The inside of St. Francis of Assisi Church at Corpus Christi Priory.The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey are excited to announce the establishment of Corpus Christi Priory on the grounds of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Convent at 4867 Laverna Road in Springfield, which includes daily prayer, Mass, and confession times open to the public at the beautiful St. Francis of Assisi Church beginning July 2nd.
In what has been several years in the making, seven priests from the Norbertine Fathers (based in Orange, Calif.) have now established a community at Corpus Christi Priory. Many in Central Illinois are familiar with the buildings and grounds as this is the former site of the Chiara Center, operated by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. The Hospital Sisters continue to live in the convent on the property. The Norbertine Fathers have also established the Evermode Institute at Corpus Christi Priory, which will serve Catholic teachers, administrators, and formators, offering a complete curriculum in the fundamentals of the Catholic faith that is confident in its Catholicism and clear in its approach.
The outside of St. Francis of Assisi Church at Corpus Christi Priory.
Immersed in the 900-year tradition of their order, the Norbertine Fathers live a common life of liturgical prayer and care for souls. Their life at Corpus Christi Priory is organized according to prayer of the Church: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. “Seven times a day I praise You,” says the Psalmist, and by chanting together the prayers of the Divine Office, Norbertine canons “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.”
The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey stand inside St. Francis of Assisi Church at Corpus Christi Priory.
Here is the public schedule, beginning Sunday, July 2.
Monday - Saturday:
- 5:45 a.m. - Office of Matins (Readings) and Lauds (Morning Prayer)
- 7:00 a.m. - Holy Mass
- 8:45 a.m. - Terce (Midmorning Prayer)
- 12:00 p.m. - Sext (Midday Prayer)
- 4:20 p.m. - None (Midafternoon Prayer)
- 4:30 p.m. - Rosary
- 5:00 p.m. - Vespers (Evening Prayer)
- 7:30 p.m. - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Silent Adoration [and confessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until 8:30 p.m.]
- 8:20 p.m. - Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
- 8:30 p.m. - Compline (Night Prayer)
Sunday:
- 6:45 a.m. - Matins (Office of Readings) and Lauds (Morning Prayer)
- 8:30am - Terce (Midmorning Prayer)
- 9:00 a.m. - Holy Mass
- 12:00 p.m. - Sext (Midday Prayer)
- 4:20 p.m. - None (Midafternoon Prayer)
- 4:30 p.m. - Rosary
- 5:00 p.m. - Vespers (Evening Prayer)
- 7:30 p.m. - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Silent Adoration
- 8:20 p.m. - Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
- 8:30 p.m. - Compline (Night Prayer)
Confessions:
- Confessions will take place in the church confessionals Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- All the Norbertine Fathers’ prayers will be open to the public.
- The church will open at 5:30 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.