According to Fr. John Flader of Pennant Hills, NSW, mass celebrated by Fr. Raul del Prado (in any part of Australia) is unlawful, unless it is done in private. (See paragraph 3 in Fr. Flader’s letter below.)
Fr. Flader said that because Fr. del Prado is an ordained priest, “the Consecration brings about the Transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.” He was very specific though that the Filipino priest needs a celebret to be able to say mass. Fr. Flader also said in his letter to Emma de Vera: “If Fr. Raul does not have the faculties from any bishop in Australia or in the Philippines, he should not celebrate mass publicly.”
Fr. John Flader belongs to the Diocese of Broken Bay and is known to be a Doctor of Canon Law. He was responding to a query made by Emma de Vera regarding an editorial that was written in the March issue of Philippine Sentinel. Mrs. De Vera is a sister of Fr. Raul del Prado.
It is apparent that the key to the legality of masses said by Fr. del Prado lies in the words “Public and Private.” It has been reported that Fr. del Prado has celebrated mass at Sizzling Filo Restaurant on December 24, 2010, January 8 in Auburn, and January 30, 2011 at the Kapitbahayan Cooperative Compound in Leumeah NSW. A photo of the moderate size congregation that attended the mass was published on the front page of the March 2011 issue of this paper.
Wikipedia defines “Private Mass” (in Latin, Missa privata or secreta, familiaris, peculiaris), as Mass celebrated without a congregation. However, the Second Vatican Council has in fact abolished the private mass.