Liturgical News and Notes from San Diego to Sydney

The Brothers of the Little Oratory in San Diego sent in a photo from their Solemn Vespers on St. Philip's Day, which provides another good opportunity to encourage our reform of the reform and usus antiquior communities to take to heart an important task of a new liturgical movement: to revive the sung, public celebration of the Divine Office.

Clerics from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and a Premonstratensian from St. Michael's Abbey were involved.

An Australian reader wished to share news of a Solmen Mass celebrated in Sydney at historic St. Benedict's church. Our reader tells us that it was "the first Catholic church consecrated in Australia and has the oldest extant set of bells on the Australian mainland." He continues: "This Mass (in the octave of Pentecost) was requested by the students of the Sydney campus of Notre Dame Australia. St Benedict's functions as a university church as well as a parish... The parish...is known for the reverent and prayerful quality of all its liturgical celebrations. Each Sunday a Solemn Mass in the new rite and a low Mass in the old rite are offered."



It is always encouraging to hear of these projects within the context of a university setting. It is further encouraging to see parishes generally -- let alone within a university setting -- which foster both the usus antiquior and the reform of the reform. In my own estimation, this is one of the fullest and most effective ways of participating in the liturgical reform of Benedict XVI.