Midnight Mass in Hull

Midnight  Mass will be offered in the Extraordinary Form this Christmas at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel in Hull.  However, you will only be able to attend if you PREBOOK.  This can be done by telephoning 07591 582168 and stating the number in your family group (bubble) or the number who will be attending with social distancing.  You will also need to provide a telephone number.

Masses at Catterick Barracks

Father David Smith has sent me the following information about the resumption of Masses at Catterick Barracks:

Thursdays 12noon Low Mass restarts on 3rd December (weekly).
Immaculate Conception (8th December) 12noon Low Mass.
Christmas Day (25 December) Low Mass (of the Dawn) 8am
St Stephen’s Day (26 December) Low Mass 10.30am
New Year’s Day (1st January) Low Mass 12noon

I understand that no particular formalities are required to gain access to the church which is in Hipswell Road West  The postcode is DL9 3DP.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Tuesday 8th December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and there will be a Solemn Mass at 6pm at St Wilfrid's Church in York.  It will be preceded at 6pm on Monday 7th December by Solemn Vespers and Benediction. 

Resumption of Masses

 As from Thursday 3rd December, churches will reopen for public worship.  Here is a reminder of the Latin Masses available in the Diocese of Middlesbrough.

           Thursdays       7.30pm       Our Lady & St Peter Chanel, Hull.

           Mon to Fri       8.15am        St Wilfrid, York.      Low Mass

           Saturdays         9.15am        St Wilfrid, York       Low Mass

           Sundays           12noon        St Wilfrid, York.      Missa Cantata

Where Our Readers Reside

 Here are some figures for then readership of this blog during the last 12 months.  You will see that the United States is way out at the top of the list.  What is perhaps more surprising is that Russia comes in at third place.

United States

13K

United Kingdom

4.65K

Russia

2.14K

Unknown Region

1.88K

Romania

1.42K

Ukraine

982

Germany

900

Canada

875

France

457

OtherOther

      

6.56K

Mass Suspended Because it is Too Popular

The Winter issue of Mass of Ages has been published, and it includes a good number of news items.  One that caught my eye concerns Prinknash Abbey in the Diocese of Clifton.  For some years, a Latin Mass has been offered at Prinknash Abbey on Saturdays and due to demand, this became a Sunday Mass.

Of course, this Mass was suspended during the first lockdown, but resumed when the restrictions were eased.  However, the Mass proved so popular that the numbers wishing to attend could not be accommodated, especially with social distancing.  Consequently, the Mass had to be suspended again, this time because it was too popular!

Female Religious Vocations in America

 I found this bit of information by chance.

It would be interesting to know the equivalent figures for England.

Gregorius Magnus

 

Readers may remember that some months ago, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sent a questionaire to all the bishops of the world seeking information on the implementation of Summorum Pontificum in their dioceses.  There is no official news on the outcome of this survey, although the rumour is that the level of hostility amongst the bishops of the world  has turned out to be less than many people expected.  

Although the questionaire was intended to be sectet, the text of it was leaked, and the International Federation, Una Voce, decided to conduct its own survey via its members throughout the world.  Reports were gathered from 368 dioceses in 56 countries and consolidated into a single document.  This document has now been published in the magazine Gregorius Magnus, which can be read over the internet.  It makes interesting reading.

Livestreamed Masses

The website of the Latin Mass Society lists 14 Sunday Masses in England and Wales that are livestreamed, ranging in time from 8am to 5pm.  It includes the Mass broadcast from the Oratory in York at noon.

My preferred Mass is the one from the Institute of Christ the King at the Sacred Heart Church in Limerick.  It is at 10.30am and can easily be found on the Irish website of the Institute.

Closure of Churches for Public Worship

 I am sure that readers will be aware that the latest imposition of lockdown means that from today churches are closed for public worship but can be open for private prayer.  This means that the York Oratory will be closed during the times that Mass is offered.  However, Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be livestreamed  on the York Oratory's Youtube channel at noon on Sundays and at 8.15 am on weekdays.  

