November 2020 Print


SSPX Timeline

From the Regina Coeli Report (July - August, 2014)

1970

Bishop Charrière approves the statutes, canonically establishing the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X.

 

Gregory Post of California becomes the first American to be accepted for seminary training in the newly founded SSPX.

1971

Archbishop Lefebvre visits the U.S. twice to gain seminarians and discuss setting up SSPX houses in the dioceses of Covington, KY, and Pittsburgh, PA. He accepts Fr. Bonfil Battazzo’s request to put the faithful of his Detroit, MI, area parish under the Society’s care.

1972

Newly ordained Fr. Clarence Kelly arrives in Long Island to start a chapel in a converted garage that would later (1983) become St. Michael’s Chapel, Farmingville, NY. Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel in Baton Rouge, LA, and St. Jude’s Church in Eddystone, PA, near Philadelphia begin.

1973

SSPX establishes the U.S. seminary in Armada, MI, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel chapel, later St. Benedict’s, in Louisville, KY, is founded.

1974

The first U.S. District Headquarters is established under the leadership of Fr. Clarence Kelly in Oyster Bay, NY. Fr. Gregory Post establishes Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel in Campbell, CA, which later became St. Aloysius Gonzaga Retreat Center in Los Gatos, CA.

1975

Our Lady of Fatima Chapel begins in various locations near Dallas, TX. Queen of All Saints Mission in Springfield, MO, joins the Society. Fr. Hector Bolduc begins celebrating Mass for the newly formed St. Michael the Archangel Chapel in Kansas City, MO. St. Michael’s Church in Carmichael, CA, near Sacramento, is founded.

1976

First Mass is celebrated at Queen of Angels Church, Dickinson, TX, by Fr. Hector Bolduc. St. John Bosco Mission in San Diego and St. John Fisher Church in Tulsa also celebrated first Masses.

1977

Queen of Angels Church is dedicated by Archbishop Lefebvre. Corpus Christi Chapel, Edmonds, WA, is founded. St. Pius X Chapel, Cincinnati, OH, which would later become Our Lady of the Assumption in Walton, KY, is founded.

 

Queen of Angels Academy in Dickinson, TX, opens its doors.

1978

Angelus Press is founded at Queen of Angels Church by Fr. Carl Pulvermacher, O.F.M. Cap., and the first issue of The Angelus is published.

 

Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel, Phoenix, AZ, opens in a converted Lutheran church. Mission Stella Maris located in the former military chapel for Fort McArthur, CA, opens. St. Pius X Chapel, later St. Anne’s (1983), purchases a church building in Redford, MI. Fr. Hugh Wish celebrates the first Mass at St. Pius V Shrine, Mukwonago, WI, in the old St. James Church. First Masses are celebrated at Assumption Chapel in St. Mary’s, KS; Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in St. Paul, MN; St. Michael’s Chapel in Roswell, GA, and St. Thomas Chapel in Carson City, NV.

 

The U.S. District is divided into two sections: Southwest and Northeast.

1979

St. Mary’s Academy and College, St. Mary’s, KS, opens its doors. The U.S. seminary moves to Ridgefield, CT, and is named St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary.

 

Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, Sanger, TX, finds a permanent location. Fr. Hector Bolduc purchases Jesus and Mary Priory in El Paso, TX, and Queen of the Holy Rosary Academy in St. Louis, MO. Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls, ID; Mary Immaculate Church in Wichita, KS; Our Lady of Grace Church near New Orleans, LA; St. Cecilia’s Church in Memphis, TN, and St. Mary Magdalene Chapel in Mexico, MO, are founded.

1980

First Masses are celebrated at Holy Redeemer Church near Raleigh, NC; Immaculate Conception Mission in Virginia Beach, VA; Infant of Prague Mission in Bay City, MI; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Mission in Corpus Christi, TX; Our Lady of Victory Church in Davie, FL; St. Lawrence Chapel near Hartford, CT; and Sts. Peter and Paul Mission in Rapid City, SD.

1981

Archbishop Lefebvre solemnly blesses St. Vincent de Paul Church, Kansas City, MO, which was purchased the year before. While touring the church, Archbishop Lefebvre proclaimed: “C’est magnifique, c’est une cathédrale!”

