Since late spring, we have known that the Archdiocese of Toronto must implement Traditionis Custodes. Under the instruction of Metropolitan Archbishop Francis Cardinal Leo, the Auxiliary bishops met with Father Russell Asch, chaplain for the traditional liturgy in Scarborough (St. Lawrence the Martyr), Schomberg (St. Patrick’s), and the Toronto Oratory (Holy Family and St. Vincent de Paul), to discuss and set future implementation dates.
Father Asch was required to act in June. The Toronto Oratory continued discussions and is now implementing the instruction effective Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Our good friend, Toronto Catholic Witness, was at Mass yesterday at St. Vincent de Paul and filed the following report.
Let us first take a look at some history.
The Masses at Schomberg and Scarborough have existed for over 40 years under the late Father Liam Gavigan. He had a personal "celebret" and was authorized by the late Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic under the indult permitted according to Ecclesia Dei Afflicta of John Paul II. In the early 1990's, the Oratorians were given charge of a second parish, neighbouring Holy Family, St. Vincent de Paul. A few years later, the Society of St. Pius X purchased a small Baptist church in the next parish from St. Vincent de Paul and opened a Mass Centre. Cardinal Ambrozic approached the Oratorians, who already offered the Novus Ordo sung in Latin at Holy Family, to begin a traditional liturgy at St. Vincent de Paul on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation to draw people away from going to the SSPX. Cardinal Thomas Collins continued and encouraged the growth.
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| The late Very Reverend Jonathan Robinson, Cong. Orat., offering Solemn Mass at Holy Family Church |
Effective next Sunday, September 20, one Mass per month scheduled in the usus antiquior must be said according to the Novus Ordo. At St. Vincent, the old high altar will be used, as it is now, and at Holy Family it must face the people. The Mass at St. Vincent will be simply read, along with the earlier one. At Holy Family, it will be sung in Latin, facing the people, with music according to the new rite, as they did there from arriving in Toronto until changing it to the traditional and evolving to Solemn weekly.
No other sacraments are permitted according to the traditional usage.
All four parishes have sufficient English-language Masses, and at St. Lawrence the Martyr, Italian Masses according to the new rite. There is no demand to remove these from Latin Mass-goers, and no demand from others to remove the Latin Mass. People are free to choose.
A rough calculation of numbers is revealing. At these four Masses and the Society of St. Pius X masses at two locations, there are not more than 1,200 people attending, and that is a generous estimate; it may be less than 1,000.
Let the reader discern.
10 comments:
Whatever happened to unity in diversity? What ever happened to “listening to the sheep”? The TLM at HF has been flourishing with standing room only. The demand for the TLM is strong. Someone should find out who insisted on implementing that evil decree from Pope Francis. It’s been discredited from every perspective and yet someone thinks it should be “implemented.”
Words fail me .. how is this Christian charity.. removing masses , not allowing the sacraments in the traditional form
Unity in diversity only applies if you’re a heterodox Catholic
Only the enemy of souls and its minions wish to suppress a valid Mass and sacraments. Unity? Are you kidding? We used to have it with the TLM all over the world. Now every novus ordo parish is different.
If one were to see a systematic plan, the net effect would be to declare the TLM itself a schism. If you basically push everyone into the "ghetto" of the SSPX and imply attendance itself is schismatic, ipso facto tradition is excommunicated and the revolution can finally be cemented (or so the logic).
I am outside of the City of Toronto but attend TLM at the Holy Family Parish whenever I am able to travel to Toronto. Would you kindly direct me to a link or links where I can find out more about this change at the Holy Family Parish in Toronto ? Needless to say, I am quite distressed by this news. I searched the Archdiocese of Toronto website and unable to find any announcement or information about this. I would be most grateful if you or other readers would post a link or links here in reply. Thank you very much.
This move will drive many HL and VDP parishioners to the SSPX. This will be a gain for the SSPX.
The exact reason why as I wrote, it was initiated at that parish of St. Vincent de Paul in the first place.
Rorate Caeli has a bit of information, which I will post in reply:
As announced from the pulpit in a prepared statement, in lieu of the homily on the 16th Sunday after Pentecost: Traditionis Custodes is taking effect at Toronto Oratory parishes effective immediately, including the Modern Roman Rite Mass replacing the Sunday Traditional Latin Mass on successive Sundays once a month at each parish.
The Toronto Oratory operates two parishes: St. Vincent de Paul Parish (263 Roncesvalles Ave.), and Holy Family Parish (1372 King St. West).
St. Vincent de Paul Parish has one TLM a week, a Missa Lecta on Sundays at 9:30am; its first monthly restriction is to happen next Sunday on September 20th, to be replaced by an English-language Mass "celebrated at the high altar in the Oratory way." As it stands, the parish already has Sunday morning Modern Roman Rite Masses in English at 8:30am and 11am (the latter with music).
Holy Family Parish has had an 11am Sunday TLM Missa Solemnis for several years, now replaced once a month for a Latin Modern Roman Rite Mass versus populum, starting on September 27th; no mention was made of the parish's daily Traditional Latin Mass being affected, though the announcement noted that St. Vincent de Paul parishioners seeking Sunday refuge at Holy Family are advised that the Holy Family 11am Sunday TLM is already standing room only.
One other note mentioned in the Sunday announcement is that other Sacraments in the Traditional Roman Liturgy - Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals being mentioned by name - are proscribed going forward with only existing (i.e. already scheduled) requests being permitted.
Saints Benedict and Pius X, pray for us!
This comment was prompted by "Stratford"'s query, but I am addressing this to all in the spirit of charity. It concerns how people were told.
As announced from the pulpit in a prepared statement, in lieu of the homily on the 16th Sunday after Pentecost: Traditionis Custodes is taking effect at Toronto Oratory parishes effective immediately, including the Modern Roman Rite Mass replacing the Sunday Traditional Latin Mass on successive Sundays once a month at each parish.
The Toronto Oratory operates two parishes: St. Vincent de Paul Parish (263 Roncesvalles Ave.), and Holy Family Parish (1372 King St. West).
St. Vincent de Paul Parish has one TLM a week, a Missa Lecta on Sundays at 9:30am; its first monthly restriction is to happen next Sunday on September 20th, to be replaced by an English-language Mass "celebrated at the high altar in the Oratory way." As it stands, the parish already has Sunday morning Modern Roman Rite Masses in English at 8:30am and 11am (the latter with music).
Holy Family Parish has had an 11am Sunday TLM Missa Solemnis for several years, now replaced once a month for a Latin Modern Roman Rite Mass versus populum, starting on September 27th; no mention was made of the parish's daily Traditional Latin Mass being affected, though the announcement noted that St. Vincent de Paul parishioners seeking Sunday refuge at Holy Family are advised that the Holy Family 11am Sunday TLM is already standing room only.
One other note mentioned in the Sunday announcement is that other Sacraments in the Traditional Roman Liturgy - Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals being mentioned by name - are proscribed going forward with only existing (i.e. already scheduled) requests being permitted.
Saints Benedict and Pius X, pray for us!
Thank you.
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