June 1978 Print

There is no news which electrifies the true Roman Catholic population of America more than to hear that Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X and founder of the traditional seminary in Ecône, is making a visit to the United States! Since His Grace began his annual visits to America several years ago these Catholics have anticipated his coming much as the early Church must have awaited a visit of Sts. Peter and Paul. Soon after the Archbishop's trip was announced Catholics from all over the country began to call and write requesting information as to when and where he would be conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation or holding conferences.

Archbishop Lefebvre was accompanied throughout this tour by Reverend Denis Roch, Econome General of the Society of St. Pius X. Father Clarence Kelly, District Superior of the Society for the United States, hosted His Grace and Father Roch in New York where Archbishop Lefebvre occupied himself with Society matters, meeting with his American priests, and giving First Holy Communion to a large number of children at the Saint Pius X Chapel in Hicksville, New York.

Among the many greeting the Archbishop in New York were Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Berry. Their son, Eugene, is a seminarian at Ecône. They also have a daughter, Sister Mary Cabrini, who is stationed at the Society convent in Albano.

On Monday, May 22nd, during a brief stop at the airport in Kansas City, Missouri, the Archbishop was greeted by a large number of supporters. Among those at the airport was Mr. and Mrs. Cletus Groner, whose daughter, Sister Mary Joseph, is a nun of the Society at the Priory in Geneva, Switzerland.

Those in the San Francisco area had been preparing for weeks to receive His Excellency. Everywhere his visit had the effect of galvanizing supporters to action! Father Gregory Post who heads the Society in California has recently purchased an attractive property in Campbell to serve as a house and chapel for the Faithful in the Bay Area. Father Post's congregation has more than doubled since the Archbishop's visit there two years ago and it was necessary to rent a hall to hold the religious services when it became apparent that the chapel would not contain the large crowds.

The large congregation (in excess of 600) who attended the Mass and Confirmations in San Jose on the 23rd of May was deeply appreciative as they rarely have the privilege of assisting at a Pontifical High Mass! The Archbishop told the eighty Confirmandi: "You need this Sacrament! You need to be strong because Christian life is a fight. So many influences around you try to keep you from the Christian life and you must be strong to stand up against those influences. That is why you need these Gifts of the Holy Ghost!"

Later in the evening of the same day, a banquet was held at the Hyatt House for an estimated 600, some who had travelled from such great distances as Wyoming and Mexico City.

Following dinner, in his remarks to the enthusiastic audience, Archbishop Lefebvre said: "Certainly you will read in the local papers that my visit to this Diocese is not appreciated, but I say to Archbishop Quinn and to the other Bishops that if they were discharging their duties to the Church of All Time my presence here would not be necessary!" The Archbishop then received a standing ovation from a grateful audience when he made the announcement that he would soon be sending a priest to aid Father Post in California!

At the same dinner Mr. Bill Bowman, representing the League of St. Michael of Mission Hills, California, presented His Excellency with their annual Saint Athanasius Award for Defense of the Faith. Besides the attractive plaque which was presented the Archbishop was also given a check for $3,500.00.

Father Gregory Post and his loyal volunteers, including his parents, deserve much credit for a job well done! The entire visit was a huge success!

Early on the morning of May 24th, the Archbishop's party traveled to Our Lady of Angels Chapel in Arcadia. Father Charles Donahue is Pastor of this large, vibrant parish in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The Archbishop has conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation there two years ago and was again enthusiastically received by all!

The Chapel in Arcadia is exceedingly beautiful. One of its most striking features are the stained glass windows which were hand-crafted by a most talented parishioner.

At least 100 were confirmed at Our Lady of the Angels. During his homily, the Archbishop remarked, "It is well that you invited me to come to you again because this Sacrament is so important. With the new rite we can no longer be sure if in this Sacrament graces are coming to us. That is very sad. It is a great pity that we cannot be sure. But we do know there is certainty in the rite we use today—the rite the Church has used century after century." The sacred liturgy was enhanced by the choir which performed the ancient chant of the Church to perfection.

In Arcadia, as everywhere the Archbishop traveled, crowds gathered to get a glimpse of him. They know he stands as the last bastion of hope against a deteriorating Church and hierarchy—the only Bishop engaged in providing well-trained priests for a starving laity. They acknowledge the Archbishop as having been alert to the dangers of the Second Vatican Council and its aftermath and of having the courage to take positive action to correct the situation.

