Vatican Orders End to All LATIN MASSES in Knoxville Diocese

Bishop Mark Beckman of Knoxville, Tennessee, has directed that all celebrations of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in the diocese end by November 23, 2025, following the Vatican’s 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes. This decision impacts communities including Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, St. Henry Parish in Johnson City, and the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, where the 1962 Missal has been celebrated regularly since 2014. Parishioners have been informed that the transition will move celebrations to the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, while still allowing traditional elements like ad orientem celebration, Latin, Gregorian chant, and communion rails within the 2002 Missal. Diocesan officials emphasize that this move is meant to foster unity in faith and preserve the beauty and reverence of the liturgy, in full communion with the Church. Nearly two decades of diocesan support for the Traditional Latin Mass are coming to a close, reflecting broader Vatican efforts to implement post-conciliar liturgical reforms across the United States. In this episode, we break down: What Traditionis Custodes means for the Knoxville Diocese How local communities are responding to the change The future of traditional elements in the Ordinary Form