By Anne Marie Amacher
Changes in location for celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, commonly known as the Latin Mass, are occurring at two of three sites in the Diocese of Davenport.
The Latin Mass has been offered at St. Anthony Parish in Davenport, St. Wenceslaus Parish in Iowa City and Ss. Mary & Joseph Parish in Sugar Creek.
On July 7 the Latin Mass that had been celebrated at St. Anthony moved to St. Alphonsus Parish in Davenport. Mass is held at 2 p.m. every Sunday. This Sunday, July 28, will be the last Latin Mass offered at St. Wenceslaus Parish. That Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. Starting Aug. 4, the Mass will move to St. Mary Parish in Riverside to be celebrated every Sunday at 1:30 p.m., said Father David Brownfield, St. Mary’s pastor.
At Sugar Creek the Mass will continue to be offered the third Sunday of every month at 1 p.m., said Father Scott Lemaster, pastor.
Father Paul Appel, pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish and of St. Peter Parish in Buffalo, said Pope Benedict XVI allowed for the expanded use of the extraordinary form in 2007. “He recognized that this form of the liturgy is an important part of our history and can still provide a great grace to people who wish to celebrate Mass this way.”
Mass in Latin was approved during the Council of Trent in the 16th century and used around the world until the Second Vatican Council.
Fr. Appel, Fr. Brownfield and Fr. Lemaster will be assisted by Father Michael Phillips, a retired priest of the diocese, and Father Thom Hennen, director of vocations. All have been trained in this liturgy and have offered the Latin Mass for a number of years.
Fr. Brownfield encourages other priests in the diocese to consider learning this form of the liturgy.
