Traditionalism in the Diocese of Trenton

Great news from the diocese of Trenton, New Jersey. Starting yesterday there’s a new TLM scheduled at St. Dominic’s Parish in Brick – that’s the name of a town – at 12 PM, every Sunday. But this good news is just the tip of the iceberg. Catholic Traditionalism in Trenton has grown by leaps and bounds, and the diocese now offers its own official website for the TLM:

The Diocese of Trenton: Celebration of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass)

It contains an enormous amount of information, such schedules, contacts and as this user-friendly introductory guide to the Traditional Mass:

The Extraordinary Form: A View from the Pew

The Traditional Mass is currently celebrated at the following locations in the Trenton Diocese:

Saint John the Baptist
Roman Catholic Church
1282 Yardville-Allentown Rd
Allentown, NJ  08501

Wednesday: 7:00pm Low Mass
Friday: 8:00am Low Mass
Sunday: 12:30pm 
High or Solemn Mass
Lunch Convivium will resume
when COVID restrictions are lifted

Holy Innocents Church
3455 West Bangs Ave.
Neptune NJ 07753
Third Sunday
3:00pm Sung Mass

The Church
of St. Catherine Laboure
110 Bray Avenue
Middletown, NJ 07748
Monday and Friday: Noon
Sunday: 9:00am

Holy Cross Church
30 Ward Avenue
Rumson, NJ 07760
As announced.

Saint Dominic Church
250 Old Squan Road
Brick, NJ   08724
Sunday: Noon
Missa Cantata

It’s been quite a journey to here from the initial days of the “Latin Mass” movement in the Trenton diocese. For example, in the mid 1980’s, thanks to the initiative of the laity and several priests, Novus Ordo Latin Masses were celebrated at St. Paul’s parish in Princeton – after discussions with the diocese. Sadly, many of the pioneers of those days have passed away.

Then, in 1989, the bishop gave permission for the celebration of a Nuptial TLM in the chapel of Princeton University – reputed, perhaps wrongly, to be the first such Mass in the US since the 1960’s. The late Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro was the driving force behind that. I later heard, however, that the bishop was quite irritated when word of this mass got out – was the wedding supposed to be secret?

Obviously, in the new era of Summorum Pontificum, these doubts and reservations have been largely dispelled (at least in the Trenton diocese). I look forward to reporting many more inspiring stories!