Since the Last Sunday after Pentecost, the public celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been prohibited in the province of British Columbia by the provincial health authorities, and many parishes have been livestreaming their Masses.
Holy Rosary Cathedral
On Christmas Eve, December 24, a Sung Mass will be offered at 9 p.m. PST by Fr. Pablo Santa Maria at Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver. The Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed below.
Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Parish, the Traditional Latin Mass parish in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, will have two livestreams for Christmas:
Midnight Mass (livestream starts at 11:55 p.m. PST on December 24)
Day Mass at 10:30 a.m. PST on December 25
The Mass for the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity will also be livestreamed, at 4:30 p.m. PST on December 27.
In April of this year, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) sent a letter to all the world’s Latin Rite bishops asking them about the implementation of Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum. Issued on July 7, 2007, Summorum Pontificum restored the Traditional Latin Mass (described by Pope Benedict as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite) to a place at the heart of the Catholic Church’s liturgical life. It gave priests the right to celebrate, without the need to obtain special permission, this older form of the Roman Rite, codified by Pope St. Pius V in 1570 and last revised by Pope St. John XXIII in 1962. It also asked pastors and bishops to provide for the celebration of this Mass wherever a group of lay faithful desired it. And it envisioned the co-existence of both the Extraordinary Form and the newer Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite in the same parishes, as well as the establishment of personal parishes dedicated to the Extraordinary Form.
The CDF letter of April 2020 asked the bishops to submit their answers to nine questions by July 31. To supplement the bishops’ responses, the International Federation Una Voce (FIUV) also presented the CDF with a report about the world-wide implementation of Summorum Pontificum. With detailed information from 368 dioceses in 56 countries in six continents, the FIUV Report complements the CDF survey in terms of both content and perspective, especially the perspective of the laity.
An analysis of the CDF survey questions and an account of how the FIUV Report was conceptualized and assembled is found in Edition 10 (Winter 2020) of the FIUV newsletter Gregorius Magnus. This edition also features “select comments from those filling in the FIUV’s world-wide survey … Each paragraph … comes from a different diocese; they have been selected to illustrate both common themes and the variations found even within a single country.” Six conclusions and three recommendations found in the Report to the CDF are reproduced in this special FIUV World Survey section of Gregorius Magnus.
“God’s voice is not heard in big musical productions […] but in the gentle breeze of Gregorian chant.” – Msgr. Donald Neumann (1948-2003)
On October 16, 2020, Una Voce Canada composer-in-residence Mark Emerson Donnelly gave a virtual workshop to around 45 participants from three of the five choirs at St. Francis Xavier Parish (Chinese Catholic Centre) in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Titled “Gregorian Chant: Strength of Song, Peace of Soul,” the workshop covered the early Church’s view on music in the liturgy; the origin of musical notation; how musical notation led to harmony and polyphony; the restoration of Gregorian chant in the second half of the 19th century; and the importance to the Church of creating new music with the foundation of Gregorian chant and the masters of Renaissance polyphony, especially Palestrina. Mark also demonstrated how to perform Gregorian chant and discussed his Organum Novi Mundi, a compositional technique for singing chant in harmony that he pioneered in 1989, as well as his work as a composer of sacred music.
Below are two video clips from the workshop. Many thanks to Frances Wai-ling So, Jeremy Wong, and Chris Chan of St. Francis Xavier for organizing the workshop and providing an opportunity for members of the parish’s sacred music ministry to learn more about one of the greatest treasures of the Catholic Church.
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To learn more about the compositions of Mark Emerson Donnelly and how you can sign up for his newsletter and support his work, visit his website at markemersondonnelly.com
To support Mark’s compositional work through Una Voce Canada, please click here and choose “MED Composer” from the dropdown menu. Canadian donors will be provided with tax receipts.
The St. Monica Society was established by Una Voce Canada in August 2019. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered each week for the conversion or return to the Catholic faith of all those enrolled in the Society.
