April 2009 Monthly, Number 208 R C egina oeli RepoRt Regina Coeli House, 11485 Farley Road, Platte City, MO 64079 Tel: (816) 753-0073 FAX (816) 753-3560 S . M t ichael the a c rchangel hapel r 25 Y eacheS earS O n November 23, 2008, the faithful at St. Michael the Archangel Church in FARMINGVILLE, NY celebrated their chapel’s 25th anniversary with a Solemn High Mass followed by a banquet which included a slideshow on the chapel’s history. Centrally located on Long Island, the chapel’s development began over a decade before its establishment in November 1983, and was often near the historical eye of the SSPX’s formative years in the United States of America. In fact, two of its original parishioners would exercise a substantial impact in the early history of the SSPX’s apostolate in the United States. The flash point for the chapel’s inception occurred in April 1970 with the introduction of the St. Michael the Archangel Church as it appears today. The exterior Novus Ordo Missae wooden framework is supposed to imitate the English Tudor Gothic style. in the Rockville Center diocese that encompassed the Catholic parishes on Long Island. It immediately became clear to some Long Island Catholics that This circa 1981 photograph shows from left the New Mass was to right, Alfred Skidmore, Fr. Denis Roch (the “man-centered instead General Bursar) and Archbishop Lefebvre. of God centered.”1 A few reacted by discontinuing attendance at the New Mass, while others searched for a priest who still offered the traditional Roman Mass. This is how the former dress factory first appeared just after its conversion to a Catholic church. Note the small sign on the front which says: “The future home of St. Michael the Archangel RC Church.” 1 Comments of Mrs. Anastasia Martin, parishioner of St. Michael’s. 1 Continued on p.2 St. Michael’S..., continued from p.1 The chapel as it appeared after six weeks of remodeling. Seminarians from Ridgefield can be seen readying the sanctuary, where on the Gospel side, Archbishop Lefebvre preaches before administering confirmations, the curtains for the canopied pontifical throne has already been erected. while Fr. Williamson stands by in case His Excellency should need some help with various English phrases. Note the reliquaries on the altar, which were brought from St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary (then at Ridgefield) for the ceremonies, and are still used on the seminary’s high altar in Winona, MN to this day. One such priest was the prominent Fr. Gommar DePauw,2 who in 1964 opened his Ave Maria Chapel in Westbury, NY on Long Island. On April 14, 1968, Fr. DePauw held a well-publicized rally attended by two thousand Catholics at the Hotel New Yorker in New York City, during which he ominously predicted the implementation of the theologically- deficient Novus Ordo Missae. In early 1970, he held another demonstration at Garden City, just after the New Mass was introduced into the New York state dioceses. Among the hundreds of attendees was an attorney named Alfred Skidmore who heard about the conference from a friend. Refusing to attend the New Mass, his wife had already been attending the Ave Maria Chapel for six months; Mr. Skidmore and his three Accompanied by two seminarians bearing torches, Fr. Schmidberger circles sons however had been staying at home. This all changed though the chapel while sprinkling its exterior. Gathered at the front of the church, when he heard Fr. DePauw speak about the traditional Mass. the faithful and clergy watch in the background. It appears that the aged Despite some reticence about the atmosphere at the Ave Archbishop was recovering from his overseas trip, so he delegated the Maria Chapel, nonetheless the Skidmores, and other future chapel’s blessing to his Vicar General. members of St. Michael’s, continued to attend Mass there until 1973. In the meantime, in 1972, Mr. Skidmore read an Dupont.3 The article was titled “The Seminary of the True article in a Catholic quarterly called World Trends published Faith”4 and concerned the founding of the International in Melbourne, Australia by a displaced Frenchman, Mr. Yves Seminary of St. Pius X in Econe, Switzerland by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Coincidentally, Mr. Skidmore’s children had just presented an all-paid European trip to their parents, so 2 Fr. Gommar A. DePauw, JCD was a Belgian born in October 1918 and they decided to stop at Econe during their vacation. When ordained a priest for the Ghent diocese in 1942. A distinguished cleric, Mr. and Mrs. Skidmore arrived at the seminary in April 1972, he was appointed a periti to the Second Vatican