Views from the Choir Loft

Saint Vitus Roman Catholic Church • Los Angeles, CA

Corpus Christi Watershed · June 30, 2018

HE ARCHBISHOP of Los Angeles, Most Rev. José H. Gomez, has established a personal parish dedicated exclusively to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, also known as the “Traditional Latin Mass” or the “Tridentine Rite.”

REV. JAMES FRYAR, of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, has been named Pastor, and FATHER REV. MASUTTI serves as Curate. Right across the street is a beautiful park where the parish families can play.

SAINT VITUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
607 4th Street
San Fernando 91340

Sunday 7:30am (Low Mass)
Sunday 9:00am (High Mass)
Sunday 11:00am (High Mass)
Sunday 4:00pm (Vespers)
Sunday 5:00pm (with Spanish and English Sermon)
Daily Mass schedule forthcoming.

Mass Schedule was updated 31 January 2019.

A quote from a member of Saint Vitus Parish:

“How long did we wait? And now, at last, I can drive my wife and children to a regular Sunday Mass—week after week—and live the parish life with my friends who also feel the Latin Mass is our future. Thank you Archbishop and Fraternity!” (Mr. José Moreno)

Archbishop José H. Gomez officially opened the Parish on 25 June 2018:

88393 y MISSA 06 PNG

88393 y MISSA 05 PNG

88393 y MISSA 04 PNG

88393 y MISSA 03 PNG

88393 y MISSA 02 PNG

88393 y MISSA 01 PNG

Mrs. Yvonne Asencio, a parishioner at Saint Vitus, made all the vestments by hand for this once-in-a-lifetime ceremony:

88395 Yvonne-vestments-03 png

88395 (PNG) Yvonne-vestments-01 png

88395 Yvonne-vestments-02 png

The parish celebrated Pontifical Vespers with Most Rev’d Bishop Brennan on 26 June:

88390 vespers 03 PNG

88390 vespers 02 PNG

88390 vespers 01 PNG

Much construction took place before the 25 June ceremony:

88394 y building 009 reale

88394 y building 008

88394 y building 007

88394 y building 006

88394 y building 005

88394 y building 004

88394 y building 003

88394 y building 002

88394 y building 001

Although the church is not finished, you can see the tremendous progress made so far!

Here is a copy of the last bulletin ever printed at the church in West Hollywood where the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter formerly offered Mass:

* * PDF Download • Final Bulletin at the FSSP’s former home

Beginning 25 June 2018, the FSSP has officially moved to Saint Vitus.

Julia Garcia contributed to this article.

BELOW IS A WEB ARCHIVE (unofficial) for FSSP.la parish bulletins published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in Los Angeles.

N.B. Bookmark this precise link because it will never change.

