(Above) The Memorial to 9/11 (and Fr. Mychal Judge) at St. Francis of Assisi Church in 2012. I note that in this and other pictures the “gold-plated rose” is not yet present.

In regard to St. Francis of Assisi, a well-informed reader has kindly pointed out that the opening times of the lower church were restricted after a monstrance was stolen in 2018. (It was later recovered – I note a gentleman once frequently encountered at the TLM in New York was involved in the recovery). In 2018 the church made this announcement:

For Your Safety and Our Security

The New Year didn’t start very happily for us because on Tuesday morning, January 2nd, at approximately 7:20 AM, a monstrance was stolen from the altar in the lower church. The Blessed Sacrament was not in the monstrance at the time. The police were called and they are investigating the theft.

As you are probably aware, security issues have risen over the past few years. We having been working hard to enhance the security and safety of our buildings and property with video surveillance and other measures. However, incidents like this are almost impossible to prevent because we cannot patrol every inch of the property at every moment.

We have decided to try to limit access to parts of the church when they are not in use.

Effective immediately, the lower church will be open only during the following hours:

Monday to Friday: 7:30 to 8:30 AM; 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM; 4:00 to 5:30 PM

Saturday: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:30 to 5:30 PM

Sunday: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 4:00 to 5:30 PM

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in the upper church Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 11:30 AM and 1:00 and 4:30 PM.

We regret having to put these measures into effect, but we are concerned about your safety as well as the security of our church and buildings. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation, and remember, if you see something, say something.

“New Safety Measures- St Francis of Assisi”

I do not know if these exact times are still in force. Even AI is stumped when asked about the current opening times at St. Francis. And the dire security situation does not seem to have improved since 2018:

 New York City police are searching for a man accused of stealing a gold-plated rose from a Manhattan church memorial honoring the victims of 9/11.

The metal flower had served as the centerpiece of a memorial at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, whose long-time pastor, Father Mychal Judge, was crushed by falling rubble while praying for victims and rescuers on the morning of the attack. …

The memorial, which rests on a base of twisted steel leftover from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, arrived at the church 22 years ago, he said, through a donation coordinated by a local ironworkers union. …

It was dedicated to the former pastor, Judge, as well as a parishioner, Carole LaPlante, who was also killed in the attacks.

Following his death, the priest’s admirers urged the Catholic Church to grant him sainthood, pointing to his efforts in pushing the church to be more welcoming to LGBTQ people. (my bolding)

Offenhartz, Jake, “Gold-plated rose stolen from NYC 9/11 memorial honoring influential pastor,” apnews.com (November 21, 2024)

Perhaps these events have discouraged visitors. Perhaps some are not “on board” with the recent direction of the parish as compared with its traditional role as an all-purpose Catholic devotional center for those traveling in and out of Manhattan. And is there the same demand for such a “commuter church” at a time where Catholic devotional life is in overall decline? Our reader also pointed out that the declining number of clergy has also contributed to the reduction of both opening times and hours of the sacrament of penance. In any case, St. Francis of Assisi today is a less active place than it was in the 1980’s.

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.

In addition to the regularly scheduled 12:10 Low Mass, there will be a Solemn Mass at 10 am for the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary on Tuesday, Oct 7 at St. Mary Church, Norwalk

(Above) The former Catholic Center, surrounded by scaffolding. (Below)) The “Catholic” identifiers are progressively stripped away – you can still barely make out “New York Catholic Center.” An inglorious end to the main legacy of Cardinal Cooke in Manhattan.

Meanwhile, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral:

The new set of “murals” (actually panel paintings, apparently on canvas) in the entrance to St. Patrick’s cathedral were recently unveiled. These works are accompanied by an extravagant dedication to Cardinal Dolan. What can we say? The style is exceedingly similar to Soviet “Socialist Realism” or National Socialist “Heroic Realism” – a combination of photographic realism (almost colored photographs)and idealism. Most of the figures depicted are staring at something in space or above them in the sky, while we, similarly, gaze up at them. For some reason, Mother Cabrini’s image does make “eye contact” with the viewer. Some of the panels follow the lead of contemporary media and advertising by carefully distributing the figures among approved categories: a woman, a black, an “Asian,’ an “Hispanic.”. And, despite the presence of an image of the Virgin Mary, most of it is thoroughly secular as well. The themes are those approved by the secular media: migrants, 9/11 first responders, catholic social activists… The panels are entirely manipulative and propagandistic – art has ceded to the didactic.

Courtesy of Charlotte Latin Mass Community. (Attached to the door the day the last Traditional Mass was celebrated in this church.)

This is the face of the Catholic Church today: manipulation, despotism and deception. In addition to the Church’s other moral problems……

(Above) Solemn Mass at St. Cecilia’s, November 20, 2011.

