A friend of this blog, Mr. Gustavo Ráez-Patiño, has sent us the following report:
I am pleased to report that the TLM in Lima, Perú is now (since October 10th) celebrated every Sunday in a Parish Church: Parroquia de San Marcelo. (See the picture above. CAP) It is a vast, beautiful, historic barroque temple in downtown Lima, now almost fully restored thanks to the efforts of its Pastor and the community. This Mass is under full diocesan auspices.
Previously, during the last year and a half, the Mass was celebrated in the chapel of Our Lady of Solitude (Capilla de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad). We are very thankful indeed to the Confraternity in charge of the chapel for their support during that time (they even comissioned vestments for the TLM). But during a meeting of Pastors, Rectors and Chaplains of the zone (the celebrant of the TLM is Rector of the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad), the issue of the TLM arose, and it was accorded that the one and only TLM in the Archdiocese should be celebrated in a proper parish church (!). And so came the generous offer of the pastor of San Marcelo (a diocesan priest) to have the TLM weekly in his parish, on Sunday mornings. Arrangements began and finally the Mass started to be celebrated yesterday.
This is truly a historic day, as both priests called it - the celebrant at his homily and the Pastor at his very kind words of welcome at the end. It is the first time in decades that the TLM is celebrated, on a weekly basis, at a parish in this diocese. It seems the whole diocese has now its eyes on this Mass! All the three Auxiliary Bishops of Lima have asked about how this Mass is going! The celebrant is the same priest who had been celebrating the TLM before. We really hope and pray that more priests here in Lima will take some time to learn the TLM. But these are exciting times here!
Previously, during the last year and a half, the Mass was celebrated in the chapel of Our Lady of Solitude (Capilla de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad). We are very thankful indeed to the Confraternity in charge of the chapel for their support during that time (they even comissioned vestments for the TLM). But during a meeting of Pastors, Rectors and Chaplains of the zone (the celebrant of the TLM is Rector of the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad), the issue of the TLM arose, and it was accorded that the one and only TLM in the Archdiocese should be celebrated in a proper parish church (!). And so came the generous offer of the pastor of San Marcelo (a diocesan priest) to have the TLM weekly in his parish, on Sunday mornings. Arrangements began and finally the Mass started to be celebrated yesterday.
This is truly a historic day, as both priests called it - the celebrant at his homily and the Pastor at his very kind words of welcome at the end. It is the first time in decades that the TLM is celebrated, on a weekly basis, at a parish in this diocese. It seems the whole diocese has now its eyes on this Mass! All the three Auxiliary Bishops of Lima have asked about how this Mass is going! The celebrant is the same priest who had been celebrating the TLM before. We really hope and pray that more priests here in Lima will take some time to learn the TLM. But these are exciting times here!
