The Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul in Providence, Rhode Island, held a Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form this past Sunday. This Mass was requested by Bishop Thomas Tobin as one of the events to commemorate the church’s 125th anniversary, and was the first Solemn Pontifical Mass held there since 1968. The celebrant was His Excellency Salvatore Matano, Bishop of Rochester, New York, assisted by clergy of the diocese of Providence: Fr. Albert Marcello as assistant priest, Fr Jay Finelli as deacon, and Rev. Mr. Robert Gallo as subdeacon. Our own Fr Thomas Kocik served as one of the deacons at the throne. (A visiting prelate may celebrate at the throne with the permission of the Ordinary.) The Mass was organized and MC’d by Fr. Jeremy Rodrigues, administrative secretary to Bishop Tobin and Director of the Office of Worship. The former ordinaries of Providence, Bishops Louis Gelineau and Robert Mulvee, were also in attendance. The cathedral holds 1,500 people and it was quite full. The Mass in G by Franz Schubert was sung, along with pieces by Aichinger, Viadana, Handel and Mozart, by the Gregorian Chant Choir, and the orchestra was conducted by Msgr. Anthony Mancini, with Mr. Philip Farone as organist.
Particular thanks are due to Bishop Tobin, Bishop Matano, and all of those involved with the ceremony, for setting a good example in allowing the Extraordinary Form to be part of the ordinary life of the Church.
