Fr. Louis Van Thanh, priest of the Church of the Holy Innocents, celebrates the Last Extraordinary Form Mass at the Church of Our Saviour in NYC. (Low Mass for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.). The end of a tradition that began in September 2007 after the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum. In a perhaps unprecedented act, the current pastor of Our Saviour’s encourages his parishioners who attend this mass to go to another parish. For photographs see HERE. (thanks to Arrys Ortanez for the tip and photos)
The last Latin Mass at Our Saviour’s – and simultaneously, the pastor of the Basilica of St. John’s, Stamford, CT, terminates the Traditional Mass celebrated there. Substantial changes are also made to the celebration of the Novus Ordo mass at the high altar at St. John’s. Further east, the pastor of St Mary’s, New Haven, proposes to terminate the 30-year old schola at that parish. While St. Mary’s New Haven is definitely not “traditionalist,” many of those active in the parish schola have participated in the St. Gregory’s Society. Finally, of course, we have the FFI saga being played out at a priory right here in Connecticut, where the establishment of the Traditional liturgy earlier this year comes to an untimely end.
Are all these actions unrelated? I think not. True, there are specific circumstances at each of these places that, in my opinion, make these actions not at all unexpected. But the fact that the Bishop of Rome has signaled publicly his disdain for the Traditional liturgy and for traditionalists – once more in his latest interview – undoubtedly is, at the very minimum, a key element of the background. A background of which the decision makers are well aware.
UPDATE: We have received a report that the situation of the schola at St. Mary’s, New Haven, has been “clarified” and that it continues to sing.
UPDATE #2: A discussion of the situation at Our Saviour’s at First Things.
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Here is the notice that appeared in the bulletin at Our Saviour. Seems like a perfectly reasonable explanation, especially given that the TLM is celebrated in a neighboring church.
MASS IN THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM (LATIN)
In his 7 July 2007 Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum, Benedict XVI sought to address a pastoral situation that existed in some areas of the Catholic world—the desire of some of the faithful to return to worshiping with the Roman Missal that had been replaced in the years following the Second Vatican Council. To make use of this privilege, the Pope stated that there should be a “stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition.” (Art. 4) He also stated, “Priests who use the Missal of Bl. John XXIII must be qualified to do so” (Art. 5, §4), i.e., conversant with the Latin texts and the various rituals and rubrics involved. A few weeks ago, Father Justin Wylie informed the Pastor that he would no longer be able to continue the responsibility of saying the Extraordinary Form Mass at Our Saviour for the foreseeable future. Our staff has been finding individual celebrants in the meantime. However, we have not been able to find a priest who is willing to do this on a regular basis. Father Robbins spoke with Father Myles Murphy, pastor of St. Agnes Church, where there is a weekly celebration of the Extraordinary Form every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Father Murphy has asked that those who celebrate the Extraordinary Form here at Our Saviour should feel most warmly welcomed at St. Agnes. Additionally, St. Agnes has a first-rate choir at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, led by music director James Wetzel. Beginning next Sunday, 29 September, the 9:00 a.m. Mass will be in the ordinary form and in English here at Our Saviour. We continue to rely on your understanding and cooperation as we attempt to meld together three parishes on Murray Hill and in Kips Bay.
Do you have any current information on the Community of St. Benedict , a traditional Benedictine monastery apparently using the traditional Benedictine liturgy right there in Connecticut? From what I’ve heard they have a very promising future. It’s wonderful to have a traditional Benedictine monastery right here in the Northeast!
Can you say something more about the Schola at St. Mary’s in New Haven? I couldn’t find anything on the parish website or in the bulletins posted there, and I’m curious what rationale could be given for disbanding the schola.
Salicus,
Really? The new pastor could not have learned the Extraordinary Form himself as others have done – including his immediate predecessor?
There are other things worth commenting in this “message from the pastor” including the tendentious description of Summorum Pontificum. But what really caught my eye was the reference to ‘melding three parishes.” I don’t believe this has been previously announced or disclosed as a goal by the Archdiocese or the parishes affected. Although the recent career of the current pastor of Our Saviour makes the thought process obvious.
Pope Francis does not appear very friendly toward the traditional Mass and much that goes along with it. But it seems the downhill trend started before Pope Francis. Just look at Waterbury. Hundreds attended the traditional Mass when it started at Immaculate Conception. Now just over a hundred there is a good number. Sat. and Sun. traditional Mass at St. Margaret’s: gone for about two years now. The pastor there tried, but next to no one attended. And the traditional Mass on the first Fridays of the month was taken away at St. Ann’s. The way of the cross is not enjoyable. Things will be much better in the reign of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. But what of the timetable and the additional suffering to come before then?
This shows how really important the sspx is.
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