As the summer is nearing an end and we enter into September, there are now only eight more Sundays until we reach the Feast of Christ the King and begin to look to the coming of Advent and the new liturgical year.

We have a few important announcements for this month, but firstly I wanted to share with you a brief update on the matter of attendance at the 12:30 pm Sunday Latin Mass at St. Ann.  … in short, we are growing!   Please view the attached chart which shows the attendance tracked for the previous 11 months.

One thing that is not shown in this graph, is that in previous summer months when so many families travel, the Latin Mass average attendance would fall down to the 100-120 range in similar proportions as the Novus Ordo Masses. This year, however, after a concerted outreach program led by our Latin Mass Steering Committee, instead of falling, the Latin Mass attendance grew throughout the summer months. Let’s pray that this growth continues into autumn and beyond.

1.  Black Cope Needed:  Our first announcement this month is rather timely and urgent.  We need to quickly raise about $2,500 for St. Ann Parish to purchase a black cope to complete the full set of black vestments in time for All Souls Day on November 2nd.  There will be Solemn High Requiem Mass for the Feast of All Souls and the current set of vestments does not currently have a cope.

   To make an online donation, please follow this link to the St. Ann online donation page.  In the long list of donation funds, about the 10th item from the bottom of the list is an account called “Latin Mass Priest Vestments“, you can make your donation there.  If you would rather give with a physical check, you can always drop an envelope in the collection basket with a note designating the donation (e.g. Latin Mass Priest Vestments or Black Cope).  May God reward you for your generosity.

2. First Fridays Update:  Reminder that this coming Friday, September 2nd is a First Friday.  There will be Low Mass at 7am as per normal.  Also note that next month in October, the First Friday falls on Oct 7th which is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and as such, the Mass will be moved to the evening for a special Missa Cantata at 7:00 PM.

3. Holy Cross Day: On Wednesday, September 14th, the regular Wednesday evening Mass at St. Ann will be a special Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross.

4. Two Latin Courses: Starting in September, John Welsh, a parishioner of St. Michael’s Catholic Church and a former Latin instructor at Fordham University and St. Michael’s Catholic School, will be offering 2 Latin classes on the campus of St. Michael’s (708 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia, NC):

Basics of Ecclesiastical Latin:  If you are moved by the beauty of the Mass in Latin, consider taking a Latin enrichment class.  This class will be for 1 hour on Saturdays (approximately 9am-10am) from September to May, immediately following the beautiful Low Mass in Latin which begins at 8:15am and is celebrated by Fr. Matthew Buettner.  This class is open to anyone ages 9 to 99.

Latin I:  This Latin class is perfect for those in the homeschooling community (8th – 12th grade) who are seeking a high-school level equivalent Latin class for credit (credit transfer possible for public and MACs schools).  The class will meet weekly during the school year, from 9-10am on Mondays, immediately following the morning Mass celebrated by Fr. Buettner.  This class is also open to adults who are interested in a deeper and more rigorous introduction to Latin. No previous experience with Latin is required.

Please contact John at Jwpublius (at) yahoo (dot) com to enroll or for more information.

Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community (CLMC),

Laudetur Iesus Christus!

At long last, the CLMC and St. Ann’s are pleased to present the recording & materials from our Sacred Music class, presented last month by Stefano Monaco. If you missed the talk, you ought to listen – it was excellent (thanks Stefano!).

You may view the talk and materials on St. Ann’s website (just scroll down to the class).  An Mp3 version is located on the CLMC’s page.

On Sunday we will also distribute the extra handouts Stefano provided – which are really excellent in evangelizing Sacred Music and chant with other Catholics (especially those confused over what the Church actually requires/teaches).

St. Augustine’s relics this Sunday: Lastly on another note, this Sunday** is St. Augustine’s feast day and Fr. Barone has generously agreed to allow us faithful to briefly venerate his relics immediately after 12:30pm Mass. Please stay a few minutes longer if you can.
** Technically Sunday is the 15^th Sunday after Pentecost.

Laudetur Iesus Christus! On this the Vigil of the Assumption we have 2 novenas, and 1 announcement to share with you:

1. 54-Day Rosary Novena for Our Nation begins tomorrow (Monday):  As Father mentioned at Mass today, St. Ann’s will join Catholics throughout our diocese and country in praying a 54 day Rosary Novena to save our country and return it to holiness (begins Aug 15, ends Oct 7). Please join us – you can learn more here: https://www.novenaforournation.com/

2. 9-day Novena to Immaculate Heart of Mary (begins tonight or tomorrow): Please see below the novena for the Salisbury Latin Mass Community, who have been without a regular Sunday Latin Mass for almost a year. The novena ends on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart (Aug 22).

