1). A little more than two months ago, various websites reported (and praised) the introduction of a monthly Mass according to the 1962 Missal in the St. Joseph Cathedral of the Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. (NLM's report -- with videos -- can be found here, while Paix Liturgique mentions it here.) The first Mass was attended by around 80 people -- not an inconsiderable number, especially for the Netherlands.
After only two monthly celebrations (one each for April and May), the blog In Caelo reports that the Mass has been discontinued:
After only two monthly celebrations (one each for April and May), the blog In Caelo reports that the Mass has been discontinued:
At Catholica, editor Tom Zwitser shares some discouraging news. After two Masses, the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Latin rite of the Mass at the cathedral of St. Joseph is to be discontinued immediately. Sad news, and the reasons for this decision not only highlight the lack of communication (which I, in a different context, have also experienced) within the parish and the Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden, but also the contradictory position with the world Church taken by the diocese...***
But what is now happening in Groningen? After two EF Masses in April and May (announced as to take place on every first Sunday of the month, celebrated out of necessity by priests from outside the diocese, initially until summer, but with the implied possibility that they may continue after that if an average of 30 faithful would be attending at that point), a decision was made to limit the number of Masses to four per year. This, as Mr. Zwitser quotes, “not to encourage a division of spirits within the parish”. It must be said, at this point, that finding qualified priests, acolytes and volunteers willing to organise and celebrate these Masses is difficult in this diocese, with such a small number of clergy and faithful to begin with. This difficulty, coupled with, in his words, the lack of cooperation he received, led Mr. Zwitser to decide not to continue as the lone mandated organiser.
Maybe the diocese will continue offering EF Masses, but this first attempt can be considered a failure. It’s quite sad that there seems to be such opposition to the older form of the Mass, especially when Rome has been quite clear in this respect...
2) In Caelo also reports that for this year, the Catholic Church in the Netherlands (six dioceses and one archdiocese) expect to have a total of 6 new priests, down from 13 in 2010. Of the six, three come from the Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden, which has the smallest number of Catholics among the Dutch dioceses. The Archdiocese of Utrecht and the dioceses of Haarlem-Amsterdam and Roermond each have one new priest for this year. Nine transitional deacons all in all are also set to be ordained this year -- four for Roermond, three for Haarlem-Amsterdam, and two for ‘s Hertogenbosch. Hopefully all nine will be ordained priests next year.
