St. Cecilia’s Brooklyn II

Today Bishop Brennan of Brooklyn has deigned to give an explanation for an action announced on September 28:

(Tablet Staff) “As Diocese of Brooklyn Moves to Site Model, St. Cecilia To Cease Latin Mass,” The Tablet (Brooklyn) (October 6, 2025)

The diocese is moving to a “site model”( what’s that?). Whereas at first only Traditionis Custodes issues were (orally) mentioned, now resource issues are adduced.

Low traditional Latin Mass attendance at the church and a priest shortage led Bishop Robert Brennan to the decision, according to the diocese.

The traditional Latin Mass at St. Cecilia, which typically drew around 25-35 parishioners each week, was celebrated by a rotating group of priests. However, Bishop Brennan deemed this rotation no longer sustainable and therefore switched to the site model, according to the diocese. 

He made the decision pursuant to Traditionis custodes — Pope Francis’s 2021 decree that gave local bishops autonomy to regulate the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass.

“Low traditional Latin Mass attendance” – in the Washington, DC archdiocese and elewhere traditional Masses have been terminated becuse of high attendance.

“(Traditionis Custodes) gave local bishops autonomy to regulate the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass.” I doubt anyone familiar with this motu proprio would describe it this way.

“Bishop Brennan deemed”; “he made this decision.” There was no discussion with the congregation or, as far as I am aware, with the priests celebrating this mass. No “dialogue,” no “accompaniment.” And no thought as to how the congregation – two-thirds or so of which are from the immediate neighborhood – is supposed to get to the two authorized sites. It is all very autocratic, very clerical, very top-down – the true image of how the Church of Francis (and now of Leo) operates in reality. For TC will still be enforced regardless of the impact on anyone. As I wrote, Francis’s persecution is now Leo’s persecution.