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| The Nativity outside Our Lady of Peace Church Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
I made a long overdue pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Peace Church (522 Carroll St.) in Gowanus, Brooklyn, Sunday morning for the external solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Missa Cantata) was sung by celebrant and homilist Fr. Christopher Cullen, who was assisted by several attentive altar servers.
Arriving early, the comforting smell of incense and reverent silence greeted me as I entered the serene house of worship from the cold and noisy streets. Settling in beneath the statue of Santa Lucia, I quietly recited the Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel and the prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas before Mass.
With aspergillum in hand, Fr. Cullen began the Eucharistic Celebration by blessing the congregation with Epiphany water. The sacred hymns and traditional liturgical music performed by Schola Director and organist David Adam Smith and choir were uplifting and beautiful.
After the recessional, I met several members of the congregation. They kindly introduced me to Fr. Cullen, who was warm and welcoming.
The Our Lady of Peace Church is a magnificent place to celebrate our faith and, to the best of my knowledge, it is the only church in Brooklyn that offers weekly Tridentine Mass (every Sunday at 9:30), which is a vital part of our Catholic heritage and culture.
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| The snow covered statues of Sant'Antonio di Padova and the Madonna della Pace |
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| A look at the pulpit and the beautifully decorated High Altar |
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| After Mass, I petitioned Saints Cosma and Damiano to intercede on behalf of an ailing loved one |
