In June of last year we reported on the cathedral in Houston, Texas, used for a Methodist ordination ceremony after permission was granted by the archbishop, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. After an outctry, even Catholics who are not necessarily traditional, such as canon lawyer and referendary of the Apostolic Signatura, Edward Peters, reacted with a raised eyebrow: "if actions within the law cause consternation among the faithful, it might be a sign the law needs to be tightened."
Today, however, we commend Cardinal DiNardo for administering the sacrament of confirmation using the traditional Latin books -- for the first time -- to 12 parishioners of Regina Caeli, a new personal parish (thanks to Cardinal DiNardo) in Houston established by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter.
It is a very rare occasion these days to see a cardinal (especially under 80) use 1962 books for any sacrament. Recall that only 12 of the 118 cardinal electors last year had offered at least one traditional Latin Mass following the introduction of the novus ordo. Cardinal DiNardo (age 64) has not gone that far yet, but perhaps this is a start. Following the sacrament of confirmation, the cardinal offered Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
The parish, which is soon to be constructed on donated land in Houston, is temporarily housed in a friendly novus ordo parish. The community, visited twice by Rorate on the Road with a noticeably larger congregation as word gets out, is led by Father Charles Van Vliet, FSSP, its founding pastor.
Enjoy the following confirmation photos, posted on the FSSP's website.
Our congratulations to the 12 Catholics confirmed, to Father Van Vliet, to the parishioners of Regina Caeli and to His Eminence.
At the same time, there is a lot of restoration left to accomplish in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, as demonstrated by this piece on National Public Radio just eight days before the traditional confirmation. For now, Houston Catholics at least have a choice between mariachi and majesty.
