New vestments and library materials arrived today, thanks to the many generous benefactors who have helped us raise the money for these two projects, both of which in different ways will allow us to offer more glory to God. 

The new vestments will be used in the Pontifical High Mass on Sunday when Bishop Gainer comes to confer Confirmation on our class this year. The parish has been in great need for new vestments for some time, including a beautiful white set to be used at major feasts. Vestments for a Solemn High Mass include the chasuble for the priest, dalmatic for the deacon, tunicle for the subdeacon, as well as the humeral veil for the subdeacon to wear during the Offertory and Canon of the Mass.

Since a Pontifical High Mass at the Throne has more ministers, it requires the same vestments as a Solemn High Mass plus a cope for the assistant priest, two more dalmatics for the archdeacons of the throne, and another tunicle for the subdeacon of the cross. 

Rather than buy all of these dedicated vestments, which would not be used very much, we were able to get a pattern very similar to that of another set owned privately by one of the priests, and used recently for Christmas and Easter. By combining the two sets, we are able to have a beautiful set suitable for a Solemn Pontifical Mass. 

Due to the generosity of our parishioners, the parish exceeded the goal for these vestments, and we were able to order two more pieces to make the altar harmoniously match the vestments of the ministers: the altar frontal and tabernacle veil. We still need about $2,000 additional to complete this set. If you would like to contribute to that, we have added an option for “Liturgical Vestments” on our donations page here. 

Since we are in need of other vestments still (the Low Mass red set is not a complete set, actually, but combined from two different sets), we will leave the “Liturgical Vestments” option on the donations page for those who would like to contribute to that fund. We will order vestments as the funds are provided. 

Here are some of the vestments:

As for the library, it is fully funded, and Mr. Fred Shibler, a parishioner and carpenter, has been working off-site at his workshop. Most of that work has been completed, and today, he moved the cabinets and shelves into room 216 of the parish center at 112 State Street, where he will work for the next week or two to assemble and fit everything together. 

Here is what it looks like:

Here are more photos: