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Omaha Archbishop Appoints FSSP Priest as Pastor of Diocesan Parish
Archbishop Curtiss' renewal of parish a model for other dioceses to
follow.
Immaculate Conception (ICC) Church in Omaha is the new home of the
Latin Mass community in the diocese of Omaha and Father John
Brancich, FSSP, now serves as pastor at ICC and Father Chad
Ripperger, FSSP, the Parochal Vicar.
The Catholic Voice the diocesan newspaper of Omaha reports that
according to Father Joseph Taphorn, chancellor. : “The change of
parishes for the Latin Mass community was prompted by concerns about
the continued viability of ICC.”
The former pastor of ICC, Fr. J. Buckley, “saw that the parish
faced financial challenges including both current and future needs.”
So Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss conducted an “assessment of
the viability of ICC in light of changing demographics, Mass
attendance, parish needs and income.”
Then he asked the Fraternity to supply a pastor for ICC.
“As
for the parishioners, Father Taphorn said he understands 'change
isn't always easy.' Those uncertain about the Latin Mass can attend
the Saturday evening English Mass, using the next several months as
a transition period to make a decision about either another parish
or the Latin Masses at ICC.”
The Saturday evening Mass, said by a Columban father, will be
phased out.
“Father Taphorn said changes mean improved viability for ICC. The
110 or so households in the Latin Mass community will
'inject new life' into
ICC in a variety of ways, he said.
And since the church building is in good condition at ICC,
there will be no need to fund restoration or repairs.”
The parish has gone from having one diocesan priest with duties in
other churches to having two priests from the Fraternity of St.
Peter. Father Brancich was installed as Pastor by the local Vicar
Forane, Fr. J. Buckley, at the 9:00 A.M. solemn high Mass on
Sunday August 25th.
As
the decision was made only recently, the parishioners of what was
previously had been known as the Omaha Latin Mass Apostolate and
existing parishioners put in
long hours preparing the rectory and church for the first
traditional Latin Mass.
During the next few months, the priests and parishioners will be
planning for a grand renewal of the church, built in 1926 and
renovated several times during the past 40 years.
The project should be one of the ways to help
the two former communities to get settled as one parish.
The Fraternity is delighted
to see that many original parishioners of ICC have chosen to stay in
the parish and participate in the extraordinary form of the Mass.
It looks like a parish that was having financial challenges will now
be a growing and vibrant one.
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