CUMANN AN AIFRINN LAIDINIGH/LATIN MASS SOCIETY OF IRELAND www.latinmassireland.org
Metropolitan sees are given in block capitals and their suffragan sees follow in alphabetic order. The report follows
ARMAGH: Extraordinary Form Mass has occurred on a few occasions in the primatial see in the past two years - in Cookestown, Co Tyrone; in Clohogue Church outside Newry,Co Armagh; and in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh. However, there seems to be little enthusiasm in the archdiocese for anything more regular than occasional Masses at present. There is interest in the traditional Mass among younger clergy and seminarists of the archdiocese. Cardinal Brady has made some positive statements about the older liturgy, but much of administration in the archdiocese is delegated to the Auxilliary, Mgr Gerard Clifford, who seems to favour a strict interpretation of Summorum Pontificum.
Ardagh & Clonmacnois: The Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois, Mgr Colm O'Reilly, offered the extraordinary form Latin Mass himself in in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Mgr Henry Essex Edgeworth de Firmont in Septmeber 2007. This drew an impressive crowd, particularly from Counties Longford and Westmeath. However, there has been no local effort in the diocese to secure any further Mass, in spite of evidence of interest by at least one of the diocese's younger priests.
Clogher: The traditional Mass took place in Clones, Co Monaghan in May 2009. Clones is a parish in the centre of the diocese, spanning the border between Counties Monaghan and Fermanagh (this is the physically unnatural border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland which partitions parishes as well as dioceses). There is enthusiasm for the traditional Mass in this diocese, among laity and a number of both older and younger clergy. The diocesan bishop, Mgr Joseph Duffy, is an ardent Francophile and no lover of the older liturgy, but he is already past retirement age. However, he has not stood in the way of recent initiatives and there have been a couple of extraordinary form nuptial Masses in the diocese since the promulgation of the motu proprio.
Derry: The Bishop of Derry, Mgr Séamus Ó hEigeartaigh, is an ardent Germannophile and the strongest supporter of the extraordinary form among the Irish bishops. This enthusiasm is not shared by a group of influential priests in the diocese. This stalemate is slowly eroding. The bishop paid for several clergy to attend the Latin Mass Society of Ireland's courses for priests wishing to learn to say the traditional Mass in Co Donegal. Mass is now available on Holy Days of Obligation in St Columba's, Long Tower in Derry City since December 2008, but in reality the provision is less restrictive than this. It was possible to attend the extraordinary form Mass almost every day in Derry over the past few months.
Down & Connor: The LMSI was running Mass in St Paul's on the Falls Road (West Belfast) a few times a year since August 2005. Since April 2008, Mass has been available in this church on the First Saturday every month - permission was given by the former bishop, Mgr Patrick Walsh in his last few weeks in office. By way of exception, Solemn High Mass was offered in St Patrick's Church, Donegall St (Belfast's city centre) on the Feast of the Assumption. The Assumption Day Mass drew more impressive crowds than the monthly Mass. A number of extraordinary form Requiem Masses have been permitted since the present bishop, Mgr Noel Traenor took office. There appears to be growing interest among diocesan priests and seminarists.
Dromore: The first public extraordinary form Latin Mass with diocesan approval took place within a week of the motu proprio in the Dominican Church in Newry, Co Down in September 2007. Since then, there have been a number of Masses in and around Newry varying between the Dromore diocese and Armagh Archdiocese. From June 2009, a Mass has taken place on the first Sunday of every second month in the Poor Clares, High St, Newry. The Bishop of Dromore, Mgr John McAreavey, invited Father David Jones to come from Meath to say this Mass. As this convent will close soon, this provision will have to be revised. Newry has a sizable congregation at an SSPX Mass every Sunday.
Kilmore: Only one extraordinary form Mass has ever taken place in the Kilmore diocese: a nuptial Mass in 1995 in Co Cavan. In the past few years, a native of this diocese became the third Irishman ordained into the SSPX. There has been some activity to seek a Mass in the western deaneries of the diocese, but there has been no sign of success yet.
