From what I was told recently, CMRI has been getting constant calls from all over, and are trying their best to help as many as possible.
They need more priests.
I am surprised that the CMRI isn't bigger. They have been around for even longer than the SSPX, yet their organization hasn't grown much at all when compared to the SSPX. I wonder why that is. :kick-can:
They got a slow start, due to the problems with Francis Schuckardt. When Schuckardt was expelled and CMRI reformed, it's growth has been exponential.
But, let's face it, the SSPX was formed by Archbishop Lefebvre, a member of the hierarchy, and drew in many diocesan and religious priests trained and ordained by the Church in the 1970's. The CMRI did not have this benefit.
The CMRI and SSPX remain the only two groups with a true canonical standing from the Church. They both received approval from lawful diocesan bishops.
I'm only looking at this from my regional perspective, without looking up the statistics ... and for the record I am a registered parishioner in the Diocese of Spokane, WA (Sacred Heart parish in Pullman) and attend Mass weekly according to the 1969 missal (when infrequent travel allows I attend Mass at a FSSP parish or a Ruthenian Divine Liturgy).
Still, with that background I'm very impressed with the CMRI. They have a thriving parish (I suppose chapel is the correct word) and school at Mount St. Michael's in Spokane (there are some forum members who attend there), as well as a parish in northern Idaho (Rathdrum ~ Coeur d’Alene area) and they have established TWO missions in eastern WA (Kennewick and Clarkston). They also have a parish and school in western Washington (Tacoma) with a mission in Sequim (I'm thinking there was another mission also, it must not have been able to continue).
By contrast the SSPX has no presence in eastern WA. They do have a chapel in Post Falls, ID, a mission in St. Maries, ID and a chapel in Edmonds (suburb of Seattle) in western WA, but with no evident "missionary activity" away from those areas that I've been aware of. The SSPV has NO activity west of Montana.
The FSSP has parishes in Coeur d'Alene, ID and Seattle, WA with some missionary outreach beyond those areas. The Ruthenians have parishes in Spokane, Seattle, and Lacey (Olympia area) and likewise have a missionary outreach to Eastern Rite Catholics outside of those areas. I also observe that the Orthodox seem to be very "missionary minded" in eastern WA and northern ID, not being content to just serve an "established base".
A hallmark of the Church "back in the day" as it were was always to take the Gospel and the Sacrements wherever the faithful were, no matter how remote or few in number. Among the traditionalist Catholic groups I've been most impressed with the efforts of the CMRI in this regard
Topic: CMRI is constructing a church in the Philippines (Read 6977 times)