Una Voce Canada members in good standing may enroll individuals or groups of individuals by sending either:
A letter addressed to Una Voce Canada (Attn. St. Monica Society), PO Box 30027, North Vancouver, BC V7H 2Y8
Please provide the following:
Your name
Your membership renewal date (found on your newsletter mailing envelope)
Names of individuals or groups of individuals to be enrolled (for example, “John Smith” or “The family of John Smith, Vancouver, BC”)
There is no limit to the number of individuals or groups you may enroll. No stipend is required. Donations will be gratefully accepted and used to provide stipends to the priests offering Masses for the Society.
The Traditional Mass is celebrated at Holy Rosary Cathedral, 646 Richards Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, every Friday at 6:30 p.m. (Sung Mass on First Fridays) and on certain feast days (to be announced). For more information, please visit the cathedral website at https://www.holyrosarycathedral.org/.
On July 2, 2020, nine priests were ordained for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest by His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke at the Institute’s Sts. Michele e Gaetano Church in Florence, Italy. The nine new priests come from France, Spain, Malaysia, Canada, and the United States. Among them was Canon Stephen Michael Sharpe of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, whom Una Voce Canada was pleased to have been able to assist with his studies for the priesthood through the generosity of its members and benefactors. Canon Sharpe’s first assignment is at the Basilica of Saints Celso and Giuliano in Rome.
https://institute-christ-king.org/980-nine-new-priests-for-holy-mother-churchCanon Sharpe’s First Mass https://twitter.com/ICKSP/status/1279783023869857793/photo/3
Highlights of the Institute’s ordination week, July 2020. Priestly ordinations start at approximately 4:30.
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For those who love the Traditional Latin Mass, September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, has special significance. On that day in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum, came into effect, freeing the Traditional Mass from the restrictions that had been imposed upon it for almost forty years.
Summorum Pontificum restored the Traditional Mass to a place at the heart of the Catholic Church’s liturgical life. It gave priests the right to celebrate, without the need to obtain special permission, the Mass that was codified by Pope St. Pius V in 1570 and last revised by Pope St. John XXIII in 1962. It also asked pastors and bishops to provide for the celebration of this Mass wherever a “stable group” of lay faithful desired it. And it envisioned the co-existence of both the Traditional Mass (which Pope Benedict called the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite) and the newer Ordinary Form in the same parishes, as well as the establishment of personal parishes dedicated to the Extraordinary Form (an example of which is Holy Family Parish in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, established by Archbishop Raymond Roussin in July 2008).
It was therefore fitting that, despite the limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Solemn High Mass was celebrated at Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, at 6:30 p.m. on September 14, 2020. The Mass was livestreamed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel.
The sacred ministers were Fr. Juan Lucca, assistant parish priest at St. Mary’s Parish in Chilliwack, BC, celebrant; Fr. Ralph Oballo, FSSP, assistant parish priest at Holy Family Parish in Vancouver, deacon; and Fr. Pablo Santa Maria, JCL, assistant priest at Holy Rosary Cathedral and vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, subdeacon. Fr. Stanley Galvon, rector at Holy Rosary Cathedral, preached the sermon. Sitting with Fr. Galvon in choir was Fr. Arsene Dutunge, JCL, currently in residence at the cathedral.
The ministers were assisted by master of ceremonies Matthew Palmer, thurifer Michael Do, acolytes Stephen Ivanyi and Kevin Lam, and crucifer Javier Cabrera.
The Propers and Ordinary of the Mass were chanted by a schola directed by cantor Christopher Suen and composed of Ed Devita (cantor), Daniel Chan, Daniel Ma, and Michael Molnar. The cathedral’s magnificent pipe organ was played by David Poon.
Adoration and veneration of the cathedral’s relic of the Holy Cross followed the Mass, with the schola singing Vexilla Regis and Crux fidelis/Pange lingua … lauream certaminis, from the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday. Benediction completed this beautiful and moving ceremony.
The Traditional Mass is celebrated at Holy Rosary Cathedral every Friday at 6:30 p.m. (Sung Mass on First Fridays) and on certain feast days (to be announced). For more information, please visit the cathedral website at https://www.holyrosarycathedral.org/.
Dr. Peter Kwasniewski was the guest speaker at the Una Voce Canada annual general meeting in 2016. We are pleased to share his letter about the Aquinas Institute’s online offerings.
