Some Internet EF/Chant Resources to Help You During These Times for Holy Week (and after)

(Source: St. Andrew's Good Friday Missal, from https://catholicismpure.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/good-friday-from-the-traditional-latin-liturgy/) 

Hello to all of you, 

I chime in today, after a long hiatus between my FT day job and managing a 2 year old and a household, to provide you with a much needed posting. 

These days are much for those of us in the Catholic Church. With our parishes closed and priests forced under state/provincial guidelines to NOT allow gatherings above X number of people (in Ontario, that is 5 people,) only the very few will have the blessing of the Eucharist (reserved over from Holy Thursday Liturgy) and or the Triduum services, and the Holy Mass after this weekend on Sundays. 

I can only imagine to my brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese of Toronto who prefer the Latin Mass/Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite this is particularly devastating (as well as those in other Ontario dioceses,) as availability to the EF is already limited in the everyday life of the Church, even during normal times. 

Here in this post, I will place a few links of services, including those in the regular Church Mass/Ordinary Form, out of loyalty and service to our Shepherd Cardinal Thomas Collins, that one can partake in during these times. While one can search for EF livestreams from the FSSP or the ICKSP online, this blog IS of service, and based out of, the Archdiocese of Toronto. Hence I prefer to promote local efforts. 

Ordinary Form Liturgy/Gregorian Chant

1. In the Archdiocese of Toronto, we are thankful that our Arcbishop and Shepherd, Thomas Cardinal Collins, has gracefully allowed live-streaming of Masses and services during Holy Week from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Michael's in Toronto. Let me remind the viewers that His Eminence is favourable to the Latin Mass, so much so that in 2016, A Solemn (High) Latin Mass was allowed by his Eminence, with himself as homilist, to be graciously done at St. Michael's, organized by St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir.  

I say the above in as much as for minds who may be saying "hey it's not the EF/Latin Mass" to support His Eminence, and that for weekday Masses, it is worth one's while to tune in via the Archdiocese of Toronto Facebook Page for the livestreams/recordings, as most Masses are celebrated and preached at by His Eminence. He does not preach fluff and rainbows! (with maybe, exception of those in the Book of Genesis.) St. Michael's also is one of the few live-streams for Daily Mass.  

The Facebook for the Archdiocese of Toronto is: https://www.facebook.com/archtoronto/. 

While their normal weekday livestream is 7:30am, their Livestreams for the Triduum are as follows: 

• GOOD FRIDAY @ 3PM EST
• HOLY SATURDAY VIGIL @ 7PM
• EASTER SUNDAY @ 10PM

Speaking of St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir, Choirmaster Surinder Mundra, in light of St. Patrick's Toronto being closed, has decided to continue with practices chanting what would be the Gregorian Chants/Propers for their Saturday 5pm Novus Ordo Masses of the upcoming weeks. 

Hence, the choir is active and is providing a unique opportunity for everyone, (including myself, who normally altar serves and does NOT do the choir side of things,) to participate in their practices !!! Their practices are being live-streamed onto their Facebook page!

Facebook for SPGC: https://www.facebook.com/saintpatricksgregorianchoir/

YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5yxuDO1ZFhPyhrfsq98l8w

The usual time for their online streaming is 6:30PM Est on Saturdays for regular practices, though extra occasional opportunities may be streamed at different times than usual, and other days. 

And like the Oratorians, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. IF THEY GET 1000 SUBSCRIBERS THEY WILL BE GRANTED FREE ACCESS TO LIVESTREAM ON THAT PLATFORM!!!! 

For those local residents, and or/those who can travel, if you like what you see on their livestreams, and think it would be great to do it when the parishes open again, contact the choir and/or Surinder and come in person to chant!

Extraordinary Form Liturgy/Vespers

For those who are CRAVING the Latin Mass/EF, and insist on it for the Triduum and Sundays, There are two parishes I would like to bring to light who ARE doing livestreams of their Extraordinary Form Masses, though one is in another diocese.

1. Oratorians of St. Phillip Neri - Holy Family Parish

As has been featured a number of times on this blog, in Toronto the Oratorians of S.P.N. are a religious fraternity that offers traditional formation for pre-Seminary but also partakes in BOTH forms of the Roman Rite and even boasts its own Gregorian Chant Schola. They operate the parishes of Holy Family, and St. Vincent de Paul in the Parkdale areas of Toronto. Other links are as follows:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StPhilipNeriOratory/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARA4Ljt5ZUbBSF5lktXRMVRVZQIgEJbtz435HVMltb6_dIPwngv161EEHLIKFTxevrDcgIlsA-c9cDtE

YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRRUmJAW2o_nh74VB3ijYxQ

While I cannot confirm via the Internet if parts of the Triduum will be live-streamed, This parish IS live-streaming on Facebook and recording Masses for both the OF and EF, 10am and 1130am EST respectively. 

IN ADDITION I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. IF THEY GET 1000 SUBSCRIBERS THEY WILL BE GRANTED FREE ACCESS TO LIVESTREAM ON THAT PLATFORM!!!! So please do so.   

