Special Offering of Rorate Caeli Mass in Advent in the Archdiocese of Toronto Saturday December 14, 2019

Hello Everyone,

After a long absence, I come back to announce special offerings of the Extraordinary Form in our Archdiocese of Toronto, for a special kind of Latin Mass liturgy.

We now come upon the Liturgical season of Advent, anticipating the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas Day. In the Latin Rite, a particular tradition of beauty in the Latin Mass (occasionally celebrated in today's Catholic church in some variation,) is the celebration of the Rorate Caeli Mass. I turn your attention to this simple explanation from the Fraternity of the Society of St. Peter, here. In addition, I attended one held at an Archdiocese of Toronto parish, last Advent season. See here for my report.

Of the most poignant notes that deserves repeating, is that this Mass is held early in the morning, in candlelight with no electricity on in the body of the Church. The basic symbolism is: the ushering in of the daylight as the Mass proceeds, corresponds to the rise of the Light of our Faith, that of Christ being born on Earth via the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is our journey through the season of Advent.

In addition, we are blessed in most of the world to have running electric power. However, what we gain in sight, we tend to lose in the stillness and calm of the darkness. The beauty of a candlelight Mass is that the overall atmosphere is one of calm and beauty, one that doesn't assault our senses of sight and sound, the way a fully lit body of a church with lights and full acoustic sound systems do. That makes it more conductive to prayer, including that taking place at the altar.

Normally, the Rorate Caeli is to be celebrated on a Saturday in the Season of Advent, whereby it is a Feria, which in layman's language, means "no one or nothing special is being celebrated at Mass today." A feria does exist this liturgical year, and so it can be allowed to be said. That date is Saturday, December 14, 2019. 

Thankfully, once again St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church will be offering the Rorate Caeli Mass, in the Archdiocese of Toronto on Saturday December 14th. The details are as follows:

 

St. Mary`s Polish Catholic Church, Toronto, ON (1996 Davenport Road, Toronto, ON.)

• 7 AM starting time
• Low Mass with Music  
• Celebrant is likely the pastor, Fr. Kasimirez, or his replacement if he is still on sabbatical. 

I encourage you to attend the St. Mary`s offering, and be prepared to be amazed and swept away in a sea of serenity as you worship the Lord in candlelight darkness. Bring your family and friends.

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

P.S. While I am aware there is a second offering that will be in Mississauga as a Missa Cantata, I cannot promote this offering on my blog, as 1) This offering is NOT being promoted officially through the Archdiocese of Toronto social media or a parish within the Archdiocese of Toronto (e.g. websites, blogs ...), and (2) Knowing where it is, and the offerings in past at the location, this offering is highly likely to involve Radically Traditionalist leadership in the offering of this liturgy. Some of those ``known`` leaders have attacked my closest friends and allies in the Latin Mass and I, directly and indirectly in past, from both sides of the laity and the clergy. Some supporters/members of this group also run social media on Internet/blog/other platforms that are anti-Francis and anti-Novus Ordo/regular Catholic Church. I cannot in good conscience and in keeping to my blog goals (see No. 2,) disclose the details and will say to look elsewhere on the internet for details. 

Special Offerings of the Latin Mass for Thursday, August 15, 2019: The Feast of the Assumption of Mary Into Heaven

(source: https://lourdesprayerrequest.com/prayer___assumption_of_the_blessed_virgin_mary)

Hello everyone, I realize I have been away for a long while, but my family duties take first priority right now in my life alongside my full-time work. It doesn’t leave you much time for other pursuits unfortunately including the spiritual realm.

However, allow me to take this brief opportunity to announce some special offerings of the Latin mass in the archdiocese of Toronto this coming Thursday, August 15, for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.

Normal offerings of the Latin mass of the Archdiocese of Toronto parishes can be found, at the tab at the top of this web page called “Known Latin Mass Listings in the Archdiocese of Toronto and External Dioceses in Ontario”

As for the special offerings, there are two offerings being held at diocesan parishes this Thursday evening.

The first offering, with credit due to Mr Paul Alexander Griffiths on Facebook for informing me, is as follows, At one of the normal parishes who hold daily Latin Mass:

1) Holy family Catholic Church, (1372 King St. W., Toronto Ontario.)

• Mass start time is 6 PM, 
• Confessions starting at least 5:45 PM, maybe earlier (NB, if long lineups persist, the Oratorians do not shy from doing confession in the first part of the Mass if needed!)
• The Mass is advertised as a Solemn High Mass aka Missa Solemnis in the parish bulletin.

The second offering, is at a parish known to the Latin Mass and polish communities, one I endorse for being open to all parties looking for assistance/worship space for holding Latin Masses, in addition to holding their own weekly offering Saturday 9am, and on special feast days. The details are as follows:
2) St. Mary’s Polish Catholic Church, (1996 Davenport Rd., Toronto Ontario.)

• Mass start time is 7 PM.
• Unknown if the priest will be available for confessions. There might only be one priest around, the one carrying out the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. 
• This mass will be a Missa Canatata, as I've been informed a choirmaster from a lay organization will be assisting to provide Gregorian Chant

I hope you will pass on word to your family/friends and attend one of these offerings. I especially encourage you to attend and support these parishes that hold the Latin Mass as in the current situation in our Archdiocese, it is these parishes whom are taking leadership for holding the bulk of Latin Mass offerings outside of normal scheduled times.

Should I not have family or other important duties, I will likely attend the Holy Family offering with a close friend of mine, as it would allow me an hour earlier to get home to my wife and 17 month year old son, especially after waking up at 430am to begin the day and travel to my work.

So hopefully I will see you there, but don’t let my choice discourage you attending St Mary’s. The pastors and community there are excellent and have the correct approach to the Latin Mass in terms of charity and navigating the current political and liturgical climate in the Church.

Regardless, support your closest community, or any holding these special offerings, and may the sacred liturgy that fed the Saints these past few centuries, feed your soul too and inspire you to be better disciples of Christ.

Pax, Julian.

Special offering of Latin Mass for Feast of the Annunciation

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the short notice, but there will be one special Extraordinary Form/Latin Mass offering for the Feast of the Annunciation tomorrow.

The offering will be at St. Mary`s Polish Catholic Church, on Monday, March 25, 2019 at 7pm EST. This offering is publicly announced on St. Mary's website via the bulletin. I cannot confirm the level of the offering, but based on the other public media that has been released on other blogs I will not promote on Servimus, the level will likely be a Missa Cantata. Also, this week's offering is in addition to their Saturday Missa Lecta at 9am at the parish.

Please come out and support the Latin Mass, but in addition, Fr. Kazimirez, and his parish community, whom have been nothing but gracious in allowing for the continuation of offerings of the TLM at higher levels, outside of St. Lawrence the Martyr and Holy Family, in the core of the Archdiocese of Toronto. They have allowed with open doors, all lay organizations/choirs/independent parties to have offerings there, despite any politics or conflict.

Pax, Julian.

REPORT: Rorate Caeli Mass on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church in Toronto

REPORT: Rorate Caeli Mass on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church in Toronto

Hello Everyone, 

I come to you with a special report in this liturgical Season of Advent. If you have not seen this post on my blog, or examined other social media blogs dealing with the Latin Mass in Toronto, there are a number of special offerings, aside from normal Latin Masses at parishes that offer them, that have been or are to come in the Archdiocese of Toronto. In particular over 3 straight Saturdays including this Saturday past, Missa Cantata/High level Latin Masses are being offered at St Mary’s Polish Catholic Church at Davenport and Ossington area in Toronto, 1996 Davenport Road. 

Fr. Kazimirez and his parish have been great supporters of the Latin Mass, hosting their own weekly and special offerings, as well as allowing lay organizations/choirs to organize special offerings of the EF at St. Mary's (including my allies of St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir, with whom recently organized an offering for Christ the King in October 2018.) 

As I did last year, and again this year, I was privileged to have the ability to rise early in the morning, to experience one of the richest liturgies in the Extraordinary Form (EF)/ Latin Mass the Catholic Church has to offer, the Rorate Caeli Mass in Advent. 

As this year’s mass was publicly announced (on the St. Mary's website,) and held at an Archdiocese of Toronto parish, I bring to the faithful a report of the Rorate Caeli 2018 Mass in Toronto, held at St Mary’s. 

PREAMBLE: What is special/different about Rorate Caeli?

As per the Fraternal Society of St Peter, they describe the Rorate Mass as the following: 

"The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn. In many instances families and individuals travel an hour or more, rising and arriving very early for this stunningly beautiful Mass. The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the world.

