Traditional Catholic parishes run by one society of priests are growing in the United States, defying the trend of decline in the broader American church over previous decades.
Over the past year, parishes run by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, a society of priests dedicated to celebrating the traditional Latin form of the Catholic liturgy, have reported large increases in Sunday Mass attendance. The traditional liturgy that draws attendees is the form of the Mass celebrated before the reforms instituted at the Second Vatican Council, a meeting of the church’s bishops in the 1960s.
In Los Angeles, the fraternity did not have their own church until 2018, but Mass attendance over the past year doubled from 250 per Sunday to 500. The pastor of the parish [St. Vitus in San Fernando], Fr. James Fryar, commented for the fraternity’s website that, after his parish added a fourth Mass on Sunday, “another 200 people came.”
The Naples, Florida, parish has been around for less than two years, but close to 400 people attend every Sunday, an increase of 20% from 2018. The pastor, Fr. James Romanoski, told the Washington Examiner the parish has been “averaging a new household — sometimes a family, sometimes an individual — every week” for over a year.
Romanoski said people are attracted to the liturgy and the strong community, which includes groups for men and women, young and old alike, and monthly potlucks.
One Naples parishioner, Greg Colker, was a Protestant who converted to Catholicism but first attended a “standard” American Catholic parish, “not at all particularly traditional, not at all particularly liberal,” he told the Washington Examiner.
The traditional liturgy proved transformative for him, and he described it as “something that has formed from the heart of the church to form us into better people.” He added, “There’s this big lie that the traditional stuff is legalistic and rigid. I have found it to be anything but. I have found the teaching to be clear and useful.”
Sunday Mass attendance at the fraternity’s parish in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho increased by about 29% in the past two years, while the parish in Atlanta has grown by 30% in the last year.
It is difficult to gauge the total number of Catholics affiliated with the fraternity’s parishes or who regularly attend traditional liturgies, as neither the church nor the fraternity provide public information about attendance. The popularity of the fraternity among American Catholics can be approximated through other factors, including priestly ordinations and the society’s presence in dioceses around the country.
The fraternity has witnessed a steady increase in the number of priests in the society since its founding in 1988, and ordinations continue to grow. Between 2007 and 2012, an average of 10 seminarians were ordained priests each year. Between 2013 and 2018, that number has jumped to an average of almost 15 per year. Annual reports provided to the Washington Examiner by the society show the number of the fraternity’s personal parishes has tripled from 11 to 33 in the U.S. since 2008. A personal parish is a Catholic community recognized by bishops based on a special feature of the group, such as commitment to celebrating the Latin liturgy, rather than geographical location.
Social media pages offer a less conventional way of gauging interest in traditional Catholicism, with humorous pages such as TradCatholic Memes and Traditional Catholic Memes for Working Class Teens garnering 12,000 and 9,000 likes, respectively. Another page, The Beauty of Catholicism, which frequently posts images of the traditional liturgy, has almost 130,000 likes.
The growth of FSSP parishes comes amid decades of decline in the Catholic Church in the U.S., which has been marred by sexual abuse scandals. Since 1970, the number of priests in the U.S. has declined by about 38% to 36,580 in 2018.
In absolute terms, the Catholic population has grown from 54.1 million in 1970 to 76.3 million in 2018, although that is down from a high of 81.2 million in 2005. In relative terms, however, the Catholic population has declined as a share of the overall U.S. population over the past decade, from 24% in 2007 to 20% in 2019. The number of people identifying as former Catholics has skyrocketed from 1.8 million in 1975 to 26.1 million in 2018.
The above comes from a Nov. 2 story in the Washington Examiner.
From the FSSP report cited above:
St. Anne Parish, our apostolate in San Diego, was established in 2008, and despite having a small church that can seat approximately 200 adults, had reached more than 800 parishioners by 2018 with three priests offering five Sunday Masses. Now, they are averaging over 1,000.
Dear FSSP, please come to the Diocese of Arlington, VA.
I’m glad to see people going to Church. I’m not sure why those who follow the TLM feel the need to compete with those who follow the Ordinary Form. Its great that 150,000 American Catholics find a home in TLM liturgical practices. But millions and millions more find their home in OF practices. Why the enmity?
