On Saturday, April 25, the 4:30 p.m. Mass at San Francisco’s Star of the Sea Church resembled Easter or Christmas.
The packed Church was a show of support for Star’s faithful Catholic Priests, Father Joseph Illo and Father Patrick Driscoll. The two have earned the enmity of the San Francisco power structure, as well as that of a number of their fellow priests, for their decision to only allow boys to serve at the altar. That decision is at the discretion of each parish’s pastor—at Star of the Sea, Fr. Illo.
The anti-Catholic San Francisco Chronicle has done a number of hit pieces on Fr. Illo, resulting in his now being one of the best known priests in San Francisco. The enormous turnout on Saturday was the result of a grass roots “flash mob” effort to make sure Fr. Illo, and the wider world, knows that there are thousands of faithful Catholics who support him. One of the nice and notable things at the Mass was the very large number of babies.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Illo, and was concelebrated by Fr. Piers Lahey, a former Associate Pastor at Star, and the young Fr. Corwin Low, OP. As Mass began, a line of people were still waiting outside the confessional, where Fr. Driscoll was administering the sacrament of penance.
Before beginning his homily Fr. Illo thanked the hundreds of the faithful in the pews. He said he had been to a few flash mobs before, but “I’ve never been to a flash Mass….I don’t know whether to call you a Flash Mass or a Mass Mob!”” He began his homily by reminding the faithful that the day was Good Shepherd Sunday, but also World Day of Prayer for Vocations. He unified the two subjects immediately. As priests, he said, “We have to hear and respond to that voice, for the rest of our lives…I know as a priest we have to keep saying ‘yes’ to those vows.
“A reasonable shepherd looks out for his sheep but a reasonable shepherd will not die for his sheep. A reasonable shepherd does not leave the 99 sheep to look for the one lost sheep—it’s not good business sense…But what distinguishes Christianity from all other religions, what distinguishes Christ from any other prophet is that our shepherd came to die. ‘I will lay down my life for my sheep’. God is willing to die to save us. “Love is not reasonable. Love is above and beyond reason.”
As priests, he continued, “we have to throw our life away for those we love” secure in the knowledge that “the Supreme Shepherd will give it back.” The Church, he said “gives pastoral office to men–Bishops, Priests” and they must be “Christlike shepherds who die for their sheep.” But, he stressed, their lives are not taken from them, as Jesus said “I give it freely as a gift…This is the way it must be with Priests…we are tempted to be worldly: bodily health, plenty of money… but the priesthood calls man to see beyond this world.” He remarked with good-natured irritation on how well-meaning people sometimes express sadness that he could not marry. Priests, he said, “must be ‘other Christs’ wedded to Christ and the whole Church…we must pray always, and know the voice of God. We should not pray for life to be easier, though, we must be strong.” Given the trials Fr. Illo has faced in the past few months his words carried both poignancy and a rock-solid credibility.
Jesus, he said, was “more than a spiritual healer, more than a moral example.” Jesus was those things, he said, but He was “fundamentally a victim. His victimhood set him apart.” Priests, he said, must be the same, and again Fr. Illo’s recent experiences gave a special weight to his words.
Fr. Illo closed the homily with a prayer to the Church’s patroness: “We must pray God give us humility, clarity, and strength….only the Word of God can prepare us for martyrdom. All priests must be prepared for martyrdom. Most won’t face it but all must be ready. At that time we must turn to Our Lady, who was ready to take Jesus’s place on the cross. She was ready to die. Star of the Sea, cause of our grace, Star of our troubled seas, intercede for us!”
Stick with Tradition, Fr. Illo, and Fr. Driscoll. Archbishop Cordileone, support these men. You made a mistake not coming out here to Washington, DC for the Marriage March.
Tomorrow the US Supreme Court, including its sycophantic CINO members Roberts and Kennedy (and perhaps others?), will hear argument about the constitutionality of prohibiting sodomite marriage. You were needed here, Archbishop, not wringing your hands about the made-up “outrage” over your correct policies.
Stop, stop, stop back-sliding. Being a Catholic is not easy when you are in power. Step us and praise these men. So many true and practicing Catholic support you. Ignore the hired mouthpiece Sam Singer and the phony Catholics who will reject anything you say. These are Satan’s men, Bishop, not those of Jesus. Keep to the course. God Bless.
St. Christopher, the archbishop isn’t wringing his hands. He’s praying. I’ll leave it to you to find out where- I’m sure you can ask Brian Brown if you are at the march.
To say Archbishop Cordileone is back sliding, etc., is false and I hope you have the humility to get a more complete picture and apologize for slandering him.
Thank you singing mum. You are a noble person. God bless you.
St. Christopher, I know how you must feel! But don’t give up! I believe that the Archbishop is really sincere! He is also fighting many immoral situations! He is trying, in many ways, to quell the irrational, vile hatred, of those against Christian morality, and Church teachings! Perhaps he has some information, that we do not know of! I think we all should get firmly behind Archbishop Cordileone! The Supreme Court decision may just be HORRIBLE!!
