"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"
Tridentine Community News (November 9, 2014):
St. Albertus Mass Schedule Changes
In recent months there has been a downward trend in attendance at the monthly Sunday noon Tridentine Masses at St. Albertus Church. Despite our best efforts at publicizing these Masses, the number of people attending has declined from around 70 to around 30. Perhaps the novelty of these Masses is wearing off. Clearly a change is scheduling is warranted.
The last Tridentine Mass at St. Albertus for 2014 will be held next Sunday, November 16 at 12:00 Noon. For the first two quarters of 2015, Mass will be held at St. Albertus once per quarter instead of once per month. The dates for these Masses will be published in upcoming weeks. Frequency of Masses at St. Albertus in the second half of 2015 will depend upon attendance at the first two Masses.
Many times we have stated that your support of our regional Tridentine Masses will determine their future. As much as we wish to grow our local Mass schedule, we must face reality and match supply to demand. If you are spiritually nourished by the Masses at St. Albertus, please try to attend the quarterly Masses in 2015 to encourage their continuation. [Historic photo of a Requiem Mass at St. Albertus provided by Fr. Mark Borkowski]
Our Lady of the Scapular Mass Schedule Changes
Our Lady of the Scapular’s longtime Third Saturday Tridentine Mass has been discontinued. There is offsetting good news, however:
Pastor Fr. Mark Borkowski is responsible for initiating many local liturgical traditions we now take for granted at various sites, including monthly Benediction after Mass on Sunday, All Souls Day Masses on Side Altars, and High Masses on First and Second Class weekday Feasts on which a Glória and Credo are specified. His intention is to begin scheduling Tridentine High Masses at Our Lady of the Scapular on some of those important weekday Feasts. Details will be published here when dates are set.
Pittsburgh Tridentine Community Elevated to Quasi-Parish Status
Congratulations to North America’s largest Extraordinary Form Community, at St. Boniface Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1989, this longstanding group, presently a part of Holy Wisdom Parish, which encompasses St. Boniface [pictured], will be known as the St. John XXIII Quasi-Parish beginning on January 1, 2015. The Pittsburgh Community enjoys attendance ranging from 600-1,000 people per Sunday. They recently added daily Mass to their schedule. Over 110 children are enrolled in their catechetical program. Their chaplain, Fr. James Dolan, has gone from part-time to full-time status. Bishop David Zubik is to be commended for recognizing the longevity and steady growth of this community with an elevated canonical status.
New Zealand Diocese Issues Guide for “Beautiful” Church Architecture
The diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand has issued “The House of God”, a guide for parishes that wish to build new churches. Four churches are currently at various planning stages in the diocese. Bishop Barry Jones wrote in the guide: “Generally, modernist styles have not served the liturgy well. In building a new church, parishes should seek architects capable of using traditional styles (e.g., Gothic — Darfield; Classical Revival — the cathedral) but not simply replicating a particular church.” Mike Stopforth, the Director of the Bishop’s Pastoral Office, remarked, “Some have made mention that they appreciate the fact [that] people want traditional churches, churches that look like churches.”
Bishop Jones and his staff deserve our thanks and prayers for recognizing the benefits of aligning architecture with liturgy according to time-honored standards.
Tridentine Masses This Coming Week
- Mon. 11/10 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Joseph (St. Andrew Avellino, Confessor)
- Tue. 11/11 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Benedict/Holy Name of Mary (St. Martin of Tours, Bishop & Confessor)
- Sun. 11/16 12:00 Noon: High Mass at St. Albertus (Twenty Third Sunday After Pentecost) – Final Tridentine Mass at St. Albertus for 2014
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