Brick By Brick in Ohio

From a reader…

Back in December you posted a Brick-by-Brick report about the TLM returning to Athens, OH (HERE) and I just wanted to update you that Fr. Jonas Shell continues to celebrate the TLM weekly on Saturday mornings with a regular attendance of about 20 individuals of various ages. Of particular excitement, however, is that this past Thursday, May 26, Fr. Shell celebrated a High TLM for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Close to 100 individuals attended! Fr. Jonas worked hard for several months to plan and organize this, from training altar servers to forming and preparing a schola that chanted the Ordinaries of the Mass.
This was the first High TLM that I have experienced and I was overcome with awe at how it directs one’s body, mind and soul towards the real focus of the Mass, that is, the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His Real Presence in the Eucharist before us. Indeed, I’m struggling to find words to express what I experienced that evening – “beautiful” falls flat in describing it. As a graduate student at Ohio University, it is a tremendous joy to have this gift of the TLM with a zealous young priest to revive its celebration here in Ohio. I consider myself truly blessed to be able to participate in this great mystery!

God bless you and your work!

At a certain point, you have to take it to the next level.

Again, Fr. Z kudos to them all.

And ¡Hagan lío!

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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5 Comments

  1. Kathleen10 says:

    Boy, I know how this person feels, there is nothing like it! We attend a local TLM (Low Mass), and that is wonderful. I’ve never been to a High Mass, that would take some driving, but it’s on the bucket list for the summer.
    In these dark days, I respectfully recommend anyone even slightly curious to look up Latin Rite Mass online. There are listings for each state, and you can probably find one within driving distance.
    It would be great to even attend once a month, if it’s quite far, and the other weeks attend your local NO Mass. There are often Missals right there so you can learn and follow the Mass, and you’ll be surprised how fast you come to know what’s coming and are able to participate fully. Even before you do, chances are you will recognize the depth of the Mass, and that, come to find out, it’s not about you or me or community, it’s about the Holy Sacrifice of Christ on the altar. It was a homecoming, to find this Holy Mass, and it is most definitely a refuge and consolation at this time. God bless all priests who learn and offer the Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form. We thank God for them!

  2. Semper Gumby says:

    This graduate student’s email is a morale booster. Deo Gratias for Fr. Shell. Well said Kathleen10.

  3. Suburbanbanshee says:

    Look up the Church Music Association of America’s annual Colloquium. This year it is in St. Louis. High Masses all week with excellent music, including a Requiem Mass. The classes are not free but the Masses are obviously open to all comers.

  4. Augustine says:

    When I came back to the faith, it was at a Melkite parish, whose liturgy is Byzantine. After I moved away, it was fast from any Eastern parish, so, for decades I attended the Roman liturgy. Even though they were reverently celebrated, for I’d never become a member of the parish otherwise, I pined for the Divine Liturgy. I tried to quench this thirst with the Latin Mass, but it’s never moved me to worship as the Byzantine liturgy. The mystical sense of God’s majesty and mercy is lost somewhere in the Roman liturgies, methinks. It was only a few years ago when I found, after stopping looking for, a Maronite parish, whose liturgy is Syriac, and was immediately captivated by it, speaking the language of my spirit as even other Eastern liturgies fell short of. I was glad to make it my parish and, now, to join this particular Catholic Church. I encourage other Latin Catholics to check out the Eastern Churches and, after discernment, join their humble ranks and make a difference not only in those particular Churches, but in the whole Catholic communion of Churches.

  5. Jack in NH says:

    Well, this falls under “brick by brick” and “good news”.
    The Dioscese of Manchester (NH) is going to reopen a church in Nashua dedicated specifically to the TLM! It is St. Stanislaus Church; I think the Church elders are beginning to pay attention.

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