Thank you Linda Maria God bless you. I agree with you.
I think Justice Kennedy may surprise us, Linda Marie. Though a liberal Catholic, I think he is struck at just how profound and serious their judgment will be. The sheer magnitude of it must make most of them pause, except for the three women who had decided before deliberations even began, I’m sure.
I’m thoroughly sick of ambitious, unconscionable women…we have an inherent built in weakness that is also our strength given the right placement for it…but there are some things most of us simply aren’t designed to do. Even Mgt. Thatcher said when she retired that she wished she’d spent more time with her children. Oh, well, we’re waaaay past having second thoughts about these “issues”.
Here is what I think, about marches. In the 1960’s, I was firmly against such things, as they were always hateful, destructive activities, of crazy “political” hippie radicals, against our Church and society! (However– I did sympathize, with the marches held by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, bless him!) Myself and all my family and friends— were always dressed up so nicely every day, went to daily Mass, said the Rosary, and always had good manners and good morals! For those who wanted to help a problem of our Nation– the right thing to do, was to participate directly in civic activities, as a good American citizen, with good dress, good manners, and good morals! Write up a good report, with good English skills, present it to the proper authorities, hold a public meeting– and use good public speaking skills! The pre-Vatican II Church never got involved directly in politics! (Too worldly!) The Church strongly educated her members in the Catechism, and demanded good behavior, of all– with strong consequences, for sin! I think this is still the right thing, for the Church to do!
I will say one final thing, about marches. Although they are really strange, to my way of thinking– I hope that such activities as the Pro-Life marches, and Pro-Traditional (Man/Woman) Marriage marches, will do some good! I still think that our Church– as well as all the churches of our Nation– all need a strong return to Christianity, and to strongly inculcate Christian morals— and demand it, of their members! Once our country is again living a more Christian way of daily life– then we will be able to uphold Judeo-Christian Biblical principles, as we must– in our legal system! People of today, have not been taught manners nor morals, nor have they developed a moral conscience! They have also not been taught to carefully think through a situation in life, apply correct judgments, and act correctly on a situation, impersonally– sacrificing babyish whims, for obedience to your moral conscience, and maturely doing what is correct, for one’s adult responsibility to God, and to society! Look at the immature, immoral “big babies,” on the Supreme Court! SHAMEFUL!!
Yes, I was fortunate to be in attendance!
It was literally a ‘little bit of Heaven’.
Thank you Father Illo and Father Driscoll, you are both the ‘REAL DEAL’.
You are both a BLESSING to the Church and especially to the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
I say that as a 4th generation San Franciscan whose family help build the City of St. Francis, and they would be SO PROUD to see ‘their’ City coming back!!!
Know many prayers are being said for you :)
Happily, I was there too and believe this parish is on the right track! Strong orthodox priests are in place and they are weathering the storm of liberal intolerance, sadly much of which comes from within the Church.
Before the 4:30 Mass, there was a wedding within a Traditional Latin Mass. Many blessings to the happy couple who were able to celebrate their marriage ceremony in a traditional way thanks to priests who value and promote our Catholic heritage.
You are blessed to be near this parish. Even the Cathedral is beautiful. Praise God that our Lord shines His mercy in that part of California, where its most needed.
Abeca, I am not near this parish but flew up from Los Angeles to show my support. It’s important that we do what we can, figure I was there in place of many who could not attend. Our prayers were united and we can expect them to yield much good fruit!
Thats awesome Kristin! I hope to visit soon when im taking another one of my road trips. Sometime within the year. God bless you.
It’s nice so many people came to Mass – on May 25, that is.
However, the parish needs a regular, steady, dedicated community to thrive, not merely a one-time “mass mob” driven by the internet.
My husband and I are happy to learn that Archbishop Cordileone has come to our aid, as parents of students at Star of the Sea School, by assigning a special chaplain to serve our children there – Father Illo and his assistant priest have shown themselves to be unfit.
By putting in Father Vito to serve as chaplain to the students at Star, we hope the Archbishop is helping our kids, and the other children at Star, to recover from the poor shepherding done by Father Illo and Father Driscoll.
They might do very well in a monastery, but working among children is not their strong suit.
Anon you sure seem to have an axe to grind. I hope what you are saying is just made up. Fathers Illo an Driscoll are more than up to the job and the AB would not undercut them.
Anonymous what is it that you consider unfit about them? You are not giving solid facts. Your comments only confirm to the faithful that these priests are truly doing God’s holy will and are being the voice of true Catholicism because they are faithful to the Magisterium. You need to ask yourself and be honest how well you know your faith through the CCC and the bible? Right now you may not understand things but because God is merciful, i trust that you will someday. His will be done. Pax Christi.
