The complete plainsong office of Matins and Lauds for Holy Thursday, sung at St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday, April 16.

The blessing of palms and the procession.

Gloria, Laus et Honor…cantors within the church sing. The subdeacon then bangs on the church doors three times with the foot of the cross, the doors are opened and the procession enters.

Mr. David Hughes conducts the assembled forces of the choirs and scholae of St. Mary’s parish.

A Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated today in St. Mary’s Church Norwalk, for the repose of the soul of Kathryn (Kay) Luff, who passed away on April 7. Father Richard Cipolla was the celebrant.  The music, including the “Officium Defunctorum a 6” by Tomas Luis de Victoria, was performed by a schola under the direction of David Hughes.

Yesterday evening at St. Mary Church, Norwalk, CT, Fr. Richard Cipolla celebrated a Requiem Mass in the Extraordinary Form for Mario Palmaro.

Last night the Church of St. Gabriel in Stamford was the scene of a very special observance of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Solemn Mass was celebrated in the presence of His Excellency Bishop Frank Caggiano. The Schola sang the Missa Surge Propera by Tomas Luis de Victoria. Father Cyprian La Pastina, pastor of St. Gabriel’s was the celebrant. Fr. Brandon O’Brien was deacon. Fr. Daniel Champioli was subdeacon. MC was Paul Reilly. Bishop Caggiano preached the sermon. After Mass was a procession to the altar of Our Lady and recitation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A reception followed the Mass.

On Wednesday January 22, a Solemn High Mass was celebrated at the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Manhattan, NY for the feast of Saint Vincent Pallotti, founder of the Pallottine Congregation which has ministered at this church since the parish’s founding. Following Mass, the relic of St. Vincent Pallotti was solemnly venerated by the faithful. Photographs courtesy of Joy P. Fajarda and Terry Barboza T..

At St. Mary’s Norwalk…

The music, directed by Mr. David Hughes, included an improvisation on a theme of Mahler, the Missa in Illo Tempore by Claudio Monteverdi and two motets also by Monteverdi.

The reception afterwards – after a festive toast:

But th’ holy men of God such vessels are,
As serve him up, who all the world commands:
When God vouchsafeth to become our fare,
Their hands convey him, who conveys their hands.
O what pure things, most pure must those things be,
Who bring my God to me!

Wherefore I dare not, I, put forth my hand
To hold the Ark, although it seems to shake
Through th’old sinnes and new doctrines of our land
Onely, since God doth often vessels make
of lowly matter for high uses meet,
I throw me at his feet.

George Herbert

In the presence of Bishop Frank J.Caggiano. The bishop of Bridgeport blessed the new altar, crucifix and baptistry of St. Mary’s. This mass represented the splendid conclusion of the major part of the restoration of the church. Need we add that this mass was standing-room-only? A festive reception followed immediately afterwards.

Photos of New Years Day Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Agnes Church in Manhattan,
Father Joseph Koterski, SJ – celebrant. Photos by Arrys Ortanez.