Council. In March 1965, Archbishop Lefebvre was away. However, they met American Fr DePauw founded the Catholic Traditionalist Movement (CTM) whose aim was “to provide the Catholic laity with all information necessary for the correct understanding and implementation of the Second Vatican Council’s decisions in full conformity with the traditional doctrine and practices of 3 Mr. Dupont was born in 1922, but moved to Melbourne, Australia the Roman Catholic Church.” Eventually, the CTM would coordinate with his English wife and four children after World War II. In addition traditionalist priests from across the United States to service some of the to the quarterly he began during the Second Vatican Council (one of first mission circuits for American Catholics attached to the True Mass. the first such English-language Catholic periodicals that pinpointed the On June 23, 1968, Fr. DePauw founded the first traditionalist chapel in Modernist errors emanating from the Council), he was the author of the United States. Though he did not affiliate himself with the SSPX, Catholic Prophecy and an avid correspondent. his efforts for promoting Catholic Tradition were nonetheless valuable. 4 This article was authored by Fr. Peter J. Morgan and actually published Fr. DePauw passed away on May 6, 2005. in August 1971. 2 continued on p.4 Society of Saint Pius X 11485 Farley Road Platte city, MO 64079 District of the United States of America (816) 753-0073 Regina Coeli House FaX (816) 753-3560 Father Arnaud Rostand J.M.J. District Superior April 1, 2009 Dear friends and benefactors of the Society of St. Pius X, The past few weeks have been full of news concerning act firmly in his regard. As the superior of the Society of the Catholic Church, and specifically the Society of St. St. Pius X, God gives him the grace of state to make such Pius X. decisions, however painful they might be. It is not for us to The first major event and the most important one second-guess him in these prudential matters, but to support was, of course, the lifting of the “excommunication” of our him by our charity and especially by our prayers. four bishops. The letter His Excellency Bishop Fellay, our The events of the past few weeks show us the necessity Superior General, addressed to you on this matter has already to re-focus our actions upon what is essential and crucial; shed some necessary light to help you understand the new the Faith and the Salvation of our souls. state of affairs with Rome. As we have entered the time of Lent, I encourage you to Reactions to the decree have been very harsh. A severe make it fruitful, to offer prayers and sacrifices, particularly press campaign was launched across the entire world, against for the intentions of the bishops and priests of the Society the Catholic Church, the pope, and of course against the of St. Pius X. In these difficult times we need to keep unity Society of St. Pius X. The interview of His Excellency Bishop in our ranks, unity in doctrine, unity in prayer, unity under Williamson, given a few months before the decree to Swedish the guidance and leadership of our Superior General, Bishop television, has been used by the press, and is the alleged Fellay. reason to harass and discredit whatever is even slightly in With my prayers and blessings, favor of Catholic Tradition. Thus, the label of “excommunicated,” used for so long In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to keep people away from Tradition, has been removed, but now a new attempt is made to discredit Tradition. A new label which like the old we absolutely reject as unfounded, is attached to us. Many of you have read the different statements that Fr. Arnaud Rostand Bishop Fellay had to make in order to distance the Society of St. Pius X from the positions expressed by Bishop S M tella ariS Williamson in the interview on the specific matter of the Holocaust. Some may wonder why such statements were G C irls amp necessary to make. It is important to remember that the mission of the (for girls ages 13-18) Society of St. Pius X is essentially one of defending and living the Catholic Faith. God has revealed this Faith to us, Location: Camp Olmsted, near Warren, PA. and it is the Faith that is necessary for the salvation of our souls. The question of the Holocaust is a historical one, not Camp Dates: July 28 to August 7 a question of Faith. Hence it is of secondary importance, Camper Registration: call 716-753-7611 and cannot be allowed to become an obstacle to the Society’s during the times indicated: primary mission. May 1-9 – Return Campers Furthermore, unity among Society members and May 10-23 – First-time Campers faithful is possible only if we keep our focus on the Faith. Disagreement on historical questions and other matters that are not of Faith is inevitable, and a source of certain division Browerville Sisters’ Girls Camp, if we allow such questions to take on a disproportionate Veneta, OR importance. 