St. Agnes of St. Paul; Music that offers a glimpse of heaven

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Katherine Kersten: Music that offers a glimpse of heaven

St. Agnes Catholic Church in St. Paul is one of the last places on earth to hear some of the grandest music written, in glory to God.

Tonight at St. Agnes Catholic Church in St. Paul, 60 singers will assemble in the choir loft for midnight mass. Violinists, oboists and trumpeters -- many from the Minnesota Orchestra -- will tune their instruments.

Then, as Christmas arrives at the stroke of midnight, the glorious strains of Mozart's monumental Coronation Mass will rise in the baroque splendor of this onion-domed, gilt-and-marble church in Frogtown, as bells peal in the frosty air.

Worshipers and visitors will have to pinch themselves to remember they're in Minnesota, and not in a cathedral in Vienna or Munich.

A chance to hear the Coronation Mass -- among the grandest music ever written -- would seem a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to many Minnesotans.

In fact, the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale performs classical-era masses of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and others at St. Agnes at 10 a.m. almost every Sunday from October until June.

Though the music is magnificent in the concert hall, says director Robert Peterson, it's different and more meaningful in the context of the Latin mass. There, it's performed to give glory to God -- just as its composers intended it to be.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart would surely be astounded to learn that, in 2010, St. Paul, Minn., is one of the last places on earth where music lovers can still experience his music this way.

"A handful of European churches perform these masses in a worship service on rare occasion," says Peterson. "But we do 30 of them a year."

"If music is supposed to lift up your soul, to give you a glimpse of heaven, this music will do that," says parishioner Keith Kostuch, who was incredulous to discover St. Agnes' cultural treasure when his family moved here recently.

"When the chorale, the organ and the orchestra power in on some of the numbers, it's chilling -- you just get goosebumps. I've seen visitors weep. They're moved and enthralled -- overwhelmed, really."

The chorale's singers, all talented amateurs, range from a gifted high school student to a senior medical doctor. Some members actually moved to the Twin Cities to join, says Peterson. The vocal soloists and instrumentalists are top-rank professionals.

Peterson became the chorale's director in 2005, when its founder, the Rev. Richard Schuler, retired. Schuler was a distinguished organist and musicologist, as well as St. Agnes' longtime pastor.

He launched the chorale in 1974, after he and the church choir returned from a European singing tour determined to reproduce the orchestra-accompanied Latin masses they had heard in famous churches there.

Peterson, who conducted choirs at Edina High School and Macalester College for decades, was bowled over when he first heard the Chorale in 1999.

"I was used to having three months to rehearse my choirs to perform a work of this scope. I couldn't imagine preparing a major work in one week, then putting down my baton to get ready for another the next week, and so on for 30 Sundays."

St. Agnes is the perfect setting for what one chorale fan calls "the greatest hits of Western civilization."

The church building, begun in 1909, was lovingly constructed by Austro-Hungarian immigrants who came to work on the railroad and lived in Frogtown, close to the tracks.

They modeled the church on Kloster Schlaegel, a monastery near Aigen, Austria. It's filled with old-world beauty and craftsmanship: a gorgeous marble altar, Tyrolean statues, and Stations of the Cross in German.

The experience of perfectly harmonized art, architecture and music can transport visitors.

"It's like taking your music history textbook and opening it about the years 1750 to 1800 -- the height of the classical era," explains Peterson.

"Everything is integrated. There's Latin in the choir loft and on the altar, and reverent rituals that have been part of the church for centuries: candles, bells, incense, vestments and altar servers, and the ninth-century Gregorian chant of the 'Schola Cantorum' which sings the 'proper,' or parts of the mass that change daily.

"It all comes together to help people appreciate this great mystery," Peterson concludes.

Both Catholics and non-Catholics can appreciate the results. The chorale includes Catholic and non-Catholic members, and the church has greeters who help people unfamiliar with the Latin liturgy to feel at home.

No work provokes more emotion than the great "Mass in E Minor" by Heinrich von Herzogenberg. This huge work, composed in 1894, was once presumed lost, but a complete score turned up in the mid-1990s.

