Detroit archdiocese adds traditional Latin Mass to save church

Detroit, Mich., Aug 3, 2004 / 22:00 pm

In an unexpected effort to save the historic St. Josaphat Church in central Detroit, Adam Cardinal Maida has authorized the celebration of the traditional Latin mass on Sunday mornings, starting Oct. 3.

The mass has been celebrated in the vernacular since the end of the Second Vatican Council 40 years ago. Very few churches in the world still offer the pre-Vatican II mass, also known as the Tridentine mass, in which everything is recited in Latin and the priests face an altar with their backs to the congregation.

However, officials at St. Josaphat Church are hoping that Catholics will drive a long way for the Tridentine mass it will offer.

"We think there are a lot of Catholics who still want the older mass," St. Josaphat's pastor, Fr. Mark Borkowski, told The Associated Press. "We think they'll come to St. Josaphat because we will have the only, regular Tridentine mass that's authorized by the Archdiocese of Detroit."

The Tridentine mass was codified in 1570.