Dear Friends,
As we begin the Advent season, on behalf of the Society of St. Hugh of Cluny I would like to extend our gratitude to you, our supporters. Your contributions have made it possible for our Society to achieve so much in 2016.
We would like to tell you what we have been doing this last year and ask you to remember us when you consider donations.
You undoubtedly have heard of the mass celebrated two weeks ago at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was the first Traditional mass in almost 20 years there. This wonderful divine service that would have been a revelation ten years ago now took place in the midst of numerous other major Traditionalist events in and around New York just in this same month of November.
The scale of activity today is such that it is very hard for one website to keep track of it – although we try!
This vitality is doubly surprising in view of the dire news constantly emanating from Rome. Yet, paradoxically, the withdrawal of official favor perhaps has fostered instead of hindered the development of Traditional communities. We are starting to see after many years the beginnings of the fulfillment of the promises of Summorum Pontificum.
What has the Society of Saint Hugh of Cluny been doing in the midst of all this ferment? We continue to exercise two basic roles. First, we run a website that keeps track of the burgeoning Traditional scene in the New York area.
Second, we sponsor and organize Traditional masses and presentations by noted speakers on issues directly relevant to the traditional cause. This year has been one of the most active in our history. We have sponsored so far:
A Solemn High Mass in the Dominican Rite at St. Vincent Ferrer parish, accompanied by a lecture by noted scholar Samuel Schmitt on the music of the English recusants. It was the first Solemn Traditional mass there in ages.
A Solemn High Mass at the church of the Most Precious Blood in Little Italy at the feast of San Gennaro, featuring a Mozart mass. Again, this mass, which drew many people already in the area for the festival, was the first Traditional mass in that church since the Council.
Lectures by noted writer and Internet personality Fr. John Hunwicke at St. Mary’s, Norwalk and St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, New York. It was his first visit to the New York area.
A second Solemn High Mass at the Church of Most Precious Blood for the feast of Saints Simon and Jude.
Along with the Catholic Artists Society and the New York Purgatorial Society, the annual Solemn Requiem mass at St. Vincent Ferrer featuring a late polyphonic mass with 17th century instruments.
The Traditional Corpus Christi mass and procession at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, East Harlem.
And more besides! (All these events are covered in detail on the website of the Society)
In each case, given our limited resources, we try to bring the Traditional liturgy to new churches and to the wider public. The music performed at these liturgies has also been unique. It has been gratifying to us to see the public response to all these events.
These kinds of things do, however, involve the expenditure of money. We spend it overwhelmingly on the music involved in the liturgies and for travel expenses of the speakers.
We depend on the services of many people who receive no monetary compensation for the great work they do. And we always try to partner with another group or parish to share the costs – so far we have been very successful in this.
You can readily see compared to earlier years how the pace of Traditionalist activity has picked up.
We would like to continue this development and do much more next year!
Next year will be the tenth anniversary of Summorum Pontificum and of this Society. We already have several very interesting events in planning. But we need your help!
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Society of St Hugh of Cluny today!
Checks may be sent to the following address:
2 Tamarack Place
Greenwich CT 06831
Donations can also be made by Paypal. Go to the Paypal icon on our website www.sthughofcluny.org.
With best wishes for a blessed and holy Christmas,
Stuart Chessman
President
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