It's been 45 years since Archbishop Lefebvre founded the Society of St. Pius X and over 40 years since he opened the seminary in Armada, Michigan to preserve and reestablish the traditional Latin Mass here in the United States.
The future of the Society of St. Pius X
March 17, 2015
Dear Friends,
The Society of St. Pius X is at a crossroads.
It's been 45 years since Archbishop Lefebvre founded the Society of St. Pius X and over 40 years since he opened the seminary in Armada, Michigan to preserve and reestablish the traditional Latin Mass here in the United States.
One bishop, four priests, and a handful of faithful, scattered widely over a vast country, put their trust in God and set out to do what nearly every bishop in the world was dead-set against: saving the ancient Roman liturgy.
The situation at that time seemed desperate. Yet despite a tenuous toe-hold in the United States, and obstacles and setbacks along the way, the Society of St. Pius X flourished and extended its reach.
Thanks be to God and the generosity of so many faithful throughout the years, Catholic Tradition has come a long way from those dark and uncertain days of the 1970s. From humble beginnings, the Society of St. Pius X in the United States is today blessed with a steadily expanding network of apostolates comprising nearly 100 priests, 101 chapels, 22 priories, three retreat houses, one crowded seminary, and 25 schools serving 2,300 students.
In this, our fifth decade in the United States, the Society of St. Pius X is grateful for all of the blessings God has bestowed on us, and for the many sacrifices you have made to help us grow and thrive, all for the greater glory of God.
As I travel throughout the United States District it is clear that our chapels and schools enjoy steady growth as more and more faithful yearn for a place where the Catholic Faith is preached with clarity and conviction. Most importantly, I am inspired by the joy and optimism of faithful like you, and the spirit of generosity that is so prevalent throughout the district.
As Bishop Fellay observed recently, the Society of St. Pius X is healthy and growing everywhere.
However, we must not let extraordinary growth and success distract us from identifying and acknowledging the difficult challenges that confront us. Some of these challenges are at our doorstep and require immediate action, while others loom on the horizon and call for thoughtful planning today.
Will we have enough chapels to bring the sacraments to the faithful? Will our chapels resemble monuments in the service of glorifying God, whose beauty inspires and instructs, or will they resemble ramshackle, utilitarian structures that discourage and deflate the faithful? Will we have enough schools to teach the next generation in the Faith? Who will care for your beloved pastors when they are too old and sick to carry on their day-to-day duties?
Because the Society of St. Pius X in the United States is healthy and growing, I have conferred with Bishop Fellay and other senior members concerning key projects that are critical to our growth in the United States. And since your support is so vital to our development, I want to provide you an overview of our plans. I invite you to join thousands of other traditional Catholics who are embracing this opportunity to preserve Catholic Tradition for posterity.
Throughout the remainder of 2015, I will outline plans to ensure the long-term viability of the Society of St. Pius X, including:
- Expanding chapels and priories to accommodate growth in the numbers of faithful
- Upgrading those facilities that are in good condition so they can handle expected growth
- Reaching out to more people, attracting new faithful to the traditional Latin Mass
- Building more schools and expanding our current schools
- Increasing the number of priestly and religious vocations for the Society of St. Pius X
- Establishing traditional Catholic retirement communities to care for aging populations of priests, religious, and laity
In the meantime, I ask you to begin praying for the success of our long-term investment in Catholic Tradition. Like any capital outlay, this investment imposes a sacrifice on you. But unlike other investments, your sacrifice has the blessing and backing of God: “Thou art my helper and my protector; and in thy word I have greatly hoped” wrote the Psalmist. Let us proclaim the same confidence in the goodness of God, Who is never surpassed in generosity!
As I stated at the beginning of this letter, we are at a crossroads. The significance of conquering these challenges is underscored by the long-term and serious consequences for our society and the Church if we miss this opportunity to put us in a favorable position for many years to come. I am counting on your support.
As you pray and reflect on your role in this important undertaking, consider the sacrifices made for you and your family each day by the priests, brothers and sisters of the Society of St. Pius X. Will you share in the responsibility of leading souls to Christ and take your place in the harvest field alongside them? Will you honor their practice of charity by returning to God a sacrificial portion of the gifts He has given you?
Would you please consider a gift of $250 to help me with this important project?
Placing this appeal into the hands of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, and begging their intercession,
I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Jurgen Wegner
U.S. District Superior