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The mainstay of the liturgy throughout the Western Chtirch
following its standardisation by the XVIth-century Council of Trent
(whence its popular name “Tridentine” Mass), the Ordo Antiquus
went into eclipse in the wake of the last Vatican Council.
Prompted by his great pastoral concern and compassion for all the faithful, H. H. Pope John Paul II, in October 1984, extended the earlier “indult” of Paul VI by granting permission for Holy Mass to be offered in Latin according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 anywhere in the world, with the approval of the local Ordinary. Later, in a subsequent Apostolic Lefter (Ecclesia Dei of 02 July 1988) the Holy Father expanded these earlier provisions and called for their “wide and generous application. Following a number of private initiatives at various locations, a group of faithftil linked to the Latin liturgical tradition requested a regular celebration of Holy Mass according to the 1962 rite in their own diocese. The Archbishop of Milwaukee was willing to respect the just aspirations of these faithful, and so on 23 February 1985 the first “indult” Mass was offered by the late Fr Russell Becker at St Joseph’s Convent Chapel on Layton Boulevard in Milwaukee. Two months later, the Mass was moved to Archdiocesan headquarters at the Cousins Centre in St Francis, on the last Saturday of each month, beginning on 30 March 1985. Among the rotating celebrants were Mons. Sylvester F. Gass, Fr Paul Witteman and Fr Frank J. Yaniak. As the Latin Tridentine Community continued to grow, Fr Richard Breitbach was appointed Chaplain and on 17 February 1991 a regular weekly Sunday Mass began at Mater Christi Chapel in the Cousins Centre. Expansion of the Community’s activities to include CCD classes, First Communion preparation etc. prompted the move to St Mary Help of Christians parish in West Allis, where the first regular weekly Sunday Mass was celebrated on o8 November 1992. Upon the retirement of St Mary’s pastor, Fr Joseph L. Cunningham, Fr. Skeris was appointed by the Archbishop of Milwaukee on 27 June 2000. In the Spring of 2007, the Latin Tridentine Community moved to St. Stanislaus upon the closing of St. Mary Help of Christians. On September 14, 2007 the Motu Proprio SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM of BENEDICT XVI went into effect. |