The Tridentine Mass Returns to St. Mary's by the Sea

The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, also known as the Tridentine Mass, will be regularly celebrated at 12:00 PM on Sundays, beginning on the 1st Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2007.

For details, click the links below:

Bishop Tod David Brown's letter to St. Mary's by the Sea clergy & parishioners dated November 9, 2007

St. Mary's by the Sea parish bulletin for November 25, 2007

Here's an e-mail from a reader:

There seems to be a little face-saving going on in the good bishop's letter. According to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, the Tridentine Mass was never outlawed, so Father Johnson and his successors never really needed the bishop's permission to celebrate it. We are nonetheless grateful that the bishop has given not so much his permission but his buy-in to what the pope has already clarified and permitted. Bishop Brown is doing this late, having thrown a tantrum that temporarily put a stop to plans to implement the pope's orders immediately at the time that the Motu Proprio went into effect. This was clearly contrary to the wishes of Pope Benedict, and spokesmen for the pope have since made clear that the pope demands an end to the foot-dragging by bishops and priests around the world. So our bishop, who has no doubt been preoccupied with the Monsignor Urell scandal and his own legal problems, finds himself in the awkward and embarrassing position of scurrying to get to the front of the parade.

Perhaps to save face and divert attention, Bishop Brown seems to be scolding the parish for "divisiveness and intolerance." I was at St. Mary's before and during the whole kneeling controversy and other events that brought international attention to the little Huntington Beach parish -- and ridicule to our bishop and diocese. The only divisiveness and intolerance that I saw was on the part of the bishop and his henchmen toward traditional piety. This caused a wholesale exodus form the parish and the accompanying sharp reduction in collection-plate donations. So with regard to divisiveness and intolerance, I would respectfully suggest that the bishop sweep first the dirt on his own doorstep.

Imagine the peace and unity the parish would be enjoying if, after the retirement of the saintly Father Johnson, the parish had been allowed to continue without the bungling, unholy interference from Marywood. It was really interference for the sake of interference, rooted in the sin of pride. I hope that this letter is a sign that the bishop has decided to put aside his pride, lay down his cudgel and truly allow the restoration of the sacred at St. Mary's. What a wonderful blessing as we prepare the way for the Christmas season of peace on Earth, and good will to all men. As always, I pray for our bishop and priests.

I couldn't have said it better.

Any thoughts?

Comments

[Joseph-USA]

Your comments are generous.

[anon]

would love to go!

does the parish provide missals for newbies to follow along?

are veils required or optional?

thx

[CatholicCrusader]

Interesting that in the second paragraph of his letter, the bishop refers to Father Martin Tran as "the Administrator." We were told that he had named Father Tran pastor, but then he revoked that designation when Father Tran was sent to Hanoi. I thought the title of pastor had now been restored. Father Tran is shown as pastor on the cover of the bulletin, and he writes a "pastor's corner" column. Should we try to read anything into this, or just ascribe it to the odd, mercurial nature of this bishop?

[Maureen]

The pastor admonished his people that announcements are part of Mass.

*snicker* How long are the announcements in this parish, anyway? Are we talking the kind where you might as well sit down again, or the kind where there's a mini-sermon? 'Cause you know, even my dad who loves hour-long sermons doesn't want to stick around through that kinda stuff. As a continual practice, it's a great way to drive people away permanently, too.

[Donald]

The attached letter ( included in Sunday's bulletin) still screams of the bishop's ulterior motives...that, to close St. Mary's. And, as articulated by Thomistic's reader, leaving well enough alone at St. Mary's upon Fr. Johnson's retirement would mean a thriving, pious congregation...however, a liberal agenda crept in that made the flock scatter. All anyone needs to fully understand is exemplified in the attendance at Fr. Johnson's Tridentine Funeral Mass that was a veritable fire hazard it was so overwhelming received and attended. In attendance was the bishop himself. Fr. Tran STILL has an uphill climb with this bishop. Pray for them both!

[Melody]

Our Bishop is something of a politician --he must have realized the possibility of trouble from Rome. This letter makes him sound like the benevolent shepherd "allowing" the TLM.
However, the local Norbertines can handle the TLM in Fr. Tran's absence.

[Atlanta Catholic]

I guess if the parishioners at St. Mary's by the Sea, would have wanted a Barney and the red wigged devil, distributing Holy Communion type of Tridentine Mass, it would have continued after Father Johnson's retirement. Now the Bishop threatens the parish with a declining parish numbers report while the population in the neighborhood increases. Bishop Brown tells the parish to renew their efforts to reach out to them or else? Never mind that Bishop Brown singlehandedly caused the sheep to scatter and many to leave the Catholic Church completely out of disgust. Bishop Brown seems to experience a memory loss regarding those numbers. Yet his brain is sharp enough to wisk another priest who knows the complete details of sex abuse cover-ups out of the country in a moments notice.

The parishioners of St. Mary's by the Sea are just not "diverse" enough for the likes of Bishop Tod Brown. They need to follow the example of the local and very diverse Father Barney the Dinosaur who has reached out to the wealthy expanding community nearby. These unsuspecting sheep have been fed dinosaur dribble that has them dazed and confused. The sheep can't be blamed. Having no rules appeals to that fun side of God that Father Barney preaches about. You don't have to follow anything but a fun God that loves us to laugh. No wonder their numbers are soaring! Their motto is "If we just feed the poor, all of the other rules, go out the door"! This seems to be Bishop Tod Brown's Social Justice Scam on souls. As long as those parishioners are Mastercarding their tithing to the Diocese... who cares about sin! Bishop Tod Brown's motto is "Journey with me" till you reach bankruptcy...Spiritually and Financially!

A parish that actually cares about the authentic Teachings of the Church, including all of the not so fun rules
and that darn Tridentine Mass that inspires some of you....who is going to want to join you? These are the hopes of Bishop Tod Brown in his letter to St. Mary's by the Sea. I don't think Satan could have come up with a more clever plan.

[Nancy]

Well I'm a parishoner there and I wasn't able to go this week, but I'm glad they got something settled! It's taken forever to do this and frankly I don't care to much about the Latin Mass. And to answer some of your questions, they have a missal for everyone, you don't have to wear a veil if you want too, they have some; it was in the bulletin and was not an announcement!

[Joe]

It's about time something was done.

[Convenor]

It would be very kind if you would link to/blogroll/follow our blog:

www.catholicheritage.blogspot.com

God bless you!

St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association (Ireland)