July 17, 2021
Bishop McManus has made the following statement regarding  Pope Francis' apostolic letter on the traditional Latin Mass:


Our Holy Father Pope Francis recently published a motu proprio entitled  “Traditionis Custodes” (Guardians of the tradition) in which he reinforces the theological principle that “the bishops in communion with the Bishop of Rome constitute the visible principle and foundation of the unity of their particular Churches.”

Essential to such a weighty pastoral obligation is the role of the diocesan bishop as the moderator of the liturgical life of his diocese.
To that end, it is my responsibility as Bishop of Worcester to implement the principles articulated in the motu proprio in a way that will serve the spiritual and pastoral well-being of those Catholics attached to the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, and the vast majority of Roman Catholics here in the Diocese who have embraced the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite celebrated in accord with its proper rubrics established by the liturgical law of the Church.

In the weeks, ahead I shall meet with those priests of the Diocese of Worcester who celebrate, with my permission, the Extraordinary Form and discuss the sound implementation of “Traditionis Custodes.”