Recently, Very Rev Fr John Berg FSSP, the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, met with the Holy Father in the library of the Apostolic Palace. Fr Berg was given the opportunity to speak privately with the Holy Father for fifteen minutes - something less common now that under Pope John Paul II. Afterwards Pope Benedict greeted Fr Bisig and the other founders of the FSSP. He gave his blessing to the FSSP which has 350 members. (There are also 2600 members in the Confraternity of St Peter.) The Holy Father's particular message was "remain ever faithful."The FSSp website shows some interesting statistics. As of September 2008, there were 347 members: 208 priests, 11 deacons, and 128 seminarians. Average age of members: 37. ("The Church is alive. The Church is young."
10 comments:
Super news :)
I'm the proud mother of one of those seminarians :) :) :)
They have a "personal parish" in the diocese of San Diego, close to downtown and a short 10 minute drive to my work. They've recently gotten a 2nd priest on staff. The pastor, Fr. Gismondi (an American) is 42 and his new associate (from Argentina), is in his early 30s. The parish also has a deacon (who will be reassigned to Texas shortly) who will be ordained later this year. I'd guess the deacon to be around 30 as well.
So yes, the church is young!
Oh, and what I found *MOST* interesting: Fr. G. grew up in a "regular" Catholic home in Pittsburgh - typical NO parish. He hadn't even attended a Latin Mass until he was in his 20s in graduate school when he was in Washington DC and a friend took him.
gabriella50 - a proper and justified pride. God bless - I will remember you and your son in my (EF) Mass tomorrow.
How wonderful, how God always brings good out of bad.
What do you think Father, attracts these young men to FSSP?
Will this be the Church of the future?
Thank you Fr Tim for the good news.
I hope and pray that our bishops in England and Wales will be more willing in the future to open their dioceses to the FSSP as well as other orders such as the Institute of Christ the King or the Franciscans of the Immaculate.
Are there also lay brothers in the Institute?
Elizabeth - it is interesting to speculate on what attracts men to the FSSP. I think that as well as the traditional liturgy there is solid doctrinal and spiritual formation and the opportunity to be obedient to one's superiors without any need to wonder about orthodoxy.
The formation of FSSP priests is nothing short of exceptional. As a member of St. Stephen the First Martyr in Sacramento, CA, I can tell you that even the newly ordained have more doctrinal and liturgical knowledge than many seasoned clergy. They all seem to blessed with the ability to sing! St. Stephen's is a large personal parish with over 1000 people currently, many young (and large) families being among them. 17 Northern California counties are represented among registered parishioners. Because of the full "parish" experience there, we seem to get the "newly oiled" to learn what parish life is like and to fledge them into the wide, wide world. Some we haven't kept nearly long enough. Fr. Masutti, now assisting Fr. Gismondi in San Diego is one example. What a wonderful priest and confessor he is.
I am also a parishioner of St Stephen, The First Martyr, Catholic Church (just 2 years) and as a young woman, I'm in awe of how vibrant the parish is. So full of life! ...and the fruit that springs forth from the objective beauty of the Latin Mass is abundant and still growing ever so strong. ...and ah yes, Fr Masutti, FSSP is a phenomenal priest to say the least. I'll miss him. Although we gain much wisdom from our seasoned priests, I'm so thankful for our younger priests as well-they are such a great example for the young people.
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