YFC I will give you the reason why, because the modernist who dreamed up the N.O mass, have done all they could to eradicate Catholic Identity in almost all aspects. From liturgy, to music, to catechism, to preaching to even architecture, there was/is an all out war declared Catholic Tradition and Identity done by modernist. We were gleefully denied our inheritence by those who rather “get along with world” then convert it, who tore apart our altars and replace them wooden tables, by those who gave ‘seamless garment’ than the 4 last things, by those who have persecuted holy priest and promoted homo-criminals. For all intents and purposes we are in two seperate Church’s, a functioning schism, you wanted reasons for the enmity…there you go.. get the idea…
Bohemond, I’m sorry you feel that way. I’m sorry that you mistake a tradition that goes back about 4-600 years forTradition, which goes back to the Apostles. What was reclaimed in the NO, is actually far more ancient than the TLM. I’m sorry that there was an abrupt reclamation of the ancient tradition, but belittling the rest of us because you want to claim a 16th century relic instead of a rite that is truly representative of 20 centuries of Christianity, well, that just isn’t helpful for spreading the Gospel. The TLM was invented in the times of Trent, hence the Tridentine Mass. it was simply an effort to congeal a variety of valid rites into a single universal rite. It can hold no more claim to antiquity than any of a hundred other rites. It is no better nor worse than rites that came before it or came after it. It is just the discipline that the Church felt it needed to impose for a while. That while ended when Latin fell out of usage and the Kingdom was extended beyond the lands of the Romance Languages. No need for enmity. We lost nothing. We gained a window for evangelization, even if we have failed to take advantage of that window.
Enmity is not needed.
It is a matter of demographics. Look around any N.O church on any weekend and count the number of gray heads. Now count the number of heads under the age of forty.
The disparity is staggering. Where are the young people at the N.O.?
It is clear that in 20 to 30 years that multiple N.O. parishes, nationwide, will have to shutter, for lack of people. Diocesan funds will dry up with it.
The young people are simply not interested in being “evangelized” into Catholicism. Why not? Something is wrong here.
YFC– you ought to do a broader and deeper reading of our Church and liturgical history, and ask questions if devout, well-educated Tridentine Latin Mass priests! Then, you will get a clearer picture! And no– most Catholics do respect the New Mass, but many also know well, all that we have lost! And continue to lose — with crazy, apostate, liberal, unethical Church leadership!
Uh oh I offended the self appointed Doctor of the Church.. here at Cal Cath
YFC only a liberal would think the N.O. mass was reclaiming tradtion… what is did is to allow clergymen bastardized the mass to their liking where instead of being about Christ it became about the “community”…..
Bohemond’s point is false. There are elements in the Ordinary Form that reclaims what was in existence prior to the rubrics of the Tridentine Mass.
The Council sought to “reclaim elements of the Church” that had been “lost??” An echo of the Protestant Reformation, not necessarily historically accurate– rather, a clumsy move towards Christian unity — ecumenism to the extreme– rather than inviting Protestants to rejoin the True Church.
Note– my post on Nov.6 at 2:06pm, contains my own interpretations– many Churchmen may not agree! Anyway– I also believe in Christlike love and friendship, among us all– regardless!
Actually, as is often the case, you are incorrect YFC. Much literature is devoted to showing that the Novus Ordo is a Protestant-lead construct, whose sponsors desperately searched for any kind of ancient roots to support the purported historicity of the NO.
In fact, many commenters have explained that the Latin Mass developed from the time of the Apostles. The TLM from Pius V was not the beginning of the Latin Mass, but represented an effort to coordinate and make uniform what had pre-existed. It was said that the Mass of the 16th century would have been understood by early Church followers. The NO has no historical roots. Its effect has been the gradual extermination of knowledge of what it means to be Catholic.
“SC’s” point is false. The fact remains, which neither “SC” nor anyone who denigrates the Ordinary Form (OF) can ever dispute, is that millions and millions of Catholics worldwide (in Africa, in Asia, and in the Americas some of whom are being persecuted) are nourished and supported in the Catholic faith BECAUSE of the Ordinary Form. Many people from those same continents came into the faith because of this Mass. On the one hand we have Catholics who are being martyred and persecuted, and in the other hand we have people like “SC” who do nothing but complain about rubrics and why be friendly to Protestants. People, your thinking has been skewed and perverted.
St. Christopher– yes, the New Mass has no historical roots! It was a quick modernistic, ecumenical concoction, directed by Abp. Bugnini, with six Protestant theologian Council “observers” contributing to the writing project.
jom “why be friendly to Protestants. ‘ well its a good question. Why did we abandone Catholic patrimony and identity just get along with a group of people who we hold very little in common with…. answer that question… professor
The original Mass was in aramaic as likely were those of the Apostles. The oldest recorded Eucharistic Prayer is in Greek, so it is reasonable to assume that those living in and around the holy land probably celebrated Mass in their native tongue of Aramaic. Churches outside the Holy Land probably heard mass in their own language, too. Greek in much of the Eastern parts, Latin in the parts of the empire under Rome’s influence. The Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) was probably taking formation in the4th century, and then “canonized” in the 6th. THe second eucharistic prayer (the part that I point out was lost), dates to St. Hippolytus in the third century.
