Traditional Latin Mass in Willoughby: Article by Fr. Michael Troha

A Catholic Life would like to thank Fr. Michael Troha for writing the following article, in honor of the 2 Year Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum. Please pray for and support Father in his ministry as he serves as Pastor for Immaculate Conception Church in Willoughby.

Fr Michael Troha
Immaculate Conception Church
Willoughby OH

July 7, 2009

Over the past few years several parishioners had asked me about the possibility of having a Tridentine Mass at our parish of Immaculate Conception in Willoughby, Ohio. At that time my response was that we should support the efforts at Immaculate Conception church in Cleveland, where I was formerly the pastor, which has a Tridentine Mass three times a week. But with the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum I began the extra-ordinary form of the liturgy every first Friday evening. Having had very good attendance over the first year I decided to have the Tridentine Mass every Friday evening at 7:30 PM.

Our number of people attending is about 50 people each Friday. When I am away from the parish it has not been a problem to enlist the help of other priests in the diocese who are willing to help and enjoy the opportunity of celebrating the extra-ordinary form of the liturgy.

This past December the parish celebrated the 50th anniversary of the dedication of our “new” church. To commemorate the day I celebrated the extra-ordinary form of the liturgy at the regularly scheduled 8:00 AM Mass. The same crowd that attends the 8:00 AM Mass year round was there for the Mass. I did not receive any negative comments. I did receive a few very positive comments. I think that if the parishioners are supportive we could have a Tridentine Mass at one Sunday liturgy every week.