A member of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, Sumich has had a dual role as a club player in New Zealand and the coach of Croatia's national rugby team.

"Rugby instils a strong sense of self-discipline and collective responsibility, both of which are invaluable in spiritual growth," Sumich told The Pillar.

"As society moves away from agrarian lifestyles, men need an outlet for their physical energy. Rugby, an amateur sport known for its selflessness, offers an excellent platform for character development," he added.

Sumich, a New Zealander with Croatian heritage, sees no conflict between his faith and the sport.

"In Auckland, where I reside, the high school rugby competition is fiercely competitive. Out of 16 teams, eight are from Catholic boys' schools," he said.

Across New Zealand, 24 towns have Catholic rugby clubs known as "Marist clubs," founded by alumni of Marist Brothers schools.

Praying to win

While seeing no conflict between his faith and sport, Sumich cautions against praying for a team's victory, emphasising that the sport should complement, not compete with, one's faith.

"You don't pray to God for something worldly, ever, and God isn't listening to prayers like that," he said.

"You've always got to keep the right balance as to what prayer is.

"It is primarily us thanking God, loving God, and honouring God, and one of the last things we do is we petition God for those things that are good for our own salvation, God's will being done, and the salvation of the world."

The intersection of Christianity and rugby is not unique to Sumich.

When questioned about reconciling his faith with the sport's aggressive nature, Christian and former All Black great Michael Jones, who controversially did not play rugby on Sundays, quipped, "It is better to give than to receive."

Catholic chapel in Bordeaux, France

The connection between rugby and Faith is not just a New Zealand thing.

In a quaint corner of Larrivière-Saint-Savin, France, the intertwining of rugby and spirituality is epitomised by La Chapelle Notre Dame Du Rugby.

An hour's drive from the Bay of Biscay, this medieval chapel is adorned with stained-glass windows depicting rugby scenes.

Inside the church are stained glass windows of a scrum, another of Mary holding Jesus in his arms, while Jesus prepares to throw the rugby ball into the lineout.

There's also another of Mary cradling an injured player in her arms.

Not leaving it with stained glass imagery, old rugby boots dangle by their laces next to the altar and along the walls there is proof that a Who's Who of the world of rugby through the decades have come here.

There are photos and newspaper articles of players displayed alongside jerseys worn by the stars of the past, such as Serge Blanco or Fabien Pelous with simple messages of support for the volunteers who look after the chapel.

Community with a cause

The chapel's significance to the rugby community dates back to a tragic 1964 incident when three young players from the local Dax club lost their lives in a car accident.

The community was devastated, but local priest Michel Devert saw an opportunity for healing.

He rallied the community around the idea of reviving the dilapidated chapel as a memorial for the young players and a spiritual hub for the global rugby community.

Today, the La Chapelle Notre Dame Du Rugby stands beautifully restored, thanks partly to a dedicated group known as the Friends of Notre Dame.

This committee has been instrumental in raising funds and soliciting rugby memorabilia from players worldwide.

The walls of the chapel are now adorned with a myriad of mementoes, turning it into a living museum of rugby history and a symbol of the sport's unique ability to foster community, discipline and character.

Sources

• The Pillar
• BBC

"We cannot minimise the attack that this document represents on what we love most in this life; or — better to say — something we hold most dear that we long to give to someone we love most.

"But neither can we permit anxiety, bitterness, or resentment to enter in and poison the interior life. Remain at peace and with a loving confidence in Christ our King, who may permit us to suffer, but will never abandon us."

Writing in his parish newsletter Fr Antony Sumich, FSSP (pictured) says it is important to "remember that our duty today is the same as it was yesterday: to watch and to pray, to fast and to give alms, to conform ourselves more and more, not to the world, but the heart of our beloved Redeemer".

As a result of Francis' Traditionis Custodes, those already offering the Tridentine Mass must ask the diocesan bishop permission to continue.

According to the Latin Mass directory, the Tridentine Mass is offered at twelve venues throughout the week, not always on a Sunday.

The Traditional Latin Mass is also live-streamed.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, National Communications Office says it has received two replies seeking clarification from New Zealand bishops.

Cardinal Dew said that of late there have been no Tridentine Masses celebrated in the Archdiocese mostly because the Archdiocese does not have priests who are available and who are able to celebrate that Mass.

Bishop Dooley said that the Dunedin diocese has one Latin Mass celebrated regularly on a Sunday morning in the Cathedral chapel and he will approve a request to continue its celebration.

In his 25 July Newsletter Sumich reports that after a meeting with Bishop Dunn it is "business as usual" in the Auckland diocese.

Sumich writes that Bishop Dunn "was very happy with the Latin Mass Chaplaincy and the work of the FSSP.

"His belief is that the relationship between the Diocese and the FSSP will not be affected by this Motu Proprio, as the articles have very little to do with us (FSSP) or our mission"

Sumich reports that Traditionis Custodes came as a "great surprise" to Bishop Dunn who as yet has not spoken with the diocese's Canon Lawyer as to the meaning of a 'few points'.

Calling Traditionis Custodes a 'restrictive decree' Sumich believes that while it is currently business as usual he personally think the parish has not heard the last of the matter.

Internationally ripples are spreading the world following the pope's motu proprio restricting the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.

On July 19, Washington DC cardinal, Wilton Gregory wrote to his priests saying he would prayerfully reflect on Traditionis Custodes to ensure he fully understood the Holy Father's intentions and how they might be realised.

He added that priests using the traditional liturgy had permission to continue using it.

However, on Thursday, reports began circulating that Gregory has withdrawn permission for a solemn pontifical Mass scheduled for next month's Feast of the Assumption.

