Image galleries
Fiesta Auction 2010
Thank you all who participated and made this years Dinner Auction such a wonderful success. Without the help of all of our friends and volunteers this would not have been possible. And as usual the Sieve Family a very special Thank You for all your hard work. Without your help it certainly would not have been such a huge success.
A special Thank You to McGraw Milhaven, our Master of Ceremonies who did such a wonderful job pursuading everyone to dig deep and allow us to make this such a successful event.
Hope to see everyone at our next event, our Annual Fall Festival!
There are 60 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Tue, 06/22/2010 - 06:49
Mass at Carondelet Park (5-7-2010)
Today the kids had a field day that started with Mass at the Pavillion at Carondelet Park. After the Mass there were games and fun for all.
There are 55 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Fri, 05/07/2010 - 14:39
1st Holy Communion 2010
There are 42 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 04/25/2010 - 19:39
St. Louis Blues "Brad Boyes" Visits St. Cecilia
Today Brad Boyes from Mississauga, Ontario Canada, Right Wing for the St. Louis Blues Hockey Team visited St. Cecilia to donate new Hockey Equipment for the St. Cecilia new street hockey team! Thanks to Manny Nava a 1st Grade student whose persistence paid off big time. He kept asking Father Vatterott, "Can we have a hockey team?" Well Father never one to fail to come through for his "sheep" contacted the Blues and our dream begins...
There are 43 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Fri, 04/16/2010 - 13:29
Fiesta Auction 2009
And a wonderful, entertaining evening was had by all. Great food, good friends, wonderful entertainment. A very special thank you to all the workers especially the Sieve Family as usual. Nilsa, Donna, Edgar all the staff who worked tirelessly to make our Auction a huge success as always. And a VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COOK'S WHO MADE THIS A MEMORABLE AND VERY SPECIAL EVENT. And of course all those who attended and really made this a successful fund raiser for our parish.
There are 98 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 06/21/2009 - 12:03
Gran Baile de Carnaval
There are 27 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sat, 02/13/2010 - 23:40
Holy Week 2010
Holy Week, with its many rites and symbols, is a good time to acquaint children with the great mysteries of Jesus' death and resurrection. Entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday in procession, he rides on a donkey, with children cheering him on. Children are meant to be there.
The gospels about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and giving sight to the man born blind, which announce Holy Week, can remind them that Jesus has power to bring life from death and light from darkness.
During the Triduum (TRID-oo-um), it's helpful to tell them the story of the passion and resurrection together, so they will see his suffering, but then see him rising in triumph from the dead.
The parish religion program children performed the Stations of the Cross today. This activity was intented to teach the children about this tradition, and the importance in our faith. Their parents and their teachers helped them to put this wondeful display in our school gym
There are 43 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 03/21/2010 - 11:10
March 26 Our Last Fish Fry 2010
Our last Fish Fry of 2010 was a wonderful success! I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers and staff for helping again to make this a huge success. Without all of our friends and volunteers, this would not be possible. Thank you, all of the patrons who waited so patiently in our long lines to support our parish. Hope to see you all again next year and we will keep you in our prayers. Fr. Wm. Vatterott
There are 148 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sat, 03/27/2010 - 10:40
Serving Latinos in St. Louis
Edgar Ramirez, M.Div was the guest speaker at Washington University Brown Hall as a sponsored guest by 'Proctor & Gamble'. Edgar talked about the many realities of the Hispanic immigrant community facing the Latino population of St. Louis. The Center for Latino Family Research presented this enlightening evening with Edgar, the Pastoral Associate, Hispanic Ministry of St. Cecilia's. The evening concluded with questions from the audience about the key factors of the Latino Community; and their ever challenging urgent need for immigration reform.
There are 32 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Tue, 02/16/2010 - 21:08
St. Cecilia 2009-2010
Class picture of all the Grade School Students!
There is 1 image in this gallery.
Last updated: Tue, 04/20/2010 - 12:53
Archbishop Robert Carlson Visit
On Sunday September 13th, Father William Vatterott was officially installed as the eighth Pastor of St. Cecilia Parish by Archbishop Carlson. Fr. Vatterott was ordained a priest in 2003 and served at Holy Infant in Ballwin before coming to St. Cecilia in December of 2007. He studied Spanish in Guadalajara, Mexico for five months in preparation for his assignment here. Father’s youth reflects the youth of the parish and his energy and enthusiasm overflow into the pews and classrooms. Renewal and growth of an urban city parish are rare and St. Cecilia parish, school, and academy are blessed to have Fr. Vatterott as our new pastor. May God bless him as he leads our parish!
There are 62 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sat, 10/10/2009 - 13:46
Archive Photos
In our attempt to gather archive photos for the church website, we would like to ask anyone having old photographs of our church, school etc., to please contact the Rectory(351-1318 x 201) so that we may add the photos to our archive gallery.
