CHICAGO, IL (August 29, 2008)- From August 25-29, 2008, laity from around the Midwestern region of the United States convened at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House at Chicago’s Mundelein Seminary to attend a Workshop for Laity in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.

Each day participants enjoyed participating in both a Low Mass in the morning and a High Mass in the afternoon. The daytime was filled with conferences, tutorials in both Latin and Gregorian Chant and with stimulating conversation. The evenings afforded time for Eucharistic Adoration at the evening Holy Hour, which included the recitation of the Most Holy Rosary in Latin, led by the participants themselves.

Those in attendance learned to sing Gregorian Chant for the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Missale Romanum). Some participants joined in the schola cantorum for the Missa Cantata, which was celebrated each day.

Everyone enjoyed the interesting lectures about the Classical Form of the Roman Rite. Lectures topics included: “History of the Mass of the Roman Rite,” “Liturgical Ceremonies and Mystical Theology in the Mass,” “The Traditional Latin Mass in Parish Life Today,” “Spirituality and Active Participation in the Liturgy,” and “The Splendor of Beauty and the Liturgical Arts.”

Returning from an exciting liturgical conference held in Budapest, Hungary, Fr. Dennis Kolinski, S.J.C., shared some of the insights and thoughts discussed in Budapest with Dr. Alcuin Reid, Dr. Laurence Hemming, Dr. Lauren Pristas, and others.

By the week’s end, everyone had deepened his understanding about the Mass which is “the most beautiful thing this side of heaven.”