From Charlotte to Rome: A TLM Report

This year has been a rough patch and a rallying cry all at once for those of us who love the Traditional Latin Mass. We’ve seen diocesan limits, surprising gestures at Rome, local victories, and hard losses, and it’s clear maintaining the older form takes steady prayer, clear work, and steady presence. Keep showing up, supporting one another, and making the case for why this liturgy nourishes souls and parish life.

Here's a timeline of the events taking place this Summer and Autumn, along with a brief blow-by-blow description of each event:

2025 for the TLM Community: Some Good, Some Not-So-Good

  May 2025 — Charlotte, NC draft leaked. A leaked draft revealed Bishop Michael B. Martin’s intent to restrict celebrations and external practices associated with the Traditional Latin Mass across the diocese, triggering public outcry from traditionalist groups and parishioners. The leak intensified local debate over liturgical access and diocesan authority.

  June 2025 — FBI scrutiny of traditional Catholics. A Senate hearing disclosed that the FBI had made inquiries into certain traditionalist Catholic groups and a priest, raising concerns about surveillance and civil liberties among affected communities. The revelations prompted calls for transparency about law‑enforcement interactions with religious organizations.

  June 2025 — Texas parish granted Vatican exemption. A Texas parish received a Vatican exemption allowing it to continue celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass despite broader local or national restrictions, preserving its existing liturgical practice for the community. The exemption became a focal point for advocates arguing for pastoral accommodation of the older rite.

  June 2025 — Detroit, MI identifies permitted TLM sites. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger designated specific non‑parish churches and chapels in the Detroit area where the Traditional Latin Mass could continue, aiming to balance access for traditionalist faithful with diocesan liturgical policy. The decision reorganized where the rite would be available while attempting to maintain diocesan oversight.

  June 2025 — Cardinal Burke appeals to Pope Leo XIV. Cardinal Raymond Burke formally urged Pope Leo XIV to lift or ease restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass, framing the appeal as an effort to restore unity and provide for those attached to the older rite. The appeal highlighted ongoing tensions between traditionalist clergy and Vatican directives.

  June 2025 — Chartres Pilgrimage draws 19,000. The annual Chartres pilgrimage in France attracted roughly 19,000 participants, demonstrating substantial international popular support for traditional liturgy and energizing advocates of the Traditional Latin Mass. The large turnout served as a cultural show of strength for the movement supporting the older rite.

  July 8, 2025 — Charlotte, NC restriction date briefly moved up. Bishop Martin temporarily advanced the effective date for new restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass to July 8 before reversing that decision and restoring the original implementation timeline amid backlash. The reversal underscored the sensitivity and volatility of diocesan decisions affecting liturgical practice.

  August 2025 — Monterey, CA bishop ends TLM. Bishop Daniel E. Garcia terminated the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass at a parish in the Monterey diocese as part of a diocesan policy decision presented as promoting liturgical unity. The move removed a long‑standing local option for parishioners attached to the older rite.

  September 29, 2025 — Surprise TLM at St. Peter’s Basilica. A Traditional Latin Mass was celebrated at the St. Michael’s Altar in St. Peter’s Basilica, marking an unexpected public celebration of the older rite at a principal Roman venue after a period of relative restriction. The liturgy drew attention as a notable moment of visibility for Traditional Latin Mass supporters.

  October 2, 2025 — Charlotte, NC restriction takes effect. The Diocese of Charlotte implemented a policy limiting Traditional Latin Mass celebrations to a single designated chapel, centralizing the rite and reducing its availability across parish settings. The policy change reshaped local access and intensified debates over pastoral care for attached faithful.

  October 2025 — Catholic family film project launched. A family‑led Catholic film project began documenting the experiences of Traditional Latin Mass communities in Charlotte, aiming to capture the rite’s aesthetics and the social tensions surrounding its restriction. The project sought to amplify personal stories and cultural context around the controversy.

  October 25, 2025 — Cardinal Burke to celebrate TLM at St. Peter’s. Cardinal Burke was scheduled to celebrate a Traditional Latin Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica during a Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage, presented as a high‑profile sign of support for broader access to the older rite. The scheduled celebration was framed by supporters as a symbolic endorsement of the Traditional Latin Mass.

Stay connected with other communities, document what’s working, and keep respectfully reminding leaders that pastoral care includes care for those attached to the older rite. With perseverance and charity, the TLM will continue to find ways to flourish even when the road gets bumpy.