There are 32 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Tue, 02/16/2010 - 09:48
Celebracion Guadalupana
In 1523 the first Roman Catholic missionaries arrived to begin the religious conquest of Mexico. Among their first converts was Cuauhtlatoatzin, a man baptized with the Christian name Juan Diego. On the chilly morning of December 9, 1531, Juan Diego crossed the barren hill called Tepeyac to attend Mass. Juan was brought to a sudden halt by a blinding light and the sound of unearthly music. Appearing before him was a beautiful dark-skinned woman who, calling the indian "my son" declared herself to be the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. She told him it was her desire to have a church built on Tepeyac hill, and asked him to relay that message to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga. It was no easy task for the humble indian to be granted an audience with the top prelate. The Bishop demanded that he be provided with some proof of the unlikely encounter. Juan avoiding Tepeyac for several days but while rushing to find a priest to attend a seriously ill uncle encountered the Virgin again. He told her of the Bishop's request and she instructed Juan to pick roses from the usually serene and desolate hill and deliver them to the Bishop. Juan gathered up the miraculous blossoms in his mantle and once again before the Bishop he let the roses spill out before him. A perfect image of La Virgen Morena was revealed emblazoned on Juan Diego's cloak. The next day, after showing the Tilma at the Cathedral, Juan took the bishop to the spot where he first met the Virgin Mary. He then returned to his village where he met his uncle who was completely cured. His uncle told him he had met a young woman, surrounded by a soft light, who told him that she had just sent his nephew to Tenochtitlan with a picture of herself. She told his uncle: "Call me and call my image Santa Maria de Guadalupe". It's believed that the word Guadalupe was actually a Spanish mistranslation of the local Aztec dialect. The word that Mary probably used was Coatlallope which means ' one who treads on snakes"!
The image of the Virgin Mary shows "her foot resting on the cresent moon, to infer that she had clearly crushed 'Quetzalcoatl' the feathered serpent moon-god".
There are 50 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 12/13/2009 - 11:44
Church Photos
There are 48 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Thu, 02/26/2009 - 14:32
Feast of St. Cecilia
There are 30 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 11/22/2009 - 16:19
Fiesta Fall Festival 2009
A wonderful day for our Fiesta Festival! The parade started us off with all the school children marching to the school grounds. Despite a few rain drops, we were blessed finally later in the afternoon with a beautiful "rainbow" that promised a clear and enjoyable evening. A great time was had by all. Thank you all of the volunteers and workers that made this year an exceptional fun time. Edgar thank you so much for all your hard work. All of the school and rectory staff also for your tireless effort to make this one of the best "fall fetivals" in recent years. Click this link for a additional slideshow of photos. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36798326@N03/sets/72157622336402319/show/)
There are 142 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sat, 09/26/2009 - 18:38
Holy Week 2010
Today, this "Second Sunday of the Passion," is the memorial of Christ's "triumphant," entry into Jerusalem, the day that begins Holy Week. This entry into Jerusalem is seen as the prophetic fulfillment of Zacharias 9:9-10 :
Before the Mass is the Blessing of the Palms, which includes an Antiphon, Psalms, and Gospel reading. Then comes the Procession with hymns, when we carry the palms either around the church or outside. Today we were honored to have Reverend Monsignor Vernon E. Gardin, Ph.D., the Vicar General in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis as our guest and concelebrant.
An Italian and French custom is to break off a piece of the palm and, while praying to St. Barbara for relief, burn it in times of great storms or natural disasters). Another custom is to shape the palm into Crosses before hanging them. The people of Italy and Mexico shape palms into extremely elaborate and beautiful figures. Also, men in some places will wear a piece of it in their hats or pin it to their lapels, and a piece should also be placed with one's sick call set.
The image of Jesus on the cross is visible behind the altar at most churches.
But, have you seen a church with a real person hanging from a cross?
That portrayal of Jesus' crucifixion was part of "The Passion of the Christ -- Living Stations of the Cross" presented by Jornadas, a young adult group of Hispanic heritage today. The symbolic re-enactment of Jesus' passion and journey toward the cross, a significant religious tradition in the Hispanic community, includes a prayerful reflection on the struggles of immigrants and others as they face social justice issues today.
"In the mystery of this path, we encounter that God invites us to fight for life, for the right of those who suffer, for peace, for justice, for freedom and for love," the narrator explained. The re-enactment included the crack of whips (using scarfs), the wails of witnesses to the execution and hammering on the cross.
Along the way, Pilate compared his cowardice to those who are silent in the face of injustice. The soldier who gave Christ His cross told of how others carry the crosses of domestic violence, alcohol abuse, poverty, lack of health care and more. Jesus' mother discussed the pain of leaving one's home to come to another country looking for new life.
John, in witnessing Jesus being nailed to the cross, pointed out that "in Latin America, Africa and Asia, innocent children die of hunger, infected by AIDS or from civil wars. I have seen how we waste food and buy and buy without control. I have seen how no one cares what happens to the rest of the world."
The characters asked piercing questions such as this one from Veronica: "Are you all ready to see Jesus face to face, just as I did?"
Jornadas members come from St. Cecilia Parish in South St. Louis, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Ferguson and Holy Rosary Parish in Fairmont City, Ill.
Father William Vatterott, our pastor of St. Cecilia, where the group meets, said that it stems from a Hispanic tradition "to challenge the people to see the connectedness between the suffering and injustices faced by Christ" and those in the world.
