Report on PE TLM on New Year's Day

A rather belated report on the Traditional Mass offered in PE recently -

On 1 January - in the old Calendar, the Octave Day of Christmas, or the Feast of the Circumcision - Port Elizabeth Catholics had the privilege of assisting at the first, fully public, Traditional Latin Mass offered in a diocesan parish, since the issue of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. This was probably the first such Mass publicly offered in a diocesan parish in 40 years.

Monsignor John Clark, of St Vincent's Parish, Algoa Park, Port Elizabeth, had been approached by Bishop Michael Coleman to "re-learn" this form of the Mass - he has courageously done so, and has, on a semi-private basis, offered the Mass for the last couple of months at his home parish.

Corpus Christi Parish of Humewood, Port Elizabeth, kindly extended an invitation for this "first" public Mass to be offered in its lovely church, a stone's throw from the PE beachfront on New Year's Day.

Over 100 people - the majority from Corpus Christi, but many from further afield - attended the 9am Low Mass, which was offered at the High Altar (still intact!) of the Church. Several in the congregation brought their old Missals, which may well not have seen the light of the day for 40 or more years. The congregation enthusiastically joined in the singing of traditional hymns - such as "I'll Sing a Hymn to Mary" at the end of the Mass, and appreciated the short, yet thought provoking sermon delivered by Monsignor after the Gospel.

The organisers are very pleased with the response and are hopefull that, in the near future, similar public Masses will take place. Monsignor Clark continues, every Friday at 5:30pm, to offer the Traditional Mass at St Vincent's Church, Dennehout Street, Algoa Park, and all are most welcome.

Details of additional Masses, at St Vincent's and elsewhere, will be posted.