How is Your Latin OF Doing?

Last month, in response to this article by Mons. Charles Pope at the National Catholic Register, warning that many EF congregations may not be growing, or even shrinking, I posed to our readers the question “How is Your TLM Doing?” The responses, which you can read in the combox attached to that article, unsurprisingly, ranged all over the place, some of them very much cause for optimism, others not so much, and there was also a great deal of commentary on Mons. Pope’s article.

At the suggestion of one of our regular commenters, I would like to pose a second question in a similar vein, and invite all of our readers to sound off in the combox.

Since it was not even remotely the will of the Second Vatican Council that the use of Latin disappear from the majority of our churches, what is your church or apostolate doing to promote greater interest in, understanding of, and love for the Ordinary Form of the Mass in Latin, and is it working? And conversely, if attendance at your Latin OF is shrinking, why do you think this is happening, and what do you think could be done to change it?

Please read this before commenting: I realize that we need to define some terms here, before this question can be answered, since it is almost unheard of for any Mass in the post-Conciliar Rite to be said entirely in Latin. For the purposes of this survey, a Mass counts as “a Latin OF” if the Ordinary is sung or said in Latin, and the Canon is said in Latin.

As I wrote vis-à-vis the TLM survey question, I believe I can trust our readers to contribute to such a discussion in a constructive manner, without bashing people or airing grievances. If you want to report that your Latin OF is not doing well for whatever reason, DO NOT mention anything specific to identify it, such as the names of people (clergy or lay), dioceses, churches, congregations, choir directors etc. Comments which stray out of these boundaries will be deleted.

Australian Catholic Students Association - Annual Conference

A recent encouraging report from an anonymous reader:

OF Mass with Bishop McGuckin

The annual conference of the Australian Catholic Students Association (ACSA) took place this year in Brisbane on the 5th, 6th and 7th of July. The conference theme was Foundations of the faith, which was inspired by the current Year of Faith. The principle guest speakers were; Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Bishop McGuckin of Toowomba, Professor Greg Craven from the Australian Catholic University and Dr Ryan Messmore, the president of Campion College (Australia’s only liberal arts college).

In regards to the Liturgies of the Conference, the conference was opened by Bishop McGuckin celebrating a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, in the Chapel of Duchene College University of Queensland. The simple chant Mass from the Missal and the relevant simple English propers were chanted.

EF Solemn Mass

In the evening, Fr Paul Chandler, a Priest of the Archdiocese of Brisbane and Spiritual director of Frasasti Australia, celebrated a Solemn High Mass in the extraordinary form. Following the Mass, the Sacrament was exposed and ACSA formally spent one hour in prayer together before the Blessed Sacrament. This concluded with Compline and Solemn Benediction.


The following day was begun with Lauds in the College Chapel. Fr Adrian Sharp, who acted as the Deacon the previous night, celebrated an ordinary form, ad orientem Mass at midday. Again the Simple Chant Mass from the Missal and the simple English propers were chanted. Before the Mackillop ball in the evening, several of the Clergy and students gathered in the Chapel to celebrate Solemn Vespers.

One of the OF Masses, with properly vested
deacons, which is a welcome sight

Sunday began with Lauds as well. The Conference was closed by a Solemn Ordinary form Mass. The Asperges was chanted in English, the Creed and even the general intercessions were chanted at this Mass in addition to the Ordinary and Propers. Fr Gregory Jordan SJ, the ACSA national Chaplain celebrated this Mass at the High altar of St Ignatius Church Toowong, with two con-celebrants, a deacon and a tunicled Acolyte.

The director of Music and organist was Martin Hartley, a student from Campion College and he was aided by an Ad-hoc schola of Students. Several seminarians were in attendance at the conference. Frassati Australia (a peer to peer men’s ministry which has a server’s guild), generously provided the servers for all the conference liturgies.