2. Mater Dei Latin Mass Community - Sudbury Ontario

This Extraordinary Form community is not in the Archdiocese of Toronto, but is based in Sudbury, Ontario, and has been live-streaming their daily masses on their website here: 

http://www.materdeiparish.ca/video-streams. One can also see them on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxouc_mdpmYKLbzzqljeerg.

This community WILL be livestreaming, via its pastor, Good Friday Liturgy, albeit as a Low Mass without the assistance of servers/Acolytes and other clergy. The EF Good friday Liturgy will be at the traditional hour that is for Good Friday liturgy, at 3pm EST. 

The pastor is also doing daily livestreams of his EF Low Masses during the week. Highly recommended for those who must absolutely partake in the EF at this time of COVID-19. 

3. Vepsers???

While it is possible that perhaps one of the EF fraternities such as the FSSP, ICKSP, or a monastery, might be broadcasting such, there is something special going on for Toronto, courtesy of the St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir (with a little help from yours truly ....) 

What? HOLY SATURDAY VESPERS IN THE EF,  THIS SATURDAY APR 11? SEE HERE!

Pax, Julian.  

EST FINIS!!!! CHRIST THE KING HAPPENED LAST WEEK AT ST. MICHAEL'S CATHEDRAL!!! ANY PHOTOS TO SHARE?

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! 

That, is but one of the few words to describe what happened last weekend in the Archdiocese of Toronto, and the history of the modern Roman Catholic Church. 

As even promoted on major Latin Mass sites, a Solemn Latin Mass was done last Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 2pm EST, in the presence of His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins "in choir", who is our Archdiocesan Cardinal Bishop! This Mass took place at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Michael's, the flagship parish of our Archdiocese of Toronto, not to mention that parish which is where he is formally seated!

Furthermore, Cardinal Collins gave the homily for this Latin Mass .... and it was splendid. While I will be posting more details in future, I will say that if anything, the take away message, on this Feast of Christ the King, was this:

"HEROISM, IS THE NORMAL WAY FOR CATHOLICS"

You heard me correctly, Cardinal Collins said that in his homily. There was much more where that came from. 

This Mass was made possible with the Cardinal's blessing and permission, to be organized by the esteemed St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir, based out of the Redemptorist Parish in downtown Toronto, and led by Surinder S. Mundra, professional choirmaster and assistant director of the prestigious Toronto Concert Orchestra. 

The Mass, while organized by the St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir, was also the work of many hands, from the priests and seminarians that took part in major clergy (subdeacon) and all serving roles except Master of Ceremonies, to the presence of the Brothers of the Knights of Columbus from the Cardinal McGuigan Assembly, to the laymen such as myself and my brothers who were present in choir.  

As usual in my reporting of the Masses, here are my before Mass photos of the prepared altar for the Mass, and the credence table:

I will also be in future, publishing a full report of the Mass, which shall be posted here on Servimus Unum Deum, and possibly on other Latin Mass websites in future.

However, and this is a big, however, before I do so, I would like to ask of your assistance in a necessary manner, an attempt before I publish.

Due to tight security at the Cathedral, it was challenging for us servers and for the Choir to allow for our own photography. While we have received a couple of photos of before and after, and the procession, the security at the cathedral during the Mass was going up to random parishioners and stopping them from taking photos at certain points. My wife, her friend's boyfriend and mother, who were present at the Mass, witnessed this and observed them stopping people near her from taking photos. 

Further to my knowledge, the Archdiocese of Toronto did not make any arrangements to have their official media staff take any sort of video or photo recordings of the event.

However, we know that many people DID take photos at many different points during the Mass. I, even personally remember, as an example, an Asian man with a higher quality camera and lens, took photos of us at the entrance to the narthex of the Cathedral in the entrance procession.

My request: If there are any readers of this blog, or who can pass word along, would you please send any photos taken during the Christ the King Mass to my blog email, torontotlmservers@gmail.com? Thank you and this is highly appreciated. 

If I receive a bulwark contribution from a single member up to three people, then they will be credited for the photos. Should the contributions be from more than three people, or many, it will be too many to credit. Please realize that I will need the photos to be distributed in future to Latin Mass Sites (eg. Fr. Z, Rorate Caeli, New Liturgical Movement) who were kind enough to promote the Mass here in Toronto.

Again, Deo Gratias for this Solemn occasion! For all of us, the Choir, the priests, the seminarians, the lay acolytes (as in, generally altar servers,) it was a memorable experience for our soul, one in the annals of Church history.

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin

MAJOR ULTIMATE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!! SOLEMN LATIN MASS WITH HIS EMINENCE THOMAS CARDINAL COLLINS!!!! SUN OCT 30, 2016 AT ST MICHAEL'S CATHEDRAL, 2PM, TORONTO, ONTARIO!!!

Source: http://www.catholicregister.org/features/archives/older-features/cathedral-reborn/item/23171-st-michael-s-redux-a-cathedral-fit-for-the-21st-century/. Photo taken by Michael Swan of The Catholic Register. 

[UPDATE 27/9/16: I have been informed by the organizers, St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir, that the Mass time is now changed to 2pm.]

