Text and photos courtesy of the Latin Mass Society of Kelowna
With less than a week’s notice, 100 to 120 people gathered at Immaculate Conception Parish in the city of Kelowna, British Columbia, on the beautiful spring morning of Tuesday, June 4, 2019, for a Missa Cantata (Sung Mass) celebrated by Fr. Ralph Oballo of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). Fr. Oballo was ordained in Lincoln, Nebraska, just a week and a half earlier.
Immaculate Conception parish priest Fr. Cerlouie Jimenez, local diocesan priest Fr. Edwin Neufeld, seminarians of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, freshly trained altar servers, and worshippers young and old joined Fr. Oballo for this Mass of Thanksgiving in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in all its marvellous glory.
The Diocese of Nelson, to which Kelowna belongs, covers the Kootenay and Okanagan regions of southeastern British Columbia. The last time the diocese had witnessed a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Extraordinary Form was in 2003, celebrated by Fr. Erik Deprey, FSSP.
Worshippers were filled with emotion, and tears of joy and profound gratitude flowed freely. A reception in the parish hall after Mass was generously organized by the local Catholic Women’s League. In a special area at the centre of the hall, Fr. Oballo gave his First Blessings to the faithful.
Newcomers to the Traditional Latin Mass visited the Latin Mass Society of Kelowna’s tables, asking questions, gathering resource materials, looking though TLM books and missals, and offering their support. Boys signed up to become altar servers. Those who love to sing joined the choir and are looking forward to participating in upcoming Gregorian chant workshops.
Please continue to pray for us, our priests and seminarians, and especially Fr. Ralph Oballo.
For more information or to be added to our mailing list, contact:
Latin Mass Society of Kelowna
2475 Dobbin Road, Unit 22, Suite #532
West Kelowna, BC V4T 2E9
Email: latinmasskelowna@gmail.com
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