However, matters might change., as is hinted at in the following conversation between Sir Edward Leigh and the Prime Minister.

Edward Leigh said this in his speech: “... when I intervened on the Prime Minister a couple of days ago, he assured me that this was only a temporary ban on religious services. He took the trouble to come up to me before this debate and say, “Edward, we’re going to get churches open.” I said, “When?” He said, “Soon.” I understand that contacts are taking place with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Westminster to try to get the churches open as soon as possible… I have received an assurance that churches, synagogues and mosques will open before 2 December, or at least by 2 December. On that basis, and on that basis only, I will vote with the Government.”

Petition to Keep Churches open

 I have just signed a petition to the Prime Minister seeking to keep churches open for worship during the coming period of Lockdown.  You can find the petition by googling  Change.org  Keep churches open.

I have also just emailed my Mp asking him to support an amendment to allow churches to stay open for worship when the matter is debated in Parliament next Wednesday.

Please do the same.

Bad Church Architecture

 

The website, Eccles is Saved, is having a contest for the worst church architecture.  Here are some of the entries.

Comments invited.

Feast of All Souls

The Feast of All Souls (2nd November) is on a Monday this year.  There will be a Low Mass at 8.15 in the morning at St Wilfrid's Church in York.  This is the normal scheduled Mass.  Additionally there will be a Solemn Requiem Mass at 6pm at St Wilfrid's Church.

Since the Feast of All Saints is a Sunday, There will be the usual Missa Cantata at 12noon.

Forty Days for Life

For the past five weeks, People have been reciting the Rosary outside the Unity Heath Centre in York.  Usually there are two people at a time, and the organisers fry to get two or three hour long sessions each day.  The reason is that the Unity Health Centre is a clinic that facilitates abortions.

I generally fill a mid day slot on Fridays, and up to today it has been uneventful.  However, today we were heckled by two separate residents of the street.  One was extremely uncivil,using foul language.  The other was less so, but still unpleasant.

More interestingly, an elderly lady came out of the clinic and came up to us to commend us on our bravery.  After chatting for a bit, this lady decided she would like to join us in prayer and took out of her handbag a rosary.  She stayed for five decades.  It was this lady who took the brunt of the abuse from the more uncivil of the protesters. 

A few days ago there was another unexpected incident.  A member of the staff of the clinic who must have been going off shift came up to the group praying and said: "God Bless You".  I was not present on that occasion, but was surprised to hear the story related.

There is just one more week left in the forty days.

Archdiocese of Liverpool Synod

 

The Archdiocese of Liverpool has been conducting a form of local synod process.  Although it has been impeded by Covid related restrictions, it has produced some recommendations.  Fr Henry has some comments on his Offerimus tibi Domine blog.

Mostly the recommendations are pretty generalised, and lacking in originality.  However, the following items in the Liturgy section are fairly encouraging.

3.4 The Synod proposes that across the Archdiocese there is access to a variety of liturgical styles and celebrations.

3.5 The Synod proposes that the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite be more widely available.

3.6 The Synod proposes that we use the opportunities the liturgy provides for silence.

3.7 The Synod proposes that resources be found to promote good liturgical music.

3.8 The Synod proposes that more value be placed on the need for beauty in our liturgy, in the way it is celebrated and in the liturgical environment.

Institute of Christ the King Set to Expand.

 

I reported earlier that the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest had taken on 23 new seminarians at their Gricigliano seminary.  I understand now that the figure is actually 24, and that it includes three from England and two from Ireland.

The ICKSP also has Houses of Formation, where young men are able to spend a preparatory year discerning their vocation.  We have one at Preston, and I understand that there are currently four candidates, including one Irishman, living there at the present time.  I have also learned that in the United States, there is a House of Formation with 17 candidates doing a preparatory year.  I have been unable to find information about Houses of Formation in other countries, but there must be many more discerning their vocation with a view to joining the Institute in other countries, such as France, Belgium,Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.  The Institute is active in all these countries.

