Saturday, July 30, 2022

UPDATE*: Southern Maryland parish forbidden to offer traditional Latin Mass after investing in quarter million dollar renovation and decoration for the purpose

UPDATE: As a consequence of the cardinal’s decision forcing 90% of my parishioners to go elsewhere for holy Mass after September 21, my parish will be down to 20 or 30 parishioners a week with offertory of $400-600 a week for a monthly budget of up to $15,000. The parish will of course no longer be viable with an unsustainable budget placing it on a glidepath to eventual closure. My bookkeeper estimates we have enough in our bank account to keep us open for one year. More details will be available in my upcoming article in The Wanderer Catholic Newspaper this week.

Previous post:

Nightmare and heartbreak.

Parishioners of Saint Francis de Sales in Benedict, Maryland, devoted to the Church’s traditional worship, installed a new pine floor, painted altars and gradines, hung chandeliers and lamps, and painted a monumental mural. And more. After an extensive professional renovation and painting of the church’s entire 100-year-old plaster interior walls and ceiling. 

All to give honor and glory to God for the salvation of souls through the most beautiful prayer of the traditional Latin Mass.



By means of draconian cruelty they have been officially forbidden to pray as they desire according to their Catholic patrimony in their own church. This compliments of the hierarchy that boasts of mercy, Synodality, compassion, seeking the margins, listening, accepting everyone, rejecting no one, diversity.

The parish offers a complete weekly schedule of traditional Masses with the exception of one novus ordo liturgy each Sunday so that no one feels excluded or marginalized.

* (As he often does, Father Z copied and pasted this entire blog post onto his blog so, for those who did the favor of clicking through to read my blog post on my blog, I’m providing here some updated information.)

52 comments:

  1. If and when my TLM gets shut down, so does all my financial support to the diocese, APA etc.I think this is the only way the higher authorities may hear people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Do not change. Just do as before and just call it the New Mass, after all, for people born after the mid 70s, it is the New Mass.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Moore than sad. What diocese?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I came to the realization, after Bergoglio’s election, that, as a Church, we were in serious trouble. After a great deal of prayer and research, I realized that Marcel Lefevbre had been right all along: we’re in a state of emergency. Rome/Vatican are now enemies of the Faith and the members of clergy and laity must go forward alone, we must preserve and hand down traditional teachings, and priests must continue dispensing the ancient sacraments to their people. It’s actually quite clear and the parish of St. Francis de Sales should continue as they have up till now. If the diocese owns the church, leave that place and find another. Just don’t cease feeding the Faithful or souls will be lost.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Father Cusick,

    I am deeply saddened to hear of this. I watched as your beautiful Church in Benedict, MD slowly was refurbished to something which was very beautiful in the eyes of Our Lord and most fitting for celebrating the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass using the venerable Tridentine Rite. Why your Parish was not even considered as one suitable for the TLM by your current Ordinary stuns me to the core!

    Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum, secúndum órdinem Melchísedech!
    D.V

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you address this to the parish? If not, and unless Fr Cusick reads this blog, he will not see your note.

      Delete
  6. Celebrate in anyway Quo Primum is still in force

    ReplyDelete
  7. Im sorry for your lose. But you can't really be supprised when your parish depends on the good will of those who want its destruction. This day was inevitable.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The Episcopate in the ADW are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I feel like a 5th grader again and there's a bully in the school yard.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are punished for keeping the faith. This is a heartbreaking situation. I suspect more of us will be in the same in the near future. Kyrie eleison. Ave Maria’s for you all.

    ReplyDelete
  11. In my small European home country we still have TLM but reading this I feel what it would/will be without it. I just cry. And pray.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm so sorry this has happened to you. Praying for you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Father, you and your parish will be in my prayers. As will your ordinary, that he have a heart and remove this from you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such cruelty !! Hard to even find words. We need to become more united in this war against Tradition.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The church looks beautiful, pity the Diocese engages in cutting it's nose off to spite its face. But new springtime and all that. Can't wait for a derth of Catholic marriages, baptisms and priests in the new way forward.

