Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on May 26, 2008 15:05:39 GMT
Tuam, the metropolitan see of the west of Ireland, is the largest territorial diocese in Ireland. It covers most of counties Galway and Mayo with a small portion of Co Roscommon. It has approximately 120,000 Catholics in 56 parishes served by 141 priests. This includes six inhabited offshore islands and the greater proportion of the Conemara Gaeltacht. Its suffragan sees are Achonry, Clonfert, Elphin, Galway & Kilmacduagh and Killala. Its official website, which focusses on vocation promotion is: www.towardsthegoal.com/.
When the 1984 indult came into force, Archbishop Joseph Cunnane had been in office since 1969. He was replaced by Archbishop Joseph Cassidy in 1987, who was hitherto Bishop of Clonfert. Archbishop Cassidy resigned in 1994 and was replaced by Michael Neary in 1995. Archbishop Neary was Auxilliary Bishop of Tuam between 1992 and 1995.
Archbishop Cunnane refused to allow Mass in Irish which would use 'Ar son cách' (For all) as a translation of the Latin 'Pro Multis' leading to the more vague formula 'ar son an chine dhaonna' (for the human race - probably influenced by the French 'pour la multitude' which approximates to 'pro multis'). From this point of view, it is interesting that when an SSPX-leaning priest of the Brighton and Arundel diocese, Father Alan Wilders, showed up in the Tuam archdiocese in 1982, the Archbishop gave him tacit approval to say the traditional Mass. This was formalised after 1984 and until the establishment of the Dublin chaplaincy in 2007, St Patrick's Academy in Islandeady was the only location in Ireland where the traditional Mass could be said every day with ecclesiastical approval.
The academy remains the focus of the traditional Mass in the Tuam archdiocese and the site of the first purpose built chapel for the traditional Mass in Ireland since the liturgical changes. The academy, however, prefers to pursue an independent course and when Father Wilders died in 2006, it had no provision made for succession, occasioning Father Thomas Cunningham (CSSp) moving into Father Wilders' role. The archdiocesan authorities are clear that they favour the appointment of a priest in good standing willing to say the traditional Mass and satisfying the diocese's ordinary requirements for ministry to young people in the diocese. The archdiocese are even prepared to see either the FSSP or Institute of Christ the King take up the ministry there. However, there has been no attempt by the Academy trustees either to engage with the Archdiocese or any of the traditional orders in respect of its continuity.
The Latin Mass Society of Ireland has a good relationship with the Archdiocese running an annual national pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine in Knock, Co Mayo and also a two day walking pilgrimage between Ballintubber Abbey and Croagh Patrick. The LMSI has also organised three Masses in the parish church in Castlebar in the past four years. The society has discussed and covered possibilities of Islandeady's disappearance with the archdiocese and believe it is unlikely that the archdiocese will be left without the extraordinary form on at least Sundays and holy days should the academy go under.
When the 1984 indult came into force, Archbishop Joseph Cunnane had been in office since 1969. He was replaced by Archbishop Joseph Cassidy in 1987, who was hitherto Bishop of Clonfert. Archbishop Cassidy resigned in 1994 and was replaced by Michael Neary in 1995. Archbishop Neary was Auxilliary Bishop of Tuam between 1992 and 1995.
Archbishop Cunnane refused to allow Mass in Irish which would use 'Ar son cách' (For all) as a translation of the Latin 'Pro Multis' leading to the more vague formula 'ar son an chine dhaonna' (for the human race - probably influenced by the French 'pour la multitude' which approximates to 'pro multis'). From this point of view, it is interesting that when an SSPX-leaning priest of the Brighton and Arundel diocese, Father Alan Wilders, showed up in the Tuam archdiocese in 1982, the Archbishop gave him tacit approval to say the traditional Mass. This was formalised after 1984 and until the establishment of the Dublin chaplaincy in 2007, St Patrick's Academy in Islandeady was the only location in Ireland where the traditional Mass could be said every day with ecclesiastical approval.
The academy remains the focus of the traditional Mass in the Tuam archdiocese and the site of the first purpose built chapel for the traditional Mass in Ireland since the liturgical changes. The academy, however, prefers to pursue an independent course and when Father Wilders died in 2006, it had no provision made for succession, occasioning Father Thomas Cunningham (CSSp) moving into Father Wilders' role. The archdiocesan authorities are clear that they favour the appointment of a priest in good standing willing to say the traditional Mass and satisfying the diocese's ordinary requirements for ministry to young people in the diocese. The archdiocese are even prepared to see either the FSSP or Institute of Christ the King take up the ministry there. However, there has been no attempt by the Academy trustees either to engage with the Archdiocese or any of the traditional orders in respect of its continuity.
The Latin Mass Society of Ireland has a good relationship with the Archdiocese running an annual national pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine in Knock, Co Mayo and also a two day walking pilgrimage between Ballintubber Abbey and Croagh Patrick. The LMSI has also organised three Masses in the parish church in Castlebar in the past four years. The society has discussed and covered possibilities of Islandeady's disappearance with the archdiocese and believe it is unlikely that the archdiocese will be left without the extraordinary form on at least Sundays and holy days should the academy go under.