Dear Friend of Catholic Education,
Most of you, no doubt, have heard of the Aquinas Institute – well, there are several organizations called by that name, but I’m referring to the one that publishes the well-known blue hardcover Opera Omnia series of bilingual editions of the works of St. Thomas (the most recent addition to which is a two-volume set of the saint’s Commentary on Aristotle’s Metaphysics). I am happy to be able to share with you the news that the Aquinas Institute is now launching Online Discussion Classes, at two levels:
A Graduate Theology Curriculum, consisting of 12 integrated courses towards an MA in theology. Courses may be taken 1, 2, or 3 at a time — whatever best fits one’s schedule. Adults looking for a more serious engagement with theology, including priests, religious, catechists, and schoolteachers, should check out this program; nothing quite like it has ever been offered in the USA. Courses begin the week of September 14th.
An undergraduate Liberal Arts Curriculum consisting of 12 accredited courses in humanities, philosophy, and theology, to be taken 3 courses at a time. This program is for students ready to do college-level work, students already enrolled in state universities looking for a way to fulfill general education requirements, and people of any age group and background who want to fill in gaps in their own education. Courses begin the week of September 21st.
Great Books or primary sources: we read (e.g.) whole works by Plato and Aristotle for philosophy, Augustine and Aquinas for theology, Dante and Shakespeare for humanities — not textbooks or random bits and pieces.
Discussion: the classes take the form of interactive conversations guided by Catholic professors passionate about their subjects. The faculty lined up for Fall 2020 hail from Wyoming Catholic College, the International Theological Institute, Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, and Baylor University.
The first three Liberal Arts courses will be: (1) Gods and Heroes in Ancient Greece, with Dr. Jason Baxter; (2) Tools of Philosophy, with Jacob Terneus; (3) Salvation History I, with Dr. Vincent DeMeo
The first three Graduate Theology courses will be: (1) The Book of Job, with Dr. Nathan Schmiedecke (2) Existence and Attributes of God, with Dr. John Mortensen (3) Church Fathers I, with Dr. Michael Foley
The cost is comparable to similar online programs, and scholarships are available.
We are looking to register enough students to run all six courses. Help us to get the word out by telling your family, friends, and acquaintances.
Be Thou mindful of Thy word to Thy servant, O Lord, in which Thou hast given me hope: this hath comforted me in my lowliness. (Psalm 118)
In memoriam: Marie Donnelly (February 1, 1926 – July 27, 2020)
Though Mum and Dad didn’t play any instruments themselves, they thought music lessons were important for my sister, brother and me. I’m not sure why, but they chose violin for Maureen, and piano for Lawrence and me. Our first piano teacher was Mrs. Chapman. She had some chickens, and so, after Mum dropped Maureen and Lawrence off at school, she’d drive me to my lesson, and also pick up a couple dozen eggs. A few months in, Mrs. Chapman told my mum I was too young for lessons, and should try again in a year. By that time my brother had moved on to another teacher, Mrs. Wiesemann, who became my new teacher.
My mum dutifully drove me to piano lessons for eight years, at the end of which it was clear I had neither the discipline nor the desire to play the piano. However, when I was in grade six, Mum bought a trombone for $25 at a second hand store. That seemed pretty cool, but since our elementary school didn’t have a band, I waited two years to start playing it (aside from blatting out a few fat notes that drove our dog, Wally, nuts).
I have no idea why Mum got that trombone. I still have it. In fact, I used it as a prop in “The Barber of Seville” some years ago. My daughter Theresa, who sings on this recording, played one of Figaro’s helpers in that production. I love the trombone, though I don’t play it much anymore. Without it, I’m not sure I would have continued with music.
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In November 2019, Catherine and I made the commitment to promote my composing of Latin church music. Though I had been writing and arranging music for many years, it was only for about the last two that I had the conviction that this was what God wanted me to do. Even then, it took me those two years to muster up the courage to admit this to the world. I, like a lot of folks, don’t like rejection. I had been a professional singer for decades. Now I was going to say that the best part of me was not performing, but writing music. What if people didn’t like it? Or worse, didn’t even care?