 

The first Sisters of the Society of St. Pius X arrive in St. Mary’s, KS.

 

Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel, Albuquerque, NM, joins the Society. The North American Martyrs Chapel in Hudson Falls, NY; Our Lady of Fatima Church in Portland, OR; and Our Lady of the Snows Chapel near Sioux Falls, SD, are founded.

1982

St. Joseph and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Colton, CA; Annunciation Chapel of Fort Collins, CO; Old St. Mary’s Church in Goldsboro, NC; and Our Lady Immaculate Church near Chicago; Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel near Boise, ID; St. Anthony of Padua Church near Charlotte, NC; St. Isidore Church near Denver, CO; and St. Michael the Archangel Church in Spring, TX, are founded.

 

Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls, ID, joins the Society following the retirement of Fr. Edouard DeBusschere.

1983

Corpus Christi Chapel, Edmonds, WA, purchases a church and priory from Church of the Open Bible. Archbishop Lefebvre dedicates Old St. Mary’s, Goldsboro, NC. Queen of the Miraculous Medal Chapel near Little Rock, AR; St. Michael the Archangel Church in Farmingville, NY; St. Thomas Becket Church in Veneta, OR, and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Albuquerque, NM, join the Society.

 

The Southwest U.S. District Office moves to Queen of Angels Church, Dickinson, TX. Fr. Richard Williamson is temporarily Northeast District Superior when “The Nine” are dismissed from the Society and then temporary District Superior of the unified U.S. District with offices in Dickinson.

1984

Fr. François Laisney is named District Superior and moves the U.S. District office to Queen of the Holy Rosary, in Webster Grove, MO.

 

Our Lady of the Bitterroot Chapel in Victor, MT; St. Athanasius Church near Binghamton, NY; and St. Therese Chapel near Madison, WI, are founded. St. John Fisher Church in Fort Wayne, IN, joins the Society.

1985

Archbishop Lefebvre visits Armada, MI, and administers the sacrament of confirmation in St. Louis at what later became Our Lady’s Assumption parish.

 

Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Church in Syracuse, NY, which later became Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Warners, NY, and Corpus Christi Chapel near Nashville, TN, are founded.

1986

The “Catholicism in Crisis” radio program begins its every Sunday afternoon broadcast in Honolulu, HI. St. Therese, Patron of Alaska Mission begins with 20 families in Anchorage, AK. Archbishop Lefebvre visits St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Ridgefield, CT.

1987

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, South Bend, IN, starts in a rented motel room. Fr. Carl Pulvermacher, O.F.M. Cap., blesses Our Lady of Fatima Church in Portland, OR.

 

Jesus and Mary Academy in El Paso, TX, opens its doors.

1988

St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary moves to the newly acquired property in Winona, MN.

 

Child Jesus Chapel in Pittston, PA; Immaculate Conception Chapel in Kalispell, MT; Our Lady Queen of Angels Chapel in Ft. Myers, FL; and St. Michael’s Mission in Erie, PA, are founded.

 

St. Ignatius Retreat House opens in Ridgefield, CT.

1989

Bishop Williamson blesses Our Lady of Fatima Church, Sanger, TX. First Masses are said at Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel in Crookston, MN, and St. Therese’s Church in North Lawrence, NY.

 

Frs. Paul Kimball, Timothy Pfeiffer, Paul Tague and John Young are the first priests to be ordained in Winona, MN.

1990

Fr. Peter Scott becomes U.S. District Superior. Construction of Our Lady of Sorrows Retreat House and Chapel begins in Phoenix, AZ. St. Joseph’s Academy, Richmond, MI, and St. Anne’s School in Livonia, MI, open.

 

Two new chapels in North Dakota join the Society: Guardian Angels Mission and St. Michael’s Church.

1991

St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Cloud, MN; St. John Vianney Chapel in Long Prairie, MN; and St. Aloysius Gonzaga Retreat Center, Los Gatos, CA; Our Lady of Fatima Church near Pittsburgh, PA; Our Lady of Lourdes Mission in Honolulu, HI; St. Joseph Mission in St. Maries, ID; St. Peregrine Church near Cleveland, OH; and St. Peter Chanel Mission in Hilo (The Big Island), HI, are founded. Our Lady Queen of Angels, Fort Myers, FL, joins the Society.