Hello everyone.

I come bearing great news for the Archdiocese of Toronto, news of the most paramount, historical and liturgical importance.

We are blessed to have His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, as our spiritual shepherd and archbishop for the Archdiocese of Toronto. Pastorally, he frequently participates in events around the diocese, especially those involving the future of our Catholic Church in numerous youth and young adult events/ministries. Further, our Eminence has been a tried and true defender of "T"radition including Church doctrine and moral issues. His Eminence, once again, will be demonstrating to his flock, his formidable leadership and reverence for Christ, in regards to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

I am pleased to announce the upcoming Solemn High Mass in Thanksgiving and Celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the founding of St. Patrick’s Gregorian Choir, Toronto, in 2006, on the Feast of Christ the King (EF), by Surinder S. Mundra, Music Director and organist.  In the past 10 years Surinder has organized several such Masses throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto and outside the Archdiocese of Toronto, in churches such as St Peter's, downtown, St Paul's Basilica, and St Patrick's Toronto, to name a few.

This Solemn High Mass on the Feast of Christ The King, according to the liturgical calendar for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, will be in the presence of His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Metropolitan Toronto, at the newly renovated, St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto (65 Bond Street), On Sunday, October 30th. 2016 at 2:00 pm.

This Mass, is highly significant! Never before in the history of the Archdiocese of Toronto since Vatican II, has there been a Latin Mass, even a Low Mass, in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, offered at the Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Toronto.

Assistance will be provided by the seminarians of our Archdiocese, studying at St Augustine's Seminary, for numerous serving roles. The master of ceremonies, has asked me to be a part of this Solemn High Mass as I have been involved with St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir's organized Masses since October 2011.  At this time there is no need for additional altar serving assistance, unless a request is made by the organizers for more help. If such a request is needed, I will be happy to broadcast such here on S.U.D.

At this, their 10th Anniversary Solemn High Mass, St. Patrick’s Gregorian Choir will provide beautiful and sacred liturgical music under the direction of  their choir master, Surinder S. Mundra

If you are interested in helping to defray the printing costs for Mass Booklets, and any other necessary expenses, you may contact the choirmaster of St. Patrick`s, Surinder Mundra, at 416 731 4485, who is organizing this Solemn High Mass and compiling material for, and overseeing, the printing of the booklets and other liturgical requirements.

Finally, let it be noted that this liturgical event stands for more than just a big "showing" of the Latin Mass. The fact that the presence of His Eminence at this Solemn High Mass in his cathedral seat, will be a pivotal part of this liturgy. Also, that he asked for the organizers, St Patrick's Gregorian Choir and its director, to reach out to the seminarians, and others of particular note for this special occasion, speaks great volumes.

In this holy offering of the Latin Mass, his extension of participation to the seminarians, and choice of participants involved in other avenues of the Mass (including myself,) His Eminence has sent a direct and clear message in the Church and to the world: 

What is happening here, in this upcoming Solemn Latin Mass at St. Michael's Cathedral, is vital to the liturgical and spiritual leadership of the Church. The Latin Mass/EF itself is a vital part of not only our Church's past history, but also in today's culture of the Church. Further, it is a part of the future of the Church as well, for both clergy and laity, as is being shown in the inclusion of the seminarians (and myself.) Regardless of whether the seminarians do both forms of the Roman Rite or not after their ordination, this Mass is an example to them, the Archdiocese of Toronto, and to the whole Church that the Holy Mass should be sacred and reverent, and strike at the heart and soul of every human being, uplifting them to greater things in this world and especially, the next in the afterlife. 

In addition, with regards to the Holy Mass of either form of the Roman Rite, laity and clergy, especially those in positions of leadership surrounding the sacred liturgy, from altar server to celebrant, must show in action: The Joy of the Gospel; fraternal charity for their fellow Catholics and non-Catholics; an absence of hypocrisy, jealousy, elitism, rubrical obsession-ism, and contempt for others; and MUST bring the New Evangelization to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to those who have never concretely experienced that Gospel, as a result of the Mass. 

In summary, participating himself in this Mass, holding it in the Cathedral he presides over, as our spiritual shepherd for Toronto, and in the carefully planned organization of this Mass including all its participants, His Eminence has clearly made those statements above and is carrying out the wishes of the Church and its Holy Fathers. In doing so, THIS IS THE TRUE FACE OF TRADITIONAL CATHOLICISM!

I end this announcement by asking of you, everyone ... Catholics of all stripes and devotion ... those musically inclined, ... non-Christian and curious onlookers ... I encourage you to come and see what is to be one of the most historical events ever in our modern Church history in this Archdiocese of Toronto, under one of the most prominent leaders of our Church, his Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins. Besides the specticality of such an event, it will be such a sacred, holy, reverent and powerful experience for all of our senses. It will truly leave you breathless, and for those of you of the Catholic faith, it will inspire you to embrace the Love and Mercy of the Lord, from this Jubilee of Mercy onward.

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin, sole author of Servimus, and veteran server for higher level Masses in the Extraordinary Form since October 2011.