Bishop Thomas Zinkula has received a formal decree from the Roman Curia regarding his generous 2022 dispensation from the requirement of the motu proprio of Pope Francis Traditiones Custodes of July 2021 that Traditional Latin Masses be no longer celebrated in parish churches – but rather elsewhere e. g. chapels or oratories.
In December 2021 a Responsa on the implementation of T C was released, containing official guidelines and clarifications. That instruction stated that if it could be established that it is impossible for the TLM to be celebrated elsewhere – as is the case in our diocese – the bishop and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome could grant permission to groups celebrating the TLM in parish churches in order to continue doing so.
Our Diocese has recently received that co-permission to dispense from T C and continue the allowing of the TLM according to the Missal of 1962 in Davenport and Iowa City, for a period two years (30 May 2025).
Subject to the ongoing performance of the requirements and expectations of Pope Francis in his motu proprio – to be tracked and documented for a report the dicastery CDW is expecting in 2025, concerning action steps which have been taken to lead the faithful who are attached to the antecedent Liturgy towards the celebration of the liturgy according to the liturgical books reformed by decree of the Second Vatican Council.
It is my responsibility to initiate and keep track of these steps taken. I am forming a committee to support me in this task. The pastors of Holy Family and St Patrick parishes will ensure that an accurate count of participants is taken each week.
I wish to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes for this positive outcome which Bishop Zinkula shared with me yesterday. Please continue praying for the traditional Mass communities which center on Davenport and Iowa, and for me, your group leader for Bishop Zinkula and for Christ, Lord of the Church.
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