On Friday, March 25, 2011, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite at Harvard University. Father Patrick Armano, Pastor of St. Monica Parish in Methuen, MA, celebrated Low Mass for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the high altar of St. Paul Catholic Church in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. The Mass was a Dialogue Mass.
According to the available information, this is the first Mass in the usus antiquior at the high altar since the reform of the Roman Missal after Vatican II. Father Michael Drea, Pastor of St. Paul and Senior Chaplain to the Harvard Catholic Chaplaincy, assisted in choir and deserves many thanks for his generous support of this endeavor. The event was sponsored by the nascent Harvard Latin Mass Society and the Harvard Knights of Columbus. St. Paul Catholic Church is also the home of the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School.
Even with the last-minute time change to 5:15pm, which made it difficult for people to arrive in time after classes, work, or travel, almost 100 people, including several priests and religious were in attendance. Mass moved along smoothly with very few issues, taking into account the circumstances; this was the first Extraordinary Form Mass at Harvard and was organized within a few weeks by those with very little experience. Needless to say, it was a joyous occasion for current Harvard students and affiliates and for those who came from many parishes and schools across Boston and further. Several alumni drove or flew into Boston for the momentous occasion, which would have been unimaginable several years earlier. Deo gratias!
The Harvard Latin Mass Society have sent us some photos of the Mass.