It seems to me that shepherding parents might be the best application of the good fathers at present. The disconnect in the diocese needs to be attacked at the head. And if we send all the sound priests off to the monastery who will combat the decline of parental attitudes and understanding as to what it means to be Catholic and what it takes to rear strong, savvy “Catholics” (and children are being reared to be adults, not the other way around) in today’s morass of feel-good filth?
Praise God for good men and sound priests!
Yes Ann Malley praise God for good men and sound priests. Amen to that.
Right on target!
Anon, Fr Vito is from the same fold as Fr. Illo and Fr. Driscoll – a faithful Catholic traditional priest. Your children will be in good hands and so will you. You might even get to know the truth of the Catholic faith. God bless.
Fr. Illo & Fr. Driscoll were not a good fit around children. Clearly they have no experience dealing with them, and made too many blunders which affected the children negatively. We pray Fr. Vito will serve as a gentler soul and be a better shepherd for our children at Star of the Sea School.
Parent — you are NOT a TRUE CATHOLIC!! YOU ARE A SHAMEFUL LIAR!! SHAME ON YOU! GO TO CONFESSION!!!
Your on fire for the Lord here Linda Maria. Im loving your defense of these good priests. Praise Jesus.
Calm down Linda Maria. “Parent” expressed an opinion, which he or she is every right to express, even if you don’t agree. Because you disagree with a person does not make them a liar, nor a “not a true catholic”.
Anonymous– you and your family are NOT true Catholics!! You have wrongfully sought to destroy our fine church! Fr. Perrone is faithful, orthodox, and belongs to a strict religious order! You and your family are HORRIBLE!! Go to Confession and REPENT!! People like you should be EXCOMMUNICATED!!
Why so vicious?
Why is the picture for this article that of the new Archbishop of Santa Fe and former Bishop of Salt Lake and former Aux in SF? It doesn’t fit the story does it?
Maybe you clicked the wrong article. Or maybe it was an InternetBurp© because there is an article about the new Archbishop of Santa Fe on this website. Just not here. :)
Wrong Bob – these 3 pictures ARE from the Star of the Sea Mass. First is Fr. Illo walking down the aisle, second the male altar servers in procession, and the third and final photo is of Fr. Illo leaving the altar at the conclusion of the Mass. I was there, these photos are correct!
So beautiful! Praise Be Jesus Christ!
So you say, anon, so you say.. Why do I get the impression your children are girls and can’t be altar girls? You sound very disrespectful towards two faithful priests. Forgive some of us for being skeptical about your claims but things have gotten so out of control in your diocese that many don’t even know what the Catholic Church teaches and when they do, find it too difficult to accept.
I am curious about Fr. Vito, the purposed chaplain. If this is true and it is the good and holy Fr. Vito I am thinking of–this is a good move. However, I doubt this will quell the anger of the ProminentCatholics™ and that will become clear as things unfold. Though if it’s a different Fr. Vito, who knows.
Did the “anti-Catholic San Francisco Chronicle” carry this story ?
No, and I didn’t see any pro journalists in the narthex or the parish hall practicing their craft before or after the Mass.
From this beautiful, beautiful Parish Frs. I’ll and Driscoll can help bring back the Catholic Faith. Praise be to God, and to these holy men.
Let’s pray that Fr. Illo, and Fr. Driscoll continue to receive the support of the Archbishop and the entire USCCB.
The USCCB ? Good Luck.
The latest Bishop appointments (as recommended by Cardinal Donald Weurl) are:
Blasé Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of San Diego, and John Wester of Santa Fe.
With voters like this at the USCCB along with Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Sean O’Malley of Boston, Timothy Dolan of NY, etc., the USCCB will be a mess.
Not one actively encourages literate Catholics to read the Bible or CCC at home – which ignores Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
And violates the Doctrine of the Faith as contained in the CCC.
DCORTINE of the FAITH – – – CCC: ” 133 The Church “forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful. . . to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures.
Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. “
Alleluia, Alleluia
From the Modesto Bee newspaper – which I’m sure some people will call a gaystapo anti-Christ publication for daring to challenge a pastor…
By AMY WHITE
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: March 10, 2005, 05:26:59 AM PST
STOCKTON — A mother testified Wednesday that she heard one of
her daughters cry out in their Hughson house one day in July 2001, and
discovered a visiting priest leaning over the young teenager.
“He threw his hands up in the air and said, ‘I didn’t do anything!'”
the woman said in San Joaquin County Superior Court, where a jury is
hearing the family’s civil lawsuit against the priest and others
associated with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Modesto and the
Catholic Diocese of Stockton.
The girl, then 13 and now 17, testified Tuesday that the Rev. Francis
Arakal “grabbed” one of her breasts during that visit in 2001. One of
her sisters, now 13, testified Wednesday that she saw the touching,
and said the contact occurred over her sister’s clothing.