In regards to my reply to St. Christopher, on Nov. 7, at 11:55pm– yes, both the New Mass and the old Latin Mass are valid!
Also, I’d compare this movement to that of the Charismatic movement: Worldwide, about 150 million people belong to charismatic Catholic communities. Pope Saint John Paul II said this about the charismatic movement: “At this moment in the Church’s history, the Charismatic Renewal can play a significant role in promoting the much-needed defense of Christian life in societies where secularism and materialism have weakened many people’s ability to respond to the Spirit and to discern God’s loving call. Your contribution to the re-evangelization of society will be made in the first place by personal witness to the indwelling Spirit and by showing forth His presence through works of holiness and solidarity”
This is a no brainer, the Novus Ordo was and is a complete and utter disaster. The TLM has not and will never go away, it is The Mass of All Times! Did you hear that Pope Bergoglio?
There is no need for enmity or competition. People long for reverence. God is, after all, God. It’s great that some find that in the TLM. I know a couple of charismatic Catholics who attend the TLM Mass for its reverence. The Novus Ordo Mass can be celebrated reverently, and even ad orientem. Let’s encourage others to attend Mass, in whatever form, including whatever form they find most meaningful. The important thing is being Catholic, part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, founded by Christ and entrusted to the Apostles and their successors. We really are all in this together, regardless of our personal preferences or opinions.
The good news is that hundreds of thousands of people are finding God in their worship community. If the TLM is their preference, the diocese should provide it, it should be available to the believer. If the NO is their preference it should be provided. There are a few other rites used around the world and in some orders. Good! No matter which mass one attends, it should help them further develop their personal relationship with God.
Excellent, bohemond! We all could hardly bear the aftermath of the Council! A genocide with atheistic Modernism killing us all! And our children to inherit this terrible mess?? God help us! An imminent priest shortage was immediately announced, and over 200,000 clerics resigned, worldwide– and many religious orders (such as the Jesuits) either closed, or turned crazy, liberal, heretical, apostate– fearing their days were over for good — adapting to the filthy ways of the world– or die! Today, we are blessed with a few good Novus Ordo priests and bishops– but not many! And our Pope is a lost cause!
Many today may not know this– but the liturgy– the Mass– has been the heart and center of the Catholic Church for centuries– and when they killed the old Latin Tridentine Mass– it was like a suicide! It was intended to bring Heaven to earth, in a theologically correct liturgy, with heavenly beauty and Truth– Transubstantiation is the most beautiful gift ever given to us– the heart and soul of the Catholic Faith! You cannot compromise, and “ecumenize,” or “Protestantize” the Faith — and nearly kill it, in a genocide– in a second “Reformation!”
Lots of great comments praising all forms of the liturgy. Yet still a few which cast nasty aspursions upon the Mass. How can you possibly claim to be a faithful catholic and insiunate that the ordinary form of the Mass is not theologically correct, or doesn’t confect transubstantiation? Actually, you can’t. To claim that the mass doesnt re-present the Body and Blood of Christ is heresy.
“To claim that the mass doesnt re-present the Body and Blood of Christ is heresy.” Coming from a ‘catholic’ who supports gay marriage this statement is beyond laughable….
If the Church prior to the Second Vatican Council were as strong and healthy as it seems you think it was: priests and religious would not have fled in the great numbers they did and bishops wouldn’t have implemented or allowed some terrible abuses of the Mass in the aftermath. (As you know, the Council did not do away with the ad orientem Mass or Latin. That was done by bishops and their cohorts.)
We lost nearly all our religious orders of reaching nuns, in the aftermath of Vatican II! A terrible loss to all our parish schools!
Bohemond, Romulus and anon, do you think the Novus Ordo Mass is valid?
(Of course, I’m not asking you if you think it’s good, only if you think it’s valid. Is our Lord Jesus there, body, blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist at a Novus Ordo Mass?)
To anon clergy: I have been to some N.O masses that were beyond blasphemous … so I wonder if it was valid. and you are right I dont think the N.O is good…. its protestantized watering down of the mass
anonymous clergyman– of course, the Eucharist is the same, at all valid Catholic Masses, in union with Rome!
