Rue St. Francois in Old Town Florissant just west of Graham Road, is located on the site where St. Rose Philippine Duchesne lived and taught at the school she established in the early 19th century. Archbishop Thierry is a descendant of the same family as St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.
A monstrance (liturgical vessel used for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament) that was given to Old St. Ferdinand by the Spanish Bishop of New Orleans, Penelvar y Cardenas, in 1799 and recently returned to the shrine, will be used for this celebration of Benediction.
Archbishop Thierry is scheduled to participate in a number of Archdiocesan celebrations at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica as well as at the tomb of St. Rose in St. Charles.
Founded in 1786, Florissant is the largest city in St. Louis County, with a population of more than 52,000 residents. The City of Florissant regularly is listed among the safest cities in America for its population range, and provides abundant services for all sectors of the community, including children, young adults and seniors. In 2012, Florissant was ranked among the Top 75 Best Places to Live by CNN’s Money Magazine.
Florissant has two community centers, three swimming pools, a renowned theater, a covered skating rink, an abundance of parks and recreational sites, a new championship disk golf course and the only 18-hole municipal golf course in St. Louis County. For more information, visit www.florissantmo.com or call 314-921-5700.
