St. John Vianney School, located in Maple Hill, Kansas, opened its new school year on Tuesday, September 3rd. Led by chaplain Fr. John Rickert, FSSP, the school year began with a sung Mass followed by blessing with the relic of St. Pius X, followed by the teachers and classroom assistants kneeling at the Communion rail to pronounce the Profession of Faith and the Oath Against Modernism.

SJV has an increase in enrollment this year, with 50 students in grades K-12. All religion classes are taught by the FSSP priests of the apostolate. Other subjects are taught by a staff of dedicated teachers, parents, and volunteers.

On opening day, Assistant Chaplains Fr. John Shannon and Fr. Kevin Young prepared a surprise scrambled egg breakfast in the school hall for students, staff and parents. After breakfast Chaplain Fr. John Rickert and Headmaster Fr. Shannon welcomed everyone to the new school year and introduced the school schedule. Opening day concluded outdoors with an all-school photo.

Fr. Joseph Valentine, FSSP, and the Joliet Latin Mass Community recently took up residence in their new home at St. Joseph’s Church in Rockdale, IL, and the community’s liturgical life began with a solemn Missa Cantata on Sunday, August 5.

The North American District extends its sincere thanks to His Excellency Bishop R. Daniel Conlon for providing a stable home for the Joliet Latin Mass community, and the opportunity to provide for the needs of St. Joseph’s. Enjoy pictures of the Mass, and a recent Baptism.

With great joy, the Houston apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter announces the formal establishment of Regina Caeli Parish, effective as of August 15, 2013. The installation of Rev. Charles Van Vliet, FSSP, as founding pastor and the official opening Mass of the parish took place that evening, at the Solemn Mass of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Prior to the installation of Rev. Van Vliet, a letter was read from His Eminence, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, acknowledging the formal erection of the personal parish. Msgr. Daniel Scheel, Episcopal Vicar of the Western Vicariate, graciously represented His Eminence in the installation ceremony.

The Fraternity is very grateful to His Eminence for his support and generosity. Cardinal DiNardo extended an informal welcome to the FSSP in December 2009, and in September 2011, Fr. Van Vliet arrived in Houston. On Feb. 21, 2012, the Presbyteral Council of the Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston approved, on the recommendation of His Eminence, the establishment of the personal parish.

Regina Caeli Parish is the only parish in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in over 40 years to offer exclusively the Traditional Rite to the faithful. The parish is in the process of development in northwest Houston, on forty acres donated for that purpose.

What follows are images of the installation and first Mass of the parish. In your kindness, please keep in your prayers Fr. Van Vliet and the parishioners of Regina Caeli as they continue construction of their new parish home.

Installation of Fr. Charles Van Vliet, FSSP, as Pastor

Solemn Mass of the Assumption

After Installation and Assumption Mass Dinner

The Tulsa Cathedral, Holy Family, is about to observe its 100th birthday, and is in celebration all year. His Excellency Edward James Slattery, with the support of Cathedral rector, Msgr. Gregory Gier, decided that people should see the Mass that Holy Family would have had when it was opened.

Fr. William Define, FSSP, was asked to celebrate the Mass with the altar boys being those from the Parish of St. Peter, along with the choir and organist. High Mass was celebrated at 10:00am, the normal slot for His Excellency’s Mass, with priests, deacons, and rector in choir. His Excellency delivered the homily and assisted in administering Communion.

During his homily, Bishop Slattery expressed thanks to the FSSP, and in particular with the Parish of St. Peter, along with expressing deep respect and affection for the traditional Latin Mass. The sermon was lovely, and one could not have asked for a better sermon in the midst of a High Mass, given to a packed Church.

Afterwards, there was a get together in the basement of the Cathedral, with Msgr. Gier and Bishop Slattery in attendance.  Overall, and even in detail, it was a wonderful event for the parish, the Cathedral, and the FSSP.  It is possible that in November His Excellency will be offering a Pontifical High Mass at Holy Family and it has been requested that the altar boys from the Fraternity parish serve that Mass, and to have the choir and organist provide the music.

