Fr. Z: Oblates Of The Virgin Mary Superiors Come Out Against Pope Benedict XVI & Summorum Pontificum

St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church

12001 East 214 Street Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716

Voice: 1 (562) 924-7591 Fax: 1 (562) 402-9411

St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California has rescinded their support for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, in what can reasonably seen as defiance of Summorum Pontificum.

Here's the story: OMV and SJ superiors line up against Pope Benedict and Summorum Pontificum.

Quote:

At Saint Peter Chanel in Hawaiian Gardens, CA, USA, there was a older form low Mass for a few months. One day as Mass was ending the pastor announced that the head of his order had told OMV priests to stop saying the older form of Mass because providing the TLM was an "apostolate" that the OMV does not embrace. He also said that the 170 person average Sunday attendance was insufficient to justify the Mass there. Some parishioners expressed their dismay, but the pastor was adamant.

I wrote about this back on 13 February.

Some parishioners began writing to the superiors of the OMVs.

Here is an example of a response:

Dear Ms. _, I want to thank you for your email and the concerns you shared regarding the Tridentine Mass at St. Peter Chanel. I can understand how the news you have heard regarding the celebration of the extraordinary form is difficult. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify what has happened and to reaffirm our uncompromised fidelity to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church.

The decision to no longer offer the extraordinary form was made by our Major Superior in Rome in consultation with his Council. He arrived at this decision after careful study of the Motu Proprio in light of our charism and the needs for the people we serve. Each Religious Community and Institute of Consecrated Life, under the direction of its Major Superior has the freedom to determine which apostolic works they wish to undertake according to their charism and spirit. This freedom is described in Article 3 of the "Motu Proprio" and is given to the Major Superior by the Holy Father.

The decision of our Major Superior for our religious community does not mean we not recognize the beauty and the validity of this extraordinary form permitted by our Holy Father, or the real need it provides for some of the Catholic faithful. It means simply this is not an apostolic work that our Major Superior wants us to undertake as a Congregation.

As stated in Article 7, the bishop has the responsibility to provide this form to the Catholic Faithful in his diocese to meet their spiritual needs. We have encouraged those who feel called to worship in the extraordinary form to pursue the options available by the diocese. For example, this extraordinary form continues to be offered in the diocese, and we have encouraged the faithful to attend this Mass if they are feel called to this particular form of worship.

We are grateful to God for the opportunity to offer the beauty of the liturgy to thousands each week. Like the extraordinary form, these liturgies are reverent, prayerful and spiritually nourishing. There have been and continue to be great miracles that take place at St. Peter Chanel parish. Whether it is the approximate 800 people who attend the four daily Masses, the 8,000 people who attend the 12 Sunday Masses or the many hours of confessions on a daily basis, God is working in and through Oblate priests and the parishioners in a powerful way. Our commitment to this spiritual work of mercy, along with the many good works at St. Peter Chanel we pray will only continue.

I thank you again for taking the time to write me. I hope I have helped to clarify your concerns.

With my prayers and warmest regards in Christ,

Fr. Bill Brown, OMV
Provincial
Oblates of the Virgin Mary

Fr. Z correctly concludes:

In a nutshell, must we conclude that the OMV’s have determined that they are somehow separate from the rest of the Church in regard to use of the fullness of the Roman Rite? That’s is what it looks like. They don’t have the "charism", a slippery term, to provide for the spiritual needs of people through the TLM. They have an apostolate that excludes such people.

Okay. That’s their choice. Too bad.

Apparently the parishioners are still writing and working to resolve this situation and the Provincial has been communicating with the Rector Major, Fr Patrice Veraquin, OMV.

I'm at a loss. What could these priests and superiors be thinking? The Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite is not only a treasure of the Church, it is also a right of the faithful. If the Oblates are claiming their charism is not to serve all Catholic parishioners in their parishes, then it would follow that they are essentially claiming that serving in parishes isn't their charism.

Any thoughts?

Comments

[Imprimartin]

People,
I know this parish. This is not a liberal parish. Anytime they open the tabernacle, every staff member is on their knees whether during mass or not. The priests still walk around in cassocks. This may not be what it seems.

