I hope as many of you who can will attend this Requiem Mass for Msgr. Barreiro. For many years he was a leader in the pro-life apostolate and in the cause of the Traditional Mass. A reception will follow the service at which Prof. John Rao will speak about the life of Msgr. Barreiro and the events of Catholic Traditionalist history in which he participated. Prof. Rao is eminently qualified for this task – he knew Msgr. Barreiro well and is currently working on a history of the development of Catholic Traditionalism.

This Society had the opportunity to work with Msgr. Bevins in the revival of the Traditional Mass at Immaculate Conception parish after Summorum Pontificum. The photograph above shows the first celebration of the Traditional Mass at that church in some forty years. (November 18, 2007 – Msgr. Bevins is at left in choir). On October 26, 2008, we assisted at a Missa Cantata celebrated by Msgr. Bevins himself.

Since those days there have been many twists and turns for the Traditional Mass in Waterbury. But since 2019 the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest has administered the parish of St. Patrick in that city. But this was possible because of the foundations laid years before by many others – and especially by Msgr. John Bevins. R.I.P.

Please note the time changes for the Sunday Traditional Mass at Immaculate High School Chapel in Danbury, CT.

Missa Cantata

Sunday, October 19th

Immaculate High School Chapel

EARLY START (12:00PM) & NO CONVIVIUM—Sunday, October 19th — 12:00 PM — 19 Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, October 26 — 12:30 PM — Feast of Christ the King LAST SUNDAY BEFORE PERMANENT TIME CHANGE

Sunday, November 2 — NEW TIME: 2:30 PM —21st Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, November 9 — 2:30 PM — The Dedication of Lateran Basilica

Sunday, November 16 — 2:30 PM — 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, November 23 — 2:30 PM — Last Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, November 30 — 2:30PM — First Sunday of Advent

On Monday, Nov. 3 at 7:00pm, there will be a Solemn Mass for the Feast of All Souls at St. Mary’s, Norwalk. St. Mary’s Schola Cantorum will be joined by the St. Mary’s Youth Schola to perform several movements of the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré.

n.b. All Souls’ Day has been deferred to Monday, Nov. 3. In the old calendar, All Souls cannot supersede a Sunday.

We received this announcement from Fr. Figueroa about traditional Masses scheduled at Annunciation Church in Crestwood, New York:

Aside from our very beautiful and extraordinary Masses celebrated each Sunday at 2pm, please mark your calendars for the following dates:

*Solemn Mass on Sunday, October 26th at 2pm-The Feast of Christ the King 

-Convivium to follow in the Rectory Room (awaiting final confirmation)

*Sung Mass on Saturday, November 1st, at 2pm -All Saints Day (as per the USCCB, this Feast will not be observed as a Holy Day of Obligation this year).

*Solemn Requiem Mass, Monday November 17th at 7pm – Offered for the Deceased Priests & Religious of the Archdiocese of NY

Please sign this open letter to Cardinal Dolan urging him to save Most Holy Redeemer Church.

Go to this link: https://c.org/tWwgFgd2PS

On Saturday, October 11,  the National Latin Mass Pilgrimage took place once more. Its path lies between the Cathedrals of Arlington, Virginia and Washington DC (two dioceses which introduced some of the most confrontational measures against the Traditional Latin Mass). The Arlington Latin Mass Society sponsored the pilgrimage. Some 50 pilgrims took part. Now certainly dire forecasts of a looming weather disaster – which proved false – diminished participation.   But I can’t ascribe the low turnout entirely to that. We also had noticed a declining numbers at our last visit to the pilgrimage. As in prior pilgrimages, the clergy were conspicuous by their abscence.

Numbers, however, are not everything. Among the pilgrims, spirits were high. This pilgrimage was, as in the past, well organized. And are there not prominent examples of pilgrimages that a smaller core group has preserved through the years that later flowered (in numbers) once again: the “Pilgrimage of the Restoration” in Auriesville, NY or even the “Pilgrimage of Christendom” in Chartres. 

At the beginning it seemed that threatened rain-and windstorms might materialize. Later, the skies cleared and it turned out to be a beautiful day. (Above) In front of the cathedral of the Arlington diocese – with a statue of St. Thomas More looking down.

