At St. Mary’s Norwalk. (The complete rose set of vestments provided by our Society)

A “Rorate Mass” – a Traditional Mass celebrated in honor of Our Lady on the Saturday, December 13. “The title comes from the first words of the entrance antiphon for the Mass which translated means: ” Drop down ye heavens from above” This reminds us that the Lord came down from heaven and became Man in the womb of the Virgin. What makes this Mass so unusual is that it is celebrated in the early morning by candlelight. The celebration should be timed so that the sun begins to rise by the time of the consecration of the Mass.” (Father Cyprian La Pastina, pastor of St. Mary’s)

A mass for the feast of St Lucy in the private chapel of St. Febronia in Hoboken, New Jersey….

The Santa Febronia Chapel was founded in 1927 by immigrants from Patti, Sicily to honor their patroness the Virgin Martyr Saint Febronia and the Madonna of Tindari. The chapel, still the private property of a society of these immigrants, is one of the most important Sicilian American as well as Catholic heritage sites in the country. The chapel both in its interior and exterior has been unchanged from its founding and its faux marble niched altar is a brilliant work of immigrant folk craftsmanship.

This was the first Traditional Mass held at the chapel since the Second Vatican Council. The schola from Saint Anthony of Padua Latin Mass community, Jersey City (formerly of Holy Rosary, Jersey City)sang the Mass. Father Michael Barone was the celebrant.

The chapel is an amazing example of Catholic folk art in this country. The statue of St. Lucy, whose feast was commemorated today.

Our Lady of Tindari – a “Black Madonna.” Her sanctuary is in Patti, Sicily.

Prayer to Our Lady of Tindari in Sicilian – recited by the congregation after the mass:

Bedda ‘n terra
Bedda ‘n cielu
Bedda siti ‘n paradisu
Bedda assai, e’ lu Vostru visu.

(Bello sulla terra, Bello nel cielo, Bello Lei e in paradiso; Molto bello e la Sua faccia.)

(Beautiful on earth, beautiful in the sky, beautiful are you in paradise; most beautiful is your face)

St. Febronia of Nisibis. An early Christian nun martyred in Northern Mesopotamia under Diocletian, her cult spread over Constantinople in the 7th century to Sicily (an Eastern Roman possession ground around 530 to 840). She is venerated in Patti, among other places. The statue really should reside in the central niche of the altar, but had been removed for a procession.

The Madonna of Tindari – with the banner of the Society. it is hoped that this mass will be an important step towards the restoration and preservation of the chapel.

Some photos from the Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which was celebrated last Sunday at St. Mary’s Church, Norwalk.

Evening Missa Cantata at Holy Innocents parish in New York on the Feast of of the Immaculate Conception. Father George Rutler is the celebrant.

On Saturday, December 13th at 10:00 a.m. there will be a Traditional Latin High Mass sung in honor of the feast of St. Lucy, at the Chapel of Santa Febronia at 557 5th Street, Hoboken, N.J., where her statue is venerated.

The Santa Febronia Chapel was founded in 1927 by immigrants from Patti, Sicily to honor their patroness the Virgin Martyr Saint Febronia and the Madonna of Tindari. The chapel, still the private property of the society, is one of the most important Sicilian American as well as Catholic heritage sites in the country due to its very unique history. The chapel both in its interior and exterior have been unchanged from its founding and its faux marble niched altar is a brilliant work of immigrant folk craftsmanship. The statues of Santa Febronia and Our Lady of Tindari are simply stunning.

This will be the first Traditional Mass held at the chapel since the Second Vatican Council. Proceeds from the collection will be used to restore the chapel basement destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

Norwalk, Connecticut:

(Monday, December 8 at 5:30 PM) St. Mary’s, Latin Mass
Prelude: Ave Maria, Ave Maris Stella (Langlais)
Missa Ave sanctissima Maria (Pierre de La Rue, c.1452-1518)
Gregorian Mass of the Immaculate Conception: Gaudens gaudebo
Motet at the Offertory: Ave cujus conceptio (Nicholas Ludford, 1485-1557)
Motet at the Communion: Ave vera virginitas (Ave cujus conceptio, secund pars) (Ludford)
Postlude: Fantasie-Improvisation sur l’Ave maris stella (Tournemire)

Bronx, NY:

(Monday, December 8 at 10:00 AM.) St. Anthony’s Church

Brooklyn, New York:

(Monday, December 8, 2014 at 7:00PM) Church of St. Cecilia: Solemn High Mass. Fr. Joseph Zwosta will celebrate the mass and other clergy from the diocese of Brooklyn will assist at the altar.

New York, New York:

(Monday, December 8 at 8:00 AM: 6:00 PM) Holy Innocents Church, Latin Mass

Sleepy Hollow, New York:
(Monday,December 8, at 5:00PM) Immaculate Conception Church, Low Mass.

From Father La Pastina of St. Mary Church, Greenwich

Dear Friends in Christ,

There are many different customs linked to the celebration of Advent. One of these customs is called a “Rorate Mass” a special Mass celebrated in honor of Our Lady on the Saturdays of Advent. The title comes from the first words of the entrance antiphon for the Mass which translated means: ” Drop down ye heavens from above” This reminds us that the Lord came down from heaven and became Man in the womb of the Virgin. What makes this Mass so unusual is that it is celebrated in the early morning by candlelight. The celebration should be timed so that the sun begins to rise by the time of the consecration of the Mass.

We will celebrate a Sung “Rorate Mass” in according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (1962 Missal in Latin) on Saturday, Dec 13th at 6:30 in the morning. If you are an early riser please join us!

With prayers and good wishes,
Father La Pastina
Saint Mary Church
178 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

A Solemn High Mass for the First Sunday in Advent was celebrated by the Augustinian Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem at the Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Charles Town, West Virginia. It was the last of a novena of masses for the health of Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro. Msgr. Barreiro is currently in residence at the headquarters of Human Life International in (relatively) nearby Front Royal, Virginia. While in the States he is also being treated for a serious illness. After the mass the congregation thanked Msgr. Barreiro for all his services for the Church and assured him of their continuing prayerful support.

Msgr. Barreiro at the reception in his honor.