Sunday, May 25, 2008

Inaugural Juventutem Mass held in Sydney

The following comes to the NLM from Juvenutem Australia:

Juventutem Australia had its inaugural Mass in Sydney, in preparation
for WYD 2008, Saturday, May 24, the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians.

The Mass was held at our church for WYD 2008, St. Augustine's in Balmain.

Here are some images from Saturday of the event:





In addition, there is a story about this launch on yBenedict, "a pilgrim news-site and campaign for the young people of the world... hosted by Towards2008 with the support of Catholic Youth Services (Sydney) and The Catholic Weekly." Here is their story:

Juventutem to Launch Tomorrow
Friday, 23 May 2008


The official Sydney launch of ‘Juventutem’ - the international youth chapter dedicated to the traditional Latin liturgy – will take place with Solemn Mass, this Saturday at St Augustine’s Church, Balmain at 11am.

juventutem - mass large.jpgSpiritual Director of Juventutem Australia, Fr Glen Tattersall believes the Mass, which will be celebrated in ‘Extraordinary form’ of the Roman Rite, will be an opportunity for young people who haven’t experienced a Latin Mass before to be touched by its sacred beauty.

“By experiencing a Mass in the Latin liturgical tradition, Catholics can rediscover their own heritage – one that has many treasures including Gregorian chant and the Latin tongue (the Church’s official language) as well as get a very strong sense of the sacred through its unique liturgical form,” Fr Tattersall said.

In July last year, Pope Benedict XVI recognised the continuing importance of the older form of the Mass in His Holiness's Letter to the Bishops that accompanied the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum .

“In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful,” His Holiness Benedict XVI wrote in this Letter to the Bishops that accompanied the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.

“It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place,” continued Pope Benedict XVI in the Letter.

As well, Pope Benedict XVI also highlighted how the Latin liturgical tradition has had an engaging impact on the young people who have also requested the usage of the 1962 Missal since the Second Vatican Council.

“…It has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them,” Pope Benedict XVI wrote.

The first Juventutem chapter went to WYD2005 in Cologne, where Cardinal Pell celebrated Vespers. Cardinal Pell will again lead Vespers in Latin and give Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday 16 July at 4pm at St. Augustine’s Church, Balmain.

Following this Saturday’s launch, Juventutem Australia will be running Gregorian Chant workshops on consecutive Saturdays throughout June, to give everyone an opportunity to learn Gregorian Chant.

The sessions – ‘the Enchantment Project’ - will be run by David Molloy, an experienced organist, choir director and teacher who has spent over 40 years devoted to learning sacred music.

“Juventutem Australia is not just a movement that’s looking for those who are already attached to the Latin liturgy, but it also has a role to invite those Catholics who haven’t had a chance to experience their own heritage,” Fr Tattersall said.

For more information about Juventutem Australia, visit: http://juventutem-australia.com

To register for the Enchantment Project, click here.

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