The first thing we thought we needed to do was record some of my stuff as soon as possible. We were given permission from the abbot of Westminster Abbey in Mission, BC to record there in the third week of January. Circumstances made it such that we had to push the recording into the next month. However, only one day worked, Saturday, February 1st.
There were two problems. First, the Abbey wasn’t available. Thankfully, a good friend of mine and fellow composer, Peter Allen, arranged for us to record and film at St. Augustine’s in Vancouver; which happened to be the church where my parents were married. That was kind of neat.
The second problem was that February 1st was my mum’s birthday. So I called Mum and asked if it was okay if we celebrated her birthday on the following day instead. She said, “That’s fine, but don’t make a fuss!” I said, “It’s not a fuss. But the only day we can record is on Saturday, so we have to come over Sunday.” “Okay. But don’t make a fuss!” So we recorded and filmed on my mum’s 94th birthday. Since Colleen, our eldest daughter and one of the sopranos in OFFERTORIUM, was in town from Edmonton for the recording, Mum was able to see her great-grandson, Leo, for the celebration.
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Liturgically, we were deprived of the Gloria throughout Lent. Therefore, it was fitting to release the Missa Sicut Cervus “Gloria” on Easter Sunday. It was also most appropriate to release the “Ave Maria” for Mother’s Day; likewise the “Pater Noster” for Father’s Day.
But of the five pieces we recorded on Mum’s birthday, the one that stood out as special to all involved was the “Memento Verbi Tui.” The problem was, what was the fitting occasion on which to release it?
Well, Mum passed away at the end of July. In her honour, we dedicate this performance, sung by friends and four of her grandchildren: Colleen, Theresa, Francis & Mary-Kate.
People ask if her passing was expected. Well, I guess as expected as for anyone who has lived into her nineties. Mum was Mum. Born in Galicia, Poland (now Ukraine), she survived the Second World War as a Slav in Nazi Germany. Mum was tough. It seemed she would just always be there.
Mum never really understood what I did as a conductor or composer. She knew that I somehow made my living as a singer, because she saw me performing the anthem on TV before Canucks games. I sang “Danny Boy” for her about a week before she died. She said, “You sing pretty well. You’re still my little boy.”
My brother, Fr. Lawrence Donnelly, and I will miss her. We pray that Mum is together with Dad and Maureen in Paradise.
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To Mum;
May the angels conduct you into paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your arrival and lead you to the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choirs of angels receive you, and, together with the once poor Lazarus, may you have eternal rest. (In Paradisum)
Your loving son,
Mark markemersondonnelly.com August 14, 2020 Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This article by Agnieszka Ruck first appeared in the BC Catholic on July 22, 2020.
Many people have asked Cecilia Upton the same question this summer. (That sort of thing tends to happen when you turn 100.)
“What’s your secret for a long life?”
The Vancouver centenarian, a parishioner at Holy Family, is happy to answer yet again: “It’s my faith. Our Blessed Lord, we can’t take one step in front of the other without his help.”
Upton’s trust in God has carried her far during her 100 years. Born in Yorkshire, England, she recalls opening a hair salon at age 18 in the midst of the Second World War, marrying a member of the Canadian Air Force, and moving with him to start a new life in a country with vastly more trees than people.
She was one of the nearly 48,000 women who married Canadian servicemen during the war and returned with them to Canada. She moved to New Brunswick with her husband in 1945 and is one of the few war brides of that era still alive today.
Sometime during their sea voyage westward, she remembers the ship turning off its engines; enemy submarines were in the Atlantic and were trying to make it to Canada undetected.
Upton and her husband had two children. Because of his work in the air force, they moved from Prince Edward Island to Vancouver Island and everywhere in between. They ended up staying in “the right spot, in Vancouver here.”
In 1989, long before the Latin Mass Holy Family Parish was established, Upton was already helping advocate for local Catholics wishing to celebrate the traditional Mass.
She had lived through the confusing times of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, when the “major changes in the Church” made it seem like every Sunday was different. She found she missed the “beautiful, reverent” Latin Masses she was used to.
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