Photos of FSSP First Mass in Providence, RI

Following up on yesterday’s post of the priestly ordination of Fr William Rock FSSP, here are some photographs of his First Mass, which he celebrated the day after at the same church, St Mary’s in Providence, Rhode Island. The Veni, Creator Spiritus was sung before the Mass, and the Te Deum afterwards; Bishop Athanasius Schneider, who celebrated the ordination, and several members of the local clergy and the FSSP attended the Mass in choir. The last three photos show Bp Schneider blessing Fr Rock’s calice and paten the day before the ordination. (Photos by Claire Gruneberg and Tony Beretto.)

It is customary for a newly-ordained priest to celebrate his first Mass attended by an assistant priest in cope, who guides him through the ceremonies, basically doing much of what the MC normally does at a solemn Mass.

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Photos of FSSP Priestly Ordination in Providence, RI

On Saturday, October 26th, His Excellency Bishop Athanasius Schneider ordained the Rev. William Rock FSSP to the sacred priesthood at St Mary’s Church, the home of the Fraternity’s apostolate in Providence, Rhode Island. Here are some photos of the ceremony, for which the church was completely packed. Tomorrow, we will share some photos of Fr Rock’s first Mass and a few other related events. NLM is very happy to offer our sincerest congratulations to Fr Rock, to his family and to the Fraternity of St Peter, and we thank Bishop Schneider for everything he has done on behalf of the traditional liturgy.

Fr Andrzej Komorowski, the Superior General of the F.S.S.P., reads the call to orders.

The ordinand comes forward and kneels before the bishop, who then reads a sermon from the Pontifical.

The Litany of the Saints is sung, led by two cantors who kneel at the entrance to the sanctuary; the ordinand prostrates himself, while all others kneel.

Towards the end of the Litany, the bishop rises, receives the crook and miter, then turns to the ordinand, and sings the invocations, “That Thou may deign to bless + this chosen one. - That Thou may deign to bless + and sancti+fy this chosen one. - That Thou may deign to bless +, sancti+fy and conse+crate this chosen one.”, making the sign of the Cross over him where I have put the + sign.

The imposition of hands.

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FSSP Ordination in Providence, Rhode Island, October 26

On Saturday, October 26th, the Rev. William Rock, a deacon of the FSSP, will be ordained to the Priesthood by His Excellency Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan. The ordination will take place at 10:30 a.m. at St Mary’s Church, home of the Fraternity’s apostolate in Providence, Rhode Island, with first blessings and a reception to follow. The following day, which is the feast of Christ the King, Bishop Schneider will celebrate the 8 a.m. Low Mass, and Mr. Rock will celebrate the 10 a.m. High Mass, with first blessings afterwards. The beautiful and historic church of St Mary, located at 538 Broadway, became an FSSP apostolate last year, with Fr John Berg, the previous superior general, as its first pastor.

For more information, please see the parish website: http://stmarypvdri.org/ordination/, including information about a discounted rate at a nearby hotel for those attending the ordination. Those who plan to attend are requested to RSVP on the same webpage by October 14th, so that enough food can be prepared for the reception.

Rogation Procession and May Devotions in Providence, Rhode Island

On May 29, the FSSP’s church in Providence, Rhode Island, and the Shrine of the Little Flower in nearby Nasonville, held a Rogation Procession at the shrine, starting and ending at the outdoor altar, at which Mass followed. During the procession, the Litany of the Saints was sung and the fields blessed. (Rhode Island, my home state, is the smallest in the Union, but definitely has a lot of beautiful green places, including this shrine, which was the very first in the world dedicated to St Thérèse of Lisieux. There are several different places for prayer on the grounds, including a Rosary walk, a garden of Saints, and representations of the Holy Stairs and the Tomb of Christ; it is open from sunrise until sunset during the spring, summer and fall months.)

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