Performed by more than 100 musicians, the music almost lifts listeners out of their pews. The chorale is the first to perform it in North America.

"People today have a real thirst for the transcendent," says the Rev. John Ubel, St. Agnes' current pastor. "I believe the way in which we celebrate the Eucharist here speaks to that."

But each Sunday's performance costs several thousand dollars. The chorale is primarily supported by donations to its nonprofit, and may die unless new donors are found.

Tonight, the chorale will give its only real concert of the year. At 11:15, before midnight mass, it will perform traditional carols you'd likely hear in a church in Bavaria.

"When I conduct the chorale, I feel a real connection with God," says Peterson. "When I finish the last 'Dona Nobis Pacem,' I feel a sense of peace and completeness. The music helps me to pray in a different way. I hope it's the same for others, and that they are brought closer to God by this great music."

"As Monsignor Schuler always said, 'To sing in church is to pray twice.'" Star Tribune

Schuler Trust awards 90 seminarians $300 to $500

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More than $37,000 was distributed during 2008 to 90 seminarians studying for 12 dioceses in the upper Midwest.

The Catholic Aid Association’s Rev. Msgr. Richard J. Schuler Seminarian Charitable Trust distributed grants to 24 men studying for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Grants of $500 were given to 51 major seminarians and $300 grants were given to 39 minor seminarians.

The grants help the men with small day-to-day expenses, such as going to a movie, paying a medical co-pay or having some work done on a vehicle. Because of their rigorous schedules, it is almost impossible for seminarians to earn an income during their years of formation to the priesthood.

Paul Naumann, executive director of the trust, said that two large donations totaling $42,000 this year helped to make the grants possible.

The Schuler Trust has met its mission of assisting men on the path to priesthood thanks to donations from 1,545 individuals, totaling $534,878.

The fund was endowed in 1996 to honor Msgr. Schuler, the late pastor of St. Agnes in St. Paul, for his longtime re­cruitment of men to the priesthood. The trust began offering grants in 1998.

Since then, 527 men have received $221,350.

To learn more about the Schuler Trust, call (877) 275-7145, or visit www.catholicaid.org.
Catholic Spirit

Memorial Homily for Monsignor Richard J. Schuler, April 22, 2008

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Memorial Mass for Msgr. Richard Schuler

Homily Given by

Rev. William E. Sanderson

Church of St. Agnes

April 22, 2008, St. Paul, MN

“Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. … No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God” (Hebrews 5:1-4). “The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am” (I S 3:4).

Reverend fathers and deacons, dear sisters and consecrated religious, dear friends in Christ: I am Father William Sanderson, pastor of St. Mary’s and St. Francis of Assisi Parishes in south Omaha. It is a great joy and privilege for me to be here tonight to celebrate this Mass with you to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Monsignor Richard J. Schuler. Many of you may remember that Monsignor Schuler called on me over twenty years ago to sing the parts of the celebrant for the recordings of the Masses for Christmas, Easter and Pentecost from St. Agnes that were produced by Leaflet Missal Company. After that, whenever he introduced me to someone I had not previously known, he introduced me as, “the Voice” on the recordings.

My first visit to St. Agnes was nearly thirty years ago in October of 1978. I had just entered the St. Paul Seminary and became acquainted with a seminarian from St. Agnes, Richard Hogan. There was a memorial Mass for Pope John Paul I, the Mozart Requiem, to which Father Hogan invited me to attend. I wept for joy that night when I heard that beautiful music and experienced the full beautify of the Roman Liturgy that I thought had been swept away in the backwash of Vatican II. I was at the altar of God and Monsignor Schuler brought me back, at least briefly, to the joy of my youth in that high Mass.

I had come to know about St. Agnes even before that. I had attended St. John’s Prep School in Collegeville during the school year 1968-69. Through the influence of some classmates I started to cultivate an interest in classical music. I kept in touch with these classmates, who later would ride the bus from North Minneapolis on Sunday mornings to attend Mass at St. Agnes. I vicariously came to learn about and purchase vinyl disk recordings of Hayden’s, “Pauken Mass,” Mozart’s “Lord Nelson Mass,” and “Coronation Mass” which I would later come to experience, in person, in this very church.

