REGINA: What’s your personal connection with Ste. Genevieve?
BLANCHE: My interest came through my involvement with the Missouri Chapter of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA-MO), an organization that owns an historic house museum campus in Ste. Genevieve. The campus is called New France: The Other Colonial America (NFTOCA) and features the Bolduc House; a National Historic Landmark in Ste. Genevieve.
REGINA: Ah, interesting.
BLANCHE: When I heard about the anniversary Mass, I was immediately interested, not only because of the historical significance, but as I am a lifelong Latin Mass attendee, of course I had to be there!
REGINA: And your impression of the Mass?
BLANCHE: The liturgy was exceptionally beautiful and reverent. If I recall correctly, there were three priests, a deacon and sub-deacon, and over a dozen seminarians. It felt like a full house, with about 600 people in attendance; half of whom (I believe) were parishioners.
REGINA: Who were the others?
BLANCHE: Others, like myself, travelled for the occasion. Fr. Edward Nemeth was the pastor and host; Monsignor C. Eugene Morris was the celebrant, and Monsignor Michael Witt delivered an excellent homily detailing some key historical events that lent a colorful backdrop to the occasion. The Juventutum St. Louis choir, led by director Ryan Murphy, sang a beautiful selection of hymns including the medieval Latin “Resonet in laudibus,” and “Guadete! Gaudete! Christus est natus”. It was an unforgettable experience, and one I feel blessed to have witnessed.
REGINA: Was the liturgy hard to understand?
BLANCHE: I am a lifelong Latin Mass attendee, so the liturgy was familiar to me. Nonetheless, I felt in awe at being in this beautiful old church for such a solemn occasion, and surrounded by many descendants of the very people who built the town, and who would have been there to welcome Bishop DuBourg 200 years ago! My impression was that everyone who attended was deeply moved.
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