 

First pilgrimage to the North American Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, NY, is organized.

 

 

St. Vincent de Paul Academy, in Kansas City, MO, opens. Immaculate Conception Academy in Post Falls, ID, is founded. Holy Family Academy begins in Belle Plaine, MN.

 

U.S. District Office moves to Kansas City, MO. The Brothers’ Novitiate begins in El Paso, TX.

1992

Angelus Press moves to Kansas City, MO. The first Regina Coeli Report is published by the District Office.

 

St. Thomas More Chapel starts with the first Mass being celebrated by Fr. Paul Kimball at the Radisson Airport Hotel, Orlando, FL. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel in Clayton, TX; Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel in Lake Worth, FL; and St. Margaret Mary Church near Grand Rapids, MI, are founded.

 

St. Therese Academy in Nicholville, NY, opens its doors in a new school building.

1993

In Kansas City, MO, Superior General Fr. Franz Schmidberger blesses Regina Coeli House, enthrones the Sacred Heart, and consecrates the U.S. District to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

 

Holy Family Chapel in Belle Plaine, MN; Mission Santa Maria near Prescott, AZ; and St. Francis of Assisi Mission in Austin, TX, celebrate first Masses.

 

St. Robert Bellarmine Academy in St. Cloud, MN, is founded. St. Pius X Academy in Cincinnati, OH, opens its doors. It will later become Assumption Academy in Walton, KY.

1994

Bishop Fellay is elected Superior General and blesses St. John Fisher Church in Fort Wayne, IN. Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Girard, OH, near Youngstown is founded.

1995

Our Lady of Sorrows Retreat House and Chapel are completed in time for the first Ignatian retreat hosted in November.

 

Our Lady Help of Christians Academy is founded in Watkins, CO. St. John Vianney Academy in Long Prairie, MN, starts in the fall and Our Lady Immaculate Academy opens its doors in Oak Park, IL.

 

The Archconfraternity of St. Stephen is introduced for the proper formation of altar servers.

1996

St. Joseph Academy, a boarding school for boys, opens in Armada, MI. St. Padre Pio Academy opens in Ridgefield, CT.

 

Maria Stella Maris Mission in San Pedro, CA, and Our Lady of the Angels Church near Los Angeles join the Society.

1997

St. Louis, MO, parish purchases St. Mary’s Assumption, a formerly Catholic Ruthenian Rite church in downtown St. Louis.

 

Our Lady of the Angels Academy in Arcadia, CA, opens its doors. Immaculate Heart of Mary in Oak Grove, MN, begins its first school year, and St. Michael’s School in Carmichael, CA, is founded.

1998

First pilgrimage along the Santa Fe Trail to the Padilla Cross just outside of Lyons, KS, is held.

1999

St. Pius V Church, Mukwonago, WI, joins the Society. The first Starkenburg pilgrimage is organized by Fr. Kenneth Dean, then pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Kansas City, MO.

2000

Immaculate Conception Church, Post Falls, ID, sponsors the first pilgrimage to the Cataldo Indian Mission of the Sacred Heart. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Academy is founded in Syracuse, NY. BVM later became Mater Dei Academy in Warners, NY

 

St. Margaret Mary Chapel, Grand Rapids, MI, moves into new chapel building. The priory for Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Syracuse, NY, is completed. A first Mass is celebrated in the new St. Thomas Chapel, Hartford, CT. Blessing of St. Thomas Becket Church, Veneta, OR, by Bishop Williamson. A new chapel for Sacred Heart Novitiate, Browerville, MN, is blessed. St. Christopher’s Mission in New York City is founded.

2001

St. Isidore’s near Denver, CO, constructs a new church. St. Michael’s in Roswell, GA; Holy Redeemer Church, Wake Forest, NC; St. Anthony’s Church in Mt. Holly, NC, are blessed.

 

St. Thomas Becket, Veneta, OR, becomes a priory. St. Botolph’s Mission in Boston, MA, and St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Mission in Salem, MA, start. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, Louisville, KY, joins the Society.

 

Angelus Press moves to a newly constructed office/warehouse on property adjoining the District Office in Kansas City, MO.

2002

Fr. John Fullerton becomes District Superior.

 

St. Theresa in Klamath Falls, OR, opens.