The ICKSP seems to be doing particularly well in Ireland at the present time.  Their church in Limerick is attracting such large congregations that an additional Sunday Mass has been provided.  They have recently opened a church in Belfast, which has also added a second Sunday Mass.  Mass is also offered in a school chapel in Galway, and there are ambitions to have a further church of their own there.  Readers will know that priestly vocations are very few in Ireland.  It seems that the ICKSP is getting more than its fair share of them.

We can conclude that the Institute is set to grow at an accelerating rate in the coming years.

Communion in the Hand

This picture is taken from the Rorate Caeli website.

Apparently it was photographed alongside a road in Poland.  Translated into English, it reads Stop Communion in the Hand.

Wonersh

 

It has been announced that the Seminary at Wonersh in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton is to close.  The reason given is that it is taking on no new students this year.

However the cause goes deeper than this.  It is clear that bishops have stopped sending students there, and this is for a reason.  There have been reports of scandalous behavior there, and the Rector was much involved.  He was recently sacked by the Archbishop of Southwark who is Chairman of the Governors.

A lot of people are saying that closure is the best thing that could happen to Wonersh.  I wonder whether, once closed, it could reopen as a a completely reformed seminary.  Perhaps even a traditional one.  Just a suggestion.

 

Another Oratory for the Institute of Christ the King

The Institute of Christ The King Sovereign Priest has taken over another church in the United States.  It is the Church of St Leo in Columbus, Ohio.  It is a very nice church that has been closed since 1999 because, it is in an area that has become depopulated, and the Diocese felt it could not justify supplying it with a priest.  It has been maintained for the past 20 years by the St Leo Preservation Society, a group that opposed the closure of the church.

Here is the sanctuary.

The original altar has been preserved behind a forward altar, and has beautiful statues of angels, as well as a circular tempietto. 

You can find out a lot more by going to the American website of the ICKSP

Thursday 15th October

 

Thursday 15th October is the Feast of St Teresa, and there are two opportunities to attend a Latin Mass in the Diocese of Middlesbrough.  There is Mass at noon at Catterick Barracks (see below)and Mass at 7.30pm at the Church of Our Lady & St Peter Chanel at Hull.

Stuck in the Mud

 

Fr Henry Whisenant and Franciscan Friars helping to extricate a vehicle from the mud at the Church of Our Lady Immaculate & St Edmund, Withermarsh Green.

I hope they did not get their habits too dirty.

Masses at Catterick Barracks

 

This is a reminder that Father David Smith, who is an Army Chaplain, will be saying a Latin Mass on Thursdays at noon in the Church of St Joan of Arc, Hipswell Road, DL9 3BP, within the complex of Catterick Barracks.  I understand that it is easy to gain access.

The first Mass is on Thursday 15th October.  Fr smith is looking for a server.

More about the Institute of Christ the King

Canon Scot Smith of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest has moved from Shrewsbury  to Plymouth Diocese.  He will be chaplain to the Carmalite Sisters at Lanherne as well as saying a Sunday Mass at the Church of Saint Edward the Confessor in Plymouth.  Canon Smith's place at Shrewsbury has been taken by CanonWiener.

The Institute now has seven priests serving in England with a presence in three dioceses.  In Shrewsbury Diocese they are at New Brighton as well as at the Cathedral.  They have two churches at Preston in the Lancaster Diocese, and now they are in the Plymouth Diocese. 

Institute of Christ the King

 

A few days ago I reported that, this autumn, 46 young men had joined the two seminaries of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter to begin their preparation for the priesthood.  It is also great news that 23 young men have begun their studies for the priesthood at the seminary of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest at Gricigliano near Florence in Italy.  I think that this is also a record for the number to enter their seminary in a year.

Adding the two figures together, gives a potential for 69 new priests for the two Orders in seven years time.  I do not have any information about admissions to the seminary of the Institute of the Good Shepherd, but it would be unusual if there were not at least eight.

The traditional Orders are certainly growing rapidly, and becoming a major force within the universal Church.

