From the Pastor's Desk- July 19

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday, I would like to share with you the following statement from Bishop Burbidge regarding the recent and unfortunate events in Écône, Switzerland, which have led to another fracture in the Catholic Church’s ecclesial communion.

As a consequence of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX) sadly proceeding with episcopal ordinations of four bishops on July 1, 2026 without a papal mandate, the Holy See has subsequently decreed that, in accord with Church law, the bishops involved have incurred automatic excommunication and carried out a schismatic act.

The decree of the Holy See, issued through the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, together with an explanatory note, makes clear that as a result of the SSPX’s schismatic act, any celebrations of the sacraments of confession and matrimony by the SSPX are invalid, and the administration of other sacraments is illicit. As bishop, and motivated by care for souls, I therefore instruct the faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington to avoid participating in the activities of the SSPX. I encourage any persons locally who have been attached to the SSPX and who desire the spiritual nourishment of the Church and the Extraordinary Form of the Mass to become active in any one of the eight locations in our diocese where this is currently possible.

The Holy See, in the spirit of conciliation, has outlined the procedure necessary for SSPX priests and lay faithful to return to Catholic communion. Although lay faithful who formally adhere to the SSPX are considered schismatic and excommunicated, this does not apply to lay faithful “who do not reject the Magisterium of the authority of the Roman Pontiff” and have engaged with the SSPX for solely liturgical or spiritual reasons. Such persons must simply resolve not to continue to participate in future SSPX sacramental worship or pastoral ministries.

To my brother priests in the SSPX, please know of my prayers for you and my heartfelt desire for your return to full communion with the Church. I invite all the faithful to join me in prayer for the end of all division and schism and for the unity of the Church, so that she may better fulfill the divine commission to make disciples of all nations.

On 24 May 1976, Pope Saint Paul VI addressed this painful situation:

“There are those who, under the pretext of greater fidelity to the Church and the Magisterium, systematically reject the teachings of the Council itself, their implementation, and the reforms that flow from them—as well as their gradual implementation by the Apostolic See and the Episcopal Conferences, under our authority, as willed by Christ. The authority of the Church is discredited in the name of a Tradition for which respect is shown only in a superficial and verbal sense; the faithful are led away from their bonds of obedience to the See of Peter and to their legitimate bishops; the authority of today is rejected in the name of that of yesterday… It is so painful to note this: but how can one fail to see in such an attitude—whatever the intentions of these people may be—a placing of oneself outside of obedience and communion with the Successor of Peter and, therefore, with the Church?”

Please pray for Pope Leo XIV and the Church´s unity.

Fr. Álvaro