We have covered over the years the sorrowful story of the many conflicts and tragedies that have arisen, both in the New York area and beyond, as the Catholic Church seeks to “downsize” – and at the same time reap a dividend from the real estate and art of closed parishes.  Simply search this blog for the whole appalling story. Now a filmmaker – from outside the US – has attempted to put in organized form the whole matter in a documentary:

FORECLOSING ON FAITH

Given the background of the filmmaker and judging from the film stills, the loss of Hungarian ethnic parishes seems to a main focus. But the scope is much broader than that. From the film’s promotional materials:

Heroic battles, passionate protests and widespread resistance are being witnessed across the United States. But this isn’t politics, it’s a war raging within the Catholic Church to preserve countless spiritual homes. Churches are being shuttered at an alarming rate. At stake are issues of ethnic and cultural identity and the well-being of communities across the land.

The U.S. Catholic Church justifies the closings with claims of shrinking parishes, priest shortages and lack of vibrancy. Some of the faithful cry foul and say it’s all about raising money to balance the budget of the diocese or bankroll sins of the past.

This is impacting ethnic communities as well across America and their struggle is the focus of the documentary, “Foreclosing on Faith”. The film documents a heroic battle for preserving cultural identity against all odds. One manifestation of cultural identity can be traced to strong ties to churches. These aren’t just buildings with steeples and stained glass, for many, they’re second homes, places of refuge to preserve cultural and historical identity. Every time a church is closed, a small piece of the community fades away. Churches provide a social safety net and that net is unraveling.

I have not had a chance to view this documentary. But this well-received film seems to be the first serious attempt to analyze what is going on in the US as parish after parish is closed. We will see if we can arrange a screening in this area.

THE ACADEMY OF SACRED DRAMA:
“THE BIRTH OF MOSES”
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 AT 7:15 P.M.

The NYC-based Academy of Sacred Drama will perform the modern premiere
of the 1682 oratorio Il Nascimento di Mosè by Vincenzo de Grandis.

FREE ADMISSION
Followed by a light reception

Donations will be gratefully accepted, with proceeds benefiting the sacred music program, particularly future concerts.

St. Mary’s Church and the St. Cecilia Society are delighted to announce a special concert event featuring the New York–based Academy of Sacred Drama, on Friday, September 14, 2018 at 7:15 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 669 West Avenue in Norwalk, Connecticut.

The Academy of Sacred Drama is an artistic and intellectual community dedicated to the exploration of the forgotten cultural treasures of sacred dramatic music. This program is the inaugural concert of the Academy’s incredibly ambitious Year of Moses, which features the modern American premieres of three Italian-Baroque oratorios (all with librettos by Giovanni Battista Giardini). More information about this season’s oratorios and salon concerts can be found at sacreddrama.org.

Vincenzo de Grandis’s 1682 oratorio Il Nascimento di Mosè (The Birth of Moses) was dedicated to Duke Francesco II of Modena, and was first performed for a Modenese audience at the oratory of San Carlo rotondo. Giardini’s libretto tells the harrowing story of Moses’s birth as a slave in Egypt, when the tyrannical Pharaoh, fearing the growing power of the Hebrews, had ordered that all male new-borns were to be thrown into the river Nile. The Academy’s performance will feature five voices and seven instrumentalists, as well as a brief talk at intermission about the original context of the oratorio.

Violinist Jeremy Rhizor, founder and director of the Academy of Sacred Drama, describes its music and its mission: “Seventeenth-century oratorio combined the tremendously popular music of the opera with stories chosen for the intellectual and spiritual enrichment of its listeners. The Academy continues this mission by uniting emotion, intellect, and community in presentations that incorporate great oratorios, contextual lectures, and community receptions. From the philosophical and storytelling lens of Baroque-era sacred dramatic music we learn from history, share the rich ideas and music of past ages, and re-imagine the place of art and music within our own communities.”

The concert will be performed in St. Mary’s Church at 7:15 p.m. Admission is free of charge, though donations will be gratefully accepted. All proceeds will benefit the sacred music program at St. Mary’s and make more concerts possible in the future. A light reception in the church hall (school building) will follow the concert.

A number of churches in the area will offer special Masses for celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14.

St. Patrick Church, Bridgeport, CT, Solemn Mass, 7:30 pm.

St. Mary Church, Greenwich, CT, 7:30 pm

St. Stanislaus Church, New Haven, CT,   on Sunday Sept. 16, 2 pm, Missa cantata, Fr. Peter Langevin, celebrant

Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, 7:30, Missa Cantata and Te Deum followed by an all night vigil.  Further information

Holy Name of Jesus Church, Brooklyn, NY, Missa Cantata, 7 pm

St Anthony Church, 1776 Mansion St., Bronx, at 7 pm: Solemn Mass for reparation for the sins of the Church for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

St. Dominic Church, Brick, NJ,  Solemn Mass, 7 pm. Sacred Music by the Schola Cantorum of St. John the Baptist, Allentown, NJ. Reception to follow Mass.

On Friday, September 14, 2018 into Saturday, September 15, 2018, there will be an All Night Vigil of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament Exposed.

Friday, September 14, 2018 – 7:30 PM – Sung Mass & Te Deum in Latin, 1962 MR-EF – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Saturday, September 15, 2018 – 5:00 AM – Sung Mass in Latin, 1962 MR-EF – Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Preliminary Schedule

Friday, September 14, 2018

6:00 PM – Angelus
6:15 PM – Recitation of the Holy Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet
6:45 PM – Stations of the Cross and Confessions
7:30 PM – Sung Mass in Latin, 1962 MR-EF
8:30 PM – Chanting of the Te Deum
9:15 PM – Talk by Ricardo Saludo, Marian Speaker from the Archdiocese of Manila (see flyer below)
After the Talk, there will be moments of Silent Adoration and vocal prayers

Saturday, September 15, 2018

12 Midnight – Angelus and the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
12:45 AM – First Break, Silent Adoration
1:30 AM – Prayers to the Holy Black Nazarene and Our Lady of Caysaysay, followed by the Recitation of the Holy Rosary
2:00 AM – Silent Adoration
3:00 AM – Divine Mercy Chaplet
3:15 AM – Second Break, Silent Adoration
4:30 PM – Procession with and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
5:00 AM – Sung Mass in Latin, 1962 MR-EF

The following churches will offer traditional requiem Masses on Tuesday, September 11, for the victims of 9/11.

St. Vincent Ferrer Church, New York, NY, 7 pm

St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church, 141 Washington Ave, Kearny, NJ, 7 pm

Below:  St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny, NJ:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 @ 9:30 AM, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 381 Grand Street, Paterson, NJ 07505: The Most Reverend Arthur Serratelli will offer a Solemn Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

This Mass is sponsored by Sacred Heart Church, Clifton NJ, and Our Lady of Fatima Chapel of the FSSP, Pequannock, NJ.

There will be free parking at the County Parking Garage on the corner of Grand Street and Jackson Street.

The Mass will feature the combined voices of The Northern Jersey Catholic Chorale, the Metropolitan Catholic Chorale, and the Schola Cantorum of St. John the Baptist.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 @ 9 AM – The Church of St. Catherine Laboure, 130 Bray Avenue, Middletown, NJ    Traditional Latin Mass followed by POTLUCK Breakfast in the Parish Hall across the street from the School. Please bring your favorite breakfast food / snack /drink plus some to share. Please feel free to invite others to assist at Mass and come to breakfast afterward. This is an opportunity to introduce others to Catholicism and in particular to the Latin Mass, and to make them feel welcome in the Church.