From Patrick Joseph Whitney, founder of the St. Patricks Society for foreign missions. He advises that his diocese is in dire need of a medical missionary order as the Protestants have a much larger presence.
Permission from the Sacred Congregation of Rites to use a thurifer in the absence of a deacon and sub-deacon. The thurifer is a object used in the liturgy to incense. It normally required a deacon to be present to help the principal celebrant.
In this case a brother would have assisted. Many of the priests may have been absent saying Masses in parishes.