3. Assumption Masses: Solemn High Mass at 7pm at St. Ann’s, and 7pm High Mass at St. Michael’s in Gastonia.

Novena Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Glorious Virgin Mary, I long to love your Son, Jesus, the way he deserves to be loved—with the love of your Immaculate Heart. Unite me to your Immaculate Heart so that I will be open to receive your Son with the same dispositions by which you received him. Your Immaculate Heart is supremely gentle, steadfast, watchful—completely given over to the will of God. Lead me out of the darkness of ignorance, free me from all selfishness and willful self-assertion, and train me in conformity with your Immaculate Heart.

Let me always trust your Immaculate Heart as a true source of grace and mercy. In sharing in the Passion of your Son, your Immaculate Heart was pierced. May your immaculate love embrace me in moments of suffering. I beg to make reparation for all offenses against your Immaculate Heart as I offer you my intentions: the re-establishment of a regular Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Sacred Heart in Salisbury.  Amen.

Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Laudetur Iesus Christus!  Please note that this coming Monday, August 15th is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and we here in Charlotte are blessed to have two different Latin Masses being offered on this great feast.

Firstly, St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte will offer a Missa Cantata at 7:00 PM.  Please also note that the Feast of the Assumption this year also marks the 61st Anniversary of the founding of St. Ann’s Catholic Church as a parish.

Secondly, for those on the western side of the Catawba River, Father Matthew Buettner at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Gastonia will offer a Missa Cantata at 7:00 PM as well.

Just a reminder our 2nd Latin Mass class, “What is Sacred Music?”, with Stefano Monaco will be this Wednesday at 7pm at St. Ann Catholic Church. It will be preceded by 5pm Holy Hour, and 6pm Traditional Latin Mass.  The talk will be in the Allen Center cafeteria.

A light dinner meal will be served (at no cost)

Hope to see you there.

Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community (CLMC),

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We have 3 events to update you on this week.

1. Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel: This Saturday July 16 at 10am Saint Michael Catholic Church in Gastonia will be having a special Missa Cantata in honor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.  St. Michael’s Pastor Father Buettner will also be enrolling people in the brown scapular who desire this special blessing.

2. Liturgy & Fraternity: Next Wednesday July 20th, all men are invited to join us for Mass and fellowship after. We’ll attend the 6:00pm Latin Mass at St. Ann’s (5pm Holy Hour prior) and after Mass head over to Sir Edmond Hally’s pub for a drink or dinner. For questions, please contact us.

3. Latin Mass Class – What is Sacred Music?

   St. Ann parish & the CLMC will host its second Latin Mass class series on Wednesday July 27 at 7pm in the St. Ann Allen Center Cafeteria (3635 Park Road, Charlotte).  This class will explain the role of Sacred Music in the Latin Mass and will be presented by Stefano Monaco, St. Ann’s choir member, with introduction by Pastor Fr. Timothy Reid.

   The presentation will answer many questions including: What is Sacred Music and how does it differ from religious music? How did Gregorian chant develop? What is the role of Sacred Music in the Sacrifice of the Mass?  Class will be preceded by 6pm Latin Mass in the church and a light dinner will be served by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community. Class is open to newcomers and regulars alike. While the event is free, an RSVP is greatly appreciated by July 25^th. Please visit our contact page.

Laudetur Iesus Christus!  Before getting into this week’s updates, we want to thank everyone for helping out with our fellowship coffee today – it was nice to see so many people stay and chat.

Confirmation wrap-up: Secondly, we attach an article from our own Brian Williams who wrote a little bit about Saturday’s historic Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form and included photos from our own John Cosmos. We also were delighted to see the 4th Degree Knights Color Guard attend and perform their duties according to the “pre-1962” Knights’ protocol (kneeling at the rails with the sword facing their hearts at the consecration).

Wednesday: The Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul. As usual there will be 6pm Latin Mass. For those who are Confraternity of St. Peter  members, you are granted a plenary indulgence on this patronal feast day under the usual conditions (according to the most recent FSSP newsletter).

Thursday: Solemn High Mass at 2pm at St. Ann’s for the Duc in Altum discernment retreat for young women. Note the Mass is open to the public – Fr. Reid invites all to attend.

Friday: First Friday/Feast of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Latin Mass at 7am at St. Ann’s.

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We have a few important weekend items to share, so please read carefully:

Today: Friday June 24 is the Feast of St. John the Baptist, a First Class Feast (no Latin Masses today though). After checking with Fr. Reid, all Friday penances are rescinded because this 1st Class Feast falls on a Friday. Thus for those who abstain from meat each Friday, you can enjoy a steak or a burger today. 🙂

Saturday:  A historic day for the diocese, as St. Ann’s hosts Bishop Jugis for the 1st (ever?) Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form for the Diocese of Charlotte. Solemn High Mass begins at 11am and we encourage all to attend – this is a must see!

Sunday: Latin Mass coffee returns! Please join us after 12:30pm Mass for some coffee & donuts and mingle with your fellow parishioners and Latin Mass newcomers. We could also use a few extra hands helping to set up around noon (or clean up around 2:45). Please try to find us in the narthex or the kitchen before Mass.

P.S. To learn more about St. John the Baptist and the customs of his feast day/vigil, you can read more here:

http://fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost3.html