Father Donahue, a most cordial and genial host, was most efficiently organized to receive the Archbishop and his party. Although His Grace remained in Arcadia a mere eight hours he left gratified and much impressed with Father Donahue and his flock!

The long trans-continental flight to Armada, Michigan, that same afternoon resulted in the Archbishop's arrival just after midnight early on May 25th where he was met by Father Donald Sanborn, Rector of the Saint Pius X Seminary.

After a short night's rest, ceremonies began at 8:00 a.m. One hundred and twenty received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Chapel of the Seminary. As usual, visitors came from a wide area; some of them travelling the entire night in order to arrive in time for the services. Mrs. Ann Schuster arrived from Pittsburgh with a busload of pilgrims from Our Lady of Fatima Chapel which is shepherded by Fr. Leo Frederichs. Mrs. Schuster has become well known as the organizer of the Christ the King Pilgrimage held the last Sunday in October at Our Lady of Fatima in Pittsburgh.

The Confirmation ceremonies were followed by a Corpus Christi procession which wound around the property, following the tradition of stopping at three altars. Most impressive at Armada were the outstanding liturgical services masterfully conducted by Father Daniel Dolan who served as Master of Ceremonies. Father Dolan is frequently called upon by priests of the Society in America because of his expertise in rituals and rubrics which he has acquired through many years of interest and diligent study. Everything pertaining to music—the organ and chant—was supervised by Father Anthony Cekada who, besides teaching regular courses, instructs the seminarians in Gregorian Chant.

Thursday, May 26th, had long been anticipated by Christopher Hunter of New York, John Hogan of Michigan, Thomas Zapp and Stephen DeLallo of California and Martin Spierka of Montana, for this was the day they were to enter the clerical status by submitting themselves to tonsure. This ancient ceremony, which dates from the 7th century, began with a Solemn High Mass celebrated by the Archbishop who was assisted by Fr. Sanborn as Deacon, Fr. Roch as Sub-Deacon, Fr. Hodgson (from Australia) as Arch-Priest, and Frs. Bolduc, Cekada and Mroz. One of the most moving moments at Armada was to watch the expressions on the faces of the Faithful who observed the conferrence of tonsure on the five young seminarians. Joy and hope was evident on many of the faces as they looked down through the years to the day when those five young clerics, ordained to the Holy Priesthood, would join the ranks of priests in bringing them the Mass and Sacraments.

Later that same night at the Hyatt Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan, the Archbishop addressed a well attended conference. Coming directly to the heart of the matter as is his custom, the Archbishop said, "It is erroneous to believe that every religious sect contains something of merit for the Catholic Church. This is a dialogue with the Devil! There is only one true Church," he emphasized, "and that is the Catholic Church! We know this because God cannot contradict Himself. False ecumenism presupposes dialogue with all error and compromise with communism and atheists!" His Grace then continued, "Change in the Roman Catholic Church was introduced long before the Second Vatican Council. The primary source of change is the forces of Free Masonry who have succeeded in infiltrating the hierarchy of the Church." The Archbishop went on to cite a number of documents to prove his position, some of them quoted directly from publications of the Masons themselves.

(In relation to this it is interesting to note that one of the local priests called Cardinal Dearden's office (the Bishop of the Diocese of Detroit) two years ago and was told by his secretary that Cardinal Dearden himself is a member of the Masons. The secretary qualified the statement by saying that she was not certain whether or not Dearden had joined or had been given honorary membership but that it was, indeed, a fact that he was a Mason! A tape recording of this conversation was made and subsequent inquiry at the Diocese produced no denials.)

In a news conference, Archbishop Lefebvre stated, "Cardinal Dearden favors heresy by his negligence in not backing Catholic traditions which were overturned in the wake of the Second Vatican Council." Although His Grace stopped short of called the Cardinal a heretic he made it clear that the Cardinal's position favors heresy and that the Cardinal promotes heresy by refusing to oppose it!

Obviously there are many in the Detroit area who agree with the Archbishop. The movement there has grown steadily since its foundation five years ago. It was obvious also by the enthusiastic welcome of Archbishop Lefebvre that they would prefer a return to pre-Vatican II era when the Catholic Church was still Catholic!

The Feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated on Sunday, May 28th, at Society headquarters in Shawinigan, Canada. Over 1,000 people attended the Archbishop's Mass and lecture on that day! Father Edmund Samson, District Superior of the Society for Canada, has obviously done his work well! This was also the occasion for the 25th Anniversary of the Ordination of Fr. Yves Normandin to the Holy Priesthood. Father Normandin has long been a faithful supporter of the Archbishop and pioneered the traditional movement in Canada. Many may remember Father Normandin as the priest who barricaded himself in his church and refused to turn it over to the Novus Ordo until they broke in and forcibly evicted him. This interesting story is told in the book PASTOR OUT IN THE COLD.

On Monday, May 29th, the Archbishop was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Beemster who established the St. Michael's Chapel in DePere, Wisconsin, more than ten years ago. Ardent supporters of the Archbishop, the Beemsters early recognized the crisis in Holy Mother Church and have long been engaged in support of Tradition, being among the first in America to take up the gauntlet!

It was in St. Michael's Chapel, beautifully situated on the hills overlooking the Fox River in this suburb of Green Bay, that Confirmation was conferred on 168 from ten states. The entire service, which was accompanied by a masterful choir, was broadcast live from the Chapel. This congregation has grown so steadily over the years that three expansions have been necessary and equipment has been installed so that each Sunday morning Mass celebrated by Father C. A. Altenbach may be heard by the Faithful in the Green Bay area. Priests from Dickinson, Texas, assist Fr. Altenbach when it is necessary.

Assisting Archbishop Lefebvre were eight priests who gathered on this occasion. They were Fr. Altenbach, Pastor of St. Michael's who travels from Milwaukee each Sunday; Fr. Denis Roch; Fr. Edmund Samson; Fr. Louis Vezelis; Fr. Peter Tran Van Khoat of Port Arthur, Texas, whose parish has over 600 Vietnamese refugees; Fr. Esmaragdo Guerrero of Mexico City and Dickinson, Texas; Fr. Carl Pulvermacher and Fr. Hector Bolduc, both of Queen of Angels in Dickinson.

A large contingent from Milwaukee served by Fr. Hugh Wish (who was absent because of illness) attended the Mass and Confirmations.

Although this was the first visit of His Grace to St. Michael's Chapel the Archbishop stated that he was looking forward to a return visit and complimented the Beemsters on the efficiency which they and their staff handled the entire program.

Tuesday, May 30th, found Archbishop Lefebvre flying to Winnepeg, Canada, where he gave a conference to 150 Catholics. Fifty were Confirmed and it is evident that the Society is off to a good start in that section of Canada.

On June 1st, the Archbishop concluded this tour at the Society Priory in Shawinigan, where he defended the Faith with the same vigor and clarity that has become his trademark. Forty Conflrmandi received the Sacrament on this day. Attending were a host of priests including Fr. Roch, Fr. Samson, Fr. Normandin, Fr. LeMay, Fr. Schanck, Fr. Blau and Fr. Jiraldeau.

Where ever he visited the Archbishop brought the same urgent message to those he Confirmed: "Your faith is threatened. It is being assailed on every front! You need the Gifts of the Holy Ghost—in particular, the gift of fortitude to save your immortal souls. You must reject the protestantism which is being forced on you by the enemies of the Church. The most effective way of saving your soul is by remaining faithful to the Traditions of Holy Mother Church, especially the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass—the Mass of antiquity which is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Mass which is the product of Divine Love, not of human fraility."

Those who traveled with the Archbishop could not help but notice that throughout this long and arduous journey which was frequently interrupted by such inconveniences as airplane strikes and cancellations—he remained serene, patient and always in good humour. It was evident that the Gifts of the Holy Ghost which he came to confer on others—fortitude, piety, wisdom—have been given to His Excellency in abundance.

 

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THE ARCHBISHOP'S TOUR was written for THE ANGELUS by Reverend Hector L. Bolduc of the Society of Saint Pius X. Father was ordained by Archbishop Lefebvre at Ecône, on the 29th of June, 1974. Father met the Archbishop in New York and traveled with him throughout his American visit. In addition to an extremely heavy travel schedule to Mass Centers throughout the South and Midwestern United States, Father Bolduc is the Editor of THE ANGELUS.