Meath: There have been two significant developments in the Meath diocese. First, Father David Jones O Praem is attempting to incardinate into the diocese as a hermit within the Praemonstratentian family at the invitation of the Bishop of Meath, Mgr Michael Smith. He offers either the extraordinary form of the Roman Mass or the old Praemonstratentian liturgy almost daily at the Hermitage in Duleek, Co Meath, while offering confession, spiritual direction and retreats. Since December 2008, there has been a Sunday Mass in the Visitation Convent in Stamullen, Co Meath. When the Bishop of Dromore invited Father Jones to offer the traditional Mass in Newry, this schedule was disturbed. However, the LMSI chaplain, Father Michael Cahill was made parish priest of Kilbeg, Co Meath last year, so from the last Sunday of September, Mass in the Meath diocese will take place every Sunday in St Michael's Church, Stahalmog, Co Meath at 1 pm.
Raphoe: Sunday Mass in the older form continues in Bruckless, Co Donegal every Sunday, as it has since 1999. The status of the First Friday Mass in Golan, Co Donegal is unknown as Father Kevin Driver has returned to England. However, the availability of Mass on an occasional basis at Ards Capuchin Friary is a possibility. Some monks of Flavigny have been conducting an annual Ignatian retreat for men in this friary with the tradtional Mass. This has also been the venue for a course run by the LMSI for priests wishing to say the traditional Mass. Mass is also said every year on the feast of the Assumption in the cathedral in Letterkenny. Several priests and seminarists of this diocese are interested in the extraordinary form Latin Mass.
DUBLIN: The most dramatic development in the Dublin Archdiocese happened when Summorum Pontificum took effect. Some weeks later, the Sunday and Holyday Masses moved from St Audoen's Church, High St to St Kevin's, Harrington St, where the traditional Mass is available every day as a Latin Mass chaplaincy within the archdiocese was created. The Latin Mass chaplain, Father Gerard Deighan, has subsequently been made administrator of the parish, just off Dublin's South Circular Road. Most significantly, since the chaplancy was established, traditional Requiem Masses, Nuptial Masses and baptisms have no longer been an issue in Dublin as before. The Archbishop of Dublin, Mgr Diarmuid Martin, even confirmed children in the extraordinary form on 29 June 2008. In addition, Father Seán Smith initiated a Saturday morning Mass in his church in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow in 2008. Father Smith also says Mass on Holydays of obligation in Newtownmountkennedy. Mass also occurs on the first Saturday of the month in University Church, St Stephen's Green in Dublin.
Ferns: Old rite Mass continues to take place annually in the private chapel at Edermine House, near Enniscorthy, Co Wexford as it has since June 2001. This is the only Latin Mass which has ecclesiastical sanction in the diocese. An elderly priest has been saying the traditional Mass in Wexford Town for several years who in spite of incessant appeals to his congregation and the diocese remains in a canonical limbo. A petition is underway for a regular extraordinary form Mass in the Ferns Diocese.
Kildare & Leighlin: The annual Mass in Kildare Town continues. From October 2008, the Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, Mgr James Moriarty, has invited the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter to say a monthly Mass in Newbridge, Co Kildare, usually on the second Sunday of the month. A number of occasional Masses have taken place in other churches in the diocese.
Ossory: The Latin Mass Society of Ireland organised the first Mass with ecclesiastical approval in the Ossory diocese in February 2008. This initiated a series of protracted negotiations between people in the diocese and the Bishop of Ossory, Mgr Séamus Freeman SAC which resulted in a Sunday Mass in Kilkenny City since July 2009.
CASHEL & EMLY: Mass takes place annually in Holycross Abbey, Co Tipperary. Since April 2008, Mass has taken place on the 1st Thursday of the month in Glengoole, Co Tipperary.
Cloyne: The first public traditional Mass in the Cloyne diocese when the Bishop, Mgr John Magee SPS offered Mass in St Colman's Cathedral, Cobh, Co Cork in March 2008. A number of Masses have taken place sporadically in the diocese since then and much publicity was generated by two liturgical conferences in Cobh, but no location for a regular Mass has yet emerged. Mass is offered privately on a regular basis in the parish church of Macroom, Co Cork.
