On Sunday, September 20, 2009, His Excellency the Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop of Oakland, California, celebrated a Pontifical High Mass at Saint Margaret Mary church. The over five hundred faithful who were present could not even all enter into the crowded church. This was the first visitation of His Excellency to this apostolate of the Institute since he became Bishop of Oakland last spring.

This Pontifical Mass was offered in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the celebration of the Extraordinary form of Liturgy at Saint Margaret Mary. His Excellency the Most Reverend John S. Cummins, Bishop Emeritus of Oakland, who had given his permission in 1989 for the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass, and Father Vladimir Kozina, who first offered it in this church, were both present for this occasion. Canons and oblates of the Institute came to provide the liturgical assistance, alongside their confrere Canon Jean-Marie Moreau, the Institute priest responsible for the apostolate at Saint Margaret Mary and the episcopal delegate for the Implementation of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum for the Diocese of Oakland, and the many fine altar servers. The excellent choir, composed of the talented faithful from the Bay area, sang beautifully a remarkable program of sacred polyphony and Gregorian Chant.

In his sermon Bishop Cordileone thanked the Institute for "its faithful service to the people of our diocese here at St. Margaret Mary," and, citing the motto of the Institute "Veritatem Facientes in Caritate," Living the Truth in Charity, commented on the recent encyclical "Charity in Truth" of our Holy Father in the context of the Year of the Priesthood.  "Specifically, I pray that the renewal in priestly life and ministry of all of the priests in our diocese, and the nurturing of a healthy and vibrant appreciation of the Church's living tradition as exemplified here at St. Margaret Mary, may promote a culture of vocation in our diocese, that is, a culture in which all see themselves as called to live charity in truth after the pattern of Christ himself, and thereby many young men may be more disposed and able to hear and respond to the call of Christ to follow him in the Priesthood, giving completely of themselves to his Bride, the Church, for the salvation of souls and the glory of God."

After the Pontifical Mass, the church hall was blessed and dedicated in honor of Father Kozina. Then followed a splendid reception of fine food and refreshments prepared by the many good faithful, hundreds of whom had the opportunity to greet their new Bishop for the first time. In gratitude to Bishop Cordileone, the Institute presented a painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who is the perfect image of the divine Truth and Charity of which His Excellency had spoken of in his sermon.

Special thanks to the numerous faithful volunteers, including the photographers, who contributed their time and effort for the success of this event!