His Excellency Athanasius Schneider is in the United States for a nine-day visit to several churches that invited him for traditional Latin Masses and lectures. His public schedule includes four pontifical solemn Masses and three pontifical low Masses, in Washington, D.C., New York City, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio, in addition to lectures and conferences around those regions.
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| Photos courtesy Joseph Vitacco |
On Friday evening, 21 October, Bishop Schneider offered a pontifical solemn Mass at the faldstool at Saint Mary's church in Washington, D.C., for the annual feast of Blessed Karl. With the permission and assistance of Father Alfred Harris, the pastor of the church, the bishop was assisted by Monsignor Andrew Wadsworth (Archdiocese of Westminster, U.K.) as assistant priest, Father David Friel (Archdiocese of Philadelphia) as deacon, Father Garrett O'Brien (Archdiocese of New Orleans) as subdeacon and Father James Bradley (Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham) as master of ceremonies. Numerous acolytes from the parish served the two-hour Mass, with three choirs (including the parish Gregorian chant schola) singing the propers, ordinary and hymns for Mass and the veneration of a relic of Blessed Karl.
In addition to the clergy in the sanctuary, the first two pews on each side of the church were filled with diocesan and religious clergy, as well as representatives from several chivalric orders and other distinguished guests. The nave was completely full, with a mix of parishioners, regional TLM communicants and many visitors supporting the cause of canonization of Blessed Karl of the House of Austria.