8-day camp to take place in July or August Because of the threat Bishop Williamson’s comments on the Holocaust pose to the Society’s mission and to the Contact: Sister Athanasius, 320-594-2944 unity of the Society, Bishop Fellay has deemed it necessary Details to follow 3 St. Michael’S..., continued from p.2 seminarian Anthony Ward5 instead, who was pleased to make their acquaintance and promised to mention their visit to the Archbishop upon his return. A few months later in August, while Archbishop Lefebvre in the States, he made a visit to Long Island at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Valley Stream. Here the newly-ordained Fr. Anthony Ward introduced Mr. Skidmore to the Archbishop who held a special meeting with the attorney at law who would assist the SSPX in many legal matters in the years to come. In 1973, newly-ordained American SSPX priest, Fr. Clarence Kelly, returned to the Long Island area and established the St. Pius V Chapel6 in the two-car garage of his brother, Patrick, at Wantagh.7 With the SSPX now in town, the Skidmores and others began attending St. Pius V Chapel. When attendance had grown to 30 souls almost a year later, the Sunday Mass location was moved to a rented VFW hall in Hicksville, which would serve this growing group of traditional A view of the packed chapel on November 5, 1983. Catholics Catholics for nearly a decade. The altar and other sanctuary from all over the New York area came for the great occasion items were stored in the hall’s basement during the week, and of the church’s blessing and to hear Archbishop Lefebvre, the had to be set up every Sunday. Meanwhile, the weekday Masses Herald of Catholic Tradition, speak. continued to be held at the garage chapel in Wantagh. In 1974, Fr. Kelly established the mission’s St. Pius V School, renting space at a Protestant school in Wantagh. The school offered elementary through high school grades and was consistently attended by the families attending the chapel. This same year saw the erection of the SSPX’s United States District with Fr. Ward appointed as the District Superior, who resided at St. Joseph’s House of Studies in Armada, MI. For many years to come, the subsequent District Superiors would utilize Mr. Skidmore’s attorney’s skills in various legal matters, especially in the turbulent years that lay ahead. In 1976, he was involved with the purchase of the Oyster Bay Cove property8 on Long Island which repeating its historic reputation would in a few years witness another tragic scene. In the midst of ongoing repairs at the rectory, Fr. Kelly moved his residence from East Meadow residence to the new St. Pius V Priory, while the namesake chapel was moved into the former estate’s Play House. However, as the township had not Accompanied by Frs. Schmidberger (on the left) and yet approved the building for the use of religious services, only Williamson (on the right), the Archbishop blesses the faithful weekday Masses were held there after its dedication in November while processing out of the chapel. 1977, while Sunday Masses continued to be celebrated at the VFW hall. This same year, as a result of Fr. Ward leaving the SSPX, Fr. Kelly became the new District Superior and the headquarters was transferred to Oyster Bay Cove. In 1978, turbulence between the sedevacantist-minded priests and those loyal to Archbishop Lefebvre caused the single 5 A seminarian from the Covington, KY diocese whom Archbishop district to be administratively cleaved in two. At the heart of the Lefebvre brought to Econe during his March 1971 “seminary recruiting turmoil was the issue of the 1962 edition of the Missale Romanum, tour” in the United States. Simultaneously recruited were New York which the sedevantist priests refused to use, falsely claiming that seminarians, Clarence Kelly and Daniel Sanborn. Cf. the July 2006 issue it was liturgically unsound. The crux of the matter though, their of the Regina Coeli Report and Marcel Lefebvre: The Biography for further details. sedevacantist opinions about the papacy, continued to be mostly 6 The garage church was tongue-in-cheek nicknamed, “Kelly’s hidden. The brewing matter of improperly incorporated properties Cathedral.” was also beginning to loom largely in the picture. 