The Silver Jubilee of the episcopal consecrations performed by Archbishop Lefebvre together with Bishop de Castro Mayer on June 30, 1988.
My Dear Brethren,
I recently returned from a meeting of SSPX superiors in Econe, Switzerland, where we celebrated the Silver Jubilee of the episcopal consecrations performed by Archbishop Lefebvre together with Bishop de Castro Mayer on June 30, 1988.
After 25 years this “Operation Survival”, as Archbishop Lefebvre called it, has proven a key element in the survival of tradition amidst the continuing crisis within the Catholic Church. Words seem inadequate for expressing our great gratitude to the mercy of Divine Providence that directed him to perform this heroic act which has allowed not only the Society of St. Pius X but all its affiliated communities to continue their growth and defense of the faith. This gratitude was expressed in a public declaration issued by the Society bishops and read by our superior general, Bishop Bernard Fellay, during the Solemn Pontifical High Mass celebrated on June 27th (attached below).
Evidence of this growth is the large number of ordinations that will take place by the end of this year. Already, in June there were twenty new priests ordained at our seminaries in Econe, Winona and Zaitzkofen. In December, God willing, another group will be ordained in La Reja, bringing the total to twenty eight. In a few years time we hope and pray to also see ordinations taking place at Holy Cross Seminary in Goulburn.
I am happy to welcome Fr. Damien Fox back home to Australia. Since his ordination in 1999, he has been stationed in the United States and Canada. He will arrive in August to take up his new assignment at Australia’s largest parish in Tynong.
I thank you for your spiritual and material support for all our parishes and schools. May God reward you a hundredfold.
Sincerely in Christ through Mary,
Fr. John D. Fullerton
District Superior