I was at a wonderful feast day celebration at the Church of St. Augustine in South Saint Paul, MN, with Holy Mass celebrated in the Extraordinary Form. Present was H.E. Most Rev. John Nienstedt, Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Here are a few images.
The church was jammed and the choir sang well.
There was a nice reception for the Archbishop and whole parish afterward.
A good choir of young ladies sand songs for the people and clergy.
There were lots of kids… as is usual at parishes where the TLM is embraced, and most of them seems happy, well-adjusted, and cute.
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Father,
A nice looking church.
Do you know anything about its history and architecture?
God bless you.
That’s the firs time I’ve ever seen a photo of such a large congregation for an EF Mass. Aside from special events (June 14th etc) that is.
As a matter of interest, did this Mass replace an OF or was it put on specially, or is it a regular EF Mass? Either way, what is the attendance normally like? I would be genuinly interested to know.
St. Augustine’s in South St. Paul, MN, has long been the location for the sole Extraordinary Form Mass in the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis. St. Agnes parish in St. Paul has regularly scheduled indult Masses, including the 10:00 on Sundays with orchestra and the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale.
Currently it offers the E.F. on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and also on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 a.m.; and 7:30 p.m. on First Fridays and Holy Days of Obligation and First Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.
The parish is paired with Holy Trinity, also in SSP, about a half mile or so distant. Holy Trinity offers the E.F. on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m. and Fridays (except First Fridays) at Noon.
Archbishop John Nienstedt, who was a coadjutor for a year, assumed his office in May and received his pallium in June. He is visiting all the parishes and schools of the archdiocese.
But, but, I thought NO ONE wanted these EFs except old geezers like me? Looks like a very healthy crowd of all ages to me. This is spectacular. Tom
This Church is much more beautiful that the new Cathedral in Oakland – and it is not all in the eye of the beholder.
Looks like it was a beautiful Mass! And that child is adorable. I want to take her home with me.
“This Church is much more beautiful than the new Cathedral in Oakland – and it is not all in the eye of the beholder.”
Miquel: Aint that a fact!
Three cheers for His Excellency! The good archbishop deserves our gratitude for being open to the full liturgical riches of the Church.
The picture of the faithful does not capture the many many parishoners standing outside the doors (I assume that particular picture was taken well before Mass began). The choir did an outstanding job. The turnout was amazing! What a wonderful day at Saint Augustines.
There are so many demands placed on our bishops, we should thank them when they recognize and support the Extraordinary Form. And Archbishop Nienstedt is an extraordinary ordinary!
Yikes, how many altar boys have they got?
It’d be nice if we could ever be getting that many… (not that we don’t have many young people, we just don’t have many people overall).
I do prefer our torches to theirs… though the youngest boys can’t even carry them.
Ack, I probably shouldn’t compare these things…
But it’d be nice if our own bishop could come to our TLM, too… (not gonna happen, though).
From Vincenzo:
This awesome quotation from St. John Chrysostom (On the Priesthood, III, 4) goes well with Vicenzo’s image and the text he cites on his blog:
‘For the priestly office is indeed discharged on earth, but it ranks amongst heavenly ordinances; and very naturally so: for neither man, nor angel, nor archangel, nor any other created power, but the Paraclete Himself, instituted this vocation, and persuaded men while still abiding in the flesh to represent the ministry of angels. Wherefore the consecrated priest ought to be as pure as if he were standing in the heavens themselves in the midst of those powers. Fearful, indeed, and of most awful import, were the things which were used before the dispensation of grace, as the bells, the pomegranates, the stones on the breastplate and on the ephod, the girdle, the mitre, the long robe, the plate of gold, the holy of holies, the deep silence within. But if any one should examine the things which belong to the dispensation of grace, he will find that, small as they are, yet are they fearful and full of awe, and that what was spoken concerning the law is true in this case also, that “what has been made glorious hath no glory in this respect by reason of the glory which excelleth.” For when thou seest the Lord sacrificed, and laid upon the altar, and the priest standing and praying over the victim, and all the worshippers empurpled with that precious blood, canst thou then think that thou art still amongst men, and standing upon the earth? Art thou not, on the contrary, straightway translated to Heaven, and casting out every carnal thought from the soul, dost thou not with disembodied spirit and pure reason contemplate the things which are in Heaven? Oh! what a marvel! what love of God to man! He who sitteth on high with the Father is at that hour held in the hands of all, and gives Himself to those who are willing to embrace and grasp Him. And this all do through the eyes of faith! Do these things seem to you fit to be despised, or such as to make it possible for any one to be uplifted against them?’
How about a caption call for the adorable little girl in the last picture? What is she thinking?
You can change my coffee
You can change my tea
But don’t you mess
With my LI TUR GEE!
I’m visiting via Ray’s blog. These pictures are so pretty and make me wish I lived closer to St. Augustine.
I have a question. I wonder something about families that have been attending TLMs all over and forever (I’ve only been going for about 10 years or so on and off). I love the Mass in the EF and will go whenever it’s available within a reasonable distance and convenience for my family (who are not always cooperative). As time goes on and (if) the EF “catches on”, how “welcome” will newbies like me be who don’t exactly feel comfortable wearing a veil all the time or dressing a “certain way”, or know exactly what to do or where to go in my missal? Also, I have a hard time promoting the EF in my parish where people kind of see the whole thing as silly or a fad. I know this is a problem all over the place in the Catholic world but I’m feeling a little “caught in the middle”. I tried working it from the inside (liturgy committee) but I’m only one woman and I got very tired.
Hmm, I guess I don’t have a question at all. I’m excited about the possiblities but discouraged that I may have to leave the parish that my family has been in for over 100 years. I’ll bet I’m not the only one with this problem.