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Area priests also are being invited to concelebrate the Mass with the archbishop, who was scheduled to be installed Wednesday at 2 p.m at the Cathedral Basilica by Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia and former archbishop of St. Louis.
Archbishop Carlson will be the 10th bishop and ninth archbishop of St. Louis.
Father Mike said the archbishop will travel to several parishes in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis in the days following his Mass of Installation to celebrate Holy Mass with members of the faithful.
"We're very excited he's coming out to Washington. I think Our Lady of Lourdes was likely chosen because we have one of the biggest churches to accommodate the expected large crowd," he said.
Special music is planned for the Mass here. Father Mike said singers from all area churches are invited to participate.
Paige Bryne Shortal, director of the Combined Christian Choir, is coordinating the rehearsal schedule. The Combined Christian Choir also is preparing for its summer concert which takes place Sunday, June 28, at OLL.
Rehearsals for both the Mass and summer concert are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, June 17-18, and Tuesday, June 23, all at 7 p.m. in the St. Francis Borgia Choir Room.
Any interested singer is invited to take part in the Mass and they do not have to attend all of the rehearsals. For more information, people may call 314-583-1522 or 636-239-7064.
Father Mike said he expects a large turnout for the Mass and reception.
"I think people are excited to meet the archbishop and it's great we'll have this kind of opportunity," he said.
Masses of Welcome also will be celebrated June 15 at Immaculate Conception, Dardenne; June 22 at Saint Agnes, Bloomsdale; and June 23 at St. Clement of Rome, Des Peres.
Father Mike said he plans to attend the installation Wednesday, as well as a luncheon Friday with St. Louis area priests and the archbishop.
A reception will be held after the installation at Rosati-Kain High School where hundreds of schoolchildren will perform. Several students from Our Lady of Lourdes are participating as well.
Pope Benedict XVI announced Archbishop Carlson's new role on April 24. Carlson succeeds Archbishop Raymond Burke, who now heads the Vatican Supreme Court.
The 64-year-old most recently served as the bishop of the Saginaw, Mich., diocese. He previously served as bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D., from 1994 to 2005.