The Mass takes its title, Rorate Caeli, from the first words of the Introit, which are from Isaiah 45:8:

“Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.”

“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.”

The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honor, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ.

The readings and prayers of the Mass foretell the prophecy of the Virgin who would bear a Son called Emmanuel, and call on all to raise the gates of their hearts and their societies to let Christ the King enter; asking for the grace to receive eternal life by the merits of the Incarnation and saving Resurrection of Our Lord."

REPORT:

Upon entering the church, the whole of the body and sanctuary was covered in darkness, save the multitude of lit candles in the sanctuary, and smaller candles lit on every windowsill. 

In attendance for the actual Mass, was about 30-35 laity in the pews including myself, though with celebrant, servers and choir thrown in, that makes for a total of 40-45 people offering their prayers/participating in the sacred liturgy of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. 

While the numbers were about the same as last year’s attendance, I can happily say the demographic has been changing, reflecting the overall gravitas of youth and young adults seeking the spiritual nourishment that the Latin Mass provides. Last year when I attended, from a visual glance around me, I and maybe one other soul were young men under 40, the rest older parishioners of St Mary’s and women. 

This year, when I looked around, I saw two young adult couples, another young man from (my first MC’d) October Christ the King Mass, and another young man with a relative (perhaps one of the acolyte’s brother and mother?) For a smaller crowd at a EF this is a marked jump in demographic, and proof that giving solid liturgy to the youth attracts them to the church, so much so to get them out of bed on an early Saturday morning, and forsake their favourite past-time of weekend sleeping in! 

As for the liturgy itself, every member on the altar was nearly flawless in their execution of the liturgy. Though I would not expect nothing less from pastor Fr Kazimierz who has been doing the EF a few years now, and the serving corps of whom most members I have has the pleasure at serving at the altar of the Lord with. Those servers are all veterans in our diocese, made of a combination of parishioners of St Mary’s and have assisted masses of (in most cases) all lay organizations/choirs who organize Latin Masses in Toronto, and those involving the EF chaplains of past and current in our Archdiocese. 

The choir was sacred and sanctimonious in their chanting of the hymns, propers, and the chosen Mass setting IX: Votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary 1. Mass setting IX was fitting as the sound of the setting has a strong, yet docile and tempered pace, well suited to the gradual rising of the sun and illumination of the parish interior over the Mass. 

As per usual in my reporting, to give you a sample of immersion into the Latin Mass, I post here some of the main posts of the Homily by Fr Kazimierz from my recollection:

• Even in the Old Testament God allowed for many miracles out of love for his holy people and to give hope to all of us, the faithful. 
• Examples are the exile of the Jews out of Egypt from their Egyptian captors as well as the parting of the red sea.
• God continues to show his love and mercy and hope for the people of the faithful even in the time after king David. He did so with Achaz as in the Epistle of the Mass (Isaias 7:10-15.) Surrounded by their enemies, God nonetheless gave to Achaz and the Jewish people, a sign of hope and promise forelling of the coming of Christ being born to the blessed virgin Mary. 
• With Regards to Mary and her Fiat, She was open to the Lord’s grace, his blessings, and mercy, in accepting the great task and privilege of bearing Jesus Christ in pregnancy. Mary is the mother of God because of His own incarnation, of Christ being born of the blessed virgin Mary.
• In this time of Advent me we to reflect on the blessed virgin Mary’s obedience to our Lord and may we be open to his divine well as was Marie when she in obedience excepted being the mother of God and mother of Jesus Christ.

In all, this liturgy was a beautiful way for one to prepare themselves to celebrate his nativity on Christmas Day. It contained a beautiful serenity, so much so, that after I consumed the Lord in the Sacred Species of the Eucharist, I felt a movement of peace and warmth within me after reading some post-communion prayers from my old pre-Vatican II prayer Missal, “The Key to Salvation.” This Sacred liturgy was definitely the “warm cup of cocoa” to melt the spiritual cold of one’s heart and there is no one better (save Christ) to do so than His Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the key focus of the Rorate Caeli Liturgy. 