Hull University

 

Last night I attended the regular Thursday evening Latin Mass in Hull.  There were about 25 in the congregation, far more than the usual ten.  It turned out that the increase was due to the presence of University students.  I spoke to a few of them after the Mass, and they are all very keen, one having joined the LMS earlier in the day.  Another said that he was about to join.

The LMS has been promoting Latin Masses among University students on its facebook page, and this seems to have been successful, at least in Hull.  It has also set up a database of students interested in the Latin Mass, so that they can get in touch with one another.  I shall have to find out exactly how this works.

In order to prosper, the Traditional Mass movement needs to mobilise young people, and the Universities provide a good place to do this  It seems to be working in Hull. 

Priestly Fraternity of St Peter

,

I have just read that a total of 46 young men have joined the two seminaries of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter as first year seminarians this autumn.  They divide equally between the Seminary of St Peter at Wigratzbad in Bavaria, and the Seminary of Our lady of Guadalupe  at Denton, Nebraska.  

The Widratzbad contingent includes nine Frenchmen, two Spaniards, two Portuguese, two Germans, two Czech, one Englishman, two Brazilians,one Mexican one Swiss, and one Austrian. Some of these will be undertaking their studies in German but most will be studying in French.

I understand that among the seminarians starting their studies in Denton are two further Englishmen. 

 I believe that the FSSP has never before had such a large intake of seminarians in a single year.

Church of St Stanislaus, Milwaukee

 

Take a look at this Video:

https://youtu.be/Mr8WwHvqPxs

It shows what can be done in a church that was in danger of being closed.  It seems that it is the Latin Mass that makes the difference.

Scottish Household Survey

 According to the 2019 Scottish Household Survey, whose findings have just been released by the Scottish Government, 56% of the 9,780 Scottish adults interviewed professed no religion, five points more than in 2018 and 16% more than in 2009. Affiliates of the Church of Scotland, who numbered 34% in 2009, have now reduced to 20%, but the figures for Roman Catholics (13% in 2019, reduced from 15% in 2009), other Christians (8%), and non-Christians (3%) have been relatively stable over recent years.

So the proportion of the Scottish population who describe themselves as Catholic has declined by two percentage points over the nine years 2009 to 2018.  The equivalent figure for the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) is 14 percentage points.  The Scottish Episcopal Church (Anglican) is now so small that it does not merit separate figures but is included in the 8% of other Christians. 

Forty Days for Life

 

The picture below shows the premises of Unity Health at Wenlock Terrace in York.  Is is a clinic where abortions are carried out, although I understand that that none are taking place there at the present due to difficulties caused by the COVID pandemic. 

For a period of 40 days, people, usually in groups of two or three, are gathering outside the clinic to pray for those considering abortions. Usually, the group will stay for an hour and recite the Rosary and other prayers.

A roster has been worked out, with most people attending for one hour per week.  Some attend more frequently.  Currently, there are not enough people to pray outside the clinic throughout each day, although there is a presence for some time every morning and afternoon.

Anyone able to put in a shift is invited to contact Sabastian at york40daysforlife@gmail.com

Latin Mass at Catterick Garrison

Starting on 15th October, a Latin Mass will be celebrated at the Memorialk Church of St Joan of Arc at Catterick Barracks.  It will take place on Thursdays at 12 noon, and be offered by Fr David Smith, the Military Chaplain.

The address is Hipswell Road West, Catterick Garrison DL9 3BP   It is open to the public, and  I understand that there are no special security requirements to gain access.  However, Fr Smnith suggests that visitors ring him on 01748 873849 before travelling to be sure in case the Mass is cancelled due to other military duties

Here is a picture of the inside of the church.

York Oratory Gets New Member

 

Last Tuesday, the York Oratory gained another member.  Perry Fox received the habit of St Philip and took the name of Gabriel, after St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, an Italian Passionist saint and the patron of Oratorian novices.  Br Gabriel is originally from Sheffield and graduated this year in Psychology from the University of Bristol. He is pictured with the community, with his Novice Master, Fr Daniel and his former University Chaplain, Fr Rupert Allen who encouraged his vocation.

