Laudetur Iesus Christus!

The Charlotte Latin Mass Community (CLMC) would again like to express its gratitude to Fr. Reid for taking the time to teach us more about the Latin Mass, its’ structure and symbolism.  We also wanted to thank members of the CLMC who helped set up and provide the meals.  We were pleasantly surprised at the large turnout of nearly 100 people to attend.  For those who did not make it, the CLMC is pleased to post both the audio and video on our website which you can view:

https://charlottelatinmass.org/resources/latin-mass-introduction-class/

The class also was featured in the Charlotte Catholic News & Herald.

We didn’t anticipate the overwhelming response to the class and likewise the requests for future classes. That said, if you have a suggestion for a future class topic, let us know.

Latin Mass Class April 13th:

Just a reminder — Fr. Reid’s Latin Mass intro class is coming up quickly. He will be teaching a Latin Mass Introduction class for all parishioners on Wednesday April 13th at 7pm in the Allen Center cafeteria.

It will be preceded by the regular Low Mass at 6pm and a light dinner will be served by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community. The class is open to newcomers and regulars alike and will cover topics such as the role of the priest during the Mass, the different parts of the Mass, and its symbolism. While the event is free, an RSVP is greatly appreciated by April 12th (click here)

Christus resurrexit! Alleluia! Happy Eastertide blessings in this Octave of Easter; we hope you and your family had a blessed Easter.  Here is what is happening over the next week and beyond:

1. First Friday Mass Tomorrow:Fr. Reid will offer a Latin Mass at 7am tomorrow April 1st.

2. Monday April 4: Latin Masses for the Feast of the Annunciation – we are very blessed to have 2 competing Latin Masses for the transferred feast of the Annunciation. Fr. Buettner will offer a high Mass at St. Michael’s in Gastonia at 7pm. However, Fr. Reid has announced that St. Ann will host a Solemn High Mass at 7pm offered by Fr. Santiago Mariani (Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe), with Fr. Benjamin Roberts (Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes) as guest homilist.  With those 2 Masses occurring, the only thing missing that evening in Charlotte might be a Pontifical High Mass (St. Thomas Aquinas parish – care to offer one?) *just kidding, sort of* 🙂

3. Latin Mass Class April 13th: Don’t forget Fr. Reid’s Latin Mass class is coming up quickly. He will be teaching a Latin Mass Introduction class for all parishioners on Wednesday April 13th at 7pm in the Allen Center cafeteria. It will be preceded by the regular Low Mass at 6pm and a light dinner will be served by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community. The class is open to newcomers and regulars alike and will cover topics such as the role of the priest during the Mass, the different parts of the Mass, and its symbolism. While the event is free, an RSVP is greatly appreciated by April 12^th.

Surrexit, non est hic, ecce locus ubi posuerunt eum (He is risen, He is not here; behold the place where they laid Him)

– St. Mark 16:1-7 (from Gospel from Easter Sunday):

 Alleluia! Happy Easter!

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We have now entered the most sacred week in the Church’s calendar and we pray your Lenten prayers, penances and almsgiving are bringing you closer to Our Blessed Lord in His passion.

1) Spy Wednesday (Holy Wednesday): Tomorrow St. Ann’s will have a regular 6pm Latin Mass (low).

2) Remainder of Holy Week & Easter: As noted, there is no Extraordinary Form Easter Triduum at St. Ann’s this year. Also a correction from last week: Sacred Heart parish in Dunn (near Raleigh) will be having Holy Thursday and Good Friday in in the Extraordinary Form. Saturday’s Holy Vigil will be Novus Ordo (I incorrectly said it was Extraordinary form).  If you travel to Sacred Heart, be advised it’s a small church so arrive early.  Back in Charlotte, for Easter Sunday, St. Ann’s will have High Mass as custom at 12:30pm.

3) First Friday: A reminder St. Ann’s will offer First Friday Latin Mass at 7am April 1st.

4) Monday April 4: Feast of the Annunciation transferred. Both St. Michael’s and St. Ann’s will offer a 7pm Latin Mass. I understand St. Michael’s will be a High Mass (not sure about St. Ann yet).

5) Latin Mass Class April 13th: Father Reid will be teaching a Latin Mass Introduction class for all parishioners on Wednesday April 13th at 7pm in the Allen Center cafeteria. It will be preceded by the regular Low Mass at 6pm and a light dinner will be served by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community. The class is open to newcomers and regulars alike and will cover topics such as the role of the priest during the Mass, the different parts of the Mass, and its symbolism. While the event is free, an RSVP is greatly appreciated by April 12^th (info@charlottelatinmass.org).

6) Divine Mercy Novena: As you may know, Good Friday begins the Divine Mercy novena which concludes on Divine Mercy Sunday. St. Ann’s features a statue of the Divine Mercy of Our Lord in front of the parish, honoring seminarian & parishioner Michael Kitson who passed away on Divine Mercy Sunday a few years ago.  For those who observe this devotion please consider praying for these intentions as part of your novena:

– For the suffering Christians in the Middle East

– For the end of abortion in our country

– For the reestablishment of the weekly Latin Mass at Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury

– For the regularization (resolution of the status) of the Society of St. Pius X

Lastly, we provide you an interesting talk which explains how the Passion is represented in the Mass.

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

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We have a few updates for the next few weeks:

1. Feast of St. Joseph Saturday March 19th: St. Thomas Aquinas parish is hosting a Solemn High Mass at 8am Saturday for the Feast of St. Joseph on Saturday March 19th. It will also coincide with a special announcement regarding the new diocesan seminary.

2. Easter Triduum: Regretfully there won’t be an Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) in the Extraordinary Form this year (we did ask) – as you can expect priests have a difficult schedule next week. There will be Easter Sunday Latin Mass at St. Ann’s regular time of 12:30pm.  As you offer your penances and sacrifices during Holy Week, please do pray that in future years the faithful will have the option for the Triduum in the Extraordinary Form.  If you are eager to drive, there is an Extraordinary Form Triduum being offered at Sacred Heart parish Dunn, NC this year (40 minutes south of Raleigh).

3. April 4 – Feast of the Annunciation (transferred). Fr. Buettner will be offering a Latin Mass for the Feast of the Annunciation at St. Michael parish in Gastonia (I believe the time is 7pm but will confirm). This feast which normally occurs on March 25th is being transferred because this year it falls on Good Friday.

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

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We’re at the halfway point in lent, and as Fr. Reid exhorted us on Sunday, keep up the penances and the fasting!

First Friday Mass: This week Father Reid will again be offering a First Friday Latin Mass at 7am this Friday March 4th. Please do try to make the sacrifice to come and make reparation against the offenses of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Holy Hour of Reparation this Friday: Also on Friday, Fr. Reid is offering a Holy Hour of Reparation at 5:50pm this Friday followed by Stations of the Cross at 7pm. Our country has committed many sins and a Holy Hour can help to appease God’s anger and justice for the offenses against Him.

Latin Mass Class April 13th: Looking ahead, please mark your calendars for Wednesday April 13th at 7pm.  We are pleased to announce that Father Reid has graciously agreed to offer a Latin Mass tutorial class to help answer some of the questions we may have about the Latin Mass. We know many have had questions over the past year, and we hope this will begin to answer some of those.

If there is interest, we may offer pizza or dinner depending on interest. Low Mass of course will be offered at 6pm.  Stay tuned for more details.

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We have entered into the 2nd full week of Lent and we have a few events to share.

1) Important Action Item: As noted at today’s Mass, tomorrow, Monday, there is a rally to protest the Charlotte City Council’s attempt to pass legislation that would permit men to use women’s restrooms.  As Fr. Barone noted in his outstanding sermon today (sorry if you missed it!), we Catholics must stand up in the public sphere to defend faith, otherwise they will force the churches (like St. Ann’s) to comply. Thus if you live in Charlotte, please consider signing the petition and showing up at the rally.

All faithful are encouraged to attend the rally at Char-Meck Government Center from 5-6pm tomorrow (Feb 22) to oppose this legislation. The address is: 600 E 4th St Charlotte, NC 28202. Free parking available**  To learn more and to sign the petition please visit this website. It is organized by the NC Values Coalition and the Susan B. Anthony List.

http://dontdoitcharlotte.com/

2) Latin Mass tomorrow at St. Michael’s: After the rally, you still may have time to attend a special High Mass (Latin) at 7pm for the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter at St. Michael’s in Gastonia. Mass will be offered by Fr. Buettner.

3)Latin Lenten Devotion: Our friends at the Carolina Catholic Chorale will sing the beautiful Lenten devotional Adoramus te, Christe Friday, February 26th at 7:30pm at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury, NC.  The text of Adoramus te, Christe is taken from an antiphon from Good Friday: Adoramus te, Christe,  et benedicimus tibi: quia per sanctam crucem  tuam redemisti mundum

We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. For more info please visit the Chorale’s website listed above.

4) Young Adult Latin Mass lunch next Sunday: On February 28th, after 12:30pm Latin Mass at St. Ann’s some of the young adults (20s & 30s) who attend the Latin Mass will go out to eat for fellowship. Meet in narthex around 2pm.

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

Laudetur Iesus Christus! As we head into Lent, here are some updates:

1. THANK YOU to everybody who attended the First Friday Latin Mass last week. It was heartening to see so many faithful attending the first Mass, at such an early time. As Father Reid noted in his sermon (to paraphrase from memory), we will not regret making this sacrifice to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

2. Ash Wednesday (Feb 10): Latin Mass will be in the morning at 7am. The evening Mass will be Novus Ordo at 7pm.

3. Coffee Fellowship on Sunday February 14th after 12:30pm Mass. We may need some help organizing it this week – I may send a follow up e-mail this week if we do.

4. Latin Masses at Mission: The St. Ann Lenten mission is February 14-17 at 7pm each night with Confessions afterwards Sunday-Tuesday night. The mission priest, Fr. Wolfgang Seitze will offer the Sunday 12:30pm Latin Mass and the Wednesday evening 6pm Latin Mass (talk begins at 7). Please consider plans to attend.
5. Liturgy & Lager: Due to the parish mission we won’t have Liturgy and Lager in February. Most likely we will hold off until after Easter.
6. February 22nd – Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Please mark your calendars: Monday February 22nd 7pm, Fr. Matthew Buettner, pastor of St. Michael’s in Gastonia will offer a High Mass for the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. The Mass will take place at St. Michael’s.

Latin Mass Anniversary this week

Lastly, you may not recall but St. Ann’s marks a special anniversary this week — the establishment of the Sunday Latin Mass in 2013. What many newcomers may not know is the story of how it happened…

In short, before 2013, there was no Sunday Latin Mass at St. Ann’s and the CLMC, with Fr. Reid’s and Bishop Jugis’ encouragement, petitioned the Vatican to request the Charlotte faithful be provided with a regular Sunday Latin Mass at St. Ann’s.  By God’s grace, the Holy See responded and asked Bishop Jugis to provide this request.  Fr. Reid followed Rome’s lead and made the announcement on Sunday February 10, 2013, the day before Pope Benedict’s resignation announcement. Attached are the Vatican acknowledgement letter in 2012 and Fr. Reid’s bulletin announcement.

Fr. Reid began offering the first Sunday Latin Mass beginning in March 2013 and he has taken great effort to ensure the faithful always have a Sunday Latin Mass – even when he is traveling.  It’s easy to take our regular Sunday Latin Mass for granted today, but it wasn’t always around prior to 3 years ago. As we head into Lent, please take time to offer some prayers and sacrifices for Fr. Reid who takes tremendous effort to care for our souls.

St. Gregory the Great, ora pro nobis!

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

Laudetur Iesus Christus and Happy Feast of the Purification of Mary! We have a few reminders we wanted to mention, and also share with you an update about the CLMC.

1. First Friday Latin Mass 7am this Friday. Thanks to Fr. Reid’s generosity and care for our souls, he will begin offering a First Friday Latin Mass on Friday February 5th at 7:00am (Low Mass). This is the only First Friday Mass offered in the Extraordinary Form around the metro area (as far as we know). We encourage you to consider making an extra sacrifice to attend this first devotional Mass if you can.

2. Ash Wednesday (Feb 10): Latin Mass will be in the morning at 7am. The evening Mass will be Novus Ordo.

3. Latin Masses at Mission: The St. Ann Lenten mission is coming up on February 14-17 at 7pm each night with Confessions afterwards Sunday-Tuesday night. The mission priest, Fr. Wolfgang Seitze will offer the Sunday 12:30pm Latin Mass and the Wednesday evening 6pm Latin Mass (talk begins at 7). Please consider plans to attend.

4. Coffee Fellowship on Sunday February 14th after 12:30pm Mass.

Lastly, an update about the CLMC.

Over the past several months you may have noticed an uptick in the spiritual activities surrounding the Latin Mass at St. Ann’s. Some of these were Fr. Reid’s initiative to help care for the souls of all his parishioners while others the CLMC desired and expressed to Father (who kindly obliged!).  It is the latter (CLMC requests) we wish to draw your attention to, not to bring spotlight to the CLMC per se, but to show the potential of spiritual growth and fellowship that can occur when the we faithful work with our pastor to develop ways to grow in holiness. Some of these CLMC requests included Christmas Day Mass, First Friday Mass (see #1 above), and various sacramental blessings you’ve witnessed after Mass recently.

To facilitate these requests, last year the CLMC formed a Latin Mass Steering Committee comprised of several families & individuals who meet monthly to plan and organize spiritual/fellowship opportunities for the Latin Mass faithful. Linked you will find CLMC’s 2015 Latin Mass Report that shares a vision of what spiritual life can develop when working with our pastor.

Over the course of 2016, the CLMC, working under Fr. Reid’s guidance hope to offer more spiritual and fellowship opportunities for the Latin Mass faithful.  As we move forward in 2016, we ask for both your prayers and your help in giving back to our wonderful parish (stay tuned). With more hands to help, the Latin Mass at St. Ann can grow more. We hope you enjoy the read.

St. Gregory the Great, ora pro nobis!