7 This was also Fr. Kelly’s residence until after about a year, he moved to The year 1979 became a busy year for the SSPX on the East Meadow where he resided until the Oyster Bay Cove property was East Coast. A former Jesuit retreat center in Ridgefield, CT was suitable to live in. purchased and the seminary was transferred from Armada, MI to 8 This complex was formerly part of the 43-acre Sunken Orchard estate the new complex christened St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. That of the Woodward family, a New York socialite family of great wealth. It year also saw the arrival of an Englishman named Fr. Richard was in the rectory that on October 30, 1955, Mrs. Ann Woodward shot Williamson, who the Archbishop had appointed as his “visitor” her husband, Mr. William Woodward, Jr., in a case of mistaken identity to investigate some complaints made by the faithful of St. Pius (she thought he was a burglar); the adjacent Sunken Orchard Play House V Chapel and School. Mixed in with parochial concerns, Mr. was converted into the St. Pius V Chapel. 4 Here some of the men reassemble the marble side altar dedicated to St. Joseph obtained from Amsterdam, NY. From left to right, Vincent Spero, Peter Sardegna, and Jim Carey. Here we can see the high altar being assembled… post-Vatican II era as “part-time Novus Ordo Catholics,” having stopped attending their parish church after the New Mass was introduced. This changed in 1977 when the family discovered the traditional Roman Mass being offered at Fr. Kelly’s garage chapel. On one fine Sunday in 1981, the family was driving home from Mass and Mr. Sardegna happened to mention to his wife that it would be nice if there was a closer chapel. Simultaneously, his wife spied in the chapel bulletin an announcement that the Sardegnas would be the coordinators for a new mission in Hauppaug: “We knew nothing about it, but there it was in the bulletin, our address and phone number! ” Fr. Kelly had named this new mission after St. Edmund the Martyr, where for nearly a year, Mass would be offered on Sunday afternoon once a month in a Ramada Inn with attendance peaking at 90 faithful just before “The Split” in 1983. This mission “had nothing,” so at first, Mr. Sardegna had to pick up these items from the Hicksville VFW hall, set them up in the hotel, and then return them to the hall’s basement; eventually though, Mr. Sardegna and some men built their own altar and rail. Upon the accounts of several original parishioners of St. …with the final result. Note the raised drop- Michael’s, by the early 1980’s there was a sense that a rift was ceiling to accommodate the altar throne. widening between the priests in the United States, distinguishing those who were loyal to the Archbishop from those that were not. Skidmore had been giving repeated warnings about Fr. Kelly’s In hindsight, they also reccognized how these disloyal priests had negative attitude towards the SSPX. He was also gravely concerned been carefully biding their time to solidify their property holdings that the priests attached to the Northeast District Superior still had and obtain the attachment of the faithful to their agenda, a not obeyed the repeated instructions of the SSPX’s General Bursar, neccesity for their future financial support. One example that Fr. Denis Roch, to have various properties incorporated properly. occurred to this end was when Fr. Kelly suddenly begain to These priests had repeatedly promised to do this immediately, but hold parish get-togethers for the St. Pius V Chapel (ostensibly still nothing had been done. Worse still, these same priests were to unite the parish) during the first few months of 1983 at the accusing Archbishop Lefebvre of vacilliating to Modernism and of Levittown Hall. compromising to the Conciliar Church. To back up their claims, Matters finally came to a head on the Wednesday morning they often misrepresented various statements of the Archbishop of April 27, 1983, when Archbishop Lefebvre, accompanied that dovetailed with their own agenda. These priests even began by Frs. Franz Schmidberger9 and Williamson, arrived at Mr. stating that they were the only part of the SSPX in the United Skidmore’s legal office and asked to have his secretary type up States that was remaining faithful to the Archbishop’s original the individual dismissals for the group of sedevacantist priests intentions. It was a powder keg waiting to explode, though the Archbishop attempted to diffuse it by exercising tolerance, charity and great patience. 9 In 1982 during the First General Chapter, Fr. Schmidberger was appointed Moving forward to 1981, another instrumental person in the SSPX’s Vicar General with the immediate right of succession as the the early years of the SSPX comes into view; Mr. Peter Sardegna. next Superior General (then fulfilled by the Archbishop), which he did A skilled carpenter, he described his family in the immediate in 1984. 