SS. Peter and Paul
Roman Catholic Mission
P.
O. Box 7352
York,
PA 17404
717-792-2789
October
16, 2004
Most Reverend Kevin
C. Rhoades
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania 17111
Encl: SS. Peter and
Paul Roman Catholic Chapel Bulletin for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Dear Bishop-elect
Rhoades,
SS. Peter and Paul
Roman Catholic Mission has been formally established
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since July of 2002 and informally for
several years before that. The members
of the Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Mission have joined together to
work toward the sanctification of their souls by restoring to the Diocese of
Harrisburg, and by defending the Ecclesiastical Traditions of the Roman
Catholic Church, the patrimony and right of all Catholics. The primary focus of
these efforts are the propagation of the traditional Roman Rite of the Mass for
the holy and acceptable public worship of God, as codified by Pope St. Pius V,
and in the providing of sound traditional catechetical instructions for the
purpose of promoting the greater glory of God and to obtain the conversion of
souls to the Catholic Church, "outside of which there is no
salvation". The members observe holy Catholic obedience to our Holy Father,
the Pope of Rome and his delegated representative, the local ordinary of the
Diocese of Harrisburg, in all things that are not contrary to, or could in any
way impede, the restoration and defense of the immemorial traditions of the
Catholic Church.
The Members, in
following the exhortation of Pope St. Pius X to "restore all things in
Christ", bound together in acts of prayer and penance, will engage in any
form of Catholic Action that is related to the divine mission of the Church in
extending the Kingdom of God to everyone: individuals, families and
society. So help us God.
In pursuit of this
noble and holy purpose we have purchased a chapel centrally located in the
historical district of York at 129 S. Beaver Street. An offer was extended to your predecessor,
the late Bishop Dattilo, to dedicate this Catholic
chapel according to the traditional Roman Rite but the invitation was
unfortunately declined. That same
invitation is now, with all due respect, extended to yourself.
Regardless of any
decision on your part, we remain loyal Catholics, first to our Faith in all its
doctrinal and moral integrity, to the traditional and perfect liturgical
outward expression of this Faith without compromise which we hold by right, to
our Holy Father, John Paul II, and his appointed local ordinary, Bishop Kevin
C. Rhoades. Your welfare will always be
remembered in the traditional Roman Rite of Mass offered in our chapel.
Sincerely in
Christ,
David Drew
Chairman
SS. Peter and Paul
Roman Catholic Mission