Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger announced June 13 that beginning July 1, the Archdiocese of Detroit will limit the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) to four designated non-parish locations across the archdiocese.
In a June 13 letter to the faithful, the archbishop outlined the new arrangement, which includes maintaining St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit’s Eastern Market as the archdiocese’s “only personal parish established to care for the faithful according to the 1962 Roman Missal,” the Detroit Catholic reported.
The Shrine, operated by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, will continue to offer Mass and sacraments in the Extraordinary Form.
In addition, three other non-parish sites — St. Irene Church in Dundee, Our Lady of Orchard Lake Chapel in Orchard Lake, and St. Joseph Church in Port Huron — will serve the South, Northwest, and Northeast regions of the archdiocese, respectively.
Permissions to celebrate the TLM at all other locations in the archdiocese will expire July 1 and will not be extended.
The Archdiocese of Detroit signaled earlier this year that it would no longer be able to permit the celebration of the TLM in parish churches due to directives from the Vatican, CatholicVote previously reported. In keeping with Pope Francis’ Traditionis Custodes, only the Holy See may authorize the Extraordinary Form to be celebrated in parish settings. Archbishop Weisenburger, who was officially installed as Detroit’s archbishop in March, has finalized that transition, directing that all TLM celebrations to non-parish venues.
Archbishop Weisenburger explained that allowing the TLM at the four designated sites is intended to ensure continued pastoral care for Catholics devoted to the ancient rite while affirming the Church’s liturgical unity.
“I take seriously my charge to care for all the faithful and am confident that this new arrangement is faithful to the Church's law while expressing my concern for your spiritual welfare,” Archbishop Weisenburger said, according to the Detroit Catholic.
He said the new arrangement will continue to serve the “number of the faithful in our local Church who have found spiritual richness in this form of the Mass,” while also aligning with Traditionis Custodes’ call for the “Ordinary Form of the Mass to become the ‘unique expression of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite.’”
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