5 continued on p.8 I n our December 2006 issue, we reported how the St. Therese, Patron of Alaska Mission in ANCHORAGE, AK had formed a boys schola in conjunction with its pre-existing men’s schola, something that perfectly fulfills the wishes of Pope St. Pius X in his motu proprio on the reform of sacred music, Tra le Sollecitudini published in 1903. This important apostolic work for promoting good liturgical practice as well as Catholic culture continues at St. Therese’s. On Saturday, September 27, 2008, the mission’s Angeli Cantantes Schola Puerorum (the Angelic Chanters Boys Schola) held a promotion and induction ceremony, wherein three boys were advanced to the rank of Reserves, while four were newly inducted as Probationers. In addition to the advancement for the boys, four men from the men’s schola were invested as Regular Cantors with the blessed crucifixes on cords they wear while singing at Mass. The entire edifying event, complete with an organ prelude and postlude, was concluded by Benediction of the Most Blessed A group shot of the schola members with their pastor, Fr. Hunter. Sacrament. Hopefully other chapels in the United States District will similarly follow the example given by the tiny Alaskan mission, by establishing boys scholas of their own, thereby complying with desires of the Society’s patron. Here Fr. Hunter presents a cassock to a boy becoming a Reserve Member… A Probationer who is becoming a Reserve Member, pledges: “I consecrate my voice to God, to sing His praises and to proclaim His glory, and I …which along with promise to keep my heart and tongue pure, that I the surplice, the may always praise Him more worthily.” young man will wear while exercising the liturgical office of singing in the schola. 6 A view of the boys who became Probationers. Just before the men receive their blessed crucifixes, a short versicle and responsory (“Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise, that I may be able to sing…”) is sung alternately by the schola and the præcentor (head cantor) followed by a prayer. A new Probationer receives his Choirmaster’s Manual from the pastor. Another noteworthy though earlier event at the chapel, was the visit of Redemptorist Fr. Alphonsus Mary to give an edifying mission. Here he poses in the chapel with his traveling image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Fr. Hunter addresses the kneeling Regular Cantors on their duties during the bestowal of their crucifixes. 7 St. Michael’S..., continued from p.5 that have become known as “The Nine.”10 The Archbishop and the two priests then drove to Oyster Bay Cove to hold an afternoon meeting in the priory’s basement, as the residence was still undergoing remodeling. Having presented the dismissals to the three priests present, Frs. Kelly, Sanborn and Cekada, the Archbishop then politely listened to their arguments. When finished, the Archbishop finally ended the internal dispute by saying “If you believe that fine, but we must go our separate ways.” Fr. Cekada’s response, “Go ahead, but we own the properties,” revealed to their heartbroken spiritual father the deceitful motives these disloyal priests had been harboring for years. Unaware of what was happening, Mr. Sardegna was at the priory during the meeting to install some doors with his son. While in the priory’s courtyard, he watched as the priests left the building and then strangely saw what can only be described as a premonition about the three expelled priests. What occurred next was nothing less than chaos. The The chapel as it appears today after its recent remodelling. The rear expelled nine priests immediately took control of various chapel portions of the sanctuary wall were tinted a burgundy shade, while properties and worked fervently to poison the minds of the the side walls (behind which are the sacristies) that are fronted faithful at the missions they had been servicing, causing “The by the side altars were tinted gold, thereby causing the eye of the worshippers to focus on the high altar. Split.” The St. Pius V Chapel remained firmly in the hands of these priests, but thanks to the intervention of Mr. Sardegna, the St. Edmund’s mission continued to be serviced by SSPX priests from Ridgefield, though its Sunday attendance fell to just 32 faithful even with the influx of loyal faithful who came from the now-sedevacantist St. Pius V Chapel. Matters did not end there though. During the next few years, the SSPX would be embroiled