I entered the St. Paul Seminary in September of 1978 and in 1979 I entered St. Agnes Seminary on Tuesday nights and began to cultivate a friendship with Monsignor Schuler that I will always cherish.

Tonight we will commemorate the first anniversary of the death of a great man, a great priest, a great musician, a great teacher and a great friend. We reflect on the gift of his life, his faith and his priesthood.

As a young man Richard Schuler heard God’s call to the priesthood and he responded, “Here I am.” Having completed his studies at the College of St. Thomas and the St. Paul Seminary on August 18, 1945, the day of his ordination, he was called by Archbishop Gregory Murray by name and he responded, “Ad sum … Here I am” as he was ordained a priest. He sought to carry out God’s will in his assignments at Nazareth Hall, College of St. Thomas and in his own advanced studies. In 1969 he began what I consider his greatest work: that as pastor of St. Agnes.

What made Monsignor Schuler so great was his love for the Church and the priesthood. On the day of his ordination he made certain promises as does every priest. He promised: with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge, without fail, the office of the priesthood as a conscientious fellow worker with the bishops in caring for the Lord’s flock. He promised to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously as the Church has handed them down for the glory of God and the sanctification of Christ’s people. He promised to exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and explaining the Catholic faith. He promised to consecrate his life to God for the salvation of his people and to unite himself more closely every day to Christ the High Priest. And on that day, as he knelt before Archbishop Murray, he placed his newly-anointed hands on a chalice and paten and, in the words of the rite of ordination, he “accepted from the holy people of God the gifts to be offered to Him.” He was admonished: “Know what you are doing, imitate the mystery you celebrate, model your life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross.” As I see it, he never forgot those promises nor did he ever tire of living them out.

His greatest love was for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: protecting, preserving and presenting the Roman Liturgy in all its splendor even at a time it was being trivialized in the wake of Vatican II with the many liturgical and musical abominations that were wrongly foisted on the faithful in its name.

He understood with clarity the opening lines of Chapter VI of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy about Sacred Music. “The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy” (n. 112). “The treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and cultivated with great care. Choirs must be assiduously developed, especially in cathedral churches. Bishops and other pastors of souls must take great care to ensure that whenever the sacred action is to be accompanied by chant, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active participation which is rightly theirs” (n. 114). “The Church recognizes Gregorian chant as being specially suited to the Roman liturgy. Therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services” (n. 116). He never forgot that the Council not only called for the “active” participation of the faithful but, as stated in paragraph 50 of the Constitution on the Liturgy, the “devout” active participation of the faithful.

Monsignor Schuler was an outstanding promoter of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. His parish and rectory were like a “little United Nations of the Catholic Church.” The doors were open to any bishop, priest, deacon or seminarian in good standing — even liberals. I don’t know exactly the number of first Masses celebrated at St. Agnes during his tenure or the number of vocations he salvaged and sent to other dioceses when rejected by the seminary. I don’t know the number of hours he spent with the “underground” seminarians, providing a safe haven where the faith could be shared openly and presented unabashedly and heretical distortions corrected with clarity, charity and forthrightness. The Church, especially in this portion of the Midwest, has been greatly enriched by his willingness to share his faith and commitment to the Church so openly and generously with young men in formation. In the Acts of the Apostles today we read, “They … proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples … They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.’” And so he offered encouragement, support and whatever assistance was needed for any worthy candidate to the priesthood to accept whatever hardships he may need to endure along the way to the day of his ordination.

