To All Orthodox Catholics In Central Alabama
Perhaps the hardest part of our mission as a chapter of Una Voce is disseminating information to Roman Catholics in Central Alabama who wish to see the establishment of regular celebrations of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, as given to us by the Grace of God through our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.
Pursuant to the provisions of our Holy Father’s Summorum Pontificum, we have started a petition for Catholics to sign, which will be ultimately presented to a parish priest, according to the aforementioned provisions.
Our petition is currently at the St. Peter’s Bookshop, St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Montgomery.
Please note that all Confirmed Catholics of a family should each sign the petition. If you have difficulty traveling to Montgomery to sign the petition, please email us at the address at the top of this site, and we will endeavor to send pages of the petition to you.
Currently, the state of the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass in the Archdiocese of Mobile is just as it was ten years ago - one Mass, celebrated once per month at St. Bridget’s in Whistler, Alabama. For the many Roman Catholics in central Alabama, that is a 400-mile round trip, and is not a consideration for either practical reasons, or in keeping with the provisions of Summorum Pontificum.
It has long been known to Roman Catholics in central Alabama that we are so far distant from Mobile that we are in many instances merely considered a geographical expression. Much of the focus of bishops, since Bishop Toolen (who was magnificent), have considered the Archdiocese as essentially consisting of Baldwin and Mobile counties. In fact, we are not only closer to the suffragan Diocese of Birmingham, but often feel more in union with the outstanding leadership of Bishop Baker, Bishop of Birmingham, in his quest to see the Extraordinary Form of the Mass celebrated throughout the Diocese of Birmingham, and to have priests trained to this end.
Accordingly, until such time as we can present our petition and secure the rightful celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass in central Alabama, we urge all Roman Catholics in central Alabama to attend the Extraordinary Form Masses held regularly in Birmingham and other parts of the Diocese of Birmingham. The distance for us is one-half closer, and there is no juridical impediment to attending these Masses.
Mass times for the Extraordinary Form in Birmingham can be found on the website of Una Voce North Alabama, a link to which is on this site (at right).
In the meantime, we will continue our efforts to get the message out to the many traditional Roman Catholics in central Alabama, so that they may know of our petition and our mission. Remember - it is not necessary to join our Una Voce Chapter in order to sign the petition. We have many non-member supporters.
Should you be interested, or have any questions, please email us.
Best of luck in your petition. Lord willing you will find a priest ready and willing to offer the traditional latin Mass.