Cork & Ross: The Extraordinary Form Latin Mass has taken place on the 1st Saturday in Ss Peter's and Paul's, Cork City since December 2005, with an annual Mass in West Cork dating from 2002. Since July 2008, Mass has taken place on the 3rd Sunday in Ss Peter's & Paul's. In July 2009, George Cardinal Pell of Sidney offered Solemn Pontifical Mass in Ss Peter's & Paul's. It was announced that from the first Sunday in October, Mass will take place every Sunday and Holy day in Ss Peter's & Paul's. Cork City has also been a venue of a priests' training course in February 2009, which drew attention from a number of southern-based priests.
Kerry: Once a barren spot, there has been a traditional Mass on the 3rd Sunday of the month in the Dominican Priory in Tralee, Co Kerry since January 2008.
Killaloe: A number of Masses have taken place in the Cathedral in Ennis, Co Clare. The next one will happen in September 2009. The Bishop of Killaloe, Mgr William Walsh, has responded positively to any request put to him for the extraordinary form Mass. The Society for Tradition, the Family and Property have organised an annual father and son camp with the traditional Mass in the Cistercian Abbey in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, in this diocese.
Limerick: The Institute of Christ the King have been sending a priest from Gricigliano to Limerick on a monthly basis since March 2006. Mass takes place on the 3rd Sunday of the month in St Patrick's Church, Dublin Road, Limerick City and on a more sporadic basis elsewhere in the diocese. The Institute of Christ the King is canonically established in the diocese and will send a priest to this apostolate permanently with numbers. A number of diocesan priests have shown an interest in the Mass.
Waterford & Lismore: A retreat takes place almost annually in the Cistercian Abbey of Mount Mellaray, Co Waterford with the traditional Mass available to participants.
TUAM: The daily traditional Mass in the Tuam Archdiocese which dates from 1984 continues in Co Mayo and the Archbishop of Tuam, Mgr Neary, sanctioned the appointment of a new chaplain to St Patrick's Academy, Islandeady, Castlebar, Co Mayo in August 2008. He is Father Jean-Pierre Pilon, a Canadian who is a priest of the Scranton diocese in Pennsylvania. The Archbishop also allows several Masses in other locations in his diocese, such as the annual Mass at the Irish national Marian Shrine in Knock, other pilgrimage Masses and a priests' training course took place in diocesan property in Lettermore, Co Galway - the archdiocese requested the LMSI to use this facility for courses and retreats. Some archdiocesan clergy have shown interest in learning to say the traditional Mass.
Achonry: The annual extraordinary form Mass still takes place in the diocesan cathedral in Ballaghadereen, Co Roscommon. This is well attended, but there is little evidence of further activity in this diocese.
Clonfert: This is still the only diocese in Ireland where the extraordinary form Mass has never taken place publicly since the liturgical changes. It is reported some priests of the diocese are interested in learning how to say the Mass.
Elphin: The extraordinary form Mass is celebrated annually at a Mass Rock outside Sligo Town. The Bishop of Elphin, Mgr Christopher Jones, has given permission in principle for more frequent celebrations, but no priest of the diocese is available to say the Mass.
Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora: The LMSI is grateful to the officer commanding, 1st Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army and to the chaplain for making the chapel of Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore, Galway, available for a quarterly Mass in November 2008. This may increase in frequency as there is some interest in the extraordinary form Mass among younger clergy of the Galway diocese. Prior to this, there was a less satisfactory arrangement in the parish church of Renmore on the outskirts of Galway City which was less frequent than four times a year.
Killala: The priests' council sought clarification in relation to Summorum Pontificum from the Roman authorties. The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei provided the Bishop of Killala, Mgr Seán Fleming, with the desired answer and so an extraordinary form Mass was made available on a quarterly basis in Ardagh, Co Mayo beginning in May 2009. This will be subject to review pending attendance at the Mass.