The younger girl said Arakal touched one of her upper thighs, also
over clothing. The alleged contact with the girls came during a tickle
fight.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, claims the diocese and
St. Joseph’s pastor, the Rev. Joseph Illo, failed to deal
appropriately with the allegations.
The 13-year-old testified that Illo and Arakal yelled at her, accusing
her of lying about the incidents.
[Since that fine day, Father Illo was ordered to pay the girl’s family about $10,000 from his own pocket.]
Georgia:
You are citing material from one story from a whole series covering the event. You don’t mention that the police dismissed the case for lack of evidence, that the family then brought a civil case in which, Fr. Arakal was exonerated, and that three independent witnesses testified under oath that the unnamed mother you mention, whose name is Kathleen Machado, was romantically and sexually obsessed with Illo. “An Oakdale man testified Wednesday that a woman who is suing two St. Joseph’s Catholic Church priests and the Stockton Diocese once complained to him that she was not able to seduce the Rev. Joseph Illo during a trip to Rome….One of the witnesses Edward Tobias “… said he remembers her complaint vividly. ‘She said, ‘I did everything I could, but the man is not capable of having sex.'”
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2005_01_06/2005_03_24_Herendeen_MotherObsessed.htm
Illo (and Arakal) were indeed fined $20,000 (for calling the girl a liar) but they never had to pay it, because the Machado family lost the case.
THANK YOU JOSEPH! That’s a whole different story from the one Georgia would have us believe!!!
When any clergy member or employee of a diocese becomes aware of an allegation of misconduct, they are to report it immediately to the diocese (and to the police or social services in some diocese.) Those organizations are responsible for deciding the credibility of the allegation.
Although the incident did occur before the Dallas Charter, it is hard to believe that the Diocese of Stockton did not have a policy in place for dealing with allegations of misconduct.
Thanks for that link! It might come in handy in other combox discussions.
Yes, THANK YOU, Joseph!
Excellent post, Joseph! Thanks!
Fr. Illo has led many pilgrimages. Mrs. Machado no doubt went along on this one to Rome, described in the post of Joseph. I am so sorry, for poor Fr. Illo, having to put up with this SICK, MALICIOUS divorcee, obsessed with him, and seeking to SEDUCE him, evilly! A MORTAL SIN!! Then- to evilly and cruelly seek REVENGE on poor Fr. Illo– because she could not get the good priest, to be her lover! Fr. Illo should have gotten the POLICE– and a strong RESTRAINING ORDER— for her to stay far away from him!! And then– a foolish, stupid tickle fight, encouraged of Fr. Arakal, by the silly, young, attention-seeking daughters of Mrs. Machado! No doubt– the priest’s clumsy actions, were misinterpreted, as the kids were giggling, and squirming! Mrs. Machado probably enlarged this story! If I were Fr. Illo– I, too, would have LOST MY TEMPER!! And HOW AWFUL– that Mrs. Machado’s kids knew of her FILTHY, SINFUL SEX DESIRES FOR A PRIEST!! She needed to be LOCKED UP in a psych ward!!
To add to my reply, to the post of Joseph– I believe firmly, in protecting all children, and sending all criminal off to jail, if a crime has been committed! I am not a “liberal,” with criminals! But we do not know, in this case with Fr. Illo, the entire story! To me, it simply looks like the crazy divorcee, Mrs. Machado, was wrongfully harassing Fr. Illo, to start off with! And it is a Mortal Sin– to seek an immoral affair with him, right in front of her kids, and everyone else! That is so horrible, and publicly demeaning, for a priest! As for Fr. Illo losing his temper– he should have called the cops— to have Fr. Arakal investigated, and to get a restraining order against the crazed Mrs. Machado! As for the “liberal,” so-called “Catholic” parents at Star of the Sea, as well as the local media, using such dubious past court cases, to vilify an orthodox priest they disagree with— this is a crime in itself!! Such people have NO MORAL CONSCIENCE– and should leave the Church!
One last reply, to the post of Joseph. All Catholic churches have little Confession pamphlets, as well as other religious materials. Many churches (including Star of the Sea) have Confession pamphlets, near their Confessionals, to help Catholics prepare for the Sacrament of Penance. Not so long ago– all Catholics knew right from wrong, understood the meaning of sin, and went to Confession regularly. Obviously– these bad “Catholic” liberal parents, do not go to Confession regularly, and are not familiar with the Sacrament!! Of course– these materials were handed out BY MISTAKE– to the children, which the parish church apologized for! But good Catholic parents, would simply take the pamphlets away, replace them with correct material, notify the school, have FAITH in their school and their parish priests– and so what?? This incident was cruelly LIED ABOUT, and used to VILIFY THEIR PARISH PRIESTS, FOR BEING ORTHODOX!! BEING ORTHODOX– WAS THEIR TRUE “CRIME!!”
What, exactly, is the lie?
The only like I have seen are people who rush to Illo’s defense and claim that no such pamphlet was distributed at all.
