Sung Mass for Candlemas in Port Elizabeth

On 2 February, the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (as the day is known in the traditional, 1962 calendar), or Candlemas, a Sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form was offered by Father Gregory Mitchell, CO, of the Port Elizabeth Oratory, at St Bernadette's Church in 8th Avenue, Walmer.

This was the first occasion that a Sung Mass, as opposed to a Low Mass, was offered in the traditional rite, in a diocesan parish in Port Elizabeth, since the issue in 2007 of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.

The Mass was offered at the parish's usual 5:30pm Mass time, and was attended by between 30 and 40 people, mainly parishioners of St Bernadette's, but also a few from further afield.

The ceremonial of the Candlemas blessing of candles and procession was followed completely (as completely as possible in the absence of deacon and subdeacon). The small schola consisting of two accomplished adult men, rendered Missa de Angelis, as well as all the Propers very professionally indeed. Members of the congregation also joined in the singing of the Ordinary and the responses.

Grateful thanks must be given to the Oratory Fathers, and in particular Fr Gregory, for this Mass, as well as the faithful server and schola, for a moving experience. We hope and pray that this will be only the first of many such sung, and eventually High, Masses, offered in the Extraordinary Form in Port Elizabeth, and that the people exposed to the traditional Mass for the first time, or the first time in many years, will be encouraged to attend these Masses regularly.

Another step forward for the implementation of Summorum Pontificum!

PE Mass schedule notice

Please note that Fr Gregory Mitchell will be out of town for several days and there will therefore not be Traditional Masses at St Bernadette's on Thursday 23 April, or Thursday 30 April, as would normally have been the case. The Thursday lunch hour Mass should resume the first week in May.

Progress in PE

Port Elizabeth has been blessed with a second Priest offering the Traditional Latin Mass, in Father Gregory Mitchell, CO, of the recently canonically established Port Elizabeth Oratory of St Phillip Neri, at St Bernadette's Church, Walmer.

Father Gregory, who was ordained in January, has offered private Traditional Masses on most Thursdays at 1:10pm, and occasional private Masses on Sunday. However, the Thursday Masses seem now to have become regular, and all are welcome!

It is hoped that other public Masses will be added, and that this will become a regular and stable feature of the life of this active and devoted parish. The Oratorians have been particularly supportive and sympathetic, and we hope the Traditional Mass will find a permanent home in their lovely Church, in addition to St Vincent's.

A regular Sunday Mass though does depend on response, as the Fathers are anxious to comply with the wishes of the bishop. The good response to unadvertised Masses, however, bodes well for this intention in the future.

Please say a prayer for this fine young Priest!

Sunday Mass scheduled for Port Elizabeth

Mgr John Clark will offer a Traditional Latin Mass at 11am on Sunday, 22 February 2009, at St Vincent's Catholic Church, Dennehout Street, Algoa Park, Port Elizabeth.

This will be the first occasion in Port Elizabeth on which the Traditional Mass is offered in a diocesan parish on a Sunday, since the issue of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. Mgr Clark continues to say the Traditional Mass every Friday at 5:30pm and all are most welcome.

We hope and pray that, if the attendance is good, further Sunday Masses may be scheduled, and (hopefully) a regular Sunday Mass instituted. The excellent response to the New Year's Day Mass at Corpus Christi gives us hope that this is quite possible. Deo volente!

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.

PE TLM - "Let Non Nobis and Te Deum be sung"

It is with great joy that I can share this e-mail from Nicholas Mitchell of Port Elizabeth.

"I am very happy to say that a Traditional Latin Mass, according to the 1962 Roman Missal, will be offered at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, La Roche Drive, Humewood, Port Elizabeth, on 9am on 1 January 2009. The Church is visible from the intersection of Beach Road and La Roche Drive and is situated opposite Garden Court Hotel (the old Hotel Elizabeth).

Monsignor John Clark, who has been privately offering the Traditional Mass on an occasional basis for a couple of months, has kindly agreed to offer this Mass, in response to the requests of local Catholics. Hopefully, this will be the first of many such Masses in Port Elizabeth.

This Mass will be the first such Mass offered publicly in a diocesan parish, in terms of the Papal motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, in Port Elizabeth. All are most welcome."

I know that Nicholas Michell and all of those who have helped to get the TL Mass going would say "Not to us but to God the Glory" but I want to say "Well done" to all of you.