If one wishes they could come to such a sacred liturgy you have one more chance this coming Saturday, December 23, 2018. Fr Kazimierz will be celebrant for another Missa Cantata at St Mary’s Polish Catholic Parish. This liturgy will also be special as it is an Ember Saturday for the Season of Advent (of the Winter ember days,) containing five Scripture readings prior to the Gospel. There is still time to prepare one’s heart and mind, spiritually, this Advent, with a gorgeous and sacred Latin Mass in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Enjoy the accompanying pictures. Of note: notice the smoke of the incense rising up in the candlelight of the altar, and that the stained glass window over the altar has, in it's center, but who else ... the Blessed Virgin mary 

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin. 

PS. As to the prayer I was reading after consuming the Sacred Host, this is the prayer from “The Key To Salvation,” “Act of Love:“ O beloved Jesus, where shall I find words to express my gratitude and love? O inestimable pledge of God's love for man! O inexhaustible fountain of divine graces! O boundless mercy! O divine charity! Hail O merciful Jesus! O may my soul be sensible of Thy adorable presence and may I see how sovereingly sweet Thou are in the sacrament of Thy love. Yes, O God of goodness!  I love Thee with my whole heart, my whole soul, and above all things. O divine Jesus, do Thou confirm these holy resolutions in my heart, and frant that I may always be able affectionately to exclaim with Thy holy apostle: Thou knowest, Lord, that I love Thee. 

REPORT: Missa Cantata/Sung High Mass for Christ the King, October 28, 2018 1PM St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church Toronto

REPORT: Missa Cantata/Sung High Mass for Christ the King, October 28, 2018 1PM St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church Toronto

Hello everyone,

Once again, the St Patrick’s Gregorian Choir of Toronto (SPGC,) based out of St Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Toronto (Redemptorist,) organized their annual offering of the Latin Mass on the Feast of Christ the King in the Extraordinary Form/Latin Mass Calendar.

This Missa Cantata/Sung High Mass took place last Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 1 pm and was held at St. Mary’s Polish Catholic Church, 1996 Davenport Rd in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Of note was three particular items for this offering of the Mass:
1) For SPGC this was the first occasion organizing a Higher level Latin Mass at this parish. St Mary’s has never been asked by the choir to be used as a Mass site, although other lay organizations, and even the parish itself, had held/holds Latin Masses respectfully.

2) A seminarian who has assisted with St Patrick’s Gregorian Choir in the last few offerings and is a regular member of the schola, completed his pre-seminary studies and was accepted into St Augustine’s this fall. This was his first EF Mass since being accepted into seminary, as well as his
first time in the liturgical role of Acolyte 2.

3) After 7 years of being loyal to SPGC and assisting in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and dealing with much over my time alongside the choir, this author, made his debut for the first time in the Master of Ceremonies (MC) role in the EF liturgy! 

Pre-Mass Details/preparations 

After a change in celebrant and location of the Mass times, it was eventually settled that St Mary’s, under the pastor-ship of Fr. Kazimierz, our celebrant, would be host to the TLM for this annual offering of SPGC Christ the King, 2018.

Thankfully, St Mary’s has been involved with the hosting of the EF in the last few years, including their own Saturday 9am Missa Lecta/Low Mass, as well as special high and solemn Masses on feast days and solemnities in past, in partnership with another lay organization. As such, the parish was well equipped for the celebration of the Latin Mass, with many of the liturgical items in stock, such as framed altar cards and their own 1962 Missal. Only Acolyte/processional candles were supplied by the SPGC.

As usual, the choir devoted their weekly Sat evening practices for the last few weekends, to rehearsing for this EF Mass, in addition to their weekly duties, for the Saturday Novus Ordo vigil Mass at 5pm at St Pat’s (a vernacular Mass with Latin and Gregorian Chants in the musical portions)

On the serving end, preparation for my role as MC was undertaken starting with the last offering of SPGC in June 2018, whereby I was permitted to shadow the prior MC, Mr. Giovanni at practice. In between offerings, while dealing with full-time work and parenting a young 7 month old son, private preparation was undertaken via a combination of written and video resources including: my personal copy of the Missale Romanum 1962, (see here,) the “Gold Standard” Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described, and YouTube video of other Latin High Masses, especially one of Christ the King Missa Cantata, to prepare for the role. Private serving practice for mastery of footwork/positioning went on alongside the Choir on the 20th October, and a full serving practice was held with the choirmaster, Surinder, present on the eve of October 23rd @ St Mary’s.