Peadar Laighléis
Uachtarán/President
Cumann an Aifrinn Laidinigh/Latin Mass Society of Ireland.
ARMAGH: Extraordinary Form Mass has occurred on a few occasions in the primatial see in the past two years - in Cookestown, Co Tyrone; in Clohogue Church outside Newry,Co Armagh; and in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh. However, there seems to be little enthusiasm in the archdiocese for anything more regular than occasional Masses at present. There is interest in the traditional Mass among younger clergy and seminarists of the archdiocese. Cardinal Brady has made some positive statements about the older liturgy, but much of administration in the archdiocese is delegated to the Auxilliary, Mgr Gerard Clifford, who seems to favour a strict interpretation of Summorum Pontificum.
Ardagh & Clonmacnois: The Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois, Mgr Colm O'Reilly, offered the extraordinary form Latin Mass himself in in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Mgr Henry Essex Edgeworth de Firmont in Septmeber 2007. This drew an impressive crowd, particularly from Counties Longford and Westmeath. However, there has been no local effort in the diocese to secure any further Mass, in spite of evidence of interest by at least one of the diocese's younger priests.
Clogher: The traditional Mass took place in Clones, Co Monaghan in May 2009. Clones is a parish in the centre of the diocese, spanning the border between Counties Monaghan and Fermanagh (this is the physically unnatural border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland which partitions parishes as well as dioceses). There is enthusiasm for the traditional Mass in this diocese, among laity and a number of both older and younger clergy. The diocesan bishop, Mgr Joseph Duffy, is an ardent Francophile and no lover of the older liturgy, but he is already past retirement age. However, he has not stood in the way of recent initiatives and there have been a couple of extraordinary form nuptial Masses in the diocese since the promulgation of the motu proprio.
Derry: The Bishop of Derry, Mgr Séamus Ó hEigeartaigh, is an ardent Germannophile and the strongest supporter of the extraordinary form among the Irish bishops. This enthusiasm is not shared by a group of influential priests in the diocese. This stalemate is slowly eroding. The bishop paid for several clergy to attend the Latin Mass Society of Ireland's courses for priests wishing to learn to say the traditional Mass in Co Donegal. Mass is now available on Holy Days of Obligation in St Columba's, Long Tower in Derry City since December 2008, but in reality the provision is less restrictive than this. It was possible to attend the extraordinary form Mass almost every day in Derry over the past few months.
Down & Connor: The LMSI was running Mass in St Paul's on the Falls Road (West Belfast) a few times a year since August 2005. Since April 2008, Mass has been available in this church on the First Saturday every month - permission was given by the former bishop, Mgr Patrick Walsh in his last few weeks in office. By way of exception, Solemn High Mass was offered in St Patrick's Church, Donegall St (Belfast's city centre) on the Feast of the Assumption. The Assumption Day Mass drew more impressive crowds than the monthly Mass. A number of extraordinary form Requiem Masses have been permitted since the present bishop, Mgr Noel Traenor took office. There appears to be growing interest among diocesan priests and seminarists.
Dromore: The first public extraordinary form Latin Mass with diocesan approval took place within a week of the motu proprio in the Dominican Church in Newry, Co Down in September 2007. Since then, there have been a number of Masses in and around Newry varying between the Dromore diocese and Armagh Archdiocese. From June 2009, a Mass has taken place on the first Sunday of every second month in the Poor Clares, High St, Newry. The Bishop of Dromore, Mgr John McAreavey, invited Father David Jones to come from Meath to say this Mass. As this convent will close soon, this provision will have to be revised. Newry has a sizable congregation at an SSPX Mass every Sunday.
Kilmore: Only one extraordinary form Mass has ever taken place in the Kilmore diocese: a nuptial Mass in 1995 in Co Cavan. In the past few years, a native of this diocese became the third Irishman ordained into the SSPX. There has been some activity to seek a Mass in the western deaneries of the diocese, but there has been no sign of success yet.
