Priest: "thus they do not attend the Traditional Latin Mass for nostalgic reasons ... This has been a canard frequently aimed at those who attend the Traditional Latin Mass"
After
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI issued his Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum,
on July 7, 2007, establishing that every priest could offer the Traditional
Latin Mass, a group of faithful from Huntsville, Alabama and surrounding areas
expressed a great desire for the Traditional Latin Mass. In 2008, in response to the faithful desiring
the Traditional Latin Mass, Bishop Robert Baker (Birmingham, Alabama)
established an apostolate in Huntsville, Alabama in order to make this Mass
available. Father Alan C. Mackey was
appointed chaplain of the newly formed Latin Mass community in Huntsville with
the assignment of offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and making the
Sacraments available according to the 1962 liturgical books. The newly formed Latin Mass Community was
granted permission to use the facilities of an existing parish, St. Mary of the
Visitation in Huntsville, for Sunday Mass.
The
community steadily increased in support and number, and a building fund was
established and maintained with the goal of purchasing property for the
establishment of a personal parish. Five
years after first expressing a desire for the Traditional Latin Mass, the
vision of Father Mackey and the community of faithful came to fruition with the
purchase of an Anglican Church in the Five Points district of Huntsville. Providentially, the first Mass in the new
building was offered on January 31, 2013, the Feast of St. John Bosco, who had
a special devotion to Our Lady under the title, Help of Christians.
On the 4th Sunday of Lent, March 10, 2013, after years of prayer and hard work by many faithful, along with generous donations, the newly formed Catholic Church was officially dedicated as a personal parish within the Diocese of Birmingham. Bishop Robert Baker, using the 1962 Dedication of a Church Rite, dedicated the building at 1201 Kingsbury Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama, and established Our Lady, Help of Christians in Huntsville, Alabama as a diocesan Traditional Latin Mass parish. Immediately following the Dedication, Father Mackey, whom Bishop Baker appointed pastor to Our Lady, Help of Christians, offered a High Mass.
Due
to the Virgin Mary’s constant intercession and maternal
protection, the parish chose the name: Our Lady, Help of Christians, a
title given to Our Lady by Pope St. Pius V after the Christians’ naval victory over the Muslim fleet at
the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571.
The
Traditional Latin Mass, offered according to the 1962 books, is now available regularly
to those in the Huntsville and surrounding areas. Every Sunday there are two Mass options: Low
Mass at 7:00 am, and a High Mass at 12:00 pm (preceded by the recitation of the
Rosary.) Mass is offered on all Holy
Days of Obligation, and regular weekday Mass is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays (with First Saturday Devotions led by Father
Mackey.) With great devotion to the Most
Blessed Sacrament, the parish spends one day each month in Adoration of the
Most Blessed Sacrament. The parish
enjoys the rich blessings offered through the 1962 calendar such as parish
processions, rich Sacramental celebrations, and traditional observation of the
liturgical calendar on Ember days and beautiful Feasts of the church.
Father
Alan Mackey observes, “A majority of the
parishioners were born after the Second Vatican Council, thus they do not
attend the Traditional Latin Mass for nostalgic reasons nor to make a political
statement.” He continued, “This has been a
canard frequently aimed at those who attend the Traditional Latin Mass. Most seek solace in the transcendence and
silence that emanates from the Mass.”
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In
the year since the dedication of the parish, membership has grown
steadily. Parish life has also grown
with a focal point of renewing Catholic Culture in and through the parish. There are occasional festivals and receptions
anchored to beautiful Feasts of the Church. Classes for adults are offered as
well as classes for children preparing to receive Sacraments. A parish Altar and Rosary society has formed
and through the work of generous volunteers maintains the beautiful interior of
the Church. The church maintains a St.
Vincent de Paul outreach to the local community, and is involved in vibrant
Pro-life work.
Our
Lady, Help of Christians parish, in looking to the future and under the leadership
of Father Alan Mackey, continues to identify and pursue a number of building
projects to improve the interior and exterior church grounds.
Father
Mackey concludes, “In a world that is
increasingly hostile to our Catholic faith, the Traditional Latin Mass is a
rock of stability. For at least fifteen
centuries, the (Traditional Latin) Mass has directed the mind, heart and soul
of man toward the transcendent majesty of God.”
Our
Lady, Help of Christians Traditional Latin Mass parish maintains a website with
pertinent and up-to- date information. You can access that site by clicking here.
