Walsingham Pilgrimage

The Latin Mass Society will be holding its annual Walsingham Pilgrimage over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.  For the more energetic, it will start on the Thursday evening (24th August) in Ely.  The following morning after an early Mass, the pilgrims will start the 56 mile walk to Walsingham, arriving around mid day on the Sunday.For those walking, accommodation is in halls (for women) or camping (for men).  BOOKINGS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN.  SEE MAIN LMS WEBSITE.

Those not wishing to undertake the long walk can travel to Walsingham independently for Solemn Mass at the shrine basilica in on Sunday at 2pm.  This will be followed by walking the Holy Mile and devotions at the Abbey ruins.  FULL DETAILS ON THE LMS WEBSITE.

Corpus Christi in York

The Feast of Corpus Christi (Thursday 15th June) will be celebrated at St Wilfrid's Church in York with a sung Mass at 6pm.

Ordinations in Warrington

St Mary's Warrington

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon will be ordaining two members of the Priestly Society of St Peter to the Priesthood on Saturday 17th June at St Mary's Church in Warrington.  They are Deacons Alex Stewart, FSSP and Krzysztof Sanetra, FSSP.  The programme for the day is as follows:

 11am Priestly ordination of Deacons Alex Stewart, FSSP and Krzysztof Sanetra, FSSP by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool (no booking needed)

·         1:30pm Refreshments in Priory Garden – while First Blessings are given by the new priests

·         2pm Buffet Lunch at nearby venue (no booking needed)

·         5pm Solemn Vespers

These will be the first ordinations in the Extraordinary Form  to take place in England or Wales for about 50 years, so it is a significant occasion for all interested in the traditional movement.  Everybody is welcome, although early arrival is recommended to be assured of a seat in the church.

Corpus Christi

Thursday 15th June is the Feast of Corpus Christi.  There will be a Sung Latin Mass at St Wilfrid's Church in York at 6pm.  This will be one of the last opportunities before the summer recess to hear the choral scholars in action.

Next Mass in Hull

On Wednesday 7th June, being the first Wednesday of the month, there will be a Latin Mass at 6.30pm in St Charles Church in Hull.

Feast of the Ascension

There will be a Solemn Latin Mass for the Feast of the Ascension at 6pm in St Wilfrid's Church, York on Thursday 25th May.  St Wilfrid's choral scholars and schola will be singing.

St Margaret Clitherow and the Martyrs of York.

The  pilgrimage is on Saturday (29th April), starting at 1.30pm with Solemn Mass at St Wilfrid's Church, York .  The Music will be Haydn's Little Organ Mass provided by the Music Scholars and Schola of St Wilfrid's Church.  The Procession will set off at approx 3pm and return to St Wilfris's for Benediction at about 3.45pm,

Tea will be provided after Benediction.  Contributions of cakes or biscuits would be appreciated,

Talk to God

I have been informed of of this day of Eucharistic Adoration and Prayer for York at St Wilfrid's Church in York on Friday 23rd June.   The church will be open from 8am until 10pm with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout.  There will be Novus Ordo Mass at 12.10pm and a Sung Extraordinary Form Mass at 6pm followed by Musical Oratory, candlelit adoration and procession. The day will end with Benediction,

News from the USA

The Catholic Herald gives some figures for Receptions into the Catholic Church in the USA.  It lists the numbers received during 2017 Easter Vigils in six US dioceses or archdioceses as follows:

Los Angeles                     2694

Galveston- Houston         2375

Washington                      1180

Seatle                               1088

Brooklyn                            915

Miami                                734

It is not clear whether these are the top six dioceses for Receptions, or whether they are the dioceses for which figures are readily available.  The total for the six dioceses is 8990, and when one considers that there are about 200 dioceses in the USA, the figure for the nation as a whole must surely exceed 100,000.

I understand that the equivalent figure for England and Wales is in the region of 3,000, so the six listed US dioceses has about three times as many Receptions as the whole of England and Wales.  To make a proper comparison, one would need to know the Catholic population of these dioceses, but , at first sight, it would seem that the USA is rather better at attracting converts.