I have not seen one comment in my meticulous webstalking of this topic that says the pamphlet was not given out. Where have you seen this?
It has been admitted that the pamphlet was handed out in error and an apology was given. No one has said that it never happened.
Do you work for Sam by any chance?
From the article, please provide the name of the ADULT mother who was supposedly quoted.
Without disclosure of adult sources, you are merely believing some journalist.
Many journalists these days can not be trusted for TRUTH. They want false sensationalism to promote their own name.
St. Christopher, the archbishop isn’t wringing his hands. He’s praying. I’ll leave it to you to find out where- I’m sure you can ask Brian Brown if you are at the march.
To say Archbishop Cordileone is back sliding, etc., is false and I hope you have the humility to get a more complete picture and apologize for slandering him.
Singing mum i agree. Dont appreciate his slander on that. Why does it seem that some here are always suspicious, usually waiting to nit pic a flaw while neglecting to correct their own. Some how they seem to have an answer to all and they forget or neglect the truth, we are imperfect human beings doing our best and we need to support our own when they are doing their best. If they think they can do better, ide like to see them try.
Abeca, you are a veritable Greek chorus echoing the sentiments of everyone who criticizes people you don’t like. You’re starting to grate like clashing cymbals (or opposing symbols) and Chinese gongs, fingernails down blackboards and grinding teeth. Give it a rest , please. You sound like little Lord Fauntleroy or the little girl with the little curl, right in the middle of her forehead..when she was good she was very, very good, but when she was bad she was horrid!
Dana you are a vertiable Greek chorus who does not know her faith….you follow schismatics and heretics! you are a hypocrite, because your bully Ann and Catherine criticize people they do not like, the same of which you accuse others, you are walking…so take the rod out of your eye first before you preach at me….you are a hypocrite who accuses and yet do what you accuse on others, You give a blind eye to bad behavior.
My only goal is to defend and please Jesus not people. You follow people and struggle to follow Jesus. Learn from this admonishment.
“My only goal is to defend and please Jesus not people.” = Batting O for 2
John 15: 2 This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Douay-Rheims
Try to learn from your own admonishments, Abeca, and look to the Faith and Jesus instead of the divisive and head-in-the-sand methodology you use whenever people who know the faith call you out for not knowing the Faith.
Passive aggressive self victimization – by calling others bullies for speaking the truth and/or calling you out when you have nothing but your own opinion to back up your assertions – is not pleasing Jesus. Rather it is attempting to not look at your own contributions to failed discussions and your own smearing and judgmental ideology that often takes the fore. Not Faith.
Abeca, when you get in the mud with pigs, you get dirty and the pigs get happy!
They get a thrill out of upsetting you. They are the weeds. Let them grow; they will be burned at harvest time.
Just keep growing toward the Light. They cannot overcome Him.
“SInging Mum,” your attack is a surprise, and undeserved.
No one “slandered” the good Archbishop. However, recent articles have suggested that he is very surprised over the vehemence against him. And, of course, the Archbishop’s decision not to attend the DC Marriage March, gives further fuel to the fire that he may be “reconsidering” his prior positions (and he has already said that he is going to alter the tone of the morality clauses).
The post of which you speak was meant to buck-up the Archbishop. He is no baby (and neither should you encourage him to be), but a real man, and true shepherd. Still, Abp. Cordieone, like any man, needs a boost from time to time. Sometimes a boost needs to be given to a man in a certain way.
Not an attack but a correction. You told the archbishop that he was wringing his hands. But he’s not. You told the archbishop to stop back-sliding. He isnt.
He has a good reason for missing the march and if you were to find out his reasons instead of scolding him needlessly on a public forum it would make more sense.
We will see.
Make no mistake, we all greatly support this fine, and rare, devoted Catholic bishop.
Still, he seems to be missing chances to re-emphasize his positions. This is a fight — blood, guts, death in the sand — and Abp. is the Main Event. Very difficult, and we all mean to support him.
We will see.
Thanks Singing mum. They always take correction as an attack when in reality its not. I agree with you completely especially since they often do it on a public forum.
Good grief, will the self adulating violins never cease?
I’m going with the clashing cymbals, Ann, but violins have a nice ring as well. It takes me back to 4th grade and a neighbor girl, who my dad always held up to me as an example of female perfection and why couldn’t I be more like her,etc. would knock me down and not let me move while she spit on my face. (she was older and bigger, naturally) Fortunately, my really athletic sister caught her one day and she never did it again. ;) I’ve already wasted my Eve analogy in an earlier post (AnnBaxter/Bette Davis in All About Eve)
Anyway, wow, do I digress! Sorry, all.
….yes the “perfect” little girl who every other female loathes for the reality of what “perfection” really entails behind the scenes. Meow is the word. Reminds me of the old black and white film, “The Women.”
