Opportunity to be united

An ancient Roman Catholic tradition has returned to Huntington Beach, making it one of the few places in the county parishioners can attend Mass in Latin.

St. Mary’s by the Sea Church, 321 10th St., had a long tradition of holding the Tridentine Mass, as the old form is popularly known now. Late pastor Rev. Daniel Johnson championed the Mass to his flock, and was one of only two pastors given permission by the Diocese of Orange to perform it till he retired in 2004.

But Pope Benedict XVI loosened restrictions on the Mass last year, allowing it as an “extraordinary” version of the normal Mass if parishioners demand it from their pastor.

Longtime members of the church have been praying since Johnson’s death for a way to attend the Mass he loved so dearly, said Bette Barilla, who has attended St. Mary’s by the Sea since 1972.

“It was beautiful then, and the beauty is slowly returning,” she said. “When I was in high school, they’d sing in Latin. It is a tradition of the Roman Catholic church.”

Rev. Martin Tran, the church’s current pastor, declined comment for this story. But in a July bulletin to parishioners, he called it “the greatest opportunity for all of us to be united and to move forward together in love, respect, humility, harmony and collaboration, letting go of all divisions and discord.”

Latin Mass was replaced by services in modern languages in the 1960s after the Second Vatican Council, which radically revamped church practices. The modern Mass’ other changes generally involve more active participation by the congregation and more prayers being recited for those in attendance to hear.

The 1962 version of the Mass now allowed by the Catholic Church contains core elements dating back to the sixth century, but it also bears plenty of revisions from the 1950s, said Rev. Arthur Holquin, pastor of Mission San Juan Capistrano. In addition to having a degree in liturgical studies, Holquin presides over what was for decades the only other church in the county allowed to use the old Latin Mass, mostly because of the mission’s historical roots.

One of the Tridentine Mass’ most notable features as usually practiced is its private quality; rather than the call-and-response with the congregation of the modern service, it has them read along silently as the priest and altar server sing or speak the words. That’s not required by the text, Holquin said, but traditionalists prefer it that way.

“Most people’s understanding of the missal of 62 is not a dialogue Mass,” he said. “What they want is a more personal or quasi-private engagement in the liturgical celebration.”

Some traditionalist Catholics have alleged the new Mass had flaws — some even broke away from the church over it and other Vatican II reforms — but the majority of worshipers moved on and worship in the post-’60s style. Those who prefer the Mass, however, are known for the passion — some say vehemence — of their support.

Since the pope eased restrictions on the old style of Mass, a few churches have looked into providing it, Holquin said. But there hasn’t been a rush, he said.

“When I talk to the other priests, my colleagues here, there is not this huge groundswell of folks begging for the missal of ’62,” he said. But he called the change in policy a sign of the pope’s respect for history and a gesture at reconciliation for those who found the transition difficult.

The Latin Tridentine Mass has been held at noon each Sunday since the beginning of December, according to the parish office.

Husband and wife George and Carolyn Kosearas, who have baptized six children at the church, said they were ecstatic to hear it was back. Like virtually everyone interviewed, they’ve come back each week.

“You have no idea the love we have for this Mass,” Carolyn Kosearas said. “It makes you feel the root of this church and its traditions. Anyone that comes and really experiences it can feel that.”