 

St. Peregrine’s constructs a new school in Richfield, OH.

 

St. Mary’s College in St. Marys, KS, begins a traditional Catholic radio station: KSMK-LP at 98.3 FM.

 

St. Isidore’s, Watkins, CO, sponsors the first pilgrimage to the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO.

2003

St. Theresa Mission, Klamath Falls, OR, moves to a new church. Our Lady of Victory Church, Las Vegas, NV, completes its rectory. St. Thomas More, Sanford, FL, breaks ground for a new church.

2004

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, Louisville, KY, purchases a new building which is blessed by Fr. Brendan Dardis as St. Benedict’s Church. First summer boys camp in Georgia held with 36 boys in attendance and led by Frs. Christopher Danel and Kenneth Novak.

 

Our Lady of Sorrows Academy in Phoenix, AZ, opens its doors.

2005

St. Joseph’s Boys Academy of Richmond, MI, moves to Notre Dame de La Salette Boy’s Academy, in Olivet, IL. St. Benedict’s Academy in Louisville, KY, is founded.

 

The Brothers’ Novitiate moves from El Paso, TX, to St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona, MN.

2006

A Priests’ Training Program is inaugurated for priests who want to learn how to properly offer the Tridentine Mass and complete a traditional formation. First Mass is celebrated in the newly constructed Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Albuquerque, NM.

 

2.5 million rosaries are said in the U.S. for the grace to free the traditional Roman Mass, to promote the Social Reign of Christ the King and for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

 

Bishop Fellay blesses the newly built Regina Coeli House in Platte City, MO.

2007

St. Thomas Beckett Church in Veneta, OR, adds a cemetery and enlarges its school.

2008

Fr. Arnaud Rostand becomes U.S. District Superior.

 

St. Catherine of Siena, Woburn, MA, is formed by the merger of St. Botolph’s, Boston, and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s, Salem, MA. Queen of All Saints Church, Springfield, MO, has a new church and parish complex blessed.

 

A second Rosary Crusade is requested for the withdrawal of the excommunications of 1988.

2009

New priories are opened at St. Isidore Church, Watkins, CO; Our Lady of the Assumption, Walton, KY, and St. Thomas More Church in Sanford, FL.

 

Catholic Cadets of America is founded by Fr. Jean de l’Estourbeillon, Immaculate Conception Church, Post Falls, ID.

 

A third Rosary Crusade is announced for the intention of the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. More than 19 million rosaries are offered in the U.S. District.

2010

First annual Angelus Press Conference is held, celebrating 40 years of the Society.

 

St. Thomas Beckett Academy in Veneta, OR, is founded.

2011

Our Lady’s Assumption Church, Walton, KY, is consecrated by Bishop Fellay. The Shrine of St. Philomena in Miami, FL, and St. John Bosco Chapel in Geneva, NY, join the Society.

2012

A new chapel building is blessed at St. Theresa, Patroness of Alaska Mission, Anchorage, AK.

 

Christ the King Mission near Lexington, SC; St. Michael’s Church in Bethany, OK; St. Therese Church in Chico, CA, and St. Pius X Mission near Washington, D.C., join the Society.

 

St. Joseph’s House constructed at the U.S. District Office to accommodate guests and add conference rooms.

 

Angelus Press business office moves to St. Marys, KS.

2013

The Society of Saint Pius X is consecrated to St. Joseph, Protector of the Universal Church.

 

New priories are opened in Chicago, IL, and Nicholville, NY. St. Joseph’s Church of Greenwood, IN, and Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Richmond, VA, become SSPX chapels while St. Anthony Mary Claret Mission begins in Miramar Beach, FL.

 

Construction of a new seminary begins in Dillwyn, VA.

2014

A new Rosary Crusade is launched to implore special protection for the traditional apostolate, the return of Tradition within the Church and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary by the consecration of Russia.

 

A new church for Our Lady of Sorrows is constructed in Phoenix, AZ.

 

St. Philomena Mission in Bremer, IA, is blessed by Fr. Arnaud Rostand.

 

Acquisition and renovation of the Bank of Farley as the Child Jesus Office for the U.S. District to house the offices for the lay staff.

 

First Eucharistic Congress is hosted at La Salette Boys Academy, Olivet, IL.