And all digression aside, your story made me smile as it reminded me of a young boy in 5th grade who liked me and showed as much by punching me in the shoulder every day. That is until my 8th grade sister threatened to beat him up – she ended up being elected to the Prom Court some 4 years later so there we are.
Thanks again for the humor – always appreciated and seemingly always misunderstood by those who take “themselves” so seriously.
Ann Malley, you’ve no idea how delightful you are…and how rare! You asked in another post if I was attending TLM. I drive over usually just once a month as the drive is longish and stressful ( not used to cities anymore). At least my local parish church is very reverent and I have friends there. The independent church I told you about wasn’t something I recognized and is in their convent house. Didn’t seem right. Also, I meant to tell you my husband’s niece died at peace, with her husband and children about her. She died bravely.
Such good news about your niece. Praise God…. and our dear, Blessed Mother! In other matters, especially as I experience ongoing willies about city driving (used to get lost on the road in my own home town ALL the time), I’m convinced there are extra graces involved when TLM attendance comes at the additional cost of delightful panic attacks!
Get those graces when/where you can.
God bless and thanks again for letting me know about your niece.
“Ann Malley, you’ve no idea how delightful you are…and how rare! ”
Isn’t that the truth! I completely agree with you Dana! : > )
Dana, How beautiful that your husband’s niece was surrounded by all of her loved ones. : > )
My condolences on the loss of your niece, Dana.
Thanks so much Ann, Catherine & anon. Where would any of us be without the prayers of our fellow Christians! We may bicker, but there is empathy, kindness and comradery as well.
“Bickering” of a sort is proof of life…or at the very least, proof that one is paying attention to what their fellows are “actually” saying. Thanks for listening, Dana, Catherine, Steve etc – even at the cost of a dreaded black ball. (Big “Mother” is watching!)
I had the privilege of being a concelebrate with Father Joseph at the 430 Mass last Saturday.Flash/Mass or not,Star of the Sea Church was filled with devout Catholics,proud of their Faith and Catholic identity,faithful to the Teachings and Traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.Its been a long long time since I have been at a true High Mass. It’s been a,long long time since I have been in a church where every adult and every child old enough to understand…every person was praying with full heart and soul and mind and strength. The sound of their voices reminded me of the description of the Milan cathedral when St Ambrose was Bishop……the sound was like the roaring of the ocean.Appropriately enough,it was Good Shepherd Sunday.I have served as a Pastor since 1997,and I wanted to be at the Mass in support of Father Joseph
and Father Patrick.i know very well how difficult it can be as a Pastor. I also recognize that Fr Joseph has the true heart of a Shepherd and is willing to do everything
for his people.Gods Holy people together in faith,strong in the Risen Lord, under the beautiful painting of Mary,Star of The Sea,in the church which bears her name.i can’t remember when I felt more grateful to be Catholic.
Amen Father!
Thank you for your wonderful post, Father. How I wish I could have been with you all to hear the roar of the sea.
Father, thank you for sharing your thoughts. You remind us that the Church is a family. God Bless you!
Father Lahey, weren’t you the same priest who complained about the TLM Mass being reintroduced some years ago?
Aren’t you the same priest who complained that the faithful had called you a Novus Ordo priest?
Have you had a major change of heart since those days???
Or are you just trying to butter up your bishop?
When a pastor says the TLM is BAD one year, and then PRAISES it today, I get suspicious of his motives, and can only hope your conversion to appreciating the TLM is genuine, and not merely a way to get “popular.”
https://www.mercurynews.com/pacifica-letters/ci_21149491/letters-editor
“Some years ago I made the mistake of joining an online conversation about worship and liturgy, sponsored by a very traditional conservative Catholic website. There was lots of discussion about impending changes in the Catholic Mass and when I, with the best of intentions and in a polite and respectful tone identified myself as a Catholic Priest, I was told in no uncertain terms that I had “no right” to open my mouth, to express my opinion, to share my sincere outlook on these matters because I was not even a validly-ordained member of the clergy. I was to use a very derogatory term in our Church called a “novus-ordo presider” (meaning I did not/could not/would not celebrate the Liturgy in its original Latin tongue)…”
Robert, it was not a TLM on Saturday. It was a beautifully celebrated Novus Ordo Mass.
Is that link being used as a citation “proving” that Fr. Lahey said the TLM is bad? Because I could find no such implication in his letter to the editor.
(I do not know Fr. Lahey. But I can read.)
With such impressive research skills, one wonders if Robert works for the local secular media. Or Sam Singer.
God bless you, Fr. Lahey! Please come again– and say the Latin Mass for us, on Sunday, at 11:00a.m., sometime! We absolutely LOVE the Tridentine Mass! It is the BEST!! Bless you!!
In support of Father Driscoll and Father Illo
wp.me/p5i0N7-26
Father Lahey,
Thank you for your being a devoted Priest also, and backing your fellow Priests!!!
You are a breath of FRESH AIR :)
Thank you Father Lahey.