Sorry for the typo in my first sentence, of my Nov. 5 post, at 5:39pm! It should read, “…go ask questions of devout, Tridentine Latin Mass priests…”. They can answer all your questions! Also, to compare interest in the old Latin Mass to interest in the modern ” Charismatic Mass,” taken from the Protestant Pentecostal “Holy Roller” church, in the 1960s– is a huge mistake!
anon. too– Not a question of “how strong and healthy” the pre or post-Conciliar Church may be. The pre-Conciliar Church upheld correct theology, with strict rules. There was massive destruction to the Church, in the aftermath of the Council. And yes — the Church leaders did trick clergy, and forbid them to say the old Latin Mass — although it was never technically forbidden by the Council.Thousands of clergy left the Church, because they thought that the New Mass was wrong, for theological reasons. Many religious orders were either extremely decimated — or destroyed– and others became apostate, liberal, immoral, heretical. We have had bad clergy at times, since the time of Christ — hypocrites, who were immoral, unethical, and apostate — and great destruction to the Church occurred, during their time of service.
For its very beginning the Church has been pluriform. Pope Benedict XVI recognized this when he issued Summorum Pontificum permitting the use of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. It is important to note Pope Benedict XVI stated that both forms of the Mass are licit and one form is not better than the other. There is freedom in the Catholic Church and in a sense the Church is pro-choice with regards to the liturgy…one can choose to attend either an Ordinary or Extraordinary Form of the Mass. It is also noteworthy that there are many forms of the liturgy celebrated in the Catholic Church: Coptic, Ethiopian, Maronite, Syro-Malankara to mention just a few. Asserting that one of the forms, EF or OF, is better than the other is not in line with Catholic teaching and would be similar to claiming the iPhone is better than the Samsung Galaxy phone or vice versa.
” There is freedom in the Catholic Church and in a sense the Church is pro-choice with regards to the liturgy” Yeah sure there was so much “freedom” that the modernist did all they could to suppress the TLM for nearly 50 years until Summorum Ponticum… The TLM has to fought for by the laity in order for it to be preserved, because the crowd running things right now would surely love to crush it ..And the much despised SSPX has to been thanked for not letting the TLM disappear into history
Here we go again! There are several forms of the Mass within the Roman Catholic Church. One is not better than the other, just different. VII was nearly 60 years ago, three generations spent in churches using the vernacular, for millions of people. Think about this: if you are 60 years old it is likely that you never attended a Mass in the EF, have never studied Latin in high school, and, wait for it, don’t know that that is an issue for some people. One form of the Mass is not better than the other, just different. One is not evil and the other good. One is not catholic and the other protestant, just different. People should go to the church where they feel most comfortable and which allows them to pray in the form they prefer. God is Love.
“if you are 60 years old it is likely that you never attended a Mass in the EF, have never studied Latin in high school” showing how uneducated Catholic’s have become…
Is there statistical data about the devotees of the EF: are they primarily new converts to Catholicism or are they Catholics who have decided to attend the EF of the Mass. By the way, I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, served as an altar boy back in those days and took Latin in high school. Offering the EF of the Mass is fine for Catholics who find solace in it. As for myself, I prefer the OF of the Mass and have no desire to regularly attend the EF.
It’s very unfortunate that some would claim there are “no historical roots” to the (Ordinary) Mass. That’s patently false. You may dislike it, but it is valid and has historical roots. Start with the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Fathers of the Church to see that. Or, you could even use the Tridentine form and see some historical continuity. I’m not trying to discourage anyone from the TLM. But, some TLM Catholics seem to claim that only their preferred Mass is historical. Not all the problems of the post-Conciliar Church are due to the current Ordinary form of the Mass. We really are all in this together and I pray will work together for the betterment of the Church. There is no need for us practicing, faithful Catholics to shoot verbal arrows at one another. (We have real enemies and a real Enemy.)
Folks, let us be under no illusion here: there are other, more valid reasons, behind the Conciliar Fathers’ call for the reform of the liturgy–and not just because these “bad” clerics wanted to be friendly to Protestants, which is the usual narrative of the anti-Vatican II crowd. No. As Ratzinger himself had pointed out, there had been a lot of liturgical accretions that had accumulated historically overtime in the TLM, which needed to be addressed: such as those that relate to rubrics, the calendar, etc. Liturgical rubrics folks are not immutable: only God is immutable; and the Magisterium has the right to make changes to it, as it befits the praise and worship of God, and as they are in harmony with Scripture and Tradition. There is nothing in the Ordinary Form that contradicts either. These anti-Ordinary Form folks just have to face the fact that there are LEGITIMATE and valid reasons for liturgical reforms.