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As you probably have noticed, the Owl does not often pick up religious or church-y news, unless it is sent to my attention (thewestonowl@gmail.com). It’s not purposeful–it’s not preferential one way or another–we don’t attend any church except for the natural one in Jericho Forest. This is where we miss a town newspaper of the real kind–weren’t there always notices of sermon subjects and worship times? Perhaps we will get a church event community page set up by someone not me.

In any case, Weston has had some turnover in the religious space, even for those of us who don’t pay much attention. No, the stone church (First Parish) is still there overseeing the Intersection of Doom–and apparently they have now allowed trees to be planted on School Street even though they may obscure the beauty of the church. I’m razzing you, FPC, but yeah, those trees look fabulous and I know they love hearing the Paul Revere bell. St. Julia’s, St. Peter’s, Congregational, Methodist, Westgate and St. Demetrios all carrying on with their business, as far as I know. Did I miss any? Let me know.

The Baptist Church which since 1789 was gathered at 657 Boston Post Road was bought by US Buddhism Inc in January 2023. As of yet, I know nothing of plans there but am totally willing to send in a crack reporter if only I had one. Christmas trees moved out to Land’s Sake this past year, and I think that works well. Let’s see what’s next for that space.

St. Catherine of Siena is new to town and has a nice shiny new sign. That’s the former First Church of Christ, Scientist building at 439 Boston Post Road. The Owl did contact that group once she discovered their website — and found out that they are “in business” while the parish hall is under renovation, with a Tridentine Mass every first Saturday and Sunday at 9 am, led by people from Connecticut. True story!! From Ridgefield, Connecticut which is arguably the prettiest inland town in the Nutmeg State but this “fact” is largely irrelevant to my point here.

Looking up Tridentine Mass…yo!! That’s a complicated answer to what it is, and since the Owl has not yet discovered if St. Catherine has a sense of humor (like First Parish and United Methodist, the latter especially amusing me with signs about “People Jesus Avoided” and stuff), she is going to fly carefully and avoid lightning strikes. According to the second most reliable source behind the Owl but way in front of Fox News, wikipedia explains the Tridentine Mass like this:

The Tridentine Mass, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass or the Traditional Rite, is the liturgy in the Roman Missal of the Catholic Church published from 1570 to 1962. Celebrated almost exclusively in Ecclesiastical Latin, it was the most widely used Eucharistic liturgy in the world from its issuance in 1570 until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI (promulgated in 1969, with the revised Roman Missal appearing in 1970). Source.

Wait, what? Mass in Latin? If you wish to investigate this news (and then become an unpaid but vastly appreciated reporter), the Tridentine Mass is being celebrated at 9 am on the First Saturdays and Sundays of the month as well as on Holy Days. Mass is led by Connecticut priests of the Society of St. Pius X. Honestly, Catholics, you have a lot of saints and I’m having a bit of trouble–St. Nicholas and St. Francis I’ve got but looks like more studying cometh.

Here’s the Society of St. Pius X: The Society of Saint Pius X is an international priestly society of almost 700 priests. Its main purpose is the formation and support of priests. Society priests live in community and serve faithful in over 70 countries around the world.

And they all speak Latin! More information soon–an intro email to St. Catherine’s was immediately answered with a suggestion of meeting for coffee. Let’s see if that offer stands when they read this. I’m hoping for a tour of the place AND coffee. Let’s see. I don’t speak Latin. But I am from Connecticut so there’s that.

Welcome, St. Catherine of Siena and SSPX (I hope they realize a more fun acronym is forthcoming).

For more (actual) information, check out their website here.