History made as Catholic Bishop establishes new home for Traditional Latin Mass

Latin might be a dead language to most but this Sunday in Plymouth, it was alive and well.

The Catholic Traditional Latin Mass has a new home in Devon thanks to the intervention of the Bishop of Plymouth.

For the first time in 46 years, a ‘Missa Cantata’ or sung Mass was celebrated at St Edward the Confessor in Plymouth on Sunday.

This historic occasion was due to the support of the Right Reverend Bishop Mark O’Toole. Since arriving in the Plymouth Diocese three years ago, Bishop Mark has been impressed by the dedication and fidelity of those people and families that regularly attend the Extraordinary Form Mass at various venues throughout the Diocese. Responding to a real pastoral need, Bishop Mark has set up a regular Sunday morning Traditional Rite Mass at St. Edward the Confessor, Peverell, Plymouth at 11.30am each week.

The Devon Representative for the Latin Mass Society Maurice Quinn said “people are really appreciative of this initiative by Bishop Mark. We would also like to thanks the parish priest of St. Edward's, Fr. Bernard Hahasy - aged 90 and still going strong for agreeing to host a regular Traditional Latin Mass.”

With over 50 people in attendance with some travelling from Cornwall, Torbay, Newton Abbot, and across Devon, the Mass was celebrated by Fr Tony Pillari from Lanherne Convent in Cornwall.
Afterwards, at the social gathering in the parish hall, members of the congregation were saying how wonderful it all was, that at last they had a real and permanent base, complete with chaplain, for the first time in Devon. Some even took to Facebook to remark on what an important occasion it is for the West country. Parishioner Lydia Keogh said “ I will be attending this Mass from now on- very blessed”

Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society said ‘We are very grateful to Bishop O'Toole for making this new provision for the Traditional Mass possible, in a previously neglected corner of England.”