A member of this year’s Ordinands, Fr. Kevin Young, FSSP, spent the first few weeks of his holy priesthood traveling back towards the eastern US and his hometown of Boonton, NJ. Before arriving home, Father offered Masses in North Carolina and Virginia, and dispensed the graces of his first blessings.

Once back home, Father had the opportunity to offer his first Solemn High Mass. The Mass occurred at Our Lady of Mr. Carmel church in Boonton, and Fr. Young was assisted by Fr. Peter Byrne, FSSP, Deacon Massimo Botta, FSSP, now Ordained, and seminarian Mr. Simon Zurita as Subdeacon.  The schola of of Our Lady of Fatima chapel in Pequannock, NJ, was led by the pastor of the chapel, Fr. Benoit Guichard, FSSP.

Father Young is now in residence in our apostolate in Maple, Hill, Kansas. Enjoy images of his first Solemn High Mass.

This year’s Camp St. Isaac Jogues, at headquarters in Elmhurst PA, was a great time of faith, and fun, with campers involved with a variety of sports and activities, along with daily Mass and devotions. This year included hosting a parish picnic for the local Fraternity parish – Saint Michael the Archangel, in Scranton. The picnic was a rousing success with food, games and fun for all, concluding with a gathering of parishioners, campers, and priests to pray the Holy Rosary, led by Fr. Michael Stinson, FSSP, District Bursar and chaplain of the camp.

Seminarians led campers on 10 days of sports, hiking, camping, prayer, and formation in the Faith.  The boys made great memories and learned lessons of faith and responsibility.

We look forward to next year’s camp!

Long included in the monthly Fraternity newsletter, we are now offering our monthly calendar cards as a PDF file available for download, suitable for printing any size. Each month’s card has a priest of the Fraternity to offer prayers for each day, as well as the following prayers:

A PRAYER FOR THE POPE

Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, Francis, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving kindness, in the ways of eternal salvation; that, of Thy gift, he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto Thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

Jesus, Savior of the world, sanctify Thy priests and sacred ministers.

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If you do not currently receive our monthly newsletter, sign up today. Each monthly issue includes:

• Images and accounts of recent Fraternity events.
• Upcoming events and program details for the Fraternity.
• Articles each month from the District Superior; Dr. Dennis McInerny, professor of philosophy at the seminary; Fr. James Buckley, FSSP, director of spirituality at the seminary, and periodic guest writers.
• A hard copy of the “Pray for Our Priests” card.

Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) is thankful for it’s newest apostolate of All Saints parish in the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis. The Fraternity of St. Peter wish to thank Archbishop Nienstedt for his invitation to the Archdiocese to offer the traditional Roman Sacraments, which began on Sunday, 4th August, 2013.

All Saints Parish is located at:

435 4th Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

All Saints Welcomes Fr. John Berg, FSSP, Superior General of the Fraternity

The Very Rev. Fr. John Berg, Superior General of the FSSP, celebrated a Solemn High Mass on Sunday, August 11, 2013. What follows are images of the first ancient Mass at All Saints.

Our Fort Wayne apostolate, led by former District Superior Fr. George Gabet, FSSP, enjoyed several celebrations and events in the past few months, including:

• The 23rd anniversary of the traditional Latin Mass in Fort Wayne
• The 5th anniversary of the Fraternity apostolate in Fort Wayne, which included a visit from both His Excellency Kevin Rhoades, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, and Fr. John Berg, FSSP, Superior General of the Fraternity
• Parish involvement in Pro Life marches and activities
• Father Gabet being a guest on the Redeemer Radio Sharathon
• First Holy Communion for children at both parishes
• And the crowning of Our Lady in May at St. Patrick’s in South Bend

Congratulations to Fathers Gabet and Cano, and all of the parishioners in our Fort Wayne apostolate.

His Grace, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, paid a pastoral visit to the Fraternity parish of Holy Family in Vancouver, British Columbia, in order to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. Congratulations to the confirmandi and their families, and thanks to Archbishop Miller for his visit.

(Images courtesy of Richard Clayton Long)