Photos and video of the 2011 Napa Pontifical Mass

On July 31, 2011, a Solemn Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form was celebrated by his Excellency, Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone (Bishop of Oakland, CA) at the Estate Cave of the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, CA. It was part of a 3-day conference titled "Catholics in the Next America" that was organized by the Napa Institute. The organizers had the blessing of the local ordinary, Bishop Robert Vasa (Diocese of Santa Rosa), where the resort is based. The Pontifical Mass at the faldstool was made possible with the assistance from the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey. The Schola came from St. Margaret Mary's Church in Oakland, CA.

Preparations before the Pontifical Mass

This part of the Estate Cave is actually a wine cellar that was converted to a chapel for the purpose of the Pontifical Mass (notice the wine drums!). Although the resort has it's own chapel (see pictures down below) it would really be too small to be used.

I served as the Bugia bearer for this Pontifical Mass

The schola practicing

Canon William Avis (Rector of the Old St. Patrick Oratory in Kansas, MO) who served as MC1, with Bishop Cordileone.

The Bugia and Book bearers. The two surplices we used were originally made in the Philippines.

St. Margaret Mary's Schola Cantorum

A light moment with Bishop Cordileone during the breakfast buffet that followed.

Yours truly with Bishop Cordileone (the occasion was my very first time to serve at a Pontifical Mass in the EF!)

Mass Program

After the Pontifical Mass ended, I got a chance to walk around the beautiful resort:

The steps leading to the vineyard.

Felt like being in Tuscany, Italy than in Napa!

Entrace to the Estate Cave

Statue of Our Lady right at the center of the resort vineyard.

Awesome views!

I mentioned earlier that the Meritage Resort had it's own Chapel (Our Lady of the Grapes Chapel):

Notice the ad orientem altar.

Here's the sermon given by Bishop Cordileone. My apologies in advance for the poor audio (and some of the blurry video portions due to poor lighting).