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It’s going to be a long commute from Ithaca.
Despite Iacobus’ best efforts to thwart the project at its inception, the Summorum Pontificum contact database continues to grow. Last evening (Thursday), it was just over 450 persons in 14 different countries. I think, though, that Iacobus’ early skepticism has been somewhat justified: not enough people are signing up. Of course, it has only been a few days, but the number of new people added to the list is slowing, not growing or staying the same. Whether that means that the project is doomed - I certainly hope not. I think that something like this can be a great way forward, especially for those of us in places like Ithaca, but we need priests, first of all, even before lay people to sign up. So far, about 36 persons have signed up in the State of New York, with NYC being the best represented - but only one priest, and he’s somewhere east of Queens (Jamaica Estates).
I guess these results aren’t surprising. While a place like Ithaca and the surrounding area (our friend in Corning, if I’m not mistaken, has signed up) can benefit the most from a complete database of this sort - how else would we know there’s another handful of interested people two towns over - yet in the more sparsely populated areas it will be harder to reach that critical mass (sorry) of persons necessary to organize in a more formal fashion, let alone to find a willing priest.
On the other hand, big cities which have previously been barren of old rite Masses - or, barren in proportion to the size of the city and its Catholic population - may now be able to start up some daily old rite Masses with the help of willing priests. I’m thinking of places like Los Angeles, Detroit and New York City.
I imagine also that after September 14th, little groups of lay people will spontaneously (that’s related to “sponte” of motu proprio fame) form around priests who have long had an interest in the old Mass, but have hesitated heretofore to involve themselves in its politics. These groups will grow by word of mouth and soon enough there will be listing on the internet and yet others will join in.
At any rate, for those of you who haven’t yet signed up, here’s Lumen Gentleman’s report on the Summorum Pontificum database thus far:
Hello friends,
I’ve received several emails yesterday and today from many of you, expressing your thanks for having taken on this project. To all of you, I say: thanks be to God, and you’re welcome. Let’s pray that He Who Does Big Things will do something big with what is right now a small-but-growing thing (we have over 450 members as of this evening).
I have also had several of you ask me about advertising/promoting the database, and how much I’ve done to get the word out. The answer is: very little. I am incredibly busy with my every-day job as a technology manager, and in my free time I’m either doing my part to raise my four kids, reading/writing for my web site, or (now) working on improving the database (there are now fourteen available countries!).
So there’s been very little time to self-promote.
Several of you have suggested some very good ideas: putting notices in parish bulletins, sending links to Una Voce, calling priests in various areas to see if they’re willing to say the extraordinary form of the Mass, and if they are, asking if they mind being added to the database. These are all wonderful suggestions, and my reaction to all of them is the same: I would love to, it’s a great idea, but I don’t have the time - so can you do it instead?
I am counting on the database registrants to do my advertising for me by word-of-mouth. A happy user is a much better advertisement than anything I could say on my own behalf.
So please, do what you can to spread the word. Collect names from people in your parish, collect names of priests who want to be included, send the database link to anyone you want (including EWTN, as someone mentioned), put notices in your parish bulletin, or whatever. Every little bit helps.
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort,
Pope St. Pius X,
St. Joseph,
St. Ambrose of Milan,
St. Thomas Aquinas,
St. Francis (and St. Clare),
St. Catherine of Siena,
St. Alphonsus Ligouri,
St. John Chrysostom,
I am currently in the process of purchasing a home and moving back to the Ithaca area after graduating Cornell in 2003 with my wife and children. I have been searching the Traditio databases for a Tridentine mass near there. I have found a wonderful church here in Garden Grove, CA that says it and I would miss it terribly when I move.
There is an indult in Syracuse (soon to move from its present location to the Basilica) and there’s an indult in Binghamton (both one hour from Ithaca). The SSPX has a chapel and school in Syracuse. There is an FSSP parish in Scranton (two hours distant from Ithaca). There are two Eastern Rite Catholic Churches in Binghamton as well. That’s the scene as I understand it.
When will you be in Ithaca?
I think there are some priests out there, especially the younger ones, who would be willing to learn the Traditional Mass if they were approached personally. If they meet good representatives of the movement who are willing to go out and knock on doors, they will respond. This is taking “involvement in the liturgy” to a higher level. There’s nothing as effective as going out and personally meeting people. Ask any successful salesman. Cold calls are the toughest but the most productive. “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.”
The database is up to 664 now. I’ve already found a contact through it and, Deo gratias, my contact already has a priest on board.
That’s very cool, Ben! Can you give us a little write up of your situation thus far? Where you are, who this priest is, and where these Masses might happen?
Is this 664 families or single persons?
Iosephus,
The priest is Fr. Saunders, pastor of Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls, VA. I live in Herndon, VA.
Discipulus: single persons.
Yes indeed I signed up with the database. I want to do what I can to get a regular mass of the extraordinary format either here in Corning or in the Corning - Elmira Area. Seemingly Impossible. Of course, but the Lord can make all things possible.
Cpt Tom, how many are you? I’d like to think that, somehow, just maybe, we could pool resources, or pool resources and numbers on occasion, to make things happen. Franciscus, Catharina Oxoniensis and I were talking about this at brunch this morning.
Well, there’s me and my wife…There are people who I think would also support an extraordinary mass, though I’m not sure how large the underground really is. There are also those that have gone off to the Benedictine abby in the area who may assist or at least be fellow travellers I think that if a take over of the liturgical committee happened and things gradually changed, this parish is a possible takeover target.
Let me make sure I’m clear who I am just some things.
1. I’m not a traddie, I’m an orthodox Catholic who grew up in the NO (I’m 43). but has come to the conclusion that while the NO is valid, it is mostly not done, especially in this diocese, with the reverence or humility that our Lord calls us to do.
2. What we’ve done the last 40 years has been toxic. I accept Vatican II as valid, but, the whole execution was botched at the best, or deliberately used to justify a whole bunch of things that shouldn’t of happened. Turning back the clock? No, I’d like to forget the last 40 years have happened and rewind to after the council. It happened, but it sure didn’t have to happen the way it did.
3. I am a divorced, annulled and remarried Catholic. If that’s a problem for anyone, sorry, but this is the way it is. Short story, Life doesn’t always go according to plan, and sometimes you marry a crazy women who not only makes it miserable for you (which, I put up with) and abuses your kids (not cool. deal breaker). I have made my peace with God and Church. I don’t make a big deal about it (Divorce is still wrong as far as I’m concerned) so, if this is a deal breaker for you guys fine.
I don’t know, Cpt Tom, you sure sound like a traddie to me. And I don’t know who would have a problem with marriage after an annulment, especially when the grounds are plain for all to see.
Well, if something comes up in your area, and a handful of graduate students might be of assistance, let us know. Likewise, we’ll let you know.
Two events to keep in mind where we might meet up: Doylestown Latin Mass pilgrimage August 18th and the Pilgrimage for Restoration in Auriesville on September 29.
Iosephus, Cool. I sometimes have felt like Jean-Valjean in Le Miserable…having to have my papers to prove my parole.
Anyway, I am starting talks with the PA we have here who is a sincere Permanant Deacon, while of a Progressive stripe he will go “by the book” when it is shown to him. He approached me about doing a more traditional NO Mass before the Moto Proprio. My plan is for this parish, easing into one of the masses going from zero to Latin NO over months (by Christmas if possible). Then Taking that mass and move it to a Extraordinary (Classic?) mass after or during Easter. This will give time for the congregation to get used to Latin and get a priest, servers, chant choir and cantors to support it.