Bishop Robert Mutsaerts advises Catholics to seek reverent Mass

Bishop Robert Mutsaerts of 's-Hertogenbosch advised Catholics to find communities that celebrate a reverent Mass rather than staying in parishes where irreverent liturgy might weaken their faith.

In an interview with LifeSiteNews following the 2026 Catholic Identity Conference in Pittsburgh, Mutsaerts said he no longer believes parishioners should try to fix problems within their own parishes. He stated that if a priest celebrates a poor Novus Ordo Mass, the priest is unlikely to change, and staying in such a situation can lead to a loss of faith. Instead, he encouraged the faithful to seek out places where the liturgy is authentic, true, and respectful, including churches that celebrate the Traditional Mass.

Mutsaerts specifically recommended that families with young people look for communities where the sacred nature of the liturgy is preserved. He noted that finding other young people in these settings provides necessary social incentives for youth that they might not find in parishes with much older congregations. He suggested that choosing a parish should depend on the ability to grow in faith rather than just geographic proximity.