The solemn pontifical Mass was scheduled for the vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption and was to take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

In the letter to the world's bishops accompanying the motu proprio, Francis says his motivations are the unity of the Church saying that concessions granted by his predecessors relating to using the 1962 Roman Missal were "motivated by the desire to foster the healing of the schism with the movement of Mons Lefebvre" and "the ecclesial intention of restoring the unity of the Church."

Despite these aims, the concessions were "exploited to widen the gaps, reinforce the divergences and encourage disagreements that injure the church, block her path and expose her to the peril of division," he explained.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Catholic Culture
• Auckland Latin Mass Chaplaincy newsletter - 18 July
• Auckland Latin Mass Chaplaincy newsletter - 25 July
• Image: Wikimedia Commons

Archbishop Roland Minnerath announced in May that he would no longer allow two Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) priests to continue to reside and offer Mass in the Old Rite.

Minnerath told the FSSP members that they will have to leave the premises of the Basilica of Saint-Bernard de Fontaine-lès-Dijon in September.

Traditionalist Catholics in eastern France are protesting against the archbishop's decision.

Supporters of the FSSP gathered in front of the Minnerath's office with signs calling for "dialogue" and "respect for ritual diversity".

The traditionalist priestly fraternity has been in Dijon for 23 years, five years before Minnerath became archbishop in 2004.

A press release on the FSSP website complained about the lack of "prior consultation". There was also a criticsm about how vague the "reason given" for the fraternity expulsion.

The archbishop's office has produced a list of grievances against the fraternity.

Most notable is the refusal of FSSP priests to celebrate the post-Vatican II Mass even "from time to time". It said this was contrary to what had been "agreed upon" when the FSSP arrived in Dijon in 1998.

"Such an attitude is indicative of a conception of their ministry that we do not share," said the archdiocese.

"The Old Rite should not create a parallel community," it said.

This aligns with the sense of communion that Pope Benedict XVI made clear in his letter accompanying the "motu proprio" Summorum Pontificum in 2007.

"Needless to say, to experience full communion, the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books," he wrote.

"The total exclusion of the new rite would not, in fact, be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness," Benedict pointed out.

Archbishop Minnerath went last Saturday to talk with the protesters.

"I have made a final proposal to the FSSP, but I don't yet know their answer. Either they agree to concelebrate from time to time and stay, them or other priests, or they leave," he said.

But the local FSSP superior, Rev Roch Perrel, said it was impossible for him to concelebrate in the new rite.

"I have chosen a traditional rite; I intend to be faithful to it. It is a choice of life," he said.

"One out of every two priests in the Fraternity of St. Peter is on the same line in France," said a person familiar with the matter.

A meeting is scheduled for the end of this week between Minnerath and the FSSP priests. The archbishop is hoping to reduce the tensions that have arisen over the Tridentine Rite and reach a compromise.

Sources

La Croix International

A quasi-parish is the equivalent of a parish under canon law, with some exceptions. It can later become a parish at the discretion of the local bishop.

"In response to a growing interest, it has become timely to provide additional pastoral care for those wishing to participate in Divine Worship in the Extraordinary Form," Chaput says.

The archbishop made his decision after consulting with local pastors, local priests who celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, and the archdiocese's Council of Priests.

From 1 August, the former St Mary parish in Conshohocken (which has been merged with another parish) will be handed to the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP).

The FSSP is an international fraternity of priests who celebrate exclusively according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (sometimes known as the traditional or Tridentine Latin Mass).

"While it remains to be seen if this community will flourish so as to become a [permanent] parish, the establishment of a quasi-parish to provide this spiritual care appears to be most fitting at this time," he added.

This year, the Vatican allowed the FSSP to celebrate Holy Week liturgy according to the pre-1955 rubrics.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Catholic Herald
• Image: Exultate lusti in Domino

Gary Michael Moran, 54, who had only been out of jail for six weeks, has been arrested following the shooting of Fr Kenneth Walker, FSSP, and the beating of Fr Joseph Terra.

Police say Fr Terra went to investigate noises in a yard, and was hit with an iron rod.

Fr Terra went to retrieve his .357 calibre gun, but couldn't fire it because of an injured finger.

The gun was taken by Moran, who shot Fr Walker who had came out of his room to see what was happening.

Fr Walker, 28, later died of his wounds.

Moran has a history of violence and drug abuse.

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Fr Kenneth Walker, 29, died of gunshot wounds on June 11. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

Another priest, Fr Joseph Terra, 56, was badly beaten in the attack in the Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission rectory.

He was subsequently hospitalised with what police described as severe injuries.

Both priests are members of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, which is dedicated to saying Mass in the extraordinary form, in Latin.

According to Phoenix diocese, Fr Terra was able to absolve Fr Walker of his sins before he died, and was able to give him the final sacrament.

The older priest was also able to call police.

The attack and killing has stunned the church and community in Phoenix.

Phoenix diocese released a statement asking for prayers for both priests, the religious community, their families and parish.

Parishioners described the two priests as always willing to help anyone in need and with hearts to serve the poor.

Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia said investigators had found "strong physical evidence".

"The Phoenix Police Department will exhaust our resources in bringing to justice the individuals who committed this crime," Chief Garcia said.

When police arrived at the scene, they found a garage door open and a car missing. The vehicle was later found several blocks away.

The incident was initially reported as a burglary, but police said it was too early to determine the motive.

The mayor of Phoenix mayor, Greg Stanton, said the bloodshed was a tragedy that struck to the core.

"Every American should feel safe in a house of worship," Mr Stanton said.

"And that basic value was violated last night in an unspeakable way."

Authorities have released a sketch of a suspect, said to be a white male in his forties.

Sources:

• National Catholic Reporter
• LA Times
• Reuters
• NBC News
• BBC
• Image: The Beer Barrel