(Sent to the clergy of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis)

July 16, 2021

Dear Brothers in Christ,

Pope Francis promulgated this morning an apostolic letter, Traditionis custodes, with new norms governing celebration of what we normally refer to as the “Extraordinary Form” liturgy. You can find Pope Francis’ motu proprio here, and the accompanying explanatory letter to the bishops of the world here. I encourage you to read both documents.

The norms take effect today. I will need some time to study the new norms, examine our local situation and seek counsel. With that in mind, I am happy to grant the necessary faculties so that those priests who are already celebrating the rites of the Extraordinary Form may continue to do so. I similarly direct that the Mass in the Extraordinary Form continue in those locations where it is currently being offered in the Archdiocese. No new public liturgical celebration of the Extraordinary Form, however, should be introduced anywhere in the Archdiocese at this time without my written permission.

If you currently celebrate the Extraordinary Form and would hope to continue, I would ask you to write me prior to the Solemnity of the Assumption to request authorization, as required by Article 5 of Traditionis custodes.

I have asked Bishop Andrew Cozzens to chair a task force to study carefully the provisions of Traditionis custodes. Serving on the task force will be two of our Archdiocesan priests who have regularly celebrated Mass in both forms, Rev. Bryan Pedersen (pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Robbinsdale) and Rev. John Gallas (a professor of theology at the Saint Paul Seminary). The task force will also be served by Rev. Tom Margevičius, Director of the Office of Worship, and Susan Mulheron, Chancellor for Canonical Affairs. I am grateful to these individuals for generously offering to undertake this work, and I look forward to receiving their recommendations. I will provide you with more information on this topic soon. For now, please know that I would welcome your thoughts or concerns, which I will forward to the task force.

We are blessed in the Archdiocese by so many individuals and families who love the liturgy in both of its forms and find in the Eucharist the nourishment they need to live exemplary lives of service. Nonetheless, on this Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, let us ask Our Lady’s intercession for an even greater devotion to the Eucharist so that we might be drawn together in even greater unity as we journey together towards the eternal liturgy of heaven.

With every good wish and the promise of a remembrance in my prayer, I remain,

Fraternally in Christ,

Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda

Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis