Congregatio Mariae Reginae Immaculatae | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | CMRI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1967; 58 years ago (1967) |
| Type | Sedevacantist Catholicreligious congregation |
| Headquarters | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Membership |
|
Superior General | Mark Pivarunas |
Key people |
|
| Website | cmri |
TheCongregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (Latin:Congregatio Mariae Reginae Immaculatae;CMRI) is asedevacantisttraditionalist Catholicreligious congregation that is not incommunion with theHoly See.[1] The CMRI is dedicated to promoting the message ofOur Lady of Fátima and thedevotion of the practice of Total Consecration to the Virgin Mary as taught bySaint Louis Marie de Montfort.[2] The CMRI was founded byFrancis Schuckardt, but he was later expelled from the organisation due to allegations of sexual abuse and drug use.
The congregation lists over 90 traditional Catholic churches and chapels both in theUnited States and abroad, as well as at least 13 schools staffed byreligious.[3][non-primary source needed]
The group has used and was designated by various other names including:
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The Sisters atMount Saint Michael record CDs and perform an annualChristmas concert.[7]
The CMRI hold the Fatima Conference at Mount Saint Michael inSpokane,Washington every October. The Conference includes five days of lectures, dailyMass, devotions, and meals.[8]
The CMRI has been involved with mass media since their founding as a method of recruitment and information. Throughout their history, the CMRI has produced books, pamphlets, and audio recordings. The CMRI runs a bookstore, Mary Immaculate Queen Center,[9] and produces various periodicals:The Reign of Mary (quarterly magazine),Adsum (Mater Dei seminary monthly newsletter), andAnima Mariae, the CMRI sisters' newsletter. The CMRI also produces CDs of the annual Fatima Conference talks, as well as a livestream of Daily Mass and devotions from the City of Mary inRathdrum,Idaho.[10]
Francis Schuckardt and Robert Chicoine (a formerMarine, bricklayer, and newspaper pressman fromNew Bedford,Massachusetts) attracted followers through international speaking tours as part of theBlue Army of Our Lady of Fatima. Chicoine first heard Schuckardt in a 1965 talk inSan Diego about the message of Fatima. After listening to Schuckardt for three nights in a row, he became his disciple.[11]
In 1971, Schuckardt changed the name of the group toTraditional Latin Rite Catholic Church.[4]
By 1984, the CMRI owned and operated schools, camps, and properties,[12] including a convent and girls high school inColbert, Washington[13] and a mansion at 2314 E South Altamont Boulevard in Spokane, Washington, which operated as thepriory and Schuckardt's main residence.[13]
In 1984, Chicoine accused Schuckardt of abuse and drug addiction.,[1] and Schuckardt and a small group of his followers were expelled from the CMRI and left the Spokane area, taking the nameTridentine Latin Rite Church. In addition to Alphonsus, Schuckardt was followed by 4 religious sisters and 10 religious clerics and brothers.[14] A larger group of the priests, religious, and laity remained with Chicoine atMount Saint Michael, retaining the CMRI name and the bulk of the church property. Local media in 1984 reported that there were 5,000 followers of the group in the United States, 800 of whom live in the Spokane area.[13] By 1986, local media reported about half the members of the church's religious orders left.[15]
Following the expulsion of Schuckardt, sedevacantist Bishop George Musey (of theThục apostolic line)conditionally re-administered the sacraments imparted by Schuckardt, whosevalidity was now considered dubious, and conditionally re-ordained the remaining priests.[16]
In 1986, the Congregation held its firstGeneral Chapter, which established its rule and constitutions, that were later approved by sedevacantist BishopRobert McKennaORCM.[17]
In August 1989, Father Tarcisius Pivarunas (Mark Pivarunas) was electedSuperior General of the congregation.[18]
On 1 February 1991, sedevacantist BishopMoisés Carmona expressed his desire to consecrate as bishop whomever the congregation chose. On 3 April 1991, Pivarunas was elected to be consecrated a bishop. Pivarunas dropped hisreligious name, "Tarcisius", and in accordance with CMRI Constitutions, resigned as Superior General. He was succeeded by Father Casimir M. Puskorius. On 24 September 1991, inMount Saint Michael, Pivarunas was consecrated a bishop by Bishop Carmona.[19]
In June 2007, 15 sisters (including Rev. Mother Ludmilla) living atMount Saint Michael in Spokane were expelled for disputing the CMRI stance of sedevacantism. They later reunited with the Catholic Church, and formed theSisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (SMMC) under the authority ofWilliam Skylstad,Bishop of Spokane.[1]
In 2016, Pivarunas administered the sacrament of confirmation to 20 people inPaese, during a Mass presided by Father Florian Abrahamowicz. TheDiocese of Treviso declared the confirmations to be "valid but illicit".[20]
In 1986, Jim Sparks of theSpokesman-Review Spokane Chronicle wrote a front page article "Tranquility returns to Tridentines" describing abuse and controversies occurring within the CMIQ.[21] These included:
In 2006, theSouthern Poverty Law Center designated Mount St. Michael one of twelve "anti-semitic radical traditionalist Catholic groups."[23] The 2021 list no longer included Mt. St. Michael.[24]
In December 2018, a priest was accused[25] of ritual sexual abuse of a child at the Holy Innocents Catholic School in Waite Park, MN in the 1970s and 1980s.[26][27]
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