The first Pontifical Mass to be celebrated in the Archdiocese of São Paulo, Brazil, the most populous diocese in South America, since the advent of the Novus Ordo was celebrated by the Apostolic Administrator of the Personal Apostolic Administration of St. John Mary Vianney (Campos, Brazil), Bp. Fernando A Rifan, on February 9.
A reader who was present reports:
On February 9, 2014, the city of São Paulo celebrated the 10th anniversary of the celebration of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form. The Traditional Mass is celebrated everyday (twice on Sundays) in a downtown chapel, by the chaplain, Fr. Jonas Lisboa, a priest of the Apostolic Administration.
The Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated in an older and bigger church this time, a building belonging to the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The mass was celebrated by Bp. Fernando Areas Rifan, the Deacon was Father José Henrique, and the Subdeacon Father Jefferson Pimenta. Father Jonas Lisboa functioned as Auxiliary Priest.
The mass was well attended, very beautiful and solemn. During the sermon, bishop Rifan told us about his last visit to the Holy Father and that the pope thinks that the Traditional Latin Mass is a treasure for the Church and that his only fear is that the Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form could be “instrumentalized”, and bishop Rifan answered His Holiness that he is doing everything that he could to ensure that this is not going to happen and to promote the Extraordinary Form as a treasure for the entire universal Church, to which he humbly belongs. At the end of the Mass the Te Deum was sung by all those present.
More images are available here.
It is interesting to recall that the Lion of Campos, Bp. Antonio de Castro Mayer, who ordained Bp. Rifan to the priesthood, was a native of Campinas, not far from São Paulo, and that his priestly formation was accomplished almost entirely in the Archdiocese of São Paulo, of which he was the Vicar General (he was ordained in Rome at the end of his studies).
It is interesting to recall that the Lion of Campos, Bp. Antonio de Castro Mayer, who ordained Bp. Rifan to the priesthood, was a native of Campinas, not far from São Paulo, and that his priestly formation was accomplished almost entirely in the Archdiocese of São Paulo, of which he was the Vicar General (he was ordained in Rome at the end of his studies).
We are always open to your reports of local Masses and events related to the Traditional Roman Rite. Please, keep sending them to us!
Update: We have been told that there might have been a previous pontifical Mass in the intervening period - this was certainly the first by a Bishop from the country itself and not dedicated to a specific group.
Update: We have been told that there might have been a previous pontifical Mass in the intervening period - this was certainly the first by a Bishop from the country itself and not dedicated to a specific group.
