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Sunday, March 21, 2021

MY FORMER PARISH, THE CHURCH OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY IN AUGUSTA CELEBRATES THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT'S SOLEMN SUNG TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS

I know that the EF Mass in either a low or high form has been celebrated a handful of times since 2007. But this  is the first Solemn Sung Mass with the Bishop of Savannah present in choir dress. He offers the homily as well!

The altar that this Mass is celebrated upon is the same altar that was consecrated in April of 1863. In the late 90's we moved the entire altar by taking it a part and putting it back together. the altar is designed now for both the Mass facing the congregation or facing the liturgical east. 

I am thrilled to say the least!

















9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice vestments, especially the chasuble---is that Gothic type? Seems easier to maneuver in than the modern chasubles. And judging by the vestments, the clergy on the left and right are deacons?

How does that parish fare in terms of membership? I Suppose it is far smaller than St. Marys on the Hill 3 or 4 miles away, but I hope it attracts parishioners from beyond the downtown area.

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

The parish is about 600 families. At its peak when I was there it was 1,400. Those are Roman vestments. Gothic are fuller.

Pierre said...

Gloria in Excelsis Deo!! Stunning photos. It must kill old double-knit dinosaurs invested in the liturgical failure of the last 60 years to see these! Looks like a young crowd and clergy!!!

Anonymous said...

Is there any significance to the celebrant crossing his stole, like an "X"? I have seen that in some Anglican celebrations of the Eucharist.

AS for the 600 families at Holy Trinity, not too bad a size, given not many people live in downtown Augusta anymore and I suspect like in Atlanta, the Catholic population in Augusta is concentrated in the northern part of the city (like mainly above 15th Street and Gordon Highway)

John Nolan said...

Priests traditionally cross the stole for Mass, bishops do not. It's specified in the EF rubrics, and traditionally-minded priests, especially younger ones, do so in the Novus Ordo as well.

I don't like the practice, seen here, of cluttering up the sanctuary with redundant servers. A non-pontifical Solemn Mass has, in addition to a deacon and subdeacon, an MC, two acolytes and a thurifer.

Anonymous said...

John, 30327 agrees with you on too many servers. Also, I think the celebrant's chasuble looks a little bit short---but maybe because he is so tall!

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

The priest celebrant I have discovered is an assistant at Atlanta's St. Francis de Sales parish which is staffed by the FSSP. The deacon and subdeacon,too, are from there.

I think having more altar boys engaged in a Mass like this, or any Mass can implant the idea of priesthood as a vocation when they truly discern this at an older age.

Anonymous said...

What is the difference between a deacon and subdeacon?

John Nolan said...

'What is the difference between a deacon and subdeacon?'

Traditionally, the subdeacon is the first of the major Orders to be conferred, and is followed by those of deacon and priest. The subdeacon has a specific liturgical role in a Solemn Mass; most importantly he sings the Epistle. He is vested in tunicle and maniple (usually there is no difference between tunicle and dalmatic).

In 1972 Paul VI abolished the subdiaconate and the minor Orders. It was assumed that an instituted acolyte could function as a subdeacon if required. However, since both subdeacon and deacon were transitional, outside of the seminary these roles were, and still are, performed by priests. This is certainly the case in the EF and is not uncommon in the OF as well, although Novus Ordo purists don't like it.