The Actual Mass

On Sunday October 28, 2018, the Mass took place at 1pm at St Mary’s. A modest showing of 30-40 people were present at the Mass, mostly residents from the Parish. Considering that promotion of this Mass on my blog and media various sources (e.g. the Archdiocese website, the Catholic Register) was delayed for a myriad of reasons including a postal strike (for the Register newspaper), this turnout was great for a smaller parish and less advance notice.

Overall, the liturgy was conducted decently, save minor mistakes with a side offering of high nervousness, and some off-timing on my part. Timing is quite different in real life versus recordings of the chants. Thankfully the serving contingent was made of experienced servers, some from the parish who have served the EF, others of my allies in the EF, including the seminarian who was a quick study for Acolyte 2. Fr Kazimierz was excellent as our celebrant, clearly knowing his role as celebrant, and also being a great assist to me as first time MC.

After much sweat (in our cassocks and clergy robes,) effort, and prayer, the liturgy was conducted as reverently as possible, despite my nervousness. Not one complaint was voiced to the choir by anyone in attendance. The choir, as usual, demonstrated their abilities and experience in their chanting, and lifted the souls of the faithful (alongside the sanctuary contingent) on High to our King.

The musical selections for the Mass, combined with the ordinary Liber chants for the Mass were:

Organ Prelude
Introductory hymn: Praise to the Lord the Almighty, by Lobe Den Herren
Introit: Dignus et Agnus (Liber)
Kyrie: XII (Pater Cuncta)
Gloria: XII
Graduale: Dominabitur (Liber)
Alleluia: Potestas Eius (Liber)
Credo: II
Offertory: Postula A Me (Liber)
Sanctus: XII
Agnus Dei: XII
Communion hymn: Panis Angelicus
Communion Antiphon: Sedebit Dominus (Liber)
Closing Hymn: Rejoice the Lord is King by Gospal

In addition, I present some of the points of Father’s short, but succinct and poignant homily for the feast of Christ the King:

- The Feast of Christ the King has a significance, of which it’s analogy of kingship may not seem as relevant to modern Man, as the Monarchy/active Kingdoms have been replaced with democratic governments and symbolic monarchies.
- However, the analogy does apply to us as a Catholic Church, even in today’s world.
- A King wields authority over his subjects and is responsible for their well being. His subjects, in turn, are to respect the authority of the King and his rulings and governance of the kingdom.
- Christ is NOT just an earthly “King” who appeared once in time, he is our Divine King in Heaven, who wields authority over Heaven and Earth, though now he resides in his True Kingdom of Heaven.
- Jesus ensured that his divine authority and care as our King, would persist in this earthly kingdom via his Bride, the Holy Catholic Church. Through it, He bestows through Apostolic Succession, his authority to Holy Mother Church. As His Holy Bride, it is through She where His authority over his subjects, us the Faithful [ed note: who consist of the “Communal” Body of Christ.]
- Because our King is so closely linked to the Church in His authority as its head, and on earth, The Pope as His Vicar, and his bishops as ordinary arbiters and judges of the Magisterium of His teaching authority, those who attack the Church Herself, the Magisterium and Her teachings, and/or Herself as a whole, attack Christ directly.
- This even applies more directly to us, the laity within the Church! When we attack Her Magisterium, and those who are it’s guardians up to the Holy Father itself, you attack Christ directly!
- In the end he asked us to pray to the The Lord that we may be His loyal subjects and to be obedient to His Will and Holy Mother Church.

Finally, I present to you numerous photos from the Mass, a combination of those submitted with thanks by a young man in attendance, as well as some of my own and the Choir:

  The choir preparing for the Liturgy

 Likely, the Collect. I, as MC am to the right of the Celebrant, Fr. Kaz(miriez), on the Epistle side, during the Mass of the Catechumens (Liturgy of the Word.) I point to the prayer in the Missal before he begins. 

Incensation of the altar before the offertory of water and wine

More incensation of the altar in the Mass of the Canons (Liturgy of Eucharist.) The crucifer has been employed to take the altar Missal off while the Celebrant incenses the altar. I, as MC on the right, and the Thurifer to Fr's left, assist him in incensation, by lifting his arms when he genuflects. 

Consecration of the wine into the Blood of Christ. I am just below the celebrant's right, Thurifer is incensing Fr. as he lifts up the chalice. 

Communion of the servers. Here we say the "Confiteor" a 2nd time in the liturgy, a common practice at higher Masses for the servers. 

