Traditional Latin Mass in the South Bay
On Sunday evening, Lisa, the kids, and I attended the 1962 Indult High Mass at the Oratory of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Santa Clara. The Oratory was erected in January 2007 by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Patrick J. McGrath, Bishop of San Jose. Our friend Fr. Michael Wiener of the Institute of Christ the King serves as Rector, in addition to his duties as Episcopal Delegate for the Latin Rite in the neighboring Diocese of Oakland (where we live).
The faithful in the South Bay have received a great blessing, and their efforts to sustain the Mass of Ages are bearing fruit. Those in attendance at the Sunday evening High Mass were predominantly young people and families with no memory of the traditional Latin Rite from the time prior to the reforms of the Missal of 1970. The Gregorian Schola, though only four in number, led us ably in Mass XVII. The faithful did their part, strongly singing the responses for the Ordinary of the Mass.
Although they are — for now at least — a small community, the faithful at the Oratory made us feel very welcome as visitors. As more Catholics in the South Bay learn about the Oratory, I can foresee a time when they will outgrow their present Chapel and find themselves looking for a larger Church. Deo gratias!