Una Voce America is a member of the International Una Voce Federation. The federation was founded in Rome in 1966 and acts as the umbrella organization for over 20 national associations. Its mission is to ensure that the Roman Mass codified by St. Pius V remains one of the forms of Eucharistic worship in the liturgical life of the Church. The federation also promotes Latin, Gregorian Chant and sacred polyphony in Catholic liturgy. The current president is author and lecturer Michael Davies of London, England.

Una Voce America was established in 1996. Its goal is to create a coordinated national network of traditional groups in order to solidify and strengthen the Traditionalist movement and provide greater support for those working with their bishops to obtain the Traditional Latin Mass. The President of Una Voce America is Dr. John Rao, Professor of History at St. John's University (NY) and Director of the Deitrich Von Hilderbrand Institute.

Una Voce America is developing an advertising campaign designed to educate Catholics about the availability of the Tridentine Mass. This is important since Pope John Paul II's apostolic letter, "Ecclesia Dei", calling for wider availability of the traditional mass, is not generally known and polls indicate that many Catholics would attend the traditional mass if they had the opportunity.

Another important effort is the spiritual and financial support Una Voce offers priests who celebrate the traditional mass. These fine men are often encouraged to give up their devotion to traditionalism. Many also find it financially difficult to obtain the material they require to say the ancient mass. Una Voce chapters invite these priests to their homes and meetings. When possible, they purchase the needed missals and altar cards. Una Voce also provides an unofficial network of priests willing to teach their younger confreres to celebrate the ancient rite. This is an invaluable service as the number of clergy wishing to celebrate the traditional mass continues to increase.

Perhaps the most important role of Una Voce America has been in creating a forum for traditional Catholics to share ideas and expertise. Prior to the formation of Una Voce America, traditionalists could not pool their experiences and resources to obtain the traditional mass. They could not convey the spiritual enrichment the traditional mass had brought to other dioceses when petitioning their own bishops. They were encouraged to think of themselves as islands of nostalgia with no future. This isolation often led to discouragement. Sometimes this discouragement led to abandonment of the Church.

Now there are many channels of communication. There is an e-mail conference for chapter chairmen, a national newsletter (annual subscription $15), an award-winning web site (www.unavoce.org) maintained by Una Voce Rochester, and local and national meetings.

Una Voce America has spawned personal friendships across a broad continent. Members call, write and visit each other in what can be called the largest "parish" in the United States. In fact Una Voce America hopes its chapters provide the nucleus of traditional parishes. It has joined with the international federation to petition the Holy Father for a personal prelature for traditional Catholics like the one enjoyed by the members of "Opus Dei".

There are over 60 chapters in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Almost every month a new chapter is formed. Each chapter is autonomous and makes use of its knowledge of local conditions to promote the Traditional Mass. Some of their activities include petition drives, letter writing campaigns, social functions, advertising and seminary burses to support the Fraternity of St. Peter and the Institute of Christ the King.

Many chapters publish newsletters and a few have their own web sites. To deepen the spiritual lives of their members, chapters sponsor holy hours and participate in pilgrimages. Conferences and training seminars are also popular. At these events Catholics learn more about their history and how to worthily participate in the traditional mass.

Una Voce America is increasingly impacting Catholic life. More Catholics look to it for the practical guidance they need to implement the Holy Father's will as expressed in "Ecclesia Dei". Una Voce offers a truly "catholic" organization for those of different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, in contrast to recent trends that divide Catholics along these lines. Una Voce America is also a door into the Church for those who have left because of the storm of changes over the last 35 years.

In recognition of its positive influence, many priests are working with Una Voce. Una Voce America hopes that more Catholics will join its crusade to restore the traditional mass and sacraments. Its goal of establishing a chapter in every parish requires new crusaders. Those interested are encouraged to join (memberships are $10 for individual, or $15 for a family) or contact Una Voce for more information.