Possible obstacles in getting a Tridentine Mass at my local parish

[pianistclare]

What hurts here are the legal fees as well. It’s gotten to the point the Church is losing money even when someone wills something to the Church. I have no idea as to the extent of business experience anyone had 50 years ago, but an enormous amount of money was spent on razing communion rails, high altars, confessionals, statues, etc. Cash flow took a heavy hit. Yes, and even translations into the several hundreds of vernaculars was costly, which the richer countries (U.S., Germany, and others) basically subsidized. Had they stayed with the Latin (or at least Jubilate Deo) a lot of money could have been saved. Parishes dish out a lot of money for those disposable missalettes which most people don’t even use. As to the study of Latin in the seminaries, I think much of it can be studied in high schools, or even in K-8 as I see one of the local parishes doing.

Wow. The confessionals are still in all of our churches. The railing was detached and is in the basement. One of my parishes just cut it in half and used it at the perimeter of the sanctuary. Still there. The high altar is still there. The tabernacle rests nicely on it.
We still love our statues. We just moved the chapel altar in.
My point is, it costs nearly nothing to move or take something away.
ACQUIRING these things and having them installed is what costs.
But the Diocese’ do pay enormous sums to lawyers. Every document checked, re-written, for liability. Every policy checked, re-worded, and proofed for liability. Every complaint tested in grand jury, depositions taken, etc.
If the people in the pew realized that much of the money sent to the Diocese went for legal fees? Those people that donated their TIME instead of money would come back and we could get the air conditioning fixed for free. :coffeeread: Maybe even fix that leaky roof.

 

[ProVobis]

ACQUIRING these things and having them installed is what costs.

Of course. But I’d like to invite you or anyone else to visit St. John Cantius, for example, to see what parishioners (and brothers) have donated in time and money to bring restoration to that church.

 

[OraLabora]

Are you sure they weren’t the first English translations?

Nope, they were the “Paroissien Romain”, which is the local version of the Liber Usualis. There were about 40 of them collecting dust. I’d have picked one up but I already have two plus Liber Usualis… They were all nicely lined up in numbered pigeon holes for long-gone choristers to use.

Won’t be too many English missals in that church, it’s a French parish

 

[sw85]

“Can’t be bothered” is putting the most negative spin possible on it.

Priests are busy in general and there is a limit on the number of Masses they can celebrate in a day. If he’s already maxed out on Sunday his choices are limited. And if he’s not particularly passionate about the EF, then his choice is easy to make.

It’s not some kind of negative judgment to say he “can’t be bothered.” I can’t be bothered to learn French, because I have too much else to do with my time and the costs would not be worth the very limited gains. That doesn’t mean I’m lazy or selfish or think learning French is a waste of time generally. That Fr. is already stretched thin and not terribly invested in the idea of learning/celebrating the TLM is not a judgment on him, either.

 

[JakeWI]

Of course. But I’d like to invite you or anyone else to visit St. John Cantius, for example, to see what parishioners (and brothers) have donated in time and money to bring restoration to that church.

I REALLY would love to see that Church and attend one of the Masses! I honestly didn’t know this existed. My wife and I usually end up in Chitown once a year at least, maybe twice (we are only an hour/hour and a half away… I just hate the traffic!). Thanks for making it known on here!