Meath: There have been two significant developments in the Meath diocese. First, Father David Jones O Praem is attempting to incardinate into the diocese as a hermit within the Praemonstratentian family at the invitation of the Bishop of Meath, Mgr Michael Smith. He offers either the extraordinary form of the Roman Mass or the old Praemonstratentian liturgy almost daily at the Hermitage in Duleek, Co Meath, while offering confession, spiritual direction and retreats. Since December 2008, there has been a Sunday Mass in the Visitation Convent in Stamullen, Co Meath. When the Bishop of Dromore invited Father Jones to offer the traditional Mass in Newry, this schedule was disturbed. However, the LMSI chaplain, Father Michael Cahill was made parish priest of Kilbeg, Co Meath last year, so from the last Sunday of September, Mass in the Meath diocese will take place every Sunday in St Michael's Church, Stahalmog, Co Meath at 1 pm.
Raphoe: Sunday Mass in the older form continues in Bruckless, Co Donegal every Sunday, as it has since 1999. The status of the First Friday Mass in Golan, Co Donegal is unknown as Father Kevin Driver has returned to England. However, the availability of Mass on an occasional basis at Ards Capuchin Friary is a possibility. Some monks of Flavigny have been conducting an annual Ignatian retreat for men in this friary with the tradtional Mass. This has also been the venue for a course run by the LMSI for priests wishing to say the traditional Mass. Mass is also said every year on the feast of the Assumption in the cathedral in Letterkenny. Several priests and seminarists of this diocese are interested in the extraordinary form Latin Mass.
DUBLIN: The most dramatic development in the Dublin Archdiocese happened when Summorum Pontificum took effect. Some weeks later, the Sunday and Holyday Masses moved from St Audoen's Church, High St to St Kevin's, Harrington St, where the traditional Mass is available every day as a Latin Mass chaplaincy within the archdiocese was created. The Latin Mass chaplain, Father Gerard Deighan, has subsequently been made administrator of the parish, just off Dublin's South Circular Road. Most significantly, since the chaplancy was established, traditional Requiem Masses, Nuptial Masses and baptisms have no longer been an issue in Dublin as before. The Archbishop of Dublin, Mgr Diarmuid Martin, even confirmed children in the extraordinary form on 29 June 2008. In addition, Father Seán Smith initiated a Saturday morning Mass in his church in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow in 2008. Father Smith also says Mass on Holydays of obligation in Newtownmountkennedy. Mass also occurs on the first Saturday of the month in University Church, St Stephen's Green in Dublin.
Ferns: Old rite Mass continues to take place annually in the private chapel at Edermine House, near Enniscorthy, Co Wexford as it has since June 2001. This is the only Latin Mass which has ecclesiastical sanction in the diocese. An elderly priest has been saying the traditional Mass in Wexford Town for several years who in spite of incessant appeals to his congregation and the diocese remains in a canonical limbo. A petition is underway for a regular extraordinary form Mass in the Ferns Diocese.
Kildare & Leighlin: The annual Mass in Kildare Town continues. From October 2008, the Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, Mgr James Moriarty, has invited the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter to say a monthly Mass in Newbridge, Co Kildare, usually on the second Sunday of the month. A number of occasional Masses have taken place in other churches in the diocese.
Ossory: The Latin Mass Society of Ireland organised the first Mass with ecclesiastical approval in the Ossory diocese in February 2008. This initiated a series of protracted negotiations between people in the diocese and the Bishop of Ossory, Mgr Séamus Freeman SAC which resulted in a Sunday Mass in Kilkenny City since July 2009.
CASHEL & EMLY: Mass takes place annually in Holycross Abbey, Co Tipperary. Since April 2008, Mass has taken place on the 1st Thursday of the month in Glengoole, Co Tipperary.
Cloyne: The first public traditional Mass in the Cloyne diocese when the Bishop, Mgr John Magee SPS offered Mass in St Colman's Cathedral, Cobh, Co Cork in March 2008. A number of Masses have taken place sporadically in the diocese since then and much publicity was generated by two liturgical conferences in Cobh, but no location for a regular Mass has yet emerged. Mass is offered privately on a regular basis in the parish church of Macroom, Co Cork.
Cork & Ross: The Extraordinary Form Latin Mass has taken place on the 1st Saturday in Ss Peter's and Paul's, Cork City since December 2005, with an annual Mass in West Cork dating from 2002. Since July 2008, Mass has taken place on the 3rd Sunday in Ss Peter's & Paul's. In July 2009, George Cardinal Pell of Sidney offered Solemn Pontifical Mass in Ss Peter's & Paul's. It was announced that from the first Sunday in October, Mass will take place every Sunday and Holy day in Ss Peter's & Paul's. Cork City has also been a venue of a priests' training course in February 2009, which drew attention from a number of southern-based priests.
Kerry: Once a barren spot, there has been a traditional Mass on the 3rd Sunday of the month in the Dominican Priory in Tralee, Co Kerry since January 2008.
Killaloe: A number of Masses have taken place in the Cathedral in Ennis, Co Clare. The next one will happen in September 2009. The Bishop of Killaloe, Mgr William Walsh, has responded positively to any request put to him for the extraordinary form Mass. The Society for Tradition, the Family and Property have organised an annual father and son camp with the traditional Mass in the Cistercian Abbey in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, in this diocese.
Limerick: The Institute of Christ the King have been sending a priest from Gricigliano to Limerick on a monthly basis since March 2006. Mass takes place on the 3rd Sunday of the month in St Patrick's Church, Dublin Road, Limerick City and on a more sporadic basis elsewhere in the diocese. The Institute of Christ the King is canonically established in the diocese and will send a priest to this apostolate permanently with numbers. A number of diocesan priests have shown an interest in the Mass.
Waterford & Lismore: A retreat takes place almost annually in the Cistercian Abbey of Mount Mellaray, Co Waterford with the traditional Mass available to participants.
TUAM: The daily traditional Mass in the Tuam Archdiocese which dates from 1984 continues in Co Mayo and the Archbishop of Tuam, Mgr Neary, sanctioned the appointment of a new chaplain to St Patrick's Academy, Islandeady, Castlebar, Co Mayo in August 2008. He is Father Jean-Pierre Pilon, a Canadian who is a priest of the Scranton diocese in Pennsylvania. The Archbishop also allows several Masses in other locations in his diocese, such as the annual Mass at the Irish national Marian Shrine in Knock, other pilgrimage Masses and a priests' training course took place in diocesan property in Lettermore, Co Galway - the archdiocese requested the LMSI to use this facility for courses and retreats. Some archdiocesan clergy have shown interest in learning to say the traditional Mass.
Achonry: The annual extraordinary form Mass still takes place in the diocesan cathedral in Ballaghadereen, Co Roscommon. This is well attended, but there is little evidence of further activity in this diocese.
Clonfert: This is still the only diocese in Ireland where the extraordinary form Mass has never taken place publicly since the liturgical changes. It is reported some priests of the diocese are interested in learning how to say the Mass.
Elphin: The extraordinary form Mass is celebrated annually at a Mass Rock outside Sligo Town. The Bishop of Elphin, Mgr Christopher Jones, has given permission in principle for more frequent celebrations, but no priest of the diocese is available to say the Mass.
Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora: The LMSI is grateful to the officer commanding, 1st Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army and to the chaplain for making the chapel of Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore, Galway, available for a quarterly Mass in November 2008. This may increase in frequency as there is some interest in the extraordinary form Mass among younger clergy of the Galway diocese. Prior to this, there was a less satisfactory arrangement in the parish church of Renmore on the outskirts of Galway City which was less frequent than four times a year.
Killala: The priests' council sought clarification in relation to Summorum Pontificum from the Roman authorties. The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei provided the Bishop of Killala, Mgr Seán Fleming, with the desired answer and so an extraordinary form Mass was made available on a quarterly basis in Ardagh, Co Mayo beginning in May 2009. This will be subject to review pending attendance at the Mass.
Peadar Laighléis
Uachtarán/President
Cumann an Aifrinn Laidinigh/Latin Mass Society of Ireland.
