The Dominican Rite Mass for the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas on March 7 at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, New York. Photo courtesy of Diana Yuan.

Photos from the New York Purgatorial Society monthly Mass in the Dominican Rite at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, New York,  on February 19  for the Feast of St. Francis de Capillas, OP.  Photos courtesy of Diana Yuan.

Yesterday evening at St. Mary’s in Norwalk a shrine for the statue of Our Lady of Norwalk was unveiled and dedicated. The local artists who created the shrine were in attendance, Henry Egan, artist, and Alonso Florez, master woodworker. Also in attendance was Harry Rilling, the Mayor of Norwalk. Fr. Cipolla explained the iconography of the statue and shrine. “The oyster shell she holds in the symbol of Norwalk, oysters having a particular symbiosis with the city. The Child holds a pearl, for it is He who is the Pearl of Great Price, who died and rose that we might live.”

The right panel shows St. Mary’s Church

The left panel shows an oyster fisherman, with the Norwalk islands in the background. Is this a likeness of Fr. Cipolla? He explained in his sermon that an oyster fisherman is like a priest who uses his rake to dig for souls.

At the top of each panel is an oyster with a pearl.

Behind Our Lady is her throne surrounded by saints and angels.

Solemn Mass was celebrated with the usual large assembly of altar boys.

The combined choirs of St. Mary’s performed,  under the coordinated direction of both David Hughes and Charles Weaver.

After the Mass, a procession to the new shrine of Our Lady

Fr. Cipolla blesses the shrine.

A reception featuring fresh oysters and clams, and cava.

Fr. Cipolla, honorary oyster fisherman.

But the star of the reception was Fr. Donald Kloster, the new curate, who arrived at the parish on Monday.

On New Year’s Eve, St. Mary’s Church in Greenwich had Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the singing of the Te Deum. Photos courtesy of Fr. Cyprian La Pastina.

Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Holy Innocents at Holy Innocents Church, New York on December 28. Photo courtesy of Diana Yuan.

In January 2015 (above) and December 26, 2017 (below) – after a restoration of the sanctuary directed by Fr. La Pastina, the pastor of St. Mary’s.

A Blessed and Holy Christmas to all!

(Window in church of St Elizabeth, Washington Heights, New York)

Midnight Mass at St Mary’s Norwalk, 2017.

Leading the rosary before the start of the service.

Singing of Carols before the mass.

Processing with the image of the Christ Child.

(Above) An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Immaculate Conception church.

Yesterday a large congregation was present for the festive celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, organized by the Society of St Hugh of Cluny and made possible by the generosity of the late Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro. How inspiring to experience the return of the traditional liturgy to the “upper church” after an absence of so many decades! We have to thank this parish and in particular the indefatigable Manny Albino (who also served as subdeacon) for making this evening possible. Bill Riccio, who served as MC along with Eddy Toribio, did his accustomed magnificent work in surmounting all kinds of difficulties, major and minor, to assure the smooth and polished execution of the ceremonial. Two young priests, Fr. Robert Rodriguez (New York) and Fr. Joseph Zwosta (Brooklyn) served as celebrant and deacon, respectively – Fr. Rodriguez preached in English and Spanish. I’d also like to thank the servers, from several different parishes, who contributed their time.

Integral to this liturgy was the performance of rare music from 18th century Mexico composed by Ignacio de Jerusalem. We understand his Masses were heard, not just in Mexico City, but in the missions of California! This unusual repertoire had been graciously made available to us by a leading scholar of the music of de Jerusalem, Prof. Craig Russell. Charles Weaver did an incredible job in organizing the music for the mass and assembling the instrumentalists – and also performing himself. James Wetzel, music director at St. Vincent Ferrer, led the singers and orchestral forces with his customary professionalism and skill.

Finally, we have to thank the members of Immaculate Conception parish for organizing the festive reception after the mass. It was an appropriate conclusion to this memorable evening!

(Above) The remarkable if little known church of the Immaculate Conception (once the Episcopalian “Grace chapel”) as seen earlier that afternoon.