Bob and Alice Umphress donate a beautiful statue to the Oratory


The beautiful "Christo Morto" statue owned by the Umphresses will now be part of the furnishings of the Oratory. In accepting the gift, Monsignor Michael Schmitz, Vicar General of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and Provincial Superior for the United States of America, indicated that the beautiful sculpture will be used as part of Holy Week liturgies at the Oratory.

Bob Umphress purchased this statue in an auction some years ago when five parish churches were being closed. He relates the story that he was bidding against an obvious "satanist" group whose purpose was to defile the image by using it in their "black mass" ceremonies. Bob tells us that he wouldn't give up and continued to bid higher and higher until the opposition finally threw in the towel. Thank God for this determination to save this work and for his recent generous donation to the Oratory.

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