On son compte X (ex Twitter)Vaticanist Diana Montagna discusses the publication these days of a letter from the apostolic administrator, Mgr Joe Vasquez, of the diocese of Tyler (USA) removing a large part of the traditional masses in this diocese at the end of November (Sunday or weekday masses depending on location). Archbishop Vasquez has been in office since the dismissal by the Holy See of Archbishop Joseph Strickland in November 2023).
I have been informed from reliable sources that, under the direction of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, 5 apostolates of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Tyler are being eliminated. All priests have been informed that the Vetus Ordo will only be permitted in the FSSP Parish of St. Joseph Artisan.
Letter sent by the diocesan administrator to the faithful of Tyler Cathedral (One of the parishes concerned)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ
As many of you know, Church law governing the celebration of Mass according to the 1962 Missal (the Mass celebrated before the Second Vatican Council) has undergone a revision. In July 2021, Pope Francis published the Motu proprio Traditionis custodes, which called on diocesan bishops to evaluate the place of these celebrations in the life of the local Church and to help the faithful unite in the celebration of the liturgy according to the liturgical books approved by Saint Paul VI and Saint John Paul II in accordance with the Second Vatican Council.
After being appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Tyler, I addressed a letter to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, requesting advice on how to implement Traditionis custodes in this diocese. Having recently received a response from the Dicastery, I want to share with you some information about the way forward in the Diocese of Tyler. Following the directives of the Holy See, the celebrations according to the Missal of 1962 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will end on November 30, 2024. At the same time, the use of the Missal of 1962, according to the provisions of Traditionis custodes, is authorized to continue at St. Joseph Artisan Parish in Tyler, which is under the care of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. St. Joseph Artisan Parish is a personal parish established in 2003 to provide pastoral care for all those in the diocese who celebrate according to ancient liturgical forms.
For some faithful who wish to continue to attend traditional mass… it will take more than 2 hours to reach the Saint Joseph Artisan Parish in Tyler, personal parish entrusted to the Fraternity of Saint-Pierre which will be the only place authorized for the celebration of the traditional mass.
The latter seeks ways to welcome parishioners by adding masses in addition to the 3 Sunday masses or by finding a larger place (The parish is also on a church construction project).