The Stations are difficult to watch because they are different -- more realistically showing the horror -- than the usual portrayals, he said. They also offer a communal approach to the Lenten journey, he noted, and a reminder that "in particular we must help the most vulnerable."
The traditions of the Hispanic community, including Good Friday prayers to Mary, "make our faith richer and enhance our spirituality."
Daniel Irazoque, 24, of the Jornadas young adult group that meets here at St. Cecilia Parish portrayed Jesus in the group's presentation of "The Passion of the Christ--Living Stations of the Cross", presented today at St. Cecilia's.
(for more information -- see the St. Louis Review www.stlouisreview.com/article/2010-03-10/passion-play-re)
There are 94 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 03/28/2010 - 13:32
Science Day at the Academy
There are 53 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Mon, 04/12/2010 - 15:32
Breakfast with Santa
If you would like to purchase a CD with all the photos with Santa. Use the link on the main page to send an email to the Webmaster!
There are 20 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Tue, 12/22/2009 - 11:06
Holy Week 2009
Many Christians in the United States attend an Easter vigil service on Holy Saturday. They remember Holy Saturday as the day when Jesus lay in his tomb. An Easter candle is lit in some homes, particularly among families who cannot attend the Easter vigil services. Easter vigil prayers are also made on this day. Baptisms are held during some church services on Holy Saturday.
Congregation members are sprinkled with blessed water in some churches in the United States. This blessed water symbolizes purification and baptism. Candles that are used for Easter vigil services represent the light of Jesus Christ, and that he brings light into darkness. (all photos by Edgar Ramirez )There are 242 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 04/05/2009 - 13:52
Dia de los Muertos - All Souls Day
More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate. A ritual known today as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The ritual is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States.Although the ritual has since been merged with Catholic theology, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls. Today, people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend.
There are 58 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 11/01/2009 - 16:03
Our Last Fish Fry
Thank you all of the patrons who helped make our new Fish Fry such an unbelievable success. The news article in the paper brought folks from all over the metropolitan area, and it was such a wonderful evening. Everyone enjoyed all of our events, with the music, the dancers and the Mariachi Band. A very special thank you for all who worked so tirelessly... all the cooks, the fish fryers, the organizers and volunteers, especially our parish staff. A very special thank you to the family and friends of Fr. Vatterott who were such a wonderful addition to our "parish family". Looking forward to Lent of next year...and seeing you again!
There are 47 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 04/05/2009 - 14:14
St. Cecilia Soccer Season 2009
There are 66 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 02/15/2009 - 17:12
New Youth Room (before photos)
So many have volunteered & given so much of their time and effort to help our parish establish this Youth Room. We would like to thank everyone who has offered their help, it is greatly appreciated. Fr. Vatterott
There are 45 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Tue, 01/06/2009 - 13:02
Our Lady Of Guadalupe
According to tradition, a simple Aztec convert to Catholicism, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, was traveling. On December 10, 1531, our Lady appeared to him on a hill, speaking to him in his native Nahuatl language. She asked him to have a church built on that very hill. When Juan related his fantastic story to the Spanish bishop, the bishop asked him for a sign from our Lady. Although it was winter, our Lady told Juan to go to the top of the hill and gather Spanish roses. There he found them in bloom and gathered them inside his tilma(work apron) to take back down to our Lady. She arranged them inside his tilma and he set off to see the bishop. When Juan opened his tilma before the bishop, the roses fell to the floor, and on the inside of the tilma was imprinted the image we now know as our Lady of Guadalupe. The bishop ordered a church built, and Spanish missionaries used the story of our Lady of Guadalupe to bring millions of indigenous people to Christ.
There are 127 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sat, 12/13/2008 - 12:15
Fr. Vatterott's Photos
Fr. Vatterott Language and Culture Immersion in Guadalajara, Mexico
There are 50 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Wed, 11/19/2008 - 11:03
Mission Awareness trip in Bolivia
The Christian Foundation for Children and Aging began their Mission Awareness trip in Bolivia at the city of Santa Cruz, this being the first project we visited. Local children helped by the agency and their sponsors greet us as we arrive in their small community at the local school.
There are 52 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Wed, 11/19/2008 - 11:17
Msc. Photographs of the School Children
There are 44 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Fri, 12/18/2009 - 22:24
Sacrament of Confirmation 2008
There are 47 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Wed, 11/19/2008 - 10:46
Wedding Photos
Some of our previous weddings guests have sent us photographs to give you an idea of how your wedding photo's might turn out.
There are 59 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sat, 10/24/2009 - 11:14
Church Restoration Pictures
See pictures from the recent restoration of St. Cecilia's beautiful stonework in the sanctuary. The project consisted of removing all the old carpet from the sanctuary area, cleaning the black and white marble tile underneath, and fixing many of the areas where tiles had been removed. As you can see in the pictures, much of the altar area had no tiles at all!
Some of the tiles you see in the sanctuary are actually painted on, as you can see in the pictures.
There are 49 images in this gallery.
Last updated: Sun, 11/22/2009 - 19:15