 

Fr. Jürgen Wegner is assigned District Superior for the U.S.

2015

Two Oblate Sisters arrive in the U.​S.​ to aid in the work at San Jose, CA.

 

Angelus Press acquires the Immaculata Bookstore in St. Marys, KS

 

Blessing of St. James Pittsburgh. Acquisition of a new property for the Armada, MI, church and school. Consecration of the new Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Phoenix, AZ, by Bishop Bernard Fellay.

 

Pilgrim Virgin statue of Our Lady of Fatima begins her journey to visit all of the chapels in the U.​S.​ District (from mid 2015 till Dec. 2017).

 

40th anniversary celebration in Armada conducted by Fr. Pfluger. Acquisition of the new Armada property.

2016

Oklahoma City, OK, public Mass in reparation for a black mass.

 

Groundbreaking for new school in Albuquerque, NM. Sanford groundbreaking and blessing of construction site for expansion of the priory complex.

 

New Rosary Crusade for the 100th anniversary of Fatima, from 8/15/16 to 8/22/2017.

 

Blessing of new seminary in Dillwyn, VA.

 

Old St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona becomes Holy Angels’ Novitiate for SSPX Brothers.

2017

Priory of Dickinson, TX, celebrates its 25th anniversary.

 

First ordinations ceremony at new seminary in Dillwyn, VA.

 

Dominican Sisters open new girls’ school in Walton, KY.

 

December 8th marked end of Our Lady of Fatima Pilgrim Virgin’s nation-wide journey. Final festivities were held in Walton, KY.

 

The U.S. District publishes a free online Ordo.

 

SSPX takes over the apostolate in San Jose, CA. SSPX takes over the chapel in Jacksonville, Florida

 

Decision to build a new church in St. Mary’s, KS: start of the planning for the project

2018

SSPX takes over the chapel in Lacombe, LA.

 

Rev. Fr. Davide Pagliarani is elected Superior General.

 

Convent for Benedictine nuns opens in Silver City, NM.

2019

Institution of yearly vocations retreats for men and women.

 

Bells for Walton, KY, chapel blessed. Our Lady of Good Success Church, Dickinson, ND, is completed and holds its first Mass. St. Vincent de Paul Academy in Kansas City, MO, purchased a new school building and completes a renovation of the church interior.

 

Building and property acquired for the Falls Church parish in Upper Marlboro, MD.

2020

COVID-19 happened: New Rosary Crusade and Continuous Masses for deliverance from the virus.

 

Angelus Press warehouse moves from Kansas City to a newly constructed facility in St. Marys, KS.

 

Groundbreaking for new Immaculata Church in St. Marys, KS.

 

Fr. John Fullerton is named District Superior.

 

New Rosary Crusade for the 2020 presidential elections.

PAGE 7

Priestly ordinations in 1985 at Ridgefield, CT.

PAGE 8

Fr. Carl Pulvermacher speaking with Archbishop Lefebvre

PAGE 9

The first U.S. seminary in Armada, MI.
The ordination of Fr. Gregory Post in 1972 at Our Lady of the Prairies Shrine in Powers Lake, ND.

Archbishop Lefebvre on a visit to St. Marys, KS. 

St. Ignatius Retreat House in Ridgefield, CT.

Archbishop Lefebvre celebrates Mass in Phoenix in 1983.

Profession ceremony of the Sisters of the Society of St. Pius X.

St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona, MN.

Page 11

Old Regina Coeli House, Kansas City, MO [1991- 2007].

Notre Dame de La Salette Boys Academy.

Jesus and Mary Church and Priory, El Paso, TX.

St. Isidore’s in Watkins, CO.

Lyons Pilgrimage, KS. 

Bishop Bernard Fellay.

 

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Page 13

 

Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Phoenix, AZ.

Our Lady’s Assumption, St. Louis, MO.

Immaculate Conception Church, Post Falls, ID. 

St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Dillwyn, VA.

Page 15

Procession with the US District’s Our Lady of Fatima Pilgrim Virgin statue at Mission Santa Maria, Prescott, AZ.

A public Mass is celebrated in reparation for a black mass, Oklahoma City, OK.

Annual Corpus Christi Procession, St. Marys, KS.

Candlelit Midnight Mass at St. Vincent’s, Kansas City, MO