It is not spiritually good for priests to be idolized and become quasi-celebrities. They must become even more vigilant lest they fall.
Stop becoming occasions of sin for them.
All priests deserve support, especially by your prayers.
Your first obligation is to pray and support your local church and priests. Do not fall for the temptation of supporting those whose name is in the paper or who have youtube accounts and blogs or books or videos over your assigned parish pastor and his assistant pastors.
Anonymous, when people like you tear down individual and specific good Priests, it is our job to defend them,
and to defend their good names.
We are never to let your defamation stand, or your trying to discourage TRUTH as you have in your post.
Only liars discourage TRUTH.
No one is idolizing anyone. Only God is worshipped.
CCC: ” 2467 Man tends by nature toward the truth.
He is obliged to honor and bear witness to it: “It is in accordance with their dignity that all men, because they are persons . . . are both impelled by their nature and bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth.
They are also bound to adhere to the truth once they come to know it and direct their whole lives in accordance with the demands of truth.”
CCC: ” 2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.
He becomes guilty:
– of RASH JUDGMENT who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;
– of DETRACTION who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
– of CALUMNY who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.
PETE, I do not tear down any priest. It is against my religion. I have not defamed anyone. You should defend priests when you hear them degraded-even if they are not what you consider to be a good priest.
But you should also not commit the sin of flattery, either.
My post was concerning how people who put priests on a pedestal can make things harder for them. And that God has placed you where he wants you and expects you to fulfill your duties.
I have never discouraged TRUTH.
Your false accusations are rash judgement and calumny. I hope perhaps you misread my post and will go back and see that it says nothing bad about a priest.
PETE Catherine, Dana, Ann m, steve etc commit those exact sins often on many of these threads.
Abeca, the more you accuse others, the more you accuse yourself. But blindness isn’t a sin, so I suppose we’ll just continue trying to be patient with you despite your continued transgressions.
You should, however, seriously consider the sins of detraction made against the traditional priest who tried very much to help your friend. Your persistent rash judgment and subsequent detraction against him – even though not named – in conjunction with your advertising on a Catholic forum about the requisite “need” to seek support outside one’s faith is dangerously close to scandal.
You’re quite fond of stating how traditional women who adhere to the magisterium aren’t interested interested in those things outside what the Church officially teaches – and yet you contradict yourself by your own posts. Even if you post things at the behest of a “friend.”
Be well.
Ann Malley, pornography use is a sin. To blame the wife of a pornography addict is just plain stupid (unless she is purchasing the pornography for him.) You should not call that “trying to help.”
You do not even know the schismatic priest but you defend him in something that is indefensible.
Abeca’s testimony of what her “friend” said is biased, Anonymous. Not only biased because it is second/third hand, but because Abeca is this woman’s friend and is not, as evidenced by her actions here, behaving in a rational, impartial manner – something which is required to make sound judgments.
But then your rush to brand schism with zero authority and judge a situation you know nothing about (save for bias emotional diatribes based on fears/personal opinion) is no sign of superior intellect or discretion. That last part could very well be what the priest in question exercised and was rewarded by being slandered by one who perhaps was more focused on her own hurt than, perhaps, tending the wounds of her marriage that is, if valid, binding.
Your rash judgment and continued use of emotion is not attractive.
I’ll give you this- oftentimes the term traditional is used as a euphemism for those suspended priests who are independent of the church and say the Latin Mass somewhere without permission. But in San Diego there is an FSSP parish so she may have been referring to a priest of that order. She did not name the priest, the parish or the order to which the priest belongs. So yes, it was wrong of me to assume that he was schismatic.
I’ll give you this too, I do not know firsthand of the situation and neither do you. You do not have any reason to question Abeca’s version of the event. Since there is no indication who the priest was, it can’t be slander or libel or even detraction. However, was it necessary to post that information? Probably not. I think Abeca is reacting to the infidelity and lack of orthodoxy which has permeated this comment section with people holding up non-Catholic Masses and orders and chapels as superior to the Catholic Church and even deceitfully claiming that they are the Catholic Church.
As for rash judgement, probably not. Use of emotion-not at all.
And since we know in general that people make excuses for others who commit the same sins that they do, if you use pornography, stop. If you attend non-Catholic Masses, stop. You are running this into the ground for a reason-probably self-justification.
“Quack, quack, quack!”
I know you are hurting from the way that you have been treated here, especially the former friends that have turned on you. I grieve for you and I totally understand how painful it is.
Their posts speak for themselves. They speak volumes.
From the web:
“It’s going to happen. On your conquest through life, others are going to lie about you, stab you in the back, confuse your motives, and misinterpret your intentions.
They are going to over react, blame you, say mean things about you — to everyone around you. They’re going to shout, point fingers, lie, scream, and accuse you of things that are just not true.
And you’re going to feel betrayed, indignant, and full of righteous rage.”