(Above) Chanting and praying the rosary. Sometimes cars honked approval.

(Above) The Pilgrim Virgin – at the one rest stop for the pilgrims across from the Iwo Jima memorial.

(Above) Processing onward from the Lincoln Memorial. The area around that monument was dominated by a deafening “Jesus Movement” event.

(Above) On the steps of St. Matthew Cathedral. The pilgrimage concluded with the chanting of None and Vespers on the steps of the Cathedral (not within it!).

In addition to the regularly scheduled 12:10 Low Mass, there will be a Solemn Mass at 10 am for the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary on Tuesday, Oct 7 at St. Mary Church, Norwalk

(Above) Arrival of the Pilgrims at the Shrine.

The Pilgrimage for the Restoration on its 30^th Anniversary

Yesterday we had the joy to be  present at the 30th “Pilgrimage for the Restoration” at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York. It was a perfect day for this event. The contingents of pilgrims made their way to the shrine carrying their banners and often pushing their strollers; their order, discipline and demeanor were impressive. As far as I could see, the organization of the event seemed very thorough and competent. 

Over the years the details of this pilgrimage – the overall itinerary, the day of arrival and the program of the final day  – have frequently varied. This year, on reaching Auriesville on Sunday, the pilgrims first descended into the ravine  –  the most secluded and sacred spot of the shrine grounds. For this is where St. Isaac Jogues buried the bones of his martyred companion St. Rene Goupil. Next, they processed to the Coliseum, where a  Solemn Mass was celebrated,  accompanied by splendid music and in the presence of a bishop. Finally, after the conclusion of the Mass, relics of the saints revered in Auriesville were reverenced. 

If  numbers alone were the only criterion of success, this year’s  Pilgrimage for the Restoration was an outstanding achievement. One of the leaders estimated there were 700 to 800 pilgrims present; more may have joined for the concluding Mass. It is a dramatic improvement in participation compared to the situation around 2013. 

Now the Pilgrimage for the Restoration began in grandly successful style in the1990s. Numerous organizations participated, and a large congregation attended the concluding Mass in the Coliseum. Among other reasons for this impressive achievement was the uniqueness of this liturgy at that time in North America:  it was one of the few occasions at which a traditionalist could experience a Solemn (or Solemn High ) Mass. 

Already by 2008, however, attendance at the pilgrimage was decreasing. Was it the increasing availibility of more convenient traditional Masses? Or perhaps some foolishly thought “restoration” of the traditional liturgy had been achieved and no further work was needed? By 2013 the pilgrimage had dwindled to an affair of some 100-200 pilgrims. Then, the Jesuits in charge of the shrine started to exclude the pilgrims from the Coliseum. When, in 2015,  the Jesuits abandoned most of the Auriesville site it even seemed as if the shrine might permanently close. 

Perhaps recovery started precisely with the exit of the Society of Jesus from the shrine in 2015. For the new owners refurbished run-down grounds and buildings and were more welcoming to the Traditional Mass. The persecution of the traditionalists by Pope Francis starting in 2021 undoubtedly helped to reenergize the commitment of traditionalists to this pilgrimage.  Finally,  the emergence of competition in North America, notably the Three Hearts pilgrimage in Oklahoma,  may have also incentivized participants in this part of the country.

Let us recall that the Chartres pilgrimage,  the original model and inspiration for the Pilgrimage for the Restoration, also descended for a time into routine – perhaps even stagnation. But in the last several years the Pilgrimage of Christendom in France has enjoyed record attendance, in good weather and in bad. So much so that its success has become a major concern for the Vatican and the French hierarchy. But these impressive results could only have been achieved thanks to the persistence of the pilgrims through the leaner years.  The same is true in Upstate New York:  the persistence of the traditionalist pilgrims to Auriesville year after year – and the organizers – preserved the pilgrimage and laid the foundation for this year’s success.

(Above and below) The arrival of the pilgrims.

(Above) Prayer in the Ravine.

(Above and below) Processing from thr Ravine to the Coliseum.

The start of the Mass.

(Above) The choir was excellent.