I would like to share with you, at least briefly, some of the correspondence I shared with Monsignor Schuler through the years. The memories I treasure the most with Monsignor deal with the production of the Leaflet Missal recordings and the program that preceded them. This all began with a radio broadcast in fall, 1984 on National Public Radio’s weekly program, “Lincoln’s Music in America.” That program featured otherwise little known musicians, ensembles and choirs throughout the country. Monsignor invited me to travel to St. Agnes to be the celebrant for the Beethoven Mass in C. The broadcast featured many parts of the Mass and an extensive interview with Monsignor Schuler. It came to be the most requested re-broadcast of “Music in America.”

After the recording session and initial broadcast, Monsignor wrote to me on October 27, 1984:

“As I write this I am listening to you sing the Oratio super oblations and the preface. Marvelous. The tape is enclosed. It is really fine, done in good taste and truly all I had hoped it would be. Did you hear it in Omaha? I had a call from someone in Jacksonville, Florida who heard it. I will let you know the reactions we get.”

He also shared with me a copy of a letter he had received dated October 19, 1984 from Evans Mirageas, the man from WMFT in Chicago who recorded the Mass at St. Agnes for “Lincoln’s Music in America” on National Public Radio and conducted the interview. He wrote:

“Here are the finished tapes of the ‘Music in America’ program on St. Agnes. I hope that we have done justice to your efforts. I was mightily impressed with the dedication and spirit of your performers, both in the choir and the soloists. And to have the Minnesota Orchestra as instrumentalists was a real pleasure.

“I cannot thank you and the other fathers enough for the assistance and cooperation you extended before and during last Sunday. It was a pleasure to be able to carry your musical message to our audience … Your parishioners are very lucky to have you, Father.”

Monsignor was kind enough to share a copy of a letter dated November 14, 1984, he received from a priest in Oklahoma City, a retired Latin teacher who wrote to him about the broadcast. He wrote:

“The October 28^th broadcast of music from St. Agnes Church on ‘Lincoln’s Music in America’ prompts me to write to you. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you personally and to your musicians, professional and amateur, for your musical accomplishment and for the faith which so clearly motivates your efforts.

“I have never met you or even, I am sorry to say, heard your name, but please accept my expression of deep gratitude for the statement about Catholicism, worship and the interior life of humanity which your work is. It is a great joy to recall that there exists someone who is capable of dealing with the American Church’s well-intentioned trivialization of the sacred; I cannot express how encouraging it is to know that this person is a priest.”

Not quite a year later in a letter dated September 23, 1985 he wrote me another letter. I think it is important that I share this because a priest so often becomes so wrapped up in the cares of his office and responsibilities that he sometimes may forget to acknowledge his gratitude to those with whom he works the closest. Even if this is not the case, I believe that if Monsignor were here tonight, he would say something similar to all of you tonight. This is what he wrote.

“Sunday, September 15^th was a great day at Saint Agnes and a day I shall always remember. It was full of great surprises and so much that was beautiful and friendly. I don’t know how I can possibly express my gratitude and my appreciation for all that was planned and carried out to observe the fortieth anniversary of my ordination to the Holy Priesthood. The presence of so many dear friends and parishioners, the wonderful music of the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale and the members of the Minnesota Orchestra, the fine sermon by Father Hogan, the careful ceremonies of our altar boys, the exquisite reception, the many details and loving care — all made the occasion perfect.

Monsignor Schuler taught us many lessons worthy of remembrance. About the proper approach to the Sacred Liturgy he always said: “It must be reverent and it must be dignified. Reverent so that it does not offend God; dignified so that it does not offend man. About music itself: “It must be sacred and it must be music.” About keeping proper time with the music as written: “There must be NO toe-tapping and watch the conductor.” About fidelity to the musical score especially when departures were being made: “That’s very nice, but I don’t think that’s the way Schubert wrote it.”

Yes, “Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins … No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God” (Hebrews 5:1-4). It was one year ago God called Monsignor one more time: After eighty-six years on this earth; after sixty-two years of service as a priest; after fifty-one years as Director of the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale; after thirty-two years as pastor of St. Agnes, he set down his baton and the burden of years. With the strains of the Beethoven Mass in C playing softly in the background we can be sure he whispered in his heart one more time, “Here I am.”

