Fr. Terence Donilon, Diocesan spokesman:
"I wouldn't say this is the end of Latin Mass in Boston," said Terrence Donilon, a spokesman for the Boston Archdiocese. "It's not the end of something, but the opportunity to create something better."
...somewhere else.
and
By relocating Latin Mass parishioners to the Newton church -- where the Rev. Charles J. Higgins, a popular proponent of the Latin tradition and one of only a few priests in the area qualified to lead a Mass entirely in Latin, leads the services -- the archdiocese hopes to strengthen the Latin following. "Sometimes we get hung up on the buildings and we need to be focused on the sacraments and celebration of faith," said Donilon.
However that seems a bit disingenuous consider the Diocese won't allow advertising or promotion of the Latin Mass in Boston. And the Diocese has refused the offer of an approved order like the Fraternity or the Institute of Christ the King to purchase Holy Trinity.
It's too bad we couldn't avoid getting "hung up on buildings" back in the 70s and 80s when we spent millions to destroy the beautiful interiors of our Churches. To make them more relevant. A few Churches were spared, like Holy Trinity but their time as come.
and finally:
"We're trying to work through the issues one at a time. It's taking longer than we hoped, but we don't want to be heavy-handed," he said.
Heavy handed? The Archdiocese of Boston? Perish the notion.
And what will take Holy Trinity's place? Luxury Condominiums? Office Buildings? Perhaps a mosque?
It's hard to enjoy the Springtime of Vatican II when you look out the window and all you see is rain.
12 comments:
They always talk about the "issues" that they are working through - what issues.
The real question should not be "what are the issues" but "who" are the issues.
I am deeply saddened by this. My wife and I were considering a move to the Boston area before we came back to DC. We were even going to send our daughter to the school at the Benedict center (our children would have been friends!)
But financial circumstances intervened, and we wound up living in my parents basement until we got on our feet again. In the process, something told us not to try to go to Boston.
I'm getting the feeling now that this inclination was correct.
I'm really sorry that you're going through this. It's truly painful.
The St. Benedict Center is not in Boston and has their own Indult Chapel in Harvard, MA which is in the Diocese of Worcester.
Five of my children attend the school and it is excellent.
Mary,
Didn't the bishop of Worcester send the FSSP packing though?
It's also hard to see the "Springtime of the Church" when the window has streaks.
Geesh, Mary. Perhaps more amonia would be in order.
Ammonia?????
What would Deirdre Imus say?
Anyway, it's not my window but a picture I took off the internet.
Oh really.
Did you get it off of the USCCB website? Clicking on the "Future forecast for the American Church" section?
"It's hard to enjoy the Springtime of Vatican II when you look out the window and all you see is rain."
Love that comment! I always thought of the last forty years as wandering aimlessly in a dry, barren desert, but maybe we are really drowning in a sea of confusion.
Mary Immaculate of Lourdes is a very pretty church that has had some wreckovation - but retains much that will be pleasing to the Latin Mass folks. What is not widely known is that some years ago the parish sold some land from St Mary's Cemetery which it owns - and got several million dollars. It had that money at least up until two years ago. If the Archdiocese has not slurped it up, that money would go a long ways - and beyond - to renovate, repair and update the Church building. If it is gone - questions will be appropriate.
Don't despair. Perhaps the parishioners could organize a shuttle from Newton Highlands Green line station to the Church? Given the proximity and blandness of the Mass at Sacred Heart and St Ignatius - there may be hope to expand the Latin Mass - and offer a reverential NO Mass in Newton. Pax te cum
Apparently, the parish in Newton has no altar rail and the altar is fixed in the middle of the sanctuary.
I'm going to show up in Newton at the first opportunity I get.
Steve - I've never heard of any FSSP in Worcester and the Bishop has only been here for a few years.
I've 40-60 families started clamoring for a Tridentine Mass, I bet he'd create one somewhere.
I bet that if 40-60 families started clamoring for a Tridentine Mass, I bet he'd create one somewhere.
Assuming the Parish still has the money - installing an altar rail should be something that can be done. MIL needs some general renovation - taking out the fixed NO altar and installing a portable one, repainting - maybe repair the pipe organ - would be great for both the TLM and NO parishoners. Clearly there will be a purgatory period while this happens, but if the money is still there, it should not be a burden on either community.
Otherwise the High Altar is still there, the dome mural, the stained glass - the overall traditional style remains. It's a shame about Trinity - but there are possibly positives here, too.
The Archdiocese has been hamhanded - and what new about that?
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