International Federation Una Voce - XIX Statutory General Assembly

Rome 14th-15th November 2009

Delegates from 19 member associations met in Rome on the weekend of 14th/15th November 2009 for the 19th General Assembly of the International Federation.

Saturday 14th November 2009

The Holy Mass

 

Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form was celebrated for the delegates at 10.00 hours in St. Peter's Basilica in the Chapel of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple by her parents. Below the altar is the body of St. Pius X (1904-1914), the last pope to be canonized. The Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Pablo Colino Paulis, former conductor of the Julian Chapel (Capella Giulia), and was offered for the intentions of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

The General Assembly began, as always, with the singing of the Veni Creator Spiritus.

FIUV delegates

 

Since the previous gathering in November 2007, six new member associations have been granted membership of the Federation. The new members are:

from Ireland - St. Conleth Catholic Heritage Association;
from Malta - Pro Tridentina (Malta);
from Mexico - Una Voce Mexico;
from Colombia - Una Voce Colombia;
from Peru - Una Voce Peruvia;
from Chile - Una Voce Casablanca (Chile).

In memory of deceased members the delegates recited the De Profundis.

The President, Leo Darroch, gave his report on progress of the Federation since November 2007. Mrs Monika Rheinschmitt, the Treasurer, then presented the financial accounts.

There were some changes to the Council with some members standing down and others joining. The new Council that will serve until the next General Assembly in November 2011 is: M. Patrick Banken (Una Voce France), Mr. Leo Darroch (Latin Mass Society of England and Wales); Mr. Jason King (Una Voce America); Mr. Oleg-Michael Martynov (Una Voce Russia); Mr. Thomas Murphy (St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association - Ireland); Mr. Jack Oostveen (Ecclesia Dei Delft, The Netherlands); Mr. David Reid (Vancouver Traditional Mass Society of Canada); Mrs. Monika Rheinschmitt (Pro Missa Tridentina, Germany); Mrs. Diane Taylor (Ecclesia Dei Society, New Zealand); Mr. Rodolfo Vargas Rubio (Roma Aeterna, Spain); Mr. Godwin Xuereb (Pro Tridentina - Malta).

Leo Darroch was re-elected unopposed as President and will serve a further term of two years.

Specific resolutions were debated by the delegates and these issues will be taken forward over the next few weeks. There was much debate on such issues as the recovery of doctrinal formation for the faithful - clergy and laity; the imposition of reception of Holy Communion in the hand; and organising a prayer crusade for the intentions of the Holy Father to support him in these difficult times.

Listening to the speakers

 

The business of the day continued with presentations on such matters as the revision of statutes, the improvement of the FIUV website, the need for a team of translators, and dealing with applications for membership. The first day ended with the singing of the Salve Regina.

After the main business had been concluded the new Council met and re-appointed Rodolfo Vargas Rubio as Secretary, Jack Oostveen as First Vice-President, and Mrs. Monika Rheinschmitt as Treasurer. Mr. Jason King, of Una Voce America, was appointed Second Vice-President. Because of the increasing amount of work it was decided to co-opt to the Council Mr. Joseph Shaw of the Latin Mass Society, Mr. Juan Manuel Rodriguez Gonzalez-Cordero of Una Voce Hispania, and Prof. Fabio Marino of Coordinamento di Una Voce delle Venezie.

Sunday 15th November 2009

The second day started with many delegates attending a Solemn Mass in the Church of Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini, the Personal Parish for the Extraordinary form of the Roman rite and home of the Fraternity of St. Peter in Rome. Father Joseph Kramer, FSSP, the Rector of the church and celebrant, welcomed the delegates and praised the work of the Una Voce Federation.

Holy Mass at Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini

 

After lunch the delegates enjoyed an Open Forum with invited guest speakers. Among the speakers were:

Mr. Alberto Carosa (an Italian journalist and author based in Rome. A founder member of Centro Culturale Lepanto)
Don Stefano Carusi (Institute of the Good Shepherd)
Abbé Joseph Luzuy (Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest)
Fr. Joseph Kramer (Fraternity of St. Peter)
Fr. Settimio Manelli (Franciscans of the Immaculate)
Fr Vincenzo Nuara, O.P. (founder of Giovani e Tradizione - Youth and Tradition and also an association of priests, the Amicizia Sacerdotale Summorum Pontificum, or Priestly Friends of Summorum Pontificum).
Mr. Jason King (UV America), who ended the Open Forum by giving a brief talk on the priest training courses arranged in the USA in collaboration with the FSSP.

Father Vincenzo Nuara, O.P.

Father Settimio Manelli, F.F.I., with Leo Darroch and Rodolfo Vargas Rubio

Msgr. Valentín Miserachs Grau, President of the Pontifical Institute for Sacred Music and disciple of Msgr. Domenico Bartolucci (former Master of St. Peter's Chapel), also attended to show his support for the work of Una Voce.

The General Assembly ended with a rousing rendition of Credo III.

Note: On Friday 13th November, His Eminence Antonio Cardinal Cañizares, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, received a Spanish-speaking delegation from Una Voce Hispania and from Una Voce Mexico. Also invited was the President of the FIUV, Leo Darroch. On Monday 16th November, His Excellency Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke, the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, received an FIUV delegation.

Members of Spanish-speaking delegations with Card. Cañizares