Monsignor Richard J. Schuler (1920-2007): A Biographical Sketch, by Father Richard M. Hogan (Msgr. Schuler's nephew)
http://www.musicasacra.com/schuler/

Monsignor Richard Schuler: Church Loses Sacred music Champion
http://www.adoremus.org/0507MsgrSchuler.html

“Msgr. Richard J. Schuler” by John Janaro
http://www.ewtn.com/library/PRIESTS/SCHULER.TXT

"Active Participation" in the Church's Liturgy: What Did the Second Vatican Council Mean? by Monsignor Richard J. Schuler
http://www.adoremus.org/1096-Schuler.html

“The Spiritual Impact of Monsignor Richard Schuler’s priestly leadership and example” by Fr. John T. Zuhlsdorf
http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/2006/feb2006p8_2144.html

”Monsignor Richard J. Schuler (1920-2007)”: A Biographical Sketch By Richard M. Hogan
http://www.musicasacra.com/schuler/

“Monsignor Richard J. Schuler Dies; Requiescat in Pace” by Michael Matt, The Remnant
http://tinyurl.com/5fmj6f

“A Chronicle of the Reform: Catholic Music in the 20th Century” by Msgr. Richard J. Schuler
http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/chron.pdf

“Participation” by Msgr. Richard Schuler in Sacred Music, Winter 1987
http://tinyurl.com/5hjves

“How Can You Have a Latin Mass” by Msgr. Richard Schuler in Sacred Music, Spring, 1976
http://tinyurl.com/67qtyd

Sacred Music and Liturgy, Parts 1 and 2, by Msgr. Richard Schuler, Lectures; download for $1 each.
http://www.keepthefaith.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=Music

Church Music Association of America
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Music_Association_of_America

Memories of Monsignor Richard J. Schuler; by the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale

Msgr. Richard Schuler - 1920 - 2007 - ooops. It is a Mass.

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Correction from the St Agnes Bulletin: It will be a Mass, lasting maybe two hours.

A memorial Mass for the late Monsignor Richard J. Schuler will be at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, at the Church of St. Agnes, 548 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. The Twin Cities Catholic Chorale will sing Mozart’s Requiem, which it sang for Monsignor Schuler’s funeral last April.

The Rev. William E. Sanderson, pastor of St. Mary’s and St. Francis of Assisi parishes in Omaha, will officiate and preach at the Mass. He is a graduate of the St. Paul Seminary and one of many men Monsignor Schuler inspired and guided to the priesthood.

Visitors are welcome at the memorial Mass, which will be in Latin and according to the 1970 Missal. Groups of 10 or more persons may reserve pews by calling the parish office at (651) 293-1710.

Monsignor Schuler died April 20, 2007. He was St. Agnes’ pastor for 32 years, and he founded the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale in 1956 and directed it until shortly before his death.

He also was the Catholic Aid Association’s chaplain from 1970 to 1999, and the association manages two endowments that continue his work. The Twin Cities Catholic Chorale Endowment, founded in honor of the 60th anniversary of his ordination, is intended to reduce the Chorale’s dependence on annual fundraising. The Schuler Seminarian Charitable Trust Fund assists seminarians with financial grants.

Contributions to these funds are always welcome and may be mailed to the association at 3499 Lexington Ave. N., St. Paul MN 55126.

Today is the first anniversary of the death of Monsignor Richard J. Schuler, pastor emeritus of St. Agnes Church in St Paul. Msgr. Schuler is probably the person most responsible for saving the music of the traditional Mass after the travesties carried out by some after the Second Vatican Council. He was also the person responsible for the sung 10:00 Sunday Mass at St. Agnes performed by members of the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale. Msgr. Schuler was a good friend of Cardinal Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI, and his brother, Msgr. George Ratzinger.


Father John Zuhlsdorf, a former member of St Agnes parish who occasionally says Mass there, has posted his tributes from last year to Msgr. Schuler on his blog, What Does The Prayer Really Say, here.

