DETROIT (OSV News) — In a letter to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 13, Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger announced that four regional sites in the archdiocese will be provided for the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Mass beginning July 1.
The announcement is an update to an earlier communication this spring regarding the continued celebration of the extraordinary form — commonly known as the traditional Latin Mass — in the Archdiocese of Detroit in conformity with the limits and norms established by Pope Francis’ 2021 apostolic letter, “Traditionis Custodes.”
“Traditionis Custodes” allows bishops to grant certain limited permissions — such as for personal parishes and non-parish churches — for the continued celebration according to the 1962 Roman Missal, but reserves exclusively to the Holy See the ability to allow extraordinary form Masses in parish churches.
As the only personal parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit established to care for the faithful according to the 1962 Missal, St. Joseph Shrine, in Detroit’s Eastern Market, will continue to offer Mass and the sacraments in the extraordinary form under the care of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.
In his letter, Archbishop Weisenburger announced that in addition to St. Joseph Shrine — in the archdiocese’s central region — three other non-parish churches will be offered for the celebration of the extraordinary form Mass in each of the archdiocese’s other three pastoral regions.
The three other churches are St. Irene Church in Dundee, south region; Our Lady of Orchard Lake Chapel in Orchard Lake, northwest region; and St. Joseph Church in Port Huron, northeast region.
Permissions for the celebration of the extraordinary form Mass at all other sites in the Archdiocese of Detroit — which will expire July 1 — will not be renewed.
Since the promulgation of “Traditionis Custodes,” Archbishop Weisenburger noted that his predecessor, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, had “communicated to the priests that while an extension of permission for parish churches was allowed temporarily, plans should be developed for these communities to come into union with the new liturgical teachings and law of the Church.”
Archbishop Weisenburger said the establishment of four regional sites to continue the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass will provide for the pastoral care of the “number of the faithful in our local Church who have found spiritual richness in this form of the Mass” as well as ensure “fidelity to the Holy Father’s call for the Ordinary form of the Mass to become the ‘unique expression of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite’ (Traditionis Custodes, Art. 1).”
“I take seriously my charge to care for all the faithful and am confident that this new arrangement is faithful to the Church’s law while expressing my concern for your spiritual welfare,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
Archbishop Weisenburger added he has been “impressed by the rich expressions of the Catholic faith in Southeast Michigan” since his arrival in March.
“The unity of our Catholic faith need not be diminished by diversity,” the archbishop continued. “Likewise, fidelity to Christ is only possible if we remain faithful to the Church, under the leadership of our Pope and the local bishop. I am grateful for your cooperation in implementing this new direction which aligns us with the instruction from the Holy See, and equally grateful for your prayers for me and for all our priests.”
This story was originally published by Detroit Catholic, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and distributed through a partnership with OSV News. Karla Dorweiler writes for Detroit Catholic.
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