Here is another report on the spectacular expansion of Latin Mass provision in the USA.
The Priestly Fraternity of St Peter have a parish in Irving, Texas. I understand that it is canonically erected as a Personal Parish within the Diocese of Dallas. That means that it has no geographical boundaries, but that it has the same responsibilities (eg maintaining parish records) as any other parish in the diocese. I understand that the church, which has a small spire, was built as recently as 2009, and so is modern, but nevertheless a decent looking building.
The interior is a little plain, but spacious and not at all bad by modern standards.
Although the church can seat 300, it is considered too small for their requirements. Currently there are five Masses on Sundays: (7.30am, 9.00am, 11.30am, 1.00pm and 5.30pm) serving a total congregation is over 1,100. At some Masses, especially on Holydays, some of the congregation have to stand.
The parish has launched an appeal to raise $2,500,000 to build a new church. Already nearly $1,000,000 has been raised in cash and pledges. The new church, which will seat 900, will have confessionals, a baptistery and a choir loft, facilities that are lacking in the present building.
The remarkable thing about this story is that a building that was considered big enough in 2009, now needs to be replaced by one three times the size. Such is the growth in interest in the Latin Mass in Texas over the last 9 years!
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