in various court battles to defend its property rights against The Nine. Mr. Skidmore became the primary attorney in the SSPX’s defense,11 and ably won several cases. Nevertheless, a few properties, such as Oyster Bay Cove, were lost because The Nine had not incorporated them under the SSPX, but with their own names. At this critical juncture of the SSPX’s apostolate in the United States, Fr. Williamson, who from Ridgefield was acting as the Northeast District Superior12 and the seminary rector,13 stood firmly like a rock against the whirlwind antics of the sedevacantists who were sowing confusion amongst the SSPX, even attempting to raise money in the SSPX’s name! Fr. Williamson was also servicing the St. Edmund’s mission, where This close-up picture of the sanctuary shows the sanctuary decorations more in the Fall of 1983, a proposal was made for the purchase of a clearly. The repeating diaper pattern on the burgundy walls are fleur de lies… permanent chapel building. 10 The Nine priests were: Frs. Clarence Kelly, Donald Sanborn, Anthony Cekada, Joseph Collins, Eugene Berry, Daniel Dolan, William Jenkins, Martin Skierka, and Thomas Zapp. After their expulsion, they immediately resorted to condemning each other (along with the SSPX), while those centered around Fr. Kelly banded to form the Society of St. Pius V. 11 The sedevacantists wanted to retain the Ridgefield seminary and so Fr. Williamson (who was residing there) telephoned Mr. Skidmore for legal …while in this view of the side altar advice on how to handle the crisis. Mr. Skidmore’s advice was to “lock dedicated to the them out of the building… don’t let them in… you must retain possession…” Blessed Virgin Mary, which Fr. Williamson followed thereby saving the seminary complex for the diaper pattern is the SSPX, which today is known as the St. Ignatius Retreat House. of a stylized, diamond 12 Replacing the expelled Fr. Kelly. When Fr. Hector Bolduc, who was the rose. Even the doors Southwest District Superior at Dickinson, TX, departed the SSPX a little leading into the later in 1983, Fr. Williamson assumed this role too. sanctuary (salvaged 13 Replacing the sedevacantist Fr. Donald Sanborn. He would hold the from Amsterdam) position of rector at the SSPX’s North American Seminary after his have been tinted a episcopal consecration until 2003. pleasing green. 8 A few people at St. Edmund’s had known about the closed Colombo Brothers’ dress factory on Horseblock Road in Farmingville for several years. The purchase price was $250,000, but the mission only had $320 in the bank and 30 faithful to financially contribute! Undeterred, Mr. Sardegna and Mrs. Phyllis Graham approached Fr. Williamson to propose its purchase. Considering the situation, Father was not very keen at first to make such a big step, but they eventually convinced him that a permanent residence was necessary for the growth of the SSPX’s Long Island mission. With the pastor’s approval negotiations ensued and each family was asked to donate $1000 to cover the deposit. In a wave of generosity, $50,000 was raised from the tiny group! Meanwhile, a handful of faithful met at Mrs. Graham’s house to discuss the future of the mission, during which, it was casually decided to name the chapel after St. Michael the Archangel.14 The sale occurred rapidly and in September 1983, just a few The chapel bookstore, situated in months after the chaotic split, the faithful of a hotel mission the parish hall located at the rear found themselves with their very own building! of the church. The former dress factory had an open floor plan which after the addition of a sanctuary would allow for a nave large enough to accommodate up to 300 people. A small cafeteria was located in a back room, which to the present functions as a small hall. As Archbishop Lefebvre was scheduled to administer confirmations for the mission within six weeks, the faithful had little time to prepare the building for its transformation into a traditional Catholic chapel. Many of the faithful pitched in with the work periodically (which the former owners generously allowed to start even before the contract was signed) while several men came practically every day to assist with the remodeling, such as Peter Sardegna, Jim Carey, Vincent Spero, Charles Martin, and Charles Vanek (the present-day sacristan). The altar and rail that had been constructed for the Hauppaug mission was installed and folding chairs were substituted for pews. For the faithful accustomed to attending Mass in a hotel room, the results were “thrilling” upon first walking into the converted chapel. To celebrate St. Michael’s silver jubilee, a Solemn