Extraordinary Community News

"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"
Tridentine Community News (June 8, 2014):

The First Blessing of a Newly Ordained Priest

Today Fr. Joe Tuskiewicz celebrates his first Mass after ordination, in the Extraordinary Form, at St. Joseph Church in Detroit. Not only is this an occasion of great joy, but it is also an opportunity for the faithful in attendance to gain a Plenary Indulgence, under the usual conditions of Confession within 20 days, reception of Holy Communion, prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions, and freedom from attachment to sin.

Not to be confused with this Plenary Indulgence for attending the first public Mass (N.B.: the first Mass, not “one of the” first Masses) is the additional grace to be gained from receiving the “first blessing” of a newly ordained priest. It is customary for these first blessings to be given out over the course of the first several Masses a new priest celebrates; tradition says that the first blessing may be given for up to a full year after ordination.


The Church does not specify the text of the first blessing; there is no entry for it in the Rituále Románum, the official book of blessings for the Extraordinary Form. A priest could choose to use a very simple form of blessing, or something elaborate and suited to the state in life of the recipient. However, a particular form of first blessing has become popular in recent years, and is in fact the form that Fr. Joe has chosen to use:

Per impositiónem mánuum meárum sacerdotálium, et per intercessiónem beátæ Maríæ semper Vírginis, et Sancti (Sanctæ)…, et ómnium Sanctórum; Benedíctio Dei Omnipoténtis, Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti, descéndat super te et máneat semper. Amen.

May, through the imposition of my hands and upon the intercession of Holy Mary Mother of God, St. Joseph, Sts. N. (patron saint) and N. (of the priest’s choosing), the blessing of the Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, come upon thee and remain with thee forever. Amen.

After receiving the blessing, it is customary for the faithful to kiss the priest’s anointed hands.

Extraordinary Faith Detroit Episode Filming Dates Set

Plans have been firmed up for the filming of the Detroit/Windsor episode of Extraordinary Faith, our locally produced EWTN television program on sacred tradition. Our film crew will be in town Sunday-Wednesday, June 22-25, visiting several of the area’s beautiful historic churches and interviewing key people on the local Latin Mass scene.

Curious about how a television show is made? Readers of this column are welcome to join us during the shoot. E-mail the address at the bottom of this page, and we will send you a timetable of the places we will be.

Most notably, we will be filming Fr. Joe Tuskiewicz’s first Solemn High Mass with Deacon and Subdeacon, at Windsor’s Assumption Church on Sunday, June 22 at 2:00 PM. That date being the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi, a procession with the Blessed Sacrament will follow the Mass, outdoors if weather permits. The Knights of Columbus Colour Guard will be present. A reception for Fr. Joe will follow the Mass.

Mass at Ste. Anne de Detroit to be Solemn High

The previously reported special Mass at the Gabriel Richard Chapel at Ste. Anne de Detroit Church this Wednesday, June 11 will take place at 7:00 PM. The Mass will be a Solemn High Mass with Deacon and Subdeacon. Archdiocese of Detroit Music Director Joe Balistreri will provide the music. A Facebook event page has been created at: https://www.facebook.com/events/296210717170968.

The Coolest Tridentine Mass in Town

We recently learned that the Academy of the Sacred Heart Chapel in Bloomfield Hills has that rarest of Latin Mass accessories: air conditioning, a special treat for the summer months. Join us for the weekly Sunday Tridentine High Mass at 9:45 AM.

Old St. Patrick to Hold Pentecost Octave Masses

To commemorate the Octave of Pentecost, Ann Arbor’s Old St. Patrick Church will be holding special daily Masses in the Extraordinary Form at varying times, as listed below. A Facebook event page has been created at: https://www.facebook.com/events/241092926087649.

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

• Mon. 06/09 6:30 AM: Low Mass at Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor (Pentecost Monday)
• Mon. 06/09 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Joseph (Pentecost Monday)
• Tue. 06/10 7:00 PM: High Mass at St. Benedict/Assumption-Windsor (Pentecost Tuesday)
• Tue. 06/10 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor (Pentecost Tuesday)
• Wed. 06/11 6:30 AM: Low Mass at Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor (Ember Wednesday of Pentecost)
• Wed. 06/11 7:00 PM: Solemn High Mass at the Gabriel Richard Chapel at Ste. Anne de Detroit (Ember Wednesday of Pentecost)
• Thu. 06/12 8:30 AM: Low Mass at Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor (Pentecost Thursday)
• Fri. 06/13 6:30 AM: Low Mass at Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor (Ember Friday of Pentecost)
• Sat. 06/14 8:30 AM: Low Mass at Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor (Ember Saturday of Pentecost)
• Sun. 06/15 10:30 AM: High Mass at Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor (Trinity Sunday)

[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@detroitlatinmass.org. Previous columns are available at http://www.detroitlatinmass.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Albertus (Detroit), Academy of the Sacred Heart (Bloomfield Hills), and Assumption (Windsor) bulletin inserts for June 8, 2014. Hat tip to A.B., author of the column.]