Most U.S. Catholic dioceses do not expect a large number of requests for celebration of the pre-Vatican II Mass in the foreseeable future.
There are however a few exceptions, according to an article by Jeff Ziegler in theCatholic World Report (October). Following the July motu proprioSummorum Pontificum, any priest who wishes to do so can celebrate private Masses (with possible attendance of the faithful) following the old rite (1962 Missal); parishes where a stable group of faithful adhere to the traditional Mass should provide celebrations in the older ritual form for them [see August RW].
There are currently 240 places of worship where the older Mass is celebrated every Sunday with the permission of the local bishop. Officials in a number of dioceses say it is too early to assess what the needs will be. Some dioceses where there are no celebrations in the older rite do not expect a change (e.g. Great Falls-Billings). Several dioceses (such as Rockford, Palm Beach, Metuchen, Cincinnati, Ogdensburg), where the 1962 Missal is used daily or weekly in a few churches or chapels, report very few new requests and do not expect an increase in traditional celebrations. Other dioceses foresee an expanded use; San Diego expects to have celebrations in five or six parishes (at this point, in one chapel).
The CWR reports a “remarkable interest” in the Diocese of Lincoln, where 40 to 50 priest have requested assistance in learning how to celebrate the older Mass. The (conservative) Diocese of Charlotte intends to make Masses according to the 1962 Missal widely available, although no precise statistical estimates can be made regarding the number of parishes where it will be used.
— By Jean-Francois Mayer, RW Contributing Editor and founder and director of the newly established Religioscope Institute (http://www.religion.info)