Mass was offered by the On November 5, 1983, the Long Island faithful were chapel’s first pastor, now Bishop Williamson. Assisting him on the left as the deacon, was Fr. Kevin Robinson (the present pastor,) and the right, Fr. excited to receive Archbishop Lefebvre in their new chapel Adam Portugal (from the Ridgefield priory). of St. Michael the Archangel. He was accompanied by Fr. Schmidberger, who blessed the chapel, by the pastor, Fr. Williamson, who assisted the Archbishop during the sermon in the chapel, while the salvaged doors and woodwork were which he gave in English, and a handful of seminarians who used throughout the church. came from Ridgefield to assist with the ceremonies. Within During Fr. Gerardo Zendejas’ tenure as the pastor, the two years, this chapel would grow from 25 people sitting in parish obtained a house adjacent to the church property from the front rows to 200 people filling up the nave. Presently 300 a couple who attended St. Michael’s. Only 500 yards away faithful attend each Sunday. from the church, this house is now the chapel’s rectory, where a On Labor Day of 1985, St. Michael’s received some pews Trinitarian priest, Fr. John Murphy, currently resides, providing from the former St. Mary’s Church in Amsterdam, NY, the first the chapel with daily Mass. of several salvaged items from this church. This was shortly On March 11, 2003, the recently-appointed pastor, Fr. followed by three marble altars, a communion rail, wooden Trevor Burfitt, awoke in the rectory to tragically discover that interior doors, and various wood trim pieces; in short, mostly the chapel had been broken into and the Blessed Sacrament what was needed to outfit a church. Because the diocese refused and Holy Oils had been purposefully desecrated. Except for to sell these items to traditional Catholics, Mr. Sardegna a handful of money, nothing else of value was taken. Though pretended to be a salvage broker, a ruse that worked. The white the police arrested and convicted a man, the physical evidence marble altars were dissembled (with each piece being cleaned implied that more than one person actually committed the grave and numbered by Mr. Charles Martin) and then reassembled crime, but no follow up was ever made by the civil authorities. To make reparation for this sad desecration, all of the SSPX chapels in the United States District held devotions during the 14 The faithful from the St. Edmund mission were agreed that they wanted succeeding week. a fresh start and no association with Fr. Kelly. 9 continued on p.10 St. Michael’S..., continued from p.9 Also present was rectory resident, Fr. Murphy (on the left), who has Here at the banquet that followed, we can see from left to right, had much pastoral experience throughout the United States, and Frs. Portugal and Arnaud Rostand (the USA District Superior) coordinates a large Catholic pro-life apostolate on Long Island. enjoying the festivities with His Excellency, Bishop Williamson. Nonetheless, the parish persevered and in 2005, the chapel was remodelled in a gothic-revival style. The ceiling was tinted blue with stars, the windows trimmed with wooden gothic tracery, the floors were tiled, and the were walls decorated with crisscrossed gilded decorations.15 St. Michael’s does not intend to stop here though. Preparations have begun for starting a traditional Catholic homeschool association soon, which the parish intends to name Our Lady of Good Success Academy. With 50 children under the age of 16 now at the chapel, this project has been contemplated for awhile, and will surely contribute to the apostolic work of restoring Catholic Tradition on Long Island. 15 The architectural term for this type of pattern, usually made up of squares or diamonds, is actually called diaper. The modern colloquial usage of this term derives from the baby diapers that have repeating quilted padding arranged in a crisscross pattern. Entertainment at the banquet was provided by the Suffolk County Police Department Pipe and Drum Band. C Sources: onfiRMaTion District Office archives Interviews with: Mr. Alfred Skidmore, Mr. Peter Sardegna, Mr. sCHedule Terrence Skidmore, Mr. Tom Gabrielle, Mrs. Anastasia Martin, and Mrs. Rita McDonnell, Mrs. Catherine Vanek, and Mrs. Kathleen Colgan These are the dates for the chapels in the Photographs: Mrs. Colleen Gabriele United States of America District A very special thanks to all mentioned above for the patient assistance. BisHop TissieR de MalleRais: St. Mary’s, KS May 21 Post Falls, ID May 24 Edmonds, WA May 25 Charlotte, NC May 27 Denver, CO May 28 Ridgefield, CT June 14 Long Island, NY June 16 San Antonio, TX June 22 10