Last February 7, 2012, Rev. Canon Jean-Marie Moreau, ICRSS, a priest from The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, visited PAREF Southridge School, an all-boys private school located in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila,Philippines, and gave a talk to high school students and teachers on “The History and Development of the Roman Rite.” The talk was followed by a historic, first-ever celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962 by Rev. Canon Moreau in the school chapel. The Missa Cantata was attended by the entire high school batch of around 300 hundred students, plus another 100 teachers and parents. The chaplain and the assistant chaplain assisted in choro.
The Missa Cantata marked the first time since 1965 that the 1962 Mass returned to a school in the Philippines attended by students and teachers. A special booklet missal was prepared by the school and handed out to the students before the Mass to enable them to understand and follow the ceremonies of the Mass. The overwhelming majority of students and teachers, some of whom were Opus Dei numeraries, had never before experienced the Traditional Latin Mass.
The Mass was very well received by the students and teachers. Many found it very solemn. One lady, who told me after the Mass that she goes to Mass at this chapel thrice a week but did not know that there was going to be this Mass, remained rooted in her place until well after the Mass and waited for Canon Moreau to come out of the sacristy to kiss his hand, saying that this was a most moving experience for her. The school director also observed that this was the first time he saw the high school boys behave so well and follow the Mass intently, even singing the ordinaries and responses together with the choir. The school thanked me for bringing the Mass and allowing all of them to experience the richness of the Tridentine liturgy. The school will be doing more TLMs this coming school year, this time celebrated by the school chaplain.
The school is an apostolate work of Opus Dei members and as such is not technically a religious school. However, the Catholic faith is taught rigorously in all grade levels and Masses (Novus Ordo) are celebrated reverently and according to the book. The school was very supportive of this initiative, even spending thousands of pesos to extend the sanctuary floor (covered in red carpet) to enable ad orientem celebration.
The school videotaped the entire Mass from the choir loft, but I’m still waiting for a copy. In the meantime, I’m sending you a video of the Mass taken by the father of one of the acolytes using his iPhone and iPad. Also attached here is the poster of the Mass. You can also click on the link to a slideshow made by Fr. Eric Forbes. It contains pictures of Canon Moreau in Guam and the Philippines, including two shots taken during his talk at Southridge.
Richard Friend
Missa Cantata at Southridge, February 7, 2012:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_3vgntHrs0&feature=youtu.be
Canon Moreau in Guam and the Philippines:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niDjX3s0Wnc
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