Regarding the Society of St Pius X

The Society of St. Pius XThe Society of St. Pius X was established by the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre who was opposed to many of the changes in the Church that came as a result of Vatican II. Since 1975 this Society has not been in full communion with the Holy See. Over the years there have been repeated attempts by Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and now by Pope Benedict XVI to heal this rift and bring the members of the Society of St. Pius X back into full union with the Church. To date these attempts have been unsuccessful.

Please note….The Society of St. Pius X has established a number of churches in Southeast Michigan. In their signage these churches identify themselves as Catholic Churches even though they are not in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Faithful Catholics need to know that the ministers (priests) in these churches "cannot legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church". They do not have the faculty to hear confessions validly and they lack the delegation needed for valid Catholic weddings. The following is a listing of churches of the Society of St. Pius X in the Archdiocese of Detroit:

• St. Joseph Catholic Church, Richmond
• St. Anne's Catholic Church, Livonia

The following churches, not part of the Society of St. Pius X, are also not in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church:

• Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, Fraser
• St. Joseph Catholic Church, Wayne
• St. Dominic Chapel, Highland
• St. John XXIII Independent Catholic Church, Wyandotte
• Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC), Hamtramck
• All Saints PNCC, Sterling Heights
• Resurrection PNCC, Temperance
• Our Savior PNCC, Dearborn Heights

Latin Mass…Extraordinary Form of the Roman RiteOut of concern for the faithful who want to participate in the Holy Eucharist celebrated according to the form of the Mass prior to the Second Vatican Council (sometimes called the "Tridentine Rite"), Pope Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Letter, "Summorum Pontificum," extended permission for the celebration of the Eucharist according this Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Catholics who wish to worship according this form should attend it at parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit in full communion with our Holy Father the Pope.

Pray for unity…All the faithful are encouraged to continue to pray that God will bring the Society of St. Pius X and all other Christian communities into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church so that we may all be one.