    ReplyDelete
  16. How can that be. How can it happen. Jesus Mary and Joseph give us strength to suffer theses arrows. ✝️🛡

    ReplyDelete
  17. May God bless you.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Fr. I will pray for you and your parishioners. This is terrible news. JC

    ReplyDelete
  19. Praying for you! Our Lady of Akita pray for us

    ReplyDelete
  20. Remember that these little men are standing up against their creator. Didnt work out for Lucifer, wont work out for them. God has promised that the gates of hell will not prevail, hang in there and know you are in our prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  21. St. Francis DeSales, pray for this parish and the One, Holy, Catholic Church.

    ReplyDelete
  22. How truly sad that the inclusivity boasted by this church has pushed us out, May our Lady of Sorrows, intercede for all of us!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Signs of the TimesAugust 1, 2022 at 9:43 AM

    Outrageous and so very sad. FYI Father our parish Church in Little Washington, St. Peter's, has been undergoing a renovation for several months now. The TLM parishioners have been attending Mass in a local firehall in the meantime (which may prepare us for the gymnasium we are destined for in Front Royal). Anyway, the TLM parishioners contributed quite a bit for the renovation, which is scheduled to be completed on September 13th. Of course, September 4th is the last TLM that we will have, so we won't be able to at least have one last Missa Cantata in the church we helped pay for. It goes without saying that we would not have contributed thousands of dollars for a purely N.O. church. But unity!

    ReplyDelete
  24. God bless and keep all of you

    ReplyDelete
  25. I first saw this on Fr Z’s blog and my heart aches for your parish. We must pray even more.

    ReplyDelete
  26. This shouldn’t surprise us any longer, given the current climate. Ultimately we’ll be going to Society masses before it’s all over. And perhaps, even rogue priests in barns before the end.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This shouldn’t surprise us any longer, given the current climate. Ultimately we’ll be going to Society masses before it’s all over. And perhaps, even rogue priests in barns before the end.

    ReplyDelete
  28. It would behoove the 'progressivists' to mind their own store as it were and leave the Latinists alone to worship God in spirit and in truth.

    ReplyDelete
  29. It would be wise if the 'progressivists' minded their own store and leave those who appreciate the Usus Antiquior alone ti worship God in spirit and in truth.

    ReplyDelete
  30. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😢

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am so sorry. I can’t say much more lest I have to go to confession. Prayers for you all.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dear Father: I don't know what to write! Only to offer you my fraternal prayers and deepest sympathy. Let us be consoled that, sub specie aeternitatis, there will be justice and all wrongs will be righted. Your brother priest, Seán.

    ReplyDelete
  33. What can I say? Here, we are waiting for the axe to fall. Crosses are heavy but suffering is the royal road to Heaven. Keep going. One step at a time to Calvary. Jesus waits.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Father Cusick,

    I will keep you and your parish in my prayers. This is an act of utmost cruelty, pettiness, and short-sightedness, by an abusive shepherd. Truly these men have learned nothing from the past 50 years, or the last 15. We are doomed to repeat again the tragedy of the 70s.

    Last night, after reading your blog post, I re-watched the movie "Quo Vadas." Towards the end of the movie, the persecuted Christians are being sent to the lions...and they went to their deaths singing God's praises. A humbling lesson. Remember, our reward is in heaven, not this world. More may be asked of us all. God's peace and mercy to you and your flock.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Absolutely heartbreaking! They think these crimes will break us... but they are totally mistaken. We will continue to fight and will offer up any losses and heartbreaks like this to God. They cannot win in the end; it is impossible.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm sad to think that those who paid for the beautiful restoration of your Church are being tossed out like garbage. I switched to the Latin Mass on October 27, 2019 - the day a demon was enthroned in St. Peter's Basilica. I used to attend the Latin Mass at the gorgeous Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville, VA. It is a feast for the eyes.

    Now that Latin Mass will be shut down too and parishioners are being shunted off to a moldy old school in Nokesville.

    If I were a diocesan priest offering the Latin Mass, I would be on the phone with the SSPX right about now.