Communion of the Choir post-Mass (they cannot descend for communion during the Mass)

More communion of the Choir. 

What took place was a beautiful and sacred offering of the Mass, and all parties present that day, assisted in that Sacrifice of the Mass, even the laity in the pews with their prayers to Christ. Hopefully you have enjoyed this report, and perhaps in future, you will join our Lord in the Latin Mass at one of these offerings or those of Toronto, or other parishes. It is not just sentiment why the EF/Latin Mass is nicknamed “The Mass of Ages” that lifts the soul to higher callings.

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin

ANNOUNCEMENT: Missa Cantata/High Latin Mass for Christ the King on October 28, 2018 1:00 pm in Toronto!

Hello everyone,

Once again, time has past, and that time of the season has come. On the 12th anniversary of their formation, the St Patrick’s Gregorian Choir will be organizing their annual offering of the Extraordinary Form (EF) of the Roman Rite aka the TLM, Tridentine Mass, 1962 Missal ...) on the Feast of Christ the King, according to the Liturgical Calendar of the EF.

The details pertaining to the Mass are as follows:

Where: St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church
Address: 1996 Davenport Rd., Toronto, ON
When: Sunday October 28, 2018
Time of Mass: 1:00 pm

The poster is attached here:

As a personal, yet liturgical point of interest, I will be serving our Lord on the altar in a prominent capacity. After much service in the Extraordinary Form, this being my 7th anniversary, it was decided by the organizers that I will be debuting as Master of Ceremonies.

The SPGC has arranged for a celebrant, but in terms of serving, they are always open to new young boys and men of any age, having done, at least, their first Communion, who would like to altar serve in the Latin Mass.

If interested, please contact the choirmaster, Surinder Mundra @ 416 731 4485, or myself at torontotlmservers@gmail.com, and we will arrange for you to be part of the Mass in some way.

The servers will be practicing this coming Saturday, October 20 @ 630 pm at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in downtown Toronto, at 131 McCaul St. (University Ave. and Dundas St. W.) It is near St. Patrick`s subway station on the TTC.

Please spread word and use your email or social media to inform your family and friends of this sacred and holy event, and also come out to support the SPGC, as well as myself in my new liturgical endeavour.

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin

Upcoming Additional Missa Cantata/TLMs for December 2017 in Toronto Outside of Normal TLM Parishes

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to one of my closest of friends, a confidant I can trust in the TLM, I have been informed of some upcoming Missa Cantata offerings in the Latin Mass for the liturgical season of Advent.

After contacting the parish office during the week by email, as well as the pastor himself by phone (surprised calling the main line I got him! Now that's being "pastoral!") to verify the offerings, especially one in particular, I can confirm the following offerings for the TLM, which are ALL being hosted at St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church at 1996 Davenport Road, in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The following offerings have been confirmed:

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Friday Dec 8, 2017

• St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church, 1996 Davenport Road. 7:00 PM E.S.T. Start Time. 

SPECIAL!!! RORATE CAELI - Saturday Dec 16, 2017

• St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church, 1996 Davenport Road. 5:45 AM E.S.T. Start Time! 
• NOTE: Why so early? From St. John the Bapitst FSSP parish in Arkansas, USA: " The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn .... The Mass takes its title, Rorate Caeli, from the first words of the Introit, which are from Isaiah 45:8: “Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.” “Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.” The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight ...." 

Ember Saturday in the Season of Advent - Saturday Dec 23, 2017

• St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church, 1996 Davenport Road. 9:00 AM E.S.T. Start Time. 
• Note: St. Mary`s has a weekly Latin Low Mass at this time normally, that all can attend.  

For those looking for spiritual preparation in the anticipation and coming of our Lord, why not go the distance and give our Lord a special, spiritual gift to him in anticipation of Christmas Day. Come and see what the sacred and Holy TLM is all about.

Pax tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

P.S. I, nor those I assist in the TLM (e.g. St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir,) have any affiliation with this parish by ministry or as registered parishoners, nor have been asked by any party in these Masses for assistance with the EF liturgies. Despite my blog goals, because these offerings are being hosted by a parish in the Archdiocese of Toronto, with approval from the parish pastor (to the best of my knowledge,) and despite other online promotion of these offerings, I am promoting these offerings for those who simply want to attend some TLMs during, and in the spirit of, this beautiful season of Advent.