I just want to remind you that we know who is good and who is not so good. We know who has problems and that they are (probably) related to upbringing and disorders. Let’s assume that they can’t help it. Let’s assume that if they could be good Christians, they would be.
No need to defend yourself-we all know. And don’t lower yourself to their level. Raise yourself to Jesus’ level. No sword pieces your heart that does not go through the Immaculate Heart first. Console Her.
Abeca, using any of my posts (quote please), explain your condemnation of anything that I have posted.
I do my best to adhere to Sacred Scripture and the CCC.
haha. Robert thinks celebrating the TLM is a way for a priest to get popular. Oh, the irony! Perhaps someone will recognize your name Robert and say, Wasn’t he the guy I saw: a) kissing Santa Claus b) kill JR c) square dancing in biboveralls on HeeHaw
d) all of the above. Ah, well. There’s always someone in the room just waiting to rat on us, criticize what we’re wearing or not wearing or find fault with our conversation. So goes life. (lifts a saronic brow, looks pensively into the horizon) ‘ The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.’ Oscar Wilde
oops. Typo. sardonic
Gee “Dana”, you sound curiously like “YFC”, and not in a good way.
?? Say what? Oh, you must think that because I quoted Oscar! You should read Joseph Pearce’s bio of him sometime…not at all what homosexuals of today think of him. Especially in his later years. I think you misinterpreted what I wrote or we’re living in parallel universes, Kristen. :)
A little snarky, a bit self righteous, bringing in a homosexual angle…oh yes, very “YFC”, though I can admit my mistake :)
Thankfully Pearce’s book about Wilde, whose homosexuality wreaked havoc among those closest to him, is available for discernment for those of this Catholic universe who recognize the importance of repentance, conversion, and contrition.
….many forget that Oscar Wilde repented before death or rather choose to leave off that portion of his life on purpose ;^)
In what way Kristin, does Dana’s post sound like a post I would write? Seems to me there is nothing in the style or substance that would lead a person to conclude that, but maybe I missed something?
We were both being flippant, yfc. And I have to agree, tsa should be paddling boats down the River Styx through a cold stony tunnel with a faded slimy sign overhead that reads, “Abandon all hope, yet who enter here.’ We can sometimes agree on something.
Hey excellent observation Kristin. You make sense. God bless you.
A gold star for Kristen, as well, who is never snarky, and reads one of my favorite authors! Well done! I was a bit disappointed in his autobiography though. Do you ever read Michael Obrien?
Yes, indeed, Ann Malley, and Pearce emphasized the deep remorse for the harm he caused his family and how much he valued the Catholic faith since his youth when his father threatened to cut him off if he converted. Pearce emphasized throughout the book that Wilde was not a poster boy for the gay cause…he hated his weakness..and he could laugh at himself, something many here are loathe to do.
She was flattering you, yfc…Heh. There’s hope for you yet! Seriously, though, there is always hope for all of us. The promise of new beginnings is all about me in the unfurling buds, the delicate songs of nesting birds and the rich loamy smell of the earth warming from a long winter siege. We must always confess the hope that is in us…if the earth can be so unbearably sweet, what must heaven be like? How blessed we all are to be able to contemplate such delight.
Fr. Lahey – how beautifully you expressed yourself and the feeling of many other true Catholics who love their faith. We were not able to be present on Saturday but were present on Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. Latin mass. We felt very much as you did. What a blessing to be there. As one of the other respondents said,
it was like what I imagine Heaven to be. We support Fr. Illo, Fr. Driscoll and our strong hearted Archbishop Cordileone. They are all being persecuted for standing strong and not being intimidated by “so called Catholics”. As you said, it was a privilege to be there. How blessed we are in the United States to be able to express our faith openly. God Bless our Holy Father Francis and all priests and Bishops.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
New International Version (Matthew 7:13-14)
Tell me about it. I had to go through TSA today.
Just kidding folks. Just kidding.
That’s actually pretty funny.
YES!! I agree with Chris’ post, 100%!! To follow Christ most sincerely– a good, FAITHFUL, practicing Catholic– must ONLY enter by the Narrow Gate!!
Sorry to miss. I went to 9:30 on Sunday, and there was no mention of this. How did the word spread?
I am so BLESSED, to be a member of Star of the Sea parish!
Oh stop bragging. : )
And now we have The Rest of the Story!
“The sudden resurfacing of the decade-old case against Father Illo and the selective reporting on it should be seen in the larger context of the on-going attacks against Archbishop Cordileone…”
“On April 25, many parishioners of St. Joseph’s drove 100 miles to attend a Saturday evening vigil Mass (nicknamed a “Mass Mob”) to show their support for Father Illo. CWR spoke to some of those present about what happened at St. Joseph’s more than a decade ago.”
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/3845/attacks_on_sf_pastor_aim_to_test_abp_cordileone.aspx
Thank you for the post to the Catholic World Report, Audrey. It was as I thought. I knew something was fishy about the whole thing.