    The SSPX Thomas Aquinas Seminary is in Dillwyn, VA and they broadcast a sung Solemn High Mass every Sunday from the seminary chapel. It's reverent online and in person.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am so sorry to hear this. If I were priest in charge I would be inclined to to quietly but politely ignore the bishop's prohibition and then present him with the hard realities if he decided to intervene further.

    ReplyDelete
  38. It breaks the heart. Typical, though, I guess, for the enemies of the Church. Have you thought of selling the church to someone who would allow God to be worshipped in it? May God bless you all through this time and use this act of man for His greater glory.

    ReplyDelete
  39. This did not begin with Bergolio. It really began with “Saint” John Paul II.
    The TLM and the NO can never coexist.
    For now, it appears the modernists are having their way, as they did at Vatican II.
    The SSPX had it right all along!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Rome has a culture of abuse. The latest of this is the way Traditional Catholics who wish to worship using the Latin Mass are treated. However, the lay people have become complicit in their own abuse by continuing to support the institution of the Church of Rome. It is time to Stop giving any more money to this organization. Support the priests who will continue to celebrate the Latin Mass. Give them cash so they will be able to live. Urge the traditional orders to leave Rome and affiliate with the other Traditionalists or Western Rite Orthodox. But, whatever you do, stop giving them money because they use it to perpetuate the organization that will destroy you.

    ReplyDelete
  41. amazing how transparent and overt spiritual warfare is in 2022, yes?

    this isn't just a "bad thing" happening.
    these are coordinated attacks. anyone with tactical background sees this ( and much more so Fr. Cusick).

    what could we be expected to do? pray as if one, to our God Who Is Three in One.
    we should then listen for directions after prayer.
    now's a good time to subscribe to The Wanderer (jic directions are delivered in print).
    1Neh.4

    Agnus Dei, miserere nobis

    ReplyDelete
  42. Dear Father,
    It is a sad day for you and your parish,but this is only the beginning as they will be coming after every parish once their "all is welcome" agenda is implemented. Every Catholic whether TLM or NO will have to decide to leave or to stay when the unthinkable is unleashed on all. Maybe when they have to sell your parish church due to the issues you stated, the laity can purchase it, and cancelled priests can run it.

    My husband and I will be praying for you and your cancelled parishioners.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Sorry to hear this. Very beautiful renovations!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Dear Father,

    I am heartbroken to read this news. It's easy to say from afar, but true nonetheless. I feel sorrow for your flock that is scattered, and for you their shepherd who sees his flock scattered by another who bears the name of shepherd. I can only encourage you by repeating what Pastor in Monte said above: as priests, we signed up for a special share in the cross with faith that the cross born with Christ the Priest is fruitful, that we can allow ourselves to be victims with the Victim.

    We met many years ago at a Sacra Liturgia conference. You helped me to find something or some place that I had overlooked, the spot of Tyburn Tree. I am grateful for your kindness and will try to return it with my prayers for you and your flock.

    Finally, I linked here from Father Z's site and I would never have found my way here but for his post. Do think kindly of him.

    ReplyDelete
  45. May the good Lord have mercy on those who perpetrated this evil.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Astounding, I must say. An archbishop would need to be consulted before plans of this magnitude could proceed. He therefore surely knew of the efforts being made in this church. His Eminence and his curia have taken a remarkably foolish step. ...I'd start making arrangements for all the church's remaining monies to be returned to those who gave it, sign the building and grounds over to the archdiocese, ...and seek FSSP.

    ReplyDelete
  47. So sad to hear of your plight, Father. I do hope that God's Providence will shine upon you and your parish and reverse this "shot-their-own-foot-off" decision by Bp Gregory. It's clear the Bishop is aiming his sights for a Curial appointment one of these days and stacking his resume accordingly for the power brokers, in my opinion.

    When the Diocesan coffers start drying up, perhaps these progressive Bishops may get the message.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Been to this church back in the 1990's. It is beautiful and hopefully the faithful of this community can find a new place to worship. Prayers for the Washington, D.C. archdiocese.

    ReplyDelete
  49. This ban doesn’t apply to FSSP. Would it be possible for the Parish faithful to form an FSSP especially since the only one nearby is in the Archdiocese of Baltimore?

    ReplyDelete