Father Welzbacher on "Father" Schuler

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Father George Welzbacher, Pastor Emeritus of St Agnes parish in St Paul, now Pastor of the parish of St John of St Paul, wrote his tribute to his long time friend, Monsignor Richard Schuler, in his Pastor's Page on his new parish's bulletin. Tip O' the Hat to Father "Z"

Was Monsignor Schuler the last of the Monsignors?

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Most of you reading this probably don't even know what a "monsignor" is, let along know how to pronounce it.***

But a geezer pal and I were chatting this morning, sadly, about the passing of Msgr (that's pronounced the same way "monsignor" is, youngsters) Schuler and what a loss it was to the Church (the Church Militant). And probably a gain for Heaven (the Church Triumphant).

Then we got to musing about how there didn't seem to be any other monsignors in the archdiocese.****

My pal was born in Sleepy Eye, in what is now the Diocese of New Ulm, where our new Coadjutor Archbishop, John Nienstedt, is Bishop now. There are lots of monsignors there, he noted. Fargo alone created seven new monsignors last Winter. Five priests were named monsignors in the Diocese of New Ulm in November of 2005.

It is up to a Bishop if he wants to request that the Pope designate priests as "monsignor", an honorary title of the Church.

Lots of organizations have honorary titles. The Minneapolis Police Department is probably still loaded with Inspectors and Sergeants; and the Fire Department has gobs of Captains. People deserve recognition.

There are lots of good priests in the Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis. Rumor has it (Don't forget that your reporter hangs out incognito at Chancery lunching establishments like Frost's and Costello's) that the reason that we don't have "monsignors" here is that Chancery officials are afraid of offending those who wouldn't get those appointments.

If Fargo can have seven, and New Ulm can have five, surely we should have 30 or 40! Now that we will be having an Archbishop in a year or so who isn't afraid of making monsignors, look forward to seeing a lot of red on the cassocks and surplices of your pastors.

You say you don't see many cassocks and surplices these days? I bet you will in the future!

Thank God for Archbishop Flynn who has turned around this Archdiocese. And Thank God for Coadjutor Archbishop John Nienstedt who will surely take it to higher levels!

*** Monsignor: See Wikipedia You don't believe Wikipedia; OK, then see the Catholic Encyclopedia!

**** My apologies to the following: Msgr Aloysius Callaghan, who was not ordained in this diocese and is rector of the St Paul Seminary; Msgr William L Baumgaertner, Ordained 1946; Msgr Jerome Boxleitner, 1956; Msgr James Habiger, 1951; Msgr Patrick Hessian, 1953; Msgr Ellsworth Kneal, 1944; Msgr James Lavin, 1945; Msgr Richard Moudry, 1950; Msgr Robert Probst, 1945; Msgr Stanley Srnec, 1942; Msgr John Sweeney, 1941; and Msgr John Ward, 1945. God Bless You and thank you for your services to the Church!

I would say that those years of ordination prove my point. Few of those holy men are in active service today, I would imagine.

Monsignor Richard Schuler's Guardian Angel had one last task to perform

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Right about now the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale and members of the Minnesota Orchestra are right at about the Dies Irae of Mozart's fabulous Requiem Mass over at St Agnes Church in St Paul for the funeral of Monsignor Richard Schuler, pastor there for 32 years or so and one of the men who saved music in the American Church.

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him, O Lord, and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him; May His Soul, and All the Souls of the Faithful Departed, Through the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace. Amen.

Msgr Schuler's Guardian Angel probably didn't have a lot to do for most of the good priest's life other than deflect a few meteorites from the priest's noggin, give flat tires to drunk drivers who might have hit him, distract vandals intent on harming his gorgeous church, etc, but today he had one last task. He prevented the electronic dissemination of the sad news that St Agnes High School, nurtured by Msgr Schuler and many others over so many years and the source of so many vocations for the Church, is having severe financial difficulties.

The paper printed the story, but nobody seems to have been able to access the electronic version so I finally ran over and purchased a copy.

"Facing a projected drop in enrollment for the next school year and struggling with long-standing debts, St. Agnes High School needs to find new students or new funding before the end of the month to prevent closure, according to parish officials."

