District Superior's Letter: Mar-Apr 2015

Dear Faithful,

The travels of Archbishop Lefebvre in the United States after the Council were motivated by his Faith in the immortal Church and his mission to save the Catholic priesthood.

Archbishop Lefebvre looked hopefully to the United States as a potential source of vocations. After receiving the first American seminarians in Econe, he decided to establish a seminary on American soil. St. Thomas Aquinas seminary was founded in Armada, Michigan in 1974. Later it moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut and then to Winona, Minnesota.

In order to support spiritually the seminary and to assure definitively its future, the Archbishop applied the motto he had since his missionary experience in Africa: “one seminary, one Carmel!” and helped in founding the Carmel of the Holy Trinity in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

Soon he could send newly-ordained priests to the United States to spread divine grace among traditional Catholics resisting the wave of modernism and a poisoned liturgy. Society priests would become travelling priests as their numbers multiplied and they strove to become all things to all men. A new generation of young priests would soon pass on the flame maintained by heroic priests such as Fr. Francis Fenton, Fr. Joseph Gedra, Fr. Frederick Nelson, and so many others.

Archbishop Lefebvre visited and supported the humble beginnings of the reconquest with his indefatigable smile, saying Masses, giving conferences, conferring Confirmations. No matter the size of the group or the quality of the arrangements, the kindness of his missionary charity and the clarity of his faith affected everyone. His encouragement to keep the Faith and the Latin Mass, to continue with large and Catholic families, brought forth the creation of numerous Mass centers and schools. He helped his priests make wise and sometimes difficult decisions. The acquisition of St. Mary’s is certainly one of our most impressive enterprises. What vision, what Faith and Hope were guiding this man of God! What gratitude has to be ours for his visits to our country!

It is very interesting to see how he re-built upon the ruins by bringing everyone to collaborate in the reconquest. He entrusted and trusted so much. To his young priests he gave, along with the priesthood, a large freedom to operate, counting on the grace of God. He encouraged families to do whatever was possible with the grace of God. Of everyone he asked good will and support, but above all prayers, in order to keep alive the Faith.

Today we can see the results. We are heirs of hundreds of Mass centers, schools and apostolates of all kinds; all of them are tied to the visits of one Archbishop in our country during two decades! Like a sower, Archbishop Lefebvre passed through, leaving seeds of hope, of life, and of grace.

May our gratitude be expressed by a renewal of intense charity and generosity for Tradition!

With my blessing,

Fr. Jurgen Wegner