Extraordinary Form Confirmations Scheduled

Tridentine Community News (September 13, 2009):

Fr. Mark Borkowski is pleased to announce that His Excellency Archbishop Allen Vigneron has agreed to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation according to the Extraordinary Form on Sunday, November 29 at St. Josaphat Church, following the 9:30 AM Tridentine Mass. The archbishop has requested that the preceding Mass be celebrated by another priest.

All families and individuals requesting Confirmation must contact Fr. Borkowski at (313) 831-6659 or frmarkb@aol.com as soon as possible, even if you have already spoken with him about your interest. Adults and children are both invited. A definitive list of candidates needs to be assembled. Fr. Borkowski will also have to assess the preparedness of each candidate, as Confirmation is bestowed upon those who demonstrate a certain level of understanding of the Holy Catholic Faith.

A note to our readers at Assumption-Windsor: Such an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation according to the traditional form may not come again soon. We do not know if it will ever be an option in the Diocese of London. Therefore, if there is any possibility that a family member or friend may want to receive this Sacrament, we suggest that you contact Fr. Borkowski and explain that you are from Assumption.

This will be the first time that an Archbishop of Detroit will be visiting St. Josaphat’s Tridentine Mass Community. It is imperative that we demonstrate the maximum possible support to Archbishop Vigneron. If you do not attend St. Josaphat Church every week, we ask that you make a special effort to attend on that Sunday.

There are several differences between the Novus Ordo and Tridentine versions of the sacrament. In future weeks, this column will provide the complete text of the Extraordinary Form Sacrament of Confirmation, to help our readers prepare for this historic event.

[Adjacent photo of Bishop Michael Burbridge of the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina by Philip Gerard Johnson, who carries the report with photos.]

Fr. Borkowski to Celebrate Mass at St. Joseph, Jackson

On Sunday, October 4 at 10:30 AM, Fr. Mark Borkowski will celebrate a special sung Tridentine Mass at St. Joseph Church in Jackson, Michigan. St. Joseph was Fr. Borkowski’s childhood parish. It has been the home of Jackson’s Extraordinary Form Mass for several years. Interestingly, the previous pastor who arranged for the Jackson Tridentine Mass to move from its original location to St. Joseph Church was Fr. Louis Madey, well-known as a celebrant at several local Tridentine Mass sites.

Choir members and altar servers from St. Josaphat and Assumption-Windsor will be traveling to Jackson to assist with this special occasion.

Pilgrim Virgin Statue to Return

As was the case last year, special Tridentine Masses have been scheduled for the visit of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima to the Detroit area:

On Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00 PM, there will be a Tridentine Low Mass at Detroit’s St. Joseph Church.

On Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 PM, there will be a Tridentine Mass at St. Josaphat Church.

On Friday, October 9 at 7:00 PM, there will be a sung Tridentine Mass at Sweetest Heart of Mary Church, followed by a Eucharistic procession, outdoors if weather permits.

A Marian talk conducted by one of the statue’s guardians will precede each Mass. The statue has a long and prominent history with fostering Marian devotion. More information about the statue is available at: www.pilgrimvirginstatue.com.

Fr. Z to Speak at Call to Holiness

The annual metro Detroit Call to Holiness conference always attracts an interesting spectrum of speakers. Many are culled from the roster of regulars on EWTN, familiar faces to Catholics of most every stripe. The 2009 Conference will be held at the National Shrine of the Little Flower on Saturday, October 10.

Among the speakers this year is one of the world’s most prolific apologists for sacred tradition. The king of the Internet-age priests, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, known as “Fr. Z” in the blogging world, is one of our era’s best-read defenders of sound rubrical practices. His column for The Wanderer newspaper, “What Does the Prayer Really Say?”, began as an effort to provide accurate translations of the Latin Propers of the Ordinary Form of Mass. This work spawned a blog at www.wdtprs.com, which along with The New Liturgical Movement are the two principal sources of news for those interested in matters liturgical. Whether the topic is Tridentine or by-the-books Novus Ordo, Fr. Z is outspoken in his support of reverent celebrations of the Mass and the Sacraments.

Lest there be any confusion, there will not be a celebration of Holy Mass according to the Extraordinary Form at this conference.

Further information and registration details may be found at www.calltoholiness.com.

[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@stjosaphatchurch.org. Previous columns are available at www.stjosaphatchurch.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Josaphat bulletin insert for April 26, 2009. Hat tip to A.B.]