St Agnes, "established in 1888 and widely considered the most traditional of the area's Catholic schools, is facing 'a critical deadlinie,' according to a letter sent to parents last week.'" The lower school would not be affected. High school tuition at St Agnes next year is $7,350.

"St Agnes has been running deficits for several years, and the parish has had to borrow more than $1 million to support the school", pastor Father John Ubel said. "The school's operating deficit this year was equal to the total parish income."

"Overall enrollment at the school is about 426 students, down from about 600 in 2001-2." [St Paul Pioneer Press]

As plans are revealed for attempts to save St Agnes High, watch here for further information.

Msgr Schuler's Guardian Angel has now removed the restrictions and you may now read the full PPD article about St Agnes High HERE.

Cathy of Alex who blogs at Recovering Dissident Catholic has discovered that a complete statement is on the St Agnes Web Page.

Monsignor Schuler; Who was he?

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Many readers here have no idea why Msgr. Richard Schuler, Pastor Emeritus after 32 years at St Agnes in St Paul, and who died yesterday after a long illness, is getting so much recognition.

Cathy of Alex, who blogs at Recovering Dissident Catholic, has a very nice post that concisely covers many of the things at the good Monsignor was esteemed for. Not the least of these is the number of religious vocations that he was responsible for. See her post here.

Terry, from Abbey-Roads2, has a link to a bio of Msgr Schuler done 20 years ago here.

Monsignor Richard Schuler Had Pure Musical Talent

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Long before presiding over St. Paul's St. Agnes parish for more than three decades, Monsignor Richard Joseph Schuler harbored a devotion to two things: God and song.

The two were as one to him, friends and family members said. Over time, he founded one choir and directed a second. He traveled to Rome to study music. As a young man, he taught himself the fundamentals of music so well that he tested at the baccalaureate level without ever taking a class.

Schuler, 86, died Friday morning in Brooklyn Center's North Memorial Hospice of complications from a series of strokes.

The Rev. Richard Hogan, Schuler's nephew, remembers the monsignor's soft-spoken homilies at St. Agnes, where Schuler served as pastor from 1969 to 2001, as anything but fiery.

"He would make two or three points and conclude; it was very organized, logical development," Hogan said. "It wasn't emotional, or even devotional. It was more ... ideas. You could even call it factual, with occasional, absolute brilliance."

"Very soft-spoken, clear, well-organized - and very well researched," Richard Pates, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, said of the homilies.

Schuler's focus on music was equally meticulous.

"His talent, it was God-given," Hogan said. "While directing, he could pick out a wrong note and tell you who played it or sang it. He had perfect pitch. If he intended to sing in A flat, he sang in A flat, without a pitch pipe or anything."

Why music?

"I think the best explanation is he just enjoyed beauty, as a reflection of God," Hogan said.

Hogan remembers walking along the Danube River, in Austria, with his uncle right before Schuler took the job at St. Agnes.

"He was very much looking forward to it," Hogan said. "He was a bit tired of teaching. He wanted to preach and be a pastor and take care of people's spiritual needs."

Schuler also liked the baroque-style church's traditional leaning, Hogan added.

"He had very strong convictions about the traditional life of the church," Pates said.

Born in Minneapolis, Schuler attended DeLaSalle High School before going to the then-College of St. Thomas to major in English. As a young man, he played piano and organ for area weddings and funerals.

He attended St. Paul Seminary before being ordained in 1945 at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

He first taught religion - as well as Gregorian chants - at Nazareth Hall seminary in Arden Hills and then taught at the College of St. Thomas from 1955 until 1969.

While teaching, Schuler furthered his musical education on the side. After repeated summers of study, he received a master's degree in music theory from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., bypassing bachelor-level study by way of his talent. In 1954, he studied music history at Roman University and the Institute of Church Music in Rome on a Fulbright grant. He received a doctorate in music history from the University of Minnesota in 1963.