Martin

[Gary]

Let me get this straight. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is no longer part of the "charism" of this order?

They might as well close up shop if that's the case.

[anne]

Any chance the Cardinal (Mahony) has had a few words with the Major Superior?

[Mona Alona]

Here's a possibility: St. Peter Chanel is just a few short blocks from the Orange County border line. There are two parishes in the OC diocese that have recently added the TLM, St. Thomas More in Irvine and St. John the Baptist in Costa Mesa. St. Mary's in Huntington Beach which also has the TLM is about seventeen miles away from St. Peter Chanel. It's possible that either the bishop of LA and/or Orange don't want Tradionalists congregating at SPC which in my opinion has the most solidly orthodox priests in Orange County or Los Angeles. It's possible that the bishops want to keep traditionalists few and far between so they are less likely to stir up (what the bishops perceive as) any trouble or make any demands. I don't know if there are any parishes in the LA diocese that have the TLM which are closer for SPC parishioners than St. Mary's or St. John the Baptist.

[Michael Teissere]

Dearest, Martin This is exactly what happened. I was there when Fr. Larry Darnell made the announcement that Sunday. Yes, St. Peter Chanel is one of the most "orthodox" parishes around. That still doesn't make The head superior or leadership of The Oblates immune from being disobedient to the Holy Father. The head superior, Fr.Patrice Veraquin is the one responsible for this. We had three priests out of the six that were offering the Extraordinary Form of The Holy Mass. It was well attended for being in the old church, at 1pm in the afternoon on Sundays. The most attended # was at 300 people. The Sunday it was announce it was being canceled I knew of at least 50 people who would of been there but were either sick or out of town. That would of put us over the 200 range. We have a letter going out to the the local ordinary Bishop Salazar this week and to Ecclesia Dei Commission. If anyone would like to contact The Oblates of The Blessed Virgin Mary's Provincial in Boston, here is the email Fr. Willam Brown at wbrownomv@aol.com
and The Rector Major Fr. Patrice Veraquin at omvrm@omv.org
If you like to send a regular letter I will post their addresses in my next post. Please keep all of your email or responses you receive from them.

[Michael Teissere]

Fr.Patrice P. Veraqui, Rector Major
SIEGE DE LA DELEGATION
CHAPELLE ET OEUURES DE SAIN TE RITA
1 RUE DE LA POISSONNERIE
06359 NICE CEPEX 4- FRANCE

or

Fr. Patrice P. Veraquin, Rector Major
Curia Generalis
Viale Trenta Aprile 17
00153 Roma, Italia

[UDFlyingCatholic]

I just simply don't buy the argument that there isn't enough interest of attendence to hold a mass of the Extraordinary form. Is it costing the parish too much? All I can think off is the cost of hosts, which I found was $11.00 for 1000, and a small amount of wine for the priest. I mean isn't Mass the life of the priest. I doubt he's charging them to say TLM.

What is a sufficient number? 170 sounds good enough to me. I need graphs and charts!

What a stupid reason.

[Bill Meyer]

It's all very interesting. Here in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, it seems that only one parish is home to the TLM. I spoke with my own pastor about it, and about my impression that the parish in question appears to be a quarantine zone. He said "it is exactly a quarantine zone." Also, I watched the web site of the Archdiocese following the publication of the Motu Proprio last summer, and there was no mention made on the site. So I would submit that here there is a passive disobedience in progress. To be fair, I have no knowledge of whether any parishes have begun to offer TLM since then.

[mj anderson]

Seems to me that Bill Meyer is correct--there is a quiet entrenched disobedience over the Motu Proprio. All over the country people report similar tactics. Some think that all they have to do is hold out a few years because (in their view) Pope Benedict XVI is elderly and thus not likely to be Pope very long--in short, the tacit idea is to wait it out in hopes that his successor will ignore the TLM.

[Mike]

I agree with Martin. If you have not been a parishioner, listened to their homilies, worked with them at the parish level, or had your confession heard by these OMV priests, please don't dismiss them as being disobedient. Rather, pray for them that they may decide on the apostolate they have discerned,serves the Church the best. These priests are holy and serious about saving souls. This is at the core of everything they set out to do everyday.

