SULPHUR – The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, was the celebrant of a Solemn Pontifical Mass on Saturday, June 29 - The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles - in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church. It was also the 38th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Bishop Provost – June 29, 1975 in St. Peter’s Basilica by Pope Paul VI.
Click to see selected images of the MassThe celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Liturgy was the first in the newly renovated sanctuary. Workers were putting the near-finishing touches on it on Friday, June 28, according to Father Edward Richard, M.S. pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. “Our parish suffered a terrible loss when all of our statues were destroyed by vandalism at the end of 2012,” Father Richard said. “We had already been in the process of planning a renovation of the sanctuary when that happened so we decided to merge the replacement of the statues with the renovation. “The new furnishings and statues, those in the sanctuary and those to come, were designed by Heritage Restoration and Design Studio of Peoria, Ill.”
Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church in Sulphur was also a victim of the December vandalism.
Bishop Provost noted that, “The celebration of this Pontifical Mass in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Sulphur was quite appropriate, since only recently the church parish experienced the trauma of being vandalized. Many parishioners expressed their appreciation for such an opportunity to celebrate a special liturgy in their cherished parish church.”
The Bishop also lauded “the very fine music done by the ‘Latin Mass’ Choir — the Missa Secunda by Hans Leo Hassler.” He pointed out later that it was the first time since 1965 that he had had the pleasure of hearing this particular musical setting of the Mass sung.
With the celebration of this Pontifical Mass, the Bishop has celebrated four since his ordination as the ordinary of the Diocese, which continues his wish to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Liturgy on “appropriate solemnities.”
Priests participating in the liturgy included Father Roland Vaughn, the chaplain of the Extraordinary Form of the Liturgy in the Diocese, Father Richard, and Father Derek Covert, Judicial Vicar.
Father Rommel Tolentino, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Hackberry and Father Bryan Thompson, parochial vicar of St. Henry Catholic Church acted as masters of ceremonies. Other priests participating included; Father Scott Conner, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Oberlin and Father Nathan Long, Secretary for the Ministry of Christian Formation. Deacon Matthew Cormier and Deacon Patrick LaPoint as well as Deacon candidate Daniel Foreman of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, attended. Visiting from the Diocese of Nashville was Deacon Terrence J. McGowan. Seminarians of the Diocese taking part were Ryan Baca, Michael Beverung, Michael Caraway, Samuel Orsot. Cristian Gonzalez, Addison Pitre, and Trey Ange.
The congregation attending was estimated at over four hundred persons.
The Holy Father, in his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum of July 7, 2007, issued an Apostolic Letter on the celebration of the Roman Rite according to the Missal of 1962. This made celebration of the rites of the Extraordinary Form more accessible for use.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Father Vaughn, on behalf of Bishop Provost, announced a plenary indulgence for those attending following the fulfillment of the required conditions.
Father Richard and his parish hosted a dinner following in the Father Egidio Vecchio Parish Hall. Father Richard, himself a gifted jazz musician, had arranged for musical entertainment while everyone ate a delicious meal prepared by the ladies and gentlemen of the parish.