One of his greatest joys was founding the 60-member Twin Cities Catholic Chorale in 1956, which practiced at St. Thomas before making regular appearances at St. Agnes. The choir leaned toward classical Viennese composers, such as Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and Beethoven.

"He kept the music alive and well at St. Agnes. It continues to this day," said the Rev. John Ubel, the church's current pastor.

Schuler is survived by his sister, Jeanne Hogan, of Robbinsdale, four nephews and one niece.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at St. Agnes, where a funeral Mass will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday. [PioneerPress]

Monsignor Richard J. Schuler - R.I.P.

Monsignor Richard J. Schuler, Pastor Emeritus of The Church of Saint Agnes, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday April 20, 2007.

Wake
A wake will be held Monday, April 23, at 3:00 PM at the Church of St. Agnes. It will conclude at 9:00 PM with sung Latin Vespers.

Funeral Mass
The Funeral Mass for Monsignor Richard J. Schuler will be celebrated at 7:00 PM on Tuesday April 24, 2007 at The Church of Saint Agnes, 548 Lafond Ave. St. Paul, MN. Members of The Twin City Catholic Chorale will be singing W.A. Mozart's Requiem Mass, along with an orchestral accompaniment.

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From Father Z's Blog:

20 April 2007

Msgr. Richard J. Schuler - RIP

— Fr. John Zuhlsdorf @ 3:12 pm

Msgr. Richard J. Schuler passed away at about 3 a.m., Central Time.

He leaves a great legacy which will endure.

"Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master." (cf. Matthew 25:23)

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From the St Agnes Web Page:

Monsignor Richard J. Schuler:

Requiescat in Pace

Monsignor Richard J. Schuler, Pastor Emeritus of The Church of Saint Agnes, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday April 20, 2007. We at Saint Agnes join countless others throughout the world in offering our prayers for the repose of his soul, and in gratitude to Almighty God for the gift of his life.

Monsignor was in residence at the North Memorial Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Center at the time of his death. Monsignor Schuler served as Pastor at Saint Agnes for thirty-two years, from 1969-2001, and was the founding director of The Twin Cities Catholic Chorale in 1956.

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Terry at Abbey-Roads2 has a great photo (swiped above) and a bio of the Monsignor.

Monsignor Richard Schuler has suffered a mild stroke

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Monsignor Richard J. Schuler, age 86, pastor emeritus of St Agnes Parish in St Paul, MN, suffered a mild stroke at his residence on January 10, 2007. He has recovered somewhat from this stroke and is mentally clear, able to speak without noticeable problems, and is appropriate in his responses. However, he needs therapy and at the present time is not able to return to his previous residence in Hopkins, MN.

At this time, he needs continued rest to recover from the effects of the stroke. He also needs rest from some therapy he will be receiving. In accord with his own wishes and that of his medical team, his family requests that no one visit him or call him on the phone. He and his family are very grateful for all of the prayers offered on his behalf and ask that these prayers continue. From the St Agnes Parish Bulletin

Today, incidentally, is the feast of day of St Agnes, virgin and martyr, the patroness of the parish. Msgr. Schuler, who earned a PhD in Music, perhaps more than anybody is the individual responsible for preserving much of the music of the pre-Vatican II Mass and is the founder of St Agnes' world famous symphonic, choral and schola Masses. Today it was the Mass of St. Cecilia by Gounod. Marvelous!

You prayers are urgently requested for the health of Monsignor Schuler. He is well known by Catholics around the world. So spread the word.

Monsignor Richard Schuler of St Agnes Has Been Moved to a Rehabilitation Center in Roseville, MN

Monsignor Richard Schuler, the creator of the magnificent music programs and upholder of the orthodox liturgies and educational systems at Holy Childhood and St Agnes Parishes in St Paul, has been moved from St Agnes to Lake Ridge Rehabilitation Center, 2727 Victoria Street, Roseville, MN 55113. He is in Room 710.

He is no longer able to have visitors [edited 21 July 2006]. Further updates will be posted as they become available and can be heard by calling the parish office at 651-293-1710 and choosing extension 9. [From the St Agnes Parish Bulletin]