Br Gabriel's joining the York Oratorians brings the size of the Community back to six.  Br Adam has been granted temporary leave of absence, and is currently living elsewhere. 

The picture above, taken in the garden of the Rectory at York, shows Br David, Fr Duffield (Provost), Br Gabriel, Fr Saward (Parish Priest), Fr Brown and the recently ordained Fr O'Connell.

Latin Masses in the Middlesbrough Diocese

 

Here is a summary of the Latin Masses currently taking place in the Middlesbrough Diocese.

York Oratory

Sundays                           12noon  

Monday to Friday            8.15am

Saturdays                         9.15am

Our Lady of Lourdes & St Peter Chanel, Hull

Thursdays                       7.30pm

Regrettably, the Saturday morning Masses at the Sacred Heart Church in Middlesbrough has not been resumed since the COVID restrictions were relaxed.

Yet More News from Withermarsh Green

The Latin Mass Chaplaincy established at the little Church of Our Lady Immaculate and St Edmund in Withermarsh Green by the Diocese of East Anglia goes from strength to strength. 

It has been attracting a congregation of about 60 on Sundays.  Since this is too many to accommodate inside the church with social distancing, Masses have been held outside.  However, with the arrival of autumn, a new plan is being adopted.  In future, there will be two Sunday Masses.  One at 10am, and one at noon.

After last Sunday's Mass (the last of the outside Masses), tuition was provided for men wishing to learn to serve the traditional Mass.  No less than 11 men of a variety of ages attended the tuition.  There should be no shortage of servers at Withermarsh Green.  

There is a lot that is attractive about the interior of this church, especially the sanctuary.

Traditional Benedictine Nuns

 

The website, New Liturgical Movement, has quite a long story about a very traditional Benedictine convent in Gower, Missouri, USA.  The essentials are that on 21st August, this convent clothed six Postulants as Novices.  The following day, two sisters were fully professed.  A full description of the ceremonies can be read at NLT, but the point I would like to emphasise is that traditional orders of nuns are attracting good numbers of new members to their communities.It seems that the only Orders of n uns that are prospering are the traditional ones.

They all look pretty happy!

More News from Withermarsh Green

 

Reports from the new Latin Mass Chaplaincy at Withermarsh Green in the Diocese of East Anglia give the following statistics for Mass attendance:

     Feast of the Assumption                                 80

     Sunday 16th August                                        60

     Sunday 23rd August                                        60

The numbers were such that on each occasion, the Mass was held outside the church to accommodate the numbers attending.  There have also been weekday Masses held inside the church.

Virtual Walsingham Pilgrimage

 

Readers will be aware that the Latin Mass Society holds a walking pilgrimage to Walsingham every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend.  This year it is to be a virtual pilgrimage.  Go to the LMS main website to find out how to participate.

The State of the Church in Ireland

 

In all of Ireland's 26 dioceses, there is to be just one priestly ordination of a diocesan priest this year.  Before Vatican II, there would have been 90 or more ordinations of diocesan priests in a typical year.  The Church in Ireland is in a pretty poor state.  

By contrast, the Society of St Pius X has ordained two Irish priests this year, and the Institute of Christ the King has accepted three Irishmen into its seminary in Gricigliano.  

Fr O'Connell's Chalice

Here is a picture of Fr Henry O'Connell's chalice.  It incorporates his mother's wedding ring, which can just be seen above the base.  Fr O'Connell's father died recently.  May he rest in Peace.

Withermarsh Green

 Here is a picture of Fr Henry Whisenant admiring the sanctuary at the Church of Our Lady Immaculate  and St Edmund in Withermarsh Green.

Although it is a very modest church, it has many attractions.  The sanctuary is very nicely preserved.

Father Henry O'Connell

Brother (now Father) Henry was ordained to the sacred priesthood at the York Oratory today.  The Ordination Mass can be viewed on the York Oratory's  Youtube channel.

Withernmarsh Green

So many people were expected  to attend the inaugural Mass at