Confirmations Are Coming Quickly!

From the Pastor:    Confirmations Are Coming Quickly!

       This upcoming year brings uncertainty to Epiphany. You are all aware of the efforts of some in Rome to shut down the Traditional Latin Mass. You are also aware that Bishop Parkes continues to fight on our behalf to keep not only Epiphany parish going but also the other two parishes in the diocese that offer the TLM. In March of 2023, Bishop Parkes obediently wrote a letter to Cardinal Roach making a case to keep the status quo in the diocese and his plea was (relatively) well-received. In July or August of 2023, he was granted a 2-year “indult” to continue the celebration of the TLM in all three parish churches with the possibility of asking for an extension of that indult when the two years are up. In the meantime, the TLM at all three parishes has kept growing even as other parishes struggle to keep congregations from declining too sharply.
       Bishop Parkes has been striving to find a solution to this strange situation, for he sees a sizable minority of his flock finding solace and holiness in the form of the Mass loved and cherished by centuries of both Saints and (non-canonized) saints. He understands that we are not just “in it for the nostalgia” for he sees the overall youthfulness of our congregations, those who are not pining for something they grew up with (since they were born long after the change from one Mass to the other) but are rather those who have discovered the treasure-trove of riches comprising the ancient Mass after perhaps never having heard anything positive about it in their lives. “The priest had his back to the people, nobody understood what was going on, and the little old ladies fingered their rosaries,” is all that most people under 60 ever heard regarding the Tridentine Mass and, hence, never gave a second thought to it. That is, until they happened upon it for whatever reason, and fell in love; in love with God, for His love for them and their new-found ability, inflamed desire, and even the realization of the necessity to love Him in return is what the “old” Mass showed them so clearly. They knew as they had never known before Jesus’ perfect act of love for all men, the Holy Sacrifice of His Life upon the cross for our eternal salvation. And they loved right back, immersed as they were in the whole experience of the soul-moving liturgical ritual that had been honed for nearly two thousand years. These groups want to stay in that place at the foot of the cross, Adoring Him and offering their lives back to Him, a place they arrived at by spiritually entering into His Most Sacred Heart through the Traditional Latin Mass. And the bishop wants them/us to be able to do so. And he doesn’t want the Sword of Damocles hanging over our heads, always threatening to fall and wipe out the TLM at the whim of someone who has never even visited the diocese, let alone met the people. He is still diligently striving to come up with a way to give the TLM long-term (perpetual) stability. But, alas, so far all possibilities have shown dire and unintended (on his/our side, anyway) consequences, making them not worth pursuing unless/until forced into a corner.
       With that being said, it is apparent that we don’t know what the future holds for us and, although we all hope that things will continue as normal, I have made the decision to move Confirmations up a few months earlier than we have had them in the past, just in case the sword does fall this spring. I petitioned the Bishop to allow us to have our Confirmations in February this coming year. Mark your calendars. Wednesday, February 12, at 7:00 pm, Bishop Parkes is scheduled to come to Epiphany to confirm, using the 1962 ritual, however many children have been properly prepared to receive this important sacrament. His schedule is even more grueling than mine and, although it is on his calendar at the present moment, we have seen in the past that it may change and either we will change our date/time to accommodate him or else I will be given delegation to bestow the confirmations in his place on the above scheduled day and time. Either way, it is imperative that: 1) the children start their confirmation preparation immediately if not sooner; and 2) everyone who is planning on being confirmed that day fill out the information sheet we have on our website so that we know how many people to expect. I cannot stress this enough. In the past we have often had children signed up only at the last minute. This year, the bishop wants to know (already!) how many are being prepared. I must give him a number, so you must tell me ASAP if you want your children included.
       If the worst case scenario occurs, March of 2025 (two years after the letter asking permission to keep the TLM was written by Bishop Parkes) will bring news that the current TLM indult will not be renewed. If so, the February Confirmations may be the last time the old ritual is used for this sacrament. I pray that it will not be so, but I would rather not take the chance, hence the early Confirmation date. As always, if you need help preparing your child(ren) for this sacrament, let me know and we will arrange whatever assistance is necessary. For those already doing the preparation through Catholic homeschool programs, you may need to step it up a bit, since the curriculum may be expecting a full school year (an extra couple of months) to get through all of the material.
       As always, keep praying for Bishop Parkes.

With prayers for your holiness,
Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka