Few EF Masses

[TMGallyon85]

In my diocese, We have one EF “community” that meets in Harrisburg. They pay rent to the Cathedral for their chapel and they function like a minor parish. One may reigter with the territorial parish or the Latin mass community. Only trouble is, unless you live near harrisburgs suburbs, You wind up like me and have to drive 40 miles and then back again. During a town hall meeting, a man and his wife asked about the EF and mentioned summorum pontifcum. The pastor acted like he never heard of it, then the deacon spoke up rather annoyed and said “If you want to go to a latin mass, drive to Harrisburg.” Then we the couple asked isnt that a bit far, why cant we have one here? He responded by arguing it isnt far. Then the pastor laughed and asked the missionary serving at our parish if he knew how to saw the EF. Does having one current community celebrating the EF sort of limit how many can regulary attend it? Would you be able to drive every sunday 40 miles, or twice a week or 3 times for parish functions. Personally I thought it was rather rude how the couple during the metting was treated. I guess if you wont hold an EF, you argue that the only one available isnt far when technically it is. What are your thoughts, I still have never registered with the local parish or EF community, so i am still confused.

 

[BritishCatholic]

Well, first of all, you’re not the worst off. Several dioceses don’t even have Mass in the EF, and some places like in Hawaii, only have one of them. One in the entire State. Yeah, meaning, on one island. The Diocese of Honolulu encompasses seven islands. Meaning, the vast majority of the traditional Catholics on six of those seven islands cannot go to a Tridentine Mass without buying a plane ticket and flying over to the island of Oahu.

Second, since you said that you already in some form or fashion spoke with the pastor, then ask the bishop. Write him a nice friendly letter requesting the EF Mass in your area. Trust me, although His Excellency might not write you back personally, I can almost guarantee that some person from the Diocesan office will give you a reply. The Holy Father is extremely ardent to make sure that “Tridentine aspirants” are treated with respect."

 

[markadm]

I second the recommendation. Write, ask for it. Make them have to stick to the rules.

 

[AJV]

P.S. In regards to that deacon you mentioned, don’t pay him any heed. Personally, I think permanent deacons are useless and are men who didn’t have the balls to become priests.

While I do disagree quite stringently with the opinions of the OP’s deacon, I take exception at your remark. The diaconate is a major order and apostolic, and an altogether different vocation from the priesthood. The Lord calls each one differently according to His plan and unless we are privy that that calling, I do not think it is up to us to decide whether they were in fact, called to be priests.

 

[AJV]

While I do disagree quite stringently with the opinions of the OP’s deacon, I take exception at your remark. The diaconate is a major order and apostolic, and an altogether different vocation from the priesthood. The Lord calls each one differently according to His plan and unless we are privy that that calling, I do not think it is up to us to decide whether they were in fact, called to be priests.

I should add that permanent deacons have also been saints- like St. Francis of Assisi.

 

[Cathryn]

In my diocese, We have one EF “community” that meets in Harrisburg. They pay rent to the Cathedral for their chapel and they function like a minor parish. One may reigter with the territorial parish or the Latin mass community. Only trouble is, unless you live near harrisburgs suburbs, You wind up like me and have to drive 40 miles and then back again. During a town hall meeting, a man and his wife asked about the EF and mentioned summorum pontifcum. The pastor acted like he never heard of it, then the deacon spoke up rather annoyed and said “If you want to go to a latin mass, drive to Harrisburg.” Then we the couple asked isnt that a bit far, why cant we have one here? He responded by arguing it isnt far. Then the pastor laughed and asked the missionary serving at our parish if he knew how to saw the EF. Does having one current community celebrating the EF sort of limit how many can regulary attend it? Would you be able to drive every sunday 40 miles, or twice a week or 3 times for parish functions. Personally I thought it was rather rude how the couple during the metting was treated. I guess if you wont hold an EF, you argue that the only one available isnt far when technically it is. What are your thoughts, I still have never registered with the local parish or EF community, so i am still confused.

I would give most, maybe 75% of my monetary offering to the EF that is 40 miles away. I would just mail it in with a note that it is for support of the EF Mass, but it is too far to come on a regular basis. Either that or I would register there as a member, give 100% of my monetary offering and go when it is possible maybe 1X a month.

Personally I give 50-50 to two parishes one EF and one NO (two different diocese) because I go to both. The total amount you give does not have to change.

 

[puzzleannie]

P.S. In regards to that deacon you mentioned, don’t pay him any heed. Personally, I think permanent deacons are useless and are men who didn’t have the balls to become priests.

and you base this opinion on the offhand comment of one deacon, relayed to you by hearsay? how intelligent.

there is nothing in the MP that requires a pastor to offer the EF.