VOLO, ILLINOIS - On Saturday, January 10, 2009, during the midst of a blizzard, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius hosted a workshop for laity in the Extraordinary Form at Saint Peter's Church in Volo, Illinois. The parishioners of St. Peter's Church in Volo, Illinois, braved the snowstorm and thoroughly enjoyed the day of Solemn Liturgies and classes.

Beginning at 8:00 a.m. Fr. Dennis Kolinski, S.J.C., Pastor of St. Peter's, Volo, offered a Missa Solemnis, assisted by Fr. Anthony J. Rice, S.J.C., the Associate Pastor of St. Peter's, who served as Deacon, and by Fr. Scott A. Haynes, S.J.C., an Associate Pastor of St. John Cantius, Chicago, who served as Subdeacon.

The schola cantorum chanted the liturgical propers from the Liber Usualis (1962). During the distribution of Holy Communion the choir sang Palestrina's Alma Redemptoris Mater. The people joined in singing the Gregorian Chant setting of the Ordinary and the responses of the Solemn High Mass with full voice.

Altar servers from St. Peter's assisted at the Solemn High Mass, as well as some of the brothers from the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago.

St. Peter's Parish in Volo, like St. John Cantius Parish in Chicago, preserving the tradition of men and boys serving at the altar, hopes to foster many vocations to the Catholic priesthood and to religious life.

Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R., Founder of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, gave a lecture on the beauty of the Sacraments offered in the Extraordinary Form and gave a beautiful meditation on the mystical theology of the ceremonies of the Traditional Latin Mass.

Using the handouts provided by the Canons Regular, the participants took many notes and asked their questions about the history, theology and spirituality of the Extraordinary Form.

The Traditional Latin Mass, which begins with the phrase: I will go unto the altar of God: to the God who gives joy to my youth, appeals today not only to those who remember it from days past, but also to the many young people who are attracted by its spiritual depth, by the richness of its ritual, and by the haunting power of its sacred silence.

Fr. Dennis Kolinski, S.J.C., Pastor of St. Peter's, gave a talk on the history and development of the Roman Rite, explaining its slow and organic growth.

He contrasted it with the liturgies of the Eastern Churches, helping the participants understand the great treasure that has been entrusted to them through Pope Benedict XVI's motu proprio.

Fr. Scott A. Haynes, S.J.C. presented a talk on Gregorian Chant as the staple of the music of the Roman Rite. The lecture described the various styles of chant, from processional chants like the Introit, to meditative chants like the Gradual.

The schola cantorum sang excerpts of various chants from the Graduale Romanum during Fr. Haynes' lecture on Gregorian Chant as a demonstration. An explanation of the Divine Office was given as well as the importance of chanting the psalms.

After the lunch break everyone came to the church to learn how to sing Vespers in the Extraordinary Form. By the late afternoon everyone was prepared. The people joined in the recitation of the Holy Rosary in Latin. And all exuberantly sang with the priests and brothers for the Service of Solemn Vespers from the 1962 Liber Usualis.

To conclude the day, Fr. Anthony J. Rice, S.J.C. gave the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The faithful chanted the traditional O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo. The Benediction concluded a wonderful day of prayer and catechesis.

• The next workshop for the Traditional Latin Mass will be given to the Missionaries of Charity in Memphis, Tennessee, by Fr. Scott A. Haynes, S.J.C. from January 25-30, 2009.
   
• Another workshop for priests and seminarians is available at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat Center in Mundelein, Illinois, directed by the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius from Monday, February 9 - Friday, February 13, 2009. Click here for details...
   
• A Lenten Retreat for Laity will be given by the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius at the Cardinal Strtich Retreat House from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, 2009. Mass will be offered in the Extraordinary Form daily. Talks will be given on the Traditional Latin Mass and Lenten subjects. Click here for details...
   
• Other dioceses, parishes, religious communities or retreat centers who are interested for the Canons Regular to present a Workshop or Retreat in the Traditional Latin Mass should contact Fr. Scott A. Haynes, S.J.C. at St. John Cantius Church in Chicago. Click here email or call...