* * PDF Download • 04 August 2019

* * PDF Download • 28 July 2019

* * PDF Download • 14 July 2019

* * PDF Download • 09 June 2019

* * PDF Download • 02 June 2019

* * PDF Download • 26 May 2019

* * PDF Download • 12 May 2019

* * PDF Download • 05 May 2019

* * PDF Download • 31 March 2019

* * PDF Download • 24 March 2019

* * PDF Download • 10 March 2019

* * PDF Download • 03 March 2019

* * PDF Download • 24 February 2019

* * PDF Download • 10 February 2019

* * PDF Download • 03 February 2019

* * PDF Download • 27 January 2019

* * PDF Download • 20 January 2019

* * PDF Download • 13 January 2019

* * PDF Download • 06 January 2019

* * PDF Download • 23 December 2018

* * PDF Download • 16 December 2018

* * PDF Download • 18 November 2018

* * PDF Download • 11 November 2018

* * PDF Download • 28 October 2018

* * PDF Download • 14 October 2018

* * PDF Download • 02 September 2018

* * PDF Download • 26 August 2018

* * PDF Download • 19 August 2018

* * PDF Download • 12 August 2018

* * PDF Download • 05 August 2018

* * PDF Download • 22 July 2018

* * PDF Download • 15 July 2018

* * PDF Download • 8 July 2018

* * PDF Download • 17 June 2018

* * PDF Download • 24 June 2018

* * PDF Download • 3 June 2018

* * PDF Download • 20 May 2018

* * PDF Download • 13 May 2018

* * PDF Download • 06 May 2018

* * PDF Download • 29 April 2018

* * PDF Download • 22 April 2018

* * PDF Download • 08 April 2018

* * PDF Download • 18 March 2018

* * PDF Download • 11 March 2018

* * PDF Download • 04 March 2018

* * PDF Download • 25 February 2018

* * PDF Download • 18 February 2018

* * PDF Download • 11 February 2018

* * PDF Download • 04 February 2018

* * PDF Download • 21 January 2018

* * PDF Download • 14 January 2018

* * PDF Download • 31 December 2017

* * PDF Download • 10 December 2017

* * PDF Download • 03 December 2017

* * PDF Download • 26 November 2017

* * PDF Download • 19 November 2017

* * PDF Download • 12 November 2017

* * PDF Download • 05 November 2017

* * PDF Download • 29 October 2017

* * PDF Download • 22 October 2017

* * PDF Download • 10 October 2017

* * PDF Download • 01 October 2017

* * PDF Download • 24 September

* * PDF Download • 17 September 2017

* * PDF Download • 10 September 2017

* * PDF Download • 03 September 2017

* * PDF Download • 27 August 2017

* * PDF Download • 20 August 2017

* * PDF Download • 13 August 2017

* * PDF Download • 06 August 2017

* * PDF Download • 30 July 2017

* * PDF Download • 23 July 2017

* * PDF Download • 16 July 2017

* * PDF Download • 09 July 2017

* * PDF Download • 02 July 2017

* * PDF Download • 18 June 2017

* * PDF Download • 11 June 2017

* * PDF Download • 04 June 2017

* * PDF Download • 21 May 2017

* * PDF Download • 14 May 2017

* * PDF Download • 7 May 2017

* * PDF Download • 30 April 2017

* * PDF Download • 23 April 2017

* * PDF Download • 16 April 2017

* * PDF Download • 9 April 2017

* * PDF Download • 2 April 2017

* * PDF Download • 26 March 2017

* * PDF Download • 19 March 2017

* * PDF Download • 12 March 2017

* * PDF Download • 5 March 2017

* * PDF Download • 19 February 2017

* * PDF Download • 12 February 2017

* * PDF Download • 5 February 2017

* * PDF Download • 29 January 2017

* * PDF Download • 22 January 2017

* * PDF Download • 15 January 2017

* * PDF Download • 8 January 2017

* * PDF Download • 1 January 2017

* * PDF Download • 25 December 2016

* * PDF Download • 18 December 2016

* * PDF Download • 11 December 2016

* * PDF Download • 04 December 2016

* * PDF Download • 27 November 2016

* * PDF Download • 20 November 2016

* * PDF Download • 13 November 2016

* * PDF Download • 06 November 2016

* * PDF Download • 30 October 2016

* * PDF Download • 23 October 2016

* * PDF Download • 16 October 2016

* * PDF Download • 9 October 2016

* * PDF Download • 25 September 2016

* * PDF Download • 18 September 2016

* * PDF Download • 11 September 2016

* * PDF Download • 4 September 2016

* * PDF Download • 28 August 2016

* * PDF Download • 21 August 2016

* * PDF Download • 17 July 2016

* * PDF Download • 10 July 2016

* * PDF Download • 12 June 2016

* * PDF Download • 29 May 2016

* * PDF Download • 22 May 2016

* * PDF Download • 15 May 2016

* * PDF Download • 08 May 2016

* * PDF Download • 01 May 2016

* * PDF Download • 24 April 2016

* * PDF Download • 17 April 2016

* * PDF Download • 10 April 2016

* * PDF Download • 3 April 2016

* * PDF Download • 13 March 2016

* * PDF Download • 6 March 2016

* * PDF Download • 28 February 2016

* * PDF Download • 14 February 2016

* * PDF Download • 29 Nov 2015

Learn more about this brand new parish by visiting FSSP.la.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“O Escam Viatorum” • (Holy Thursday)

When I was very young, I erroneously believed the four psalms provided by the 1957 Liber Usualis—for Communion on Holy Thursday—were the “correct” music to sing on that first day of the TRIDUUM SACRUM. Those four psalms are: Psalm 22 (Dóminus regit me et nihil mihi déerit); Psalm 71 (Deus judícium tuum regi da); Psalm 103 (Bénedic ánima méa); and Psalm 150 (Laudáte Dóminum in sanctis ejus). It turns out I was way out in left field! While nothing forbids singing those psalms, many other options are equally valid. Our volunteer parish choir will sing this COMMUNION PIECE (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir) on Holy Thursday during Holy Communion. Needless to say, this will happen after the proper antiphon from the GRADUALE ROMANUM has been sung.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)

Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski