Latin Liturgy Association Detroit Convention update

Tridentine Community News (May 2, 2010):

Next LLA Convention Planning Meeting Scheduled

On Sunday, May 23 after St. Josaphat’s Tridentine Mass, (at approximately 11:00 AM), the next meeting will be held for volunteers for the July 16-18 Latin Liturgy Association National Convention. This meeting will again be held in the St. Josaphat Parish Hall, and refreshments will be served. Progress since our last meeting has included:

• A full roster of speakers has been lined up. An organ recital has been added to the schedule.
• The Marriott Ren Cen has been chosen as the host hotel because of its willingness to give our attendees a special rate that makes it more attractive than other local hotels in less desirable locations.
• A four-page color flyer has been designed. It prints on 11 x 17” paper which folds in two, to create four 8.5 x 11” pages. The flyer includes the preliminary convention schedule, information about the Bus Tour, photos of the host churches, directions, and hotel information. Thanks to Jason Grossi for his design talents. (Online PDF link)
• A registration form has been designed, with various incentive discounts for clergy, seminarians, LLA members, and those who register by May 31. The form fits inside the flyer. (Online PDF link)

The flyer and registration form will be mailed out to LLA members this week. Single sheet and glossy postcard versions of the flyer will be created for bulletin board posting and local mailings.
Our immediate challenge is to distribute these flyers to as many logical locations as possible, via mailings and drop-offs. We also need to discuss Bus Tour logistics, include who will serve as advance-men along the route. Between now and the meeting, we will be asking volunteers to place ads in various other media, and pursue other advertising and promotional opportunities.

Bus Tour Taking Shape

Those of our readers privileged to know Frank Greenia are aware that he is a walking encyclopedia of local church knowledge. From stained glass windows to statues to the names of former pastors, Frank knows Detroit’s historic churches like virtually no one else. It is only logical that Frank head up the Historic Church Bus Tour that is scheduled for Friday, July 16. The tour is so far expected to include:

Old St. Mary’s: This historically German church in Greektown is one of the best-preserved in the area. It has long been the home of a Novus Ordo Latin Mass and is known for its music program.

Holy Family: Currently clustered with Old St. Mary’s, Holy Family is an Italian / Sicilian parish that is known for having had essentially only (Novus Ordo) Latin Masses on its published schedule, ever. Only in unusual circumstances has Mass been celebrated in the vernacular, or versus pópulum. It’s all Latin, all ad oriéntem, all the time.

Transfiguration: This parish near Six Mile and Mound has a beautiful interior largely consisting of gold mosaics, reminiscent of an Eastern Rite church.

Holy Redeemer: A well-preserved church known for being the home of a large Hispanic community as well as the site of the filming of the movie The Rosary Murders.

Ste. Anne: Detroit’s oldest parish is located at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge. Like its sister parish, Assumption, at the other end of the bridge, Ste. Anne is administered by the Basilian Fathers. Michigan pioneer Fr. Gabriel Richard’s tomb is located in a chapel adjacent to the main church.

St. Francis d’Assisi: The west side of Detroit has its own Polish church cluster analogous to St. Josaphat’s. St. Francis is an immaculately preserved edifice whose extensive use of tiny light bulbs makes St. Josaphat look like a piker in comparison.

St. Florian: Hamtramck’s largest and most prominent church is the work of famed architect Ralph Adams Cram. It features an elaborate reredos (panel behind the high altar) and marble Communion Rail.

Shrine of the Little Flower: Many of us have visited Shrine, but few are aware of the various devotional chapels, unique architectural design elements, and nooks and crannies in this elaborate complex. A tour guide will show us the lesser-known areas of this historic church-in-the-round.

Discussions are pending with three other churches, as additions or substitutes: Special events such as a funeral may require last-minute changes to the itinerary. We are particularly hopeful that St. Aloysius can be included, as that church has perhaps the most unique design in the region.

The tour will include lunch at one of the churches; which one will depend upon how many sign up for the tour. The day will conclude with an optional visit to Windsor’s Assumption Church, where Vespers and Benediction will be held in the Extraordinary Form. Those who wish to go to Canada will need to have one of the following: a Passport, an Enhanced Driver’s License (the quickest and least expensive option), a Passport Card, or a Nexus Card. Apply for one of these as soon as possible so that you can join us.

DC Mass A Success As Expected

Tulsa Bishop Edward Slattery stepped in for Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos at the last minute to celebrate the Pontifical Mass last Saturday, April 24 at Washington, DC’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The church, which seats 4,000, was filled. EWTN broadcast the Mass and may make it available on DVD. Along with the 1996 landmark Pontifical Mass at New York’s St. Patrick Cathedral, this Mass is sure to break down barriers for further major event Extraordinary Form Masses to be celebrated in the future.

[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 May 2, 2010. Hat tip to A.B.]