[Susan Teissere]

Mike, my husband is not calling the priests at SPC disobedient. So don't insinuate that he did. What he is saying is that, the Rector Major Fr. Patrice Veraquin and his leadership counsel are being disobedient to the Holy Father's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. We all know the priests at SPC are Holy Men of God and want to save souls. Mike, if you have not followed the events at SPC, perhaps you should keep your opinions of their discernment process in what serves the Church best, to yourself. The Holy Father clearly has stated what serves the Church best and all Cardinals, Bishops, priests that includes Religious superiors, religious priests and nuns, and the laity need to listen and follow with a open and loving heart, because by doing so is following The Will of God.
There is a group of us parishioners, at SPC that are taking this situation to the local ordinary and to Ecclesia Dei Commision all done within our rights under Summorum Pontificum through charity and with always praying for all of our priests. I'm saying this to you Mike, in all charity so don't take it the wrong way. Evil things continue to happen. Yes I'm calling this decision by the Oblates superior, evil. Many good "orthodox" Catholics are scared or just don't want to have their comfort zone disturbed. They like their status in their parishes or associations so they keep silent and not charitably challenge those who are causing evil things upon the Church. They even go so far as call those who do speak up charitably, as being uncharitable, mean spirited or holier than Pope. What it comes down to is that, either we truely believe in the authority of The Pope on Faith and Morals or we don't. If we don't we better look for different religion.

[Susan Teissere]

Anne, The Los Angeles Archdiocese has nothing to do with the cancellation of the Extraordinary Form of The Holy mass at St.Peter Chanel. That was told to us by Fr.Larry Darnell in his announcement after the Mass. However Cardinal Mahony is under the "impression" that the Mass was cancelled at St.Peter Chanel because of "low" 170 plus attendance! That too was said not to be the case by Fr.Larry when he made the announcement, but he, Fr.Larry, did go on to mention to us it was poorly attended compared to the other masses at St. Peter Chanel, but he said it wasn't the reason for the Rector Major of The Oblates of The Blessed Virgin Mary Fr.Patrice Veraquin's decision in forbidding the Oblates for offering it publically at the parish. Personally I and others don't understand why Fr.Larry had to mention this "so called" "low attendance" if it wasn't the "reason" for its cancellation. I know Fr. Larry was just being obedient to his superior, when making the announcement.
The so called "low attendance" and not a "charism" or "apostolate" reasons, I don't read any of these things in The Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. The whole situation is just mind boggling! We need to pray really hard for all priests.

[Gary]

I think the "low attendance" thing is a red herring, since the Mass was held in the old church, which is much smaller than the new church building. I attended this Mass several times, and found it mostly full. Latecomers had to sit on the benches in the back.

The real issue here, in my opinion, is that the superior in Rome apparently doesn't like the Traditional Mass, and wants it stamped out in his congregation. It's as simple as that.

[Atlanta Catholic]

Gary,

How incredibly sad this is. Many parishioners rallied with great enthusiasm to have the TLM at St. Peter Chanel. Priests studied to learn the Mass. People donated hard earned money to purchase the vestments. Altar servers learned how to serve. A choir was learning how to sing.

Most important was Summorum Pontificum. All of this means nothing to disobedient Superiors who have a pre-conceived dislike toward the TLM. Their disobedience and selfishness has hurt many Catholics.

"Low attendance" excuses, when there was a decent enough attendance and desire for this Mass, are exposing that there is something very wrong. Rome has spoken and the Superior of the Oblates is ignoring the direction of the Pope. If there was a Oblate Superior report card for following and obeying the Summorum Pontificum instructions and directions from the Pope, the Grade would be an F for "low attendance"!

[Bill Meyer]

Atlanta Catholic,

How right you are, in all that you said. Having grown up with the TLM, I miss it, and whenever I am visiting my uncle in Farragut, TN, I attend with him. His small parish has a Latin Mass every Sunday afternoon.

On the other hand, here in the Atlanta Archdiocese, I would have to drive to Mableton, 35 miles from my home in Alpharetta, to the only church in the diocese, so far as I can determine, where the TLM is celebrated, St. Francis de Sales.