The congregation at the 2 PM Traditional Mass at St. Cecilia, Brooklyn, was informed after yesterday’s Mass that the Traditional Mass would be terminated as of October 12th. I note that the parish bulletin for Divine Mercy Parish (of which St Cecilia is one of three “worship spaces.”) of October 12th (!) summarily mentions this:

The administrator of this parish (there is only one priest) seems to publish the bulletin weeks in advance – that of October 25 is already online (without the 2 PM Latin Mass):

Divine Mercy Parish – Bulletins

This action of the Bishop seems to have taken the congregation by surprise. Needless to say, “Fr. MIke,” the administrator, did not see fit to publish any words of explanation to his parishioners. Normally, you would expect at least that courtesy – after all, reviewing this blog, I find references to and photographs of TLM celebrations at St. Cecilia’s as far back as 2008.

I spoke to a member of the TLM congregation of long standing. He was given to understand (unofficially?) that Bishop Brennan plans to restrict the TLM in the Brooklyn diocese to two locations: Our Lady of Peace in Carroll Gardens (in Brooklyn) and St. Josaphat (in Queens). Anyone who has tried to travel from one spot to another in these boroughs will know how daunting that prospect can be.

Finally,one thing is clear – whatever actions Pope Leo may take in the future regarding the Traditional Mass(and I am mildly hopeful), as of September 29 Pope Francis’s persecution of traditionalist Catholics is his persecution.

UPDATE:

A few additional facts: St. Cecilia is part of a mega-parish with very limited resources. I am told average attendance at the traditional Sunday Mass is around 35, however, around one third of those are visitors or new faces each Sunday. I believe attendance at the Novus Ordo Masses in that part of Brooklyn (Greenpoint/ Williamsburg) is also a matter of concern. These difficulties are acknowledged, however, none of this was presented by the bishop or administrator as the basis for terminating the TLM.

Some other images from St. Cecilia over the years:

(Above and below) October 4, 2020.

(Above) April 2, 2021 – Good Friday liturgy.

(Above) Arrival of the Pilgrims at the Shrine.

The Pilgrimage for the Restoration on its 30^th Anniversary

Yesterday we had the joy to be  present at the 30th “Pilgrimage for the Restoration” at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York. It was a perfect day for this event. The contingents of pilgrims made their way to the shrine carrying their banners and often pushing their strollers; their order, discipline and demeanor were impressive. As far as I could see, the organization of the event seemed very thorough and competent. 

Over the years the details of this pilgrimage – the overall itinerary, the day of arrival and the program of the final day  – have frequently varied. This year, on reaching Auriesville on Sunday, the pilgrims first descended into the ravine  –  the most secluded and sacred spot of the shrine grounds. For this is where St. Isaac Jogues buried the bones of his martyred companion St. Rene Goupil. Next, they processed to the Coliseum, where a  Solemn Mass was celebrated,  accompanied by splendid music and in the presence of a bishop. Finally, after the conclusion of the Mass, relics of the saints revered in Auriesville were reverenced. 

If  numbers alone were the only criterion of success, this year’s  Pilgrimage for the Restoration was an outstanding achievement. One of the leaders estimated there were 700 to 800 pilgrims present; more may have joined for the concluding Mass. It is a dramatic improvement in participation compared to the situation around 2013. 

Now the Pilgrimage for the Restoration began in grandly successful style in the1990s. Numerous organizations participated, and a large congregation attended the concluding Mass in the Coliseum. Among other reasons for this impressive achievement was the uniqueness of this liturgy at that time in North America:  it was one of the few occasions at which a traditionalist could experience a Solemn (or Solemn High ) Mass. 

Already by 2008, however, attendance at the pilgrimage was decreasing. Was it the increasing availibility of more convenient traditional Masses? Or perhaps some foolishly thought “restoration” of the traditional liturgy had been achieved and no further work was needed? By 2013 the pilgrimage had dwindled to an affair of some 100-200 pilgrims. Then, the Jesuits in charge of the shrine started to exclude the pilgrims from the Coliseum. When, in 2015,  the Jesuits abandoned most of the Auriesville site it even seemed as if the shrine might permanently close. 

Perhaps recovery started precisely with the exit of the Society of Jesus from the shrine in 2015. For the new owners refurbished run-down grounds and buildings and were more welcoming to the Traditional Mass. The persecution of the traditionalists by Pope Francis starting in 2021 undoubtedly helped to reenergize the commitment of traditionalists to this pilgrimage.  Finally,  the emergence of competition in North America, notably the Three Hearts pilgrimage in Oklahoma,  may have also incentivized participants in this part of the country.

Let us recall that the Chartres pilgrimage,  the original model and inspiration for the Pilgrimage for the Restoration, also descended for a time into routine – perhaps even stagnation. But in the last several years the Pilgrimage of Christendom in France has enjoyed record attendance, in good weather and in bad. So much so that its success has become a major concern for the Vatican and the French hierarchy. But these impressive results could only have been achieved thanks to the persistence of the pilgrims through the leaner years.  The same is true in Upstate New York:  the persistence of the traditionalist pilgrims to Auriesville year after year – and the organizers – preserved the pilgrimage and laid the foundation for this year’s success.

(Above and below) The arrival of the pilgrims.

(Above) Prayer in the Ravine.

(Above and below) Processing from thr Ravine to the Coliseum.

The start of the Mass.

(Above) The choir was excellent.