TLM in West Virginia
Monday, April 20th, 2009
MASS OF THE AGES IN THE ANCIENT MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA
A Missa Cantata, Extraordinary Form, will be offered by Fr. Timothy Grassi at 4:00 pm on Sunday, May 17, in Thomas, WV (Tucker County), at the small but warm and beautiful St. Thomas Aquinas. Fr.Grassi offers the traditional Latin Mass every weekday morning at St. Thomas, and every other Sunday in nearby Parsons, WV at Our Lady of Mercy Mission.
According to Gratton Gannon, chairman of the Una Voce chapter in West Virginia, musicians from St Anthony’s of Follansbee, WV with their organist Robert Fulda will travel to Thomas to assist local parishioners. Thomas is a tiny remote mountain town with few accommodations, but nearby are Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls, both with good accommodations and gorgeous natural settings.
“The last two stirringly sung High Masses at St Patrick in Weston and St. Francis Xavier in Parkersburg were overwhelmingly attended with over 400 people and standing room only each time,” Gannon said.
“People came to these two wonderfully- preserved churches from all over West Virginia and Ohio. There seems to be a genuine thirst for the Latin Mass in this area. Currently in the diocese, the Extraordinary Form is offered monthly by Fr. Kevin Quirk at the Cathedral of St Joseph in Wheeling in response to local requests. We are grateful for these grace-filled opportunities to assist at the ancient rite, and we pray for more,” Gannon added.
For further information, contact: Fr. Timothy Grassi, olm@yahoo.com, (304-463- 4488); Grattan Gannon, Gannon2006@hotmail. com, (304-522-2014); John Roush, jroush@mountain.net; or Mike & Mary Tillman, Tillmans@hotmail. com.