I read Pope Benedict's Motu Proprio of last July 7 with great interest. He described my feelings, exactly: a deep emotional connection with the TLM. I can't imagine why there is so much resistance.

[Eugene Michael]

I was there, too. A couple unmentioned points.

At least 2 of the priests at SPC were excited about offering the TLM; they were not disobedient. This is not a liberal parish, and it is more liturgically sound than average, but it is not particularly inspiring liturgically, either, with the exception of the TLM.

Our attendance was better than most daily Masses; will they cancel those next? We were kneeling on a hard concrete slab floor with terrible acoustics in the old church; not particularly conducive unless you're totally dedicated; 170 was good attendance.

Pastor said the LA Archdiocese had nothing to do with this decision; however, SPC is an archdiocesan parish, so they must provide our "stable group" with a TLM, whether the OMV celebrate it or not.

We have never seen the supposed letter from Patrice in Rome announcing the ban on TLM for OMV, or the reasons therefore. I expect it to change, or the leadership to.

I went to St. Mary's by the Sea (HB, OC) a couple weeks ago, and they didn't even have 100 in attendance. It was a great TLM, though. We don't intend to leave to make it easy for the OMV or the Archdiocese. We have papally-sanctioned rights, and we intend to receive them.

Pax vobiscum...

[Tom]

Unfortunately, how the mass is celebrated becomes divisive when rulings come from the top down without explanation. It leaves the faithful to guess at reasons and many of those guesses assume the worst.

It would be a simple matter for every bishop to instruct every pastor to take a poll of the parish to find out exactly what the demand is for the TLM. And then to meet that demand to the degree required by the faithful. Even those who might not attend that form of liturgy may feel strongly that in charity it should be available to those who are spiritually nourished by it.

[Joseph-USA]

Let's ban potatoes for forty years and then offer them again in a couple grocery stores in each major city for say six months. Then let's take a vote to see whether potatoes should be offered in every grocery store worldwide, displacing various varieties of rice from the shelves (for the rest of time), or not.

Tom, I suppose that sound's "fair" and wise to you.

Oh, and P.S. The Roman Catholic Church is an entirely "TOP DOWN" organization, which is why it has been so incomprehensible for the Vatican II and post Vatican II popes to absolutely betray the Faithful for four decades.

[Connie Chang]

Oh how mortified I was when I read over on this other blog what they said about Catholics.

She is completely wrong in her words, and it hurt my feelings. :(
http://www.dhadm.com/content/catholic-church-spent-615-million-on-sexual-abuse-cases-in-2007/

[ruastatist2]

I do believe your focus on this issue has become obsessive to the point where it's blinding and destructive. Rather than project local issues onto other parishes and criticize you should probably pray that all will be settled as God wants without too much pain and suffering.

The Mass is Mass in whatever language or form, granted some forms are inherently more reverant than others and parishes the same.

May God Bless You

[Atlanta Catholic]

rusastatist2,

Do you feel that the focus on exposing the scandals was blinding and destructive?
It is better for scandals to arise than the truth be suppressed.

These disobedient Superiors are the same type of people who coddled, protected and promoted much more pain and suffering than you could imagine. This is another form of abuse. This is a spiritual attack on the faithful from within.

Tell Father Patrice Veraquin that the Mass is the Mass. He is the one who needs correction. He is the one who claims the distancing, due to charisms.

Don't you feel that you are projecting your own opinion? Maybe God wants this exposed to show the real difference between obedience and disobedience.

Many lives and souls have been destroyed because of silence. People who ask others to be silent would be screaming the loudest if they were being crushed. People are praying! They are praying for courageous Superiors to follow the Holy Father's instructions.

No one is projecting local issues on other parishes. The Oblate Superiors projected their disobedience, using slippery terms as an excuse not to obey. Ignoring and not challenging disobedience in small matters will only lead to greater disobedience that fosters greater scandals. The Superior of the Oblates is responsible for all of this pain and suffering.

