2010 Latin Liturgy National Convention in Detroit-Windsor

Tridentine Community News (February 22, 2009):

2010 Latin Liturgy Association National Convention to be Jointly Hosted by St. Josaphat – Assumption-Windsor – St. Joseph – Sweetest Heart of Mary – St. Albertus Churches in Detroit & Windsor

After months of planning and meetings here and at Latin Liturgy Association headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, the host churches listed above and the Latin Liturgy Association are pleased to announce that Detroit and Windsor will host the next National Convention of the Latin Liturgy Association, Friday through Sunday, July 16-18, 2010.

The weekend of November 29, 2008, Latin Liturgy Association President James Pauer visited our area and the proposed host churches, and heard a presentation by the organizing parties. With our beautiful historic churches, accomplished music programs, and international angle, Detroit-Windsor won over the two other cities being considered.

Founded in 1975, the original charter of the LLA was to promote the celebration of the Ordinary Form of the Mass in Latin. After the Holy See’s publication of the 1984 indult Quáttuor Abhinc Annos, the LLA also began to promote the celebration of the Tridentine Form of Holy Mass.

In the pre-Internet, pre-Una Voce era, the LLA was essentially the only voice in North America promoting the Latin Mass in union with Rome. Its monthly newsletters were lengthy listings of news, press clippings, and Mass schedule updates. Before anyone else thought of the idea, the LLA assembled – and printed twice per annum – a directory of all U.S. and Canadian Latin Mass sites.

Nowadays, the Internet has usurped the LLA’s role as principal news distributor. Blogs like the New Liturgical Movement and Fr. Zuhlsdorf’s publish an incredible volume of news on a daily basis, reflecting the accelerating pace of developments in the traditional liturgical world. The Latin Mass Magazine and the Una Voce Newsletter publish articles of the kind that one used to see only in the LLA Newsletter, which now comes out only a few times per year. Several Tridentine Mass directories now exist; today, the LLA limits their directory only to list Ordinary Form Latin Masses, as no one else maintains such a listing. This directory is published on-line at www.latinliturgy.com. But no one in North America has yet successfully matched the LLA’s expertise in organizing conventions that showcase the very best in traditional liturgical speakers and Latin liturgical events.

Special thanks to Frs. Borkowski and Hrytsyk, the Windsor Tridentine Mass Association Board at Assumption Church, and the St. Josaphat Parish Council for pursuing this hosting effort. A high standard has been set by previous host cities and parishes; we must do the same or better.

Format of the Convention

Typically, the convention begins on a Friday morning, with a bus tour of historic churches. Detroit and Windsor have numerous architecturally significant churches that are ideal for such a tour. The bus tour visits churches that are not hosting any of the conference’s liturgical events, as people will visit those churches anyway. On Friday evening, the Rosary is recited in one of the host churches.

Saturday begins with a Novus Ordo Latin Mass. Talks by an international spectrum of speakers fill the rest of the day, with Vespers late in the afternoon and one more talk after dinner.

Sunday starts off with a talk, followed by a Solemn High Tridentine Mass – often a Pontifical Mass if it can be arranged. Lunch and more talks carry into the afternoon, and Benediction concludes the convention.

The liturgical events are spread across different churches. Historically, the LLA Convention has attracted 150-300 people, some from out of town, plus a significant local population. A vendor area in the hall where the talks are held lets a variety of businesses showcase books, vestments, and other pertinent items.

The Real Work Begins Soon

A broad range of volunteers will be needed. First and foremost, an advertising campaign targeted at our local area will need to be crafted. The bus tour will need to be arranged (churches contacted, buses hired, etc.). Volunteers at each church will need to be identified and scheduled to open up, conduct tours, and close up. Each host church will need people to set up and take down before and after the liturgies. Parish hall(s) that host the talks and meals will need greeters, cooks, kitchen helpers, and people to clean up afterwards. Music programs will need to be arranged, programs will need to be printed, liturgies planned, speakers invited, travel arranged, trips to and from the airport provided, and so on. It is not unreasonable to think that we will need at least 30 active volunteers to make everything happen.

This significant undertaking promises to bring positive attention not only to our parishes, but also to the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of London. The LLA Convention usually attracts national press coverage in the Catholic media. As this column has repeatedly stated, the number of Tridentine Mass sites in our region has blossomed since the publication of Summórum Pontíficum, thus it is entirely appropriate that our area host such a convention at this time in Church history. This is both a unique means of promoting the Latin Liturgy locally, as well as a rare opportunity to interact with the speakers and music experts who attend this prominent event.

[Comments? Ideas for a future column? 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 February 22, 2009. Hat tip to A.B.]