Alaskian Jesuit To Celebrate Traditional Latin Mass

From the January 11th parish bulletin of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bethel, Alaska –

"Father Chuck will celebrate a Latin Mass on Saturday, January 31st at 7:00 pm. However, those who wish to participate in the Mass must attend "practice" sessions each Saturday at 5 pm. These sessions will last approximately 1 hour."

Father Chuck Peterson, S.J. is a missionary priest to the primarily Yup’ik Eskimo of western Alaska. We are the last missionary diocese in the United States. When Father first arrived here in the mid-1960’s travel between villages was still by dog team in the winter. He is a wonderful priest full of love for God and his parishioners. Yet, like all people he is also a product of his times and his order, and I suspect was a bit resistant or possibly concerned about the requests he was receiving for a Mass in the Extraordinary Form. However, the requests were polite and came from more than one person and in time he became quite agreeable and enthusiastic.

We had our first meeting last night where we practiced our Latin, discussed at length the meaning and importance of the priest’s and server’s prayers and discussed what seem to be some of the positive and negative ramifications of the interpretation of the Novus Ordo.

We’re all pleased and thankful.

Hat Tip to Fr. Z at his blog WDTPRS (here)

Photo is of Fr. Chuck being interviewed and saying a prayer by KNOM's Katy Clark at a Jesuit cemetery over a Jesuits grave at Pilgrim Hot Springs in Alaska in July of 1995.