History Made with Publication of a New Missal

A unique event in the history of the universal Church will unfold on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29.  That day a copy of the newly published Divine Worship – The Missal will be presented to Pope Francis in Rome by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.

Pope Francis with Msgr Steenson and Ordinariate members.

From Rome, to London to Washington, Houston, L.A., Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Sydney and Melbourne on that day, the newly published missal for the Personal Ordinariates of the Catholic Church established under the Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus, will be formally received and inaugurated in the celebration of Mass.

The Missal, published under the authority of the Holy See, offers another version of the Western Rite of the Holy Eucharist which includes traditional (hieratic) English adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, as well as the music of the Anglican Patrimony.

This singular event celebrates another major step for thousands once separated from the Catholic Church. These Anglicans and others who have joined with them are the first distinctive groups, in various countries, to be reunited collectively with the universal Church, in full communion with the Chair of St. Peter.

Ordinariate congregations retain many of the elements of their Anglican patrimony that are in harmony with the doctrine and discipline of the universal Church. Ordinariate communities, like Eastern churches in communion with Rome, have a distinctive liturgy, pastoral practice and now over two hundred priests, many of whom have been dispensed from the vow of celibacy in the Western Catholic, (Latin) Rite of the Catholic Church.

Personal Ordinariate parishes around the world, including the Catholic Parish of St. Thomas More (STM) in downtown Toronto, will inaugurate use of the Missal on the same day. STM shares Sacré-Coeur Church on Sherbourne St. at Carlton.

At 4:00 pm on Nov. 29, STM Parish will celebrate Solemn High Mass using the new missal for the first time. The parish choir, under the direction of Peter Mahon, will offer traditional music written for the traditional English Mass. Music will include a Mass setting by Adrian Batten and the motet Ad Te Domine by Scarlatti. The STM children's choir will sing the Advent Prose.

Solemn High Mass

celebrating the publication of

Divine Worship – The Missal

for the Personal Ordinariates 

Sunday, November 29 at 4:00 p.m.

Catholic Parish of St. Thomas More

Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter

381 Sherbourne St. (at Carlton)

TORONTO

Clergy and people from the archdiocese and visitors are cordially invited; a reception will follow.