[ruastatist2]

ATL Catholic, whoa! The initial article states that the Oblates are going against the Pope, that is misleading at best. To answer your questions and all the implications associated with the rather aggressive-passive/agressive tone:

Exposition of real scandal is necessary. Unfortunately, given the times and mores of the older congregation, it was almost inevitable for the evil to prevail and the perpetrators played on this. Not excusing the evil doers, but like government, we usually get the kind of priests we collectively deserve. The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of rotten bishops was stated by St. John Chrysostom.

The Oblates position, however, is not scandalous IMO. Many parishes have opted not to use extraordinary forms of the mass or ministers and are within their rights to do so. In the Detroit Archdiocese there are two parishes offering TLM and they get a good turnout. People come from 50 miles (my family included) to participate and it's truly beautiful to have a full, reverant house. And the congregation is close to 50/50 old fogies that remember the TLM and the rest of us NO crowd.
Obviously I'm stating opinion. My point is that sometimes people get too close to an issue and that it colors all subsequent judgements. From reading here, I'd say there are some problems out in CA that are truly scandalous. This just didn't strike me as such.My understanding of the Holy Father's instructions doesn't lead me to conclude that the OMV is disobedient. Now, if the superiors are truly being manipulative within the letter but not the spirit, that would change things. I couldn't judge without firsthand knowledge or substantially more research.

I hope and pray all turns out as God wants it.

[Joseph-USA]

ruastatist2 -

You certainly don't have to reach half way across the country from Detroit to find Catholic scandals.

The University of Detroit-Mercy College Jesuit schools "forever" have chosen to sponsor and welcome the "Vagina Monologues" horrible scandalous Homosexual advocacy "theater" for its students from Catholic tuition paying families to endure.

This is purely evil and it is done by Catholic priests (in charge of the colleges) who are singularly responsible for education of youth, whose young minds and immature personalities have been entrusted to the Church by their famiilies.

I've paid decades of "Catholic" school-colleges-graduate schools tuition, naively trusting our clergy (I was too busy working paying for all of this to ever come up for air and to "check" on that which I absolutely trusted to be True and Catholic). I was defrauded, abysmally.

I will endeavor to always remain well out of arms length from any Catholic bishop, in case I'm just overcome with anger and punch his teeth out.

[Atlanta Catholic]

rusastatis 2,

Your opinion, the Oblate Superior's opinion, is not the instruction and directive of the Holy Father. St. Peter Chanel should offer the EF Mass. The parishioners wanted it and there was a sufficient number attending. Three priests learned how to say it.

Father Z is correct when he states that the Oblate Superiors are using slippery terms to not follow the instructions. Many priests are very disappointed in the Oblates decision to suddenly remove the EF Mass at St. Peter Chanel.

I guess you feel that parish work is not for the Oblates. I regret to inform you but the EF Mass is not about charisms. It is the Mass. The Holy Father has spoken and that is his directive. Your final statement is confusing. You said that you hope and pray that it all turns out as God wants it. Do you really mean that? Who is the Vicar of Christ on earth? Christ is speaking through the Holy Father. Isn't that what we have been taught or are opinions the new charism?

Old Fogies? How charitable. The day that everyone unites and obeys the Holy Father's directives, you won't have to drive 50 miles. Keep defending disobedience. That's why your having to drive 50 miles. We fought for the EF in California and the people who wanted it, were given it. So in that regard, I agree with your statement above.....you have the drive that you deserve.

Your old fogie and rest of us NO crowd statement is wishy washy. Why are you even turning this into a category? Why did you feel it was necessary to let everyone know that you are not with the Old Fogies? Your with the with-it NO crowd who occasionally wants a really reverent Mass, whats the big deal? Something is fishy. What does that have to do with disobeying the Holy Father's directives? What is your connection to the Oblates? Shouldn't you be encouraging them to obey instead of chucking out opinions? United we are allowed the EF. Divided we deserve to have a 50 mile drive. Obey the Holy Father!

Each parish that wants this Mass should be having this Mass. The St.Peter Chanel parishioners wanted it. A disobedient Superior chose his charism over directives from the Pope and removed it. Everyone is watching to see if the Pastor of St. Peter Chanel will allow a priest outside his religious order, to serve the people of Christ at St Peter Chanel. At least that would give the "appearance" of the charism of charity.

[Atlantic Catholic]

god bless you