Rorate Caeli

First Traditional Personal Parish in New England: Nashua, New Hampshire

Another abandoned church that would go the way of complete dereliction is to be saved by the Traditional Mass -- the church of St. Stanislaus, built for the Polish community of Nashua, NH, in 1908.

 The press release was made public today by the Diocese of Manchester (the diocese that covers the entire state of New Hampshire):

High Altar - St Stanislaus

"The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, announced today that the Diocese of Manchester will soon be blessed with the opening of a new parish dedicated to the celebration of the Tridentine Rite Mass, when the former Saint Stanislaus church in Nashua will reopen. The new parish will be entrusted to the members of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP). While a pastor for the new parish has not yet been named, current plans call for the celebration of the first Mass in early August.


" 'Since coming here in 2011, I have heard from many Catholics who have a deep affection for the traditional liturgical forms of the pre-Vatican II era,' said Bishop Libasci. 'Consistent with that desire I am happy to announce the opening of this parish, dedicated to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, as suggested by Pope Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum, issued Motu Proprio in 2007.'

"Saint Stanislaus parish, established in 1908 to serve the Polish community of Nashua, was unified with Saint Aloysius of Gonzaga Parish in 2002. The church has remained in use since then as a Eucharistic adoration chapel. Since 1999 it has also been the home of the Corpus Christi Food Pantry. The pantry, with its many dedicated volunteers, will continue to offer its valuable services and programs that serve those who are in need in the greater Nashua area."

Bishop Libasci is to be thanked for his solicitude. Congratulations to the FSSP and to the Traditional Catholic community in New Hampshire and nearby northern Massachusetts!

(Source; Tip: reader CT.)