Rorate on the Road ... in Weston, West Virginia

Rorate was on the road yesterday with a stop in Weston, West Virginia. Who would have thought that surrounded by hundreds of miles of mountains we'd find St. Patrick's, a gem of a church, offering the traditional Latin Mass every Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

While everyone hears about hardship in small towns in West Virginia, this church, run by the great Fr. James DeViese, has been wonderfully maintained and preserved since 1914. 

Rorate on the Road: Mater Dei (FSSP) in Texas

Once in a while when we’re on the road, we like to highlight churches that don’t get much attention, at least with our global audience. Today, we had the pleasure of assisting at a Sung Mass at Mater Dei Catholic Church, run by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), in Irving, Texas. 

The beginning (Septuagesima) of this year’s early Easter cycle was on full display as the Christmas decorations were joined by the purple tabernacle veil and vestments. 

There are five Sunday Masses at Mater Dei and we’re told they’re all packed. The 9 a.m. today was standing room only. To accommodate the demand, they are now raising money to expand the church. If you will to contribute, check out this page and contact the parish (CLICK HERE).

See below for a rendering of the new church:

Rorate on the Road ... in Hagerstown, Maryland

Yesterday, Rorate was roaming the Pennsylvania countryside, and needed a traditional Latin Mass that didn't require a ride two hours into Washington, D.C. A friend from the area recommended we check out the new(er) TLM at St. Mary's Church in downtown Hagerstown, MD. And we're really glad we did.

Rorate on the Road: Honolulu

The 50th of the United States is perhaps the most beautiful. On Oahu, the island in Hawaii containing the capital city Honolulu, Blessed Sacrament parish is the home of a traditional Latin Mass offered every Sunday at 10 a.m.

Rorate recently attended Mass there -- a sanctuary within paradise on earth -- and met numerous members of the congregation afterward. The diocese was not always friendly toward the TLM, as infamously demonstrated decades ago. But times have changed, and the TLM community there is quite strong, with several happy families and friendly young adults in the pews of the diocesan church.

Sunday Mass at Blessed Sacrament church in Honolulu

Rorate on the Road ... in Irving, Texas

Rorate was on the road today and, this time, we were in Texas at Mater Dei Latin Mass Parish in Irving (just outside Dallas). The church is run by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).

While we travel the globe and go to many traditional Latin Mass sites, we normally do not post pictures of the historic churches we visit in the major cities, and focus rather on the little-mentioned yet wonderful experiences we have in smaller towns.

Rorate on the Road ... in North Carolina

Rorate was on the road yesterday and this time we were in North Carolina at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mt. Holly (just outside of Charlotte). The church is run by priests of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX).

While we travel the globe and go to many traditional Latin Mass sites, we normally do not post pictures of the historic churches we visit in the major cities, and focus rather on the little-mentioned yet wonderful experiences we have in smaller towns.

Rorate on the Road ... in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Rorate was on the road today at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Lancaster, Pa., for a traditional rite baptism. A solid, young priest brought the week-old child into the Church. Those in the area can assist at the TLM every Sunday at St. Anthony's at 1:30p.m. The over 100-year-old church is remarkably well preserved.

Rorate on the Road: Cleveland, Ohio

Continuing with our occasional look at traditional Latin Mass churches we have visited, here is an absolutely gorgeous parish in Cleveland, Ohio, in the U.S.: Saint Stephen on West 54th Street.

The German church, on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, has a Missa Cantata each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  The pastor, the Reverend Father S. Michael Franz, hears confessions and the Reverend Father Bede Kotlinski, OSB, offers the Mass (as he has done since the TLM was resurrected here in 2008).  Mr. Nathan Marinchick directs the Gregorian chant schola, which for the Tenth Sunday After Pentecost consisted of four men singing Mass XI, Credo I and the propers, accompanied by pipe organ.  The beautiful organ also filled the church before, during and after Mass.  Ten acolytes processed into the sanctuary to assist with the solemn form of the Missa Cantata.

The photo below shows the high altar, which won first prize in the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The second photo shows Mass this past Sunday.  The third photo shows the celebrant delivering the sermon.  After the Gospel, the custom here is for the priest to remove his chasuble and maniple, put on his biretta, and, flanked by two acolytes, walk to the pulpit located within the nave. 

Rorate on the Road ... in Brooklyn

... and a Jesuit-offered Traditional Latin Mass:

Today we assisted at Mass in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, New York, at Our Lady of Peace Church. Mass was offered today by Father Joseph Koterski, S.J. The Mass was everything you'd expect from a Jesuit: austere, quick and truly humble. It was, in other words, a beautiful low Mass. Let this wonderful priest show us all there's not only hope in the younger ranks of the Jesuits but hope for the return of tradition to the typical neighborhood parish as well.

Rorate on the road ... in Ohio

 Trinity Sunday High Mass at Queen of the Holy Rosary, FSSP, in Vienna, Ohio 

(diocese of Youngstown).

Roaming Rorate: Church of the Holy Innocents, New York

Mass of the Sunday on the 160th anniversary of the birth of the Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Venerable Michael McGivney, Church of the Holy Innocents in New York City. The Mass will be followed by a lecture about Fr. McGivney.