CHARLOTTE — Father Philip Scarcella, pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Charlotte, announced his retirement from active ministry as of Dec. 31, 2023. He will continue to assist at the parish until a new pastor can be appointed, expected in February 2024, the Bishop’s Office announced.
— Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — Four parish churches in the Diocese of Charlotte have been granted permission from the Vatican to continue offering the Traditional Latin Mass, Bishop Peter Jugis has announced.
Abiding by Pope Francis’ new norms shifting the Traditional Latin Mass to non-parochial churches, Bishop Jugis sought a dispensation for the four parishes in geographically diverse locations that have traditionally served the faithful who have an affinity for the old liturgy.
St. Ann and St. Thomas Aquinas parishes in Charlotte, St. John the Baptist Parish in Tryon, and Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro may continue offering the old form of the Mass, which uses prayers and a liturgical calendar that pre-date the Church’s reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
Five other parishes that have been offering the Traditional Latin Mass in their parish churches, less frequently and for smaller groups, may no longer do so, Bishop Jugis said in a Dec. 6 memo to priests. Mission churches and non-parochial chapels that have been offering the Traditional Latin Mass were not affected by the Vatican’s decision and will continue as directed by the bishop.
The changes, which take effect Jan. 9, are part of the bishop’s stated goal of a “smooth and orderly transition to the new course charted by ‘Traditionis Custodes’,” Pope Francis’s 2021 norms that are intended to make accommodation for the celebration of the old form of the Mass for those who remain attached.
The Vatican body charged with implementing the pope’s instruction, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, permits the four parishes to continue offering the Traditional Latin Mass until Oct. 2, 2025, Bishop Jugis explained.
After that, the decree from the Dicastery for Divine Worship states that the parishes will need to ask again for permission to continue offering the old liturgy, at which point the Bishop of Charlotte may seek an extension of the dispensation. This request must detail the number of participants in the Latin Mass and describe the steps taken to lead them to participate in the current form of the liturgy.
In what he described as an effort to promote unity in the Church, Pope Francis restored limits on the celebration of the old liturgy that had been allowed or expanded by his predecessors St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
“Traditionis Custodes” (“Guardians of the Tradition”) declared the liturgical books promulgated after the Second Vatican Council to be “the unique expression of the ‘lex orandi’ (law of worship) of the Roman Rite” and directed bishops not to establish any new groups or parishes in their dioceses devoted to the old liturgy.
The pope’s instruction also does not permit the continued celebration of the pre-Vatican II form of other sacraments and rites, such as confirmation or marriage.
In his December memo, Bishop Jugis also noted that priests who are already permitted to offer the Traditional Latin Mass may continue, at the locations and times now permitted.
He thanked the clergy for their “continuing ministry to the holy people of God as we proceed to implement the provisions of the Motu proprio ‘Traditionis custodes.’”
— Catholic News Herald
‘May Christmas joy fill your heart’
CHARLOTTE — After weeks of preparing for Christmas, make this year’s celebration – which continues until Epiphany on Jan. 7 – a time of joy and gladness, Bishop Peter Jugis urged the faithful during midnight Mass Dec. 25 at St. Patrick Cathedral.
More than a year after work began to renovate and repair the 84-year-old cathedral, its new look was on full display for Christmas – freshly painted red, blue and gold artwork in the sanctuary and nave sparkling in the candlelight.
Christmas carols sung by the cathedral’s choir and accompanied by a trumpet and cello, lots of candles and flowers, brightly-lit Christmas trees, poinsettias and wreaths, and special prayers enhanced the festive occasion for a near-capacity crowd of 275 worshipers.
Midnight Mass began with the traditional Christmas Proclamation, followed by Bishop Jugis processing in with a statue of the baby Jesus that he placed in the manger of the cathedral’s Nativity display. He incensed the display, then knelt and led the congregation in silent prayer for several minutes.
During his homily, Bishop Jugis encouraged people to make room in their hearts for the joy that the birth of Jesus brings.
The angel’s message to the shepherds in Bethlehem, recounted in the Gospel of Luke (2:1-14), tells of the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” These words, Bishop Jugis said, are still meaningful for us today – on this “glorious day of Christmas.”
The past four weeks of Advent have been a time of waiting and hectically preparing for the arrival of the Savior, he said. In the ancient world, the word “advent” also described the visit of a king to his people.
“Well, Christmas is here! The King has come, He has arrived! He is at Bethlehem in Judea. He is visiting His kingdom, and He is here to stay with us,” the bishop said enthusiastically.
“Let us enjoy the celebration of Christ’s birth,” he said. “That word – enjoy – is key to the celebration of Christmas.”
Christmas “is a season of gladness, a season of happiness, a season of joy as we celebrate Jesus Our Savior and the gift of salvation He brings. The Lord fills our hearts with joy and He lifts our spirits as we celebrate Christmas.”
“Let us enter into the joy of Christmas with all our heart,” Bishop Jugis continued. “May Christmas joy fill your heart. May Christmas gladness fill your heart. May Christmas happiness fill your heart.
“Let us welcome Jesus our King into our hearts and into our lives once again. Let us make room for Him. In fact, let us make a lot of room for Him in our hearts and in our lives.”
He concluded with a blessing to the faithful: “May Christ Jesus bless your family and your home with His Christmas joy.”
— Patricia Guilfoyle. Photos by Troy Hull and Patricia Guilfoyle.
