Rockville Centre — They were not yet born — nor had their parents probably met — when the new liturgy was introduced in the 1960s, but a dozen teens and pre-teens last Sunday were happy to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in a Latin ceremony.
Bishop William Murphy conferred the sacrament last Sunday at St. Agnes Cathedral here for a group of children and one adult whose families regularly attend an approved Tridentine (traditional Latin) Mass offered each Sunday at St. Matthew’s Church in Dix Hills.

Bishop Murphy administered the sacrament of confirmation in the traditional Latin rite during a liturgy at St. Agnes Cathedral on June 15. TLIC photos/Gregory A. Shemitz

During a June 11 rehearsal at the cathedral, the confirmation candidates practiced for the liturgy, including the singing of two hymns in English — “Come Holy Ghost” and “Holy God, We Praise thy Name” — as well as such Latin hymns as “Tantum Ergo.”
Msgr. James Pereda, diocesan judicial vicar, who celebrates a weekly diocesan Tridentine Mass at St. Pius X Residence in Uniondale, led the rehearsal. Sister of Mercy Sheila Browne, associate director of the diocesan Office of Worship, and Father Andrzej Zglejszewski, director of the Office of Worship, also participated.

The confirmation class and their parents seemed excited and happy that their reception of the sacrament would reflect their preference for the traditional Latin Mass.
“When my daughter, Theresa, made her first Communion at our parish, St. Francis of Assisi in Greenlawn, she prayed that she could be confirmed in a traditional Latin ceremony,” said Patricia Bissex, one of the parents.

“The Mass is so beautiful with the Latin, such a sense of the sacred. It’s magnificent,” Theresa Bissex, 12, said. “I also love the music,” Theresa added. “I started a schola (small singing group),” with about 10 girls who sing Gregorian chants and traditional Latin hymns at the first Mass each Sunday at St. Matthew’s.

“It is cool knowing that the Mass was celebrated this way since … forever,” said Joseph Marino of Commack.

“It’s also nice to be celebrating with so many of my friends,” said Veronica Bellucci, 12, a parishioner of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church, Southampton, who attends the Tridentine Mass at St. Matthew’s on the first Sunday of the month.

“It’s wonderful that Bishop Murphy is confirming them,” said Patricia Rooney of West Hempstead, whose son, Stephen, 12, was confirmed. “He is so good with the kids, so welcoming.”

“We appreciate Bishop Murphy’s sensitivity in allowing those of us with a devotion to this traditional Latin Mass to have our children confirmed in this way,” said Heather Giambalvo of Islip Terrace. Her son, Leonard, 12, was one of the confirmandi.
“It was a very generous” application of Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic letter, “Summorum Pontificum” last July, she added.

Bishop William Murphy anoints William Wiegand, 12, with sacred chrism during the service at St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre, June 15.

Pope Benedict encouraged pastors to permit celebration of a traditional Latin Mass when a stable group of parishioners requests it. He also emphasized that the Mass now usually celebrated and the Tridentine Mass are not two different rites but rather different forms — “ordinary” and “extraordinary” — of the liturgy of the Church.

The Tridentine Mass was instituted by Pope Pius V in 1570 following the Council of Trent and remained in force with minor changes, including revisions made by Pope John XXIII in 1962. Mass was offered in Latin since the third or fourth century, reflecting the language of the people of the Church.

The Second Vatican Council gradually instituted the “Novus Ordo” or new form during the 1960s. Mass was to be celebrated in the language of the people of a country rather than Latin and the priest faced the people during Mass to foster full and active lay participation. The changes were formalized in the Missal of Pope Paul VI in 1970.
Celebration of the traditional Latin Mass was discouraged. In 1988, Pope John Paul II authorized diocesan bishops to allowcelebration of the Tridentine Mass under certain circumstances for those who cherished the older form.

The next year, the diocese introduced a monthly Tridentine Mass at St. Pius X Residence in Uniondale, which over the years increased to weekly. In 1992, a monthly Mass was authorized at Sacred Heart Church, Cutchogue.

The assembly kneels during Confirmation in the extraordinary form of the Latin rite.

Since Pope Benedict’s apostolic letter, Msgr. Pereda said, traditional Latin Masses are offered weekly in the diocese at St. Pius X in Uniondale, St. Matthew’s in Dix Hills, Sacred Heart Church in Cutchogue, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Massapequa Park.

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed the confirmation ceremony, which did not include Mass. Most of the confirmandi and their families had attended the diocesan traditional Latin Mass at St. Pius in Uniondale that morning, Msgr. Pereda said.

Before the Second Vatican Council, Sister Sheila explained, confirmations were generally conferred outside of Mass. Since then, the Church has directed that confirmation and most of the other sacraments normally be offered during Mass.

Many of the parents emphasized that they recognize the validity of the Mass established by Vatican II. “I attend a Novus Ordo Mass for daily Mass during the week,” said Patricia Rooney of West Hempstead.

“I think that all Catholics should be aware of and appreciate all of the liturgies of the Church,” said Patricia Bissex, including Masses celebrated by eastern Catholic Churches, such as Ukrainian Byzantine or the Melkite. “There is such a richness and depth to the Church’s liturgical tradition.”

Theresa Bissex, at left, and Veronica Bellucci sing during their Confirmation liturgy.