Posted on 05/28/2017 8:17:44 PM PDT by scouter
Saint Alphonsus church in Baltimore is one of the gems of the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. A magnificent shrine where Saint John Neumann and Blessed Francis Seelos were once pastors, it has been home to the revived traditional Latin Mass since 1992.
Today it has been announced that the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter will administer the parish, with Father Joel Kiefer, FSSP, to be installed as pastor.
Monsignor Arthur Bastress, the most recent pastor of the church, has retired at the age of 90, ordained a priest in 1951. He worked tirelessly to keep the TLM going, in a tough neighborhood with very expensive maintenance needed on the shrine. His dedication to the 1962 books has paved the way for this gem of a shrine to be transitioned to a personal parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Our congratulations to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter for adding a gorgeous church to their growing ranks. - See more at: http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2017/05/fssp-to-gain-major-apostolate.html#sthash.c3VnYsS3.dpuf
St. John Neumann and Blessed Francis Seelos were both pastors at this church. It is just blocks from where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton lived, and from Mt. Calvary Catholic Church (my parish), part of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.
It is also just about a mile (as the crow flies) from where the riots broke out in Baltimore last year, just two blocks from the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the first cathedral in the United States) and just a few blocks from where the bishops of the United States meet every November.
Looks like Our Lord has decided to reclaim the birthplace of Catholicism in America.
Laus tibi Christe!
I attend a small Latin rite parish in Tacoma where the two priests are members of FSSP.
This is an incredible organization. Makes me so happy to see them acquire this jewel.
Thank you Monsignor Arthur Bastress for your 66 years of service to the Church. The FSSP will do a fine job in your stead.
Wow, this church is a magnificent building: http://jaymoorephotography.com/blog/?p=15422
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