Solemn EF Mass for the Vigil of Pentecost - In the Presence of a Greater Prelate and Monsignor Vincent Foy

The third of June this year was the 75th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of Monsignor Vincent Foy, a priest of the Archdiocese of Toronto. Msgr. Foy will turn 99 on August 14 and has served his priestly life with faith and loyalty and is an example to all priests and to all Catholics of the devout life. He is a pro-life champion and has long been known in Canada for his opposition to the Winnipeg Statement. His writings can be found at www.msgrfoy.com.

On Saturday, June 7, a Solemn Mass on the Vigil of Pentecost was held at St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church in Toronto. The Mass was in the Presence of Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto who presided and preached the homily. 

Cardinal Collins was amongst the last seminarians at the time for the Diocese of London that received the tonsure and the minor orders and the first of the major orders, that being Subdeacon. This was the first time that he has presided at the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and the first time in a half-century that any Archbishop of Toronto or Cardinal in Canada has done so.

Also in attendance at the Altar and with the Cardinal were priests of parishes of the Archdiocese of Toronto and priest-professors from St. Augustine's Seminary, priests from the Chancery and Seminarians from St. Augustine's Seminary in Toronto attending to the Cardinal. Monsignor Foy sat in choir with the Provost of the Toronto Oratory, Father Jonathan Robinson, Cong. Orat., and over 50 other priests in choir and hundreds of faithful. The Mass was recorded by EWTN and we look forward to the upcoming documentary on the life of Monsignor Vincent Foy.

The organisation of this Mass was a monumental effort as nothing like this has happened here for a half-century. The Toronto Traditional Mass Society – UNA VOCE TORONTO responded immediately and enthusiastically late last year to Monsignor Foy’s request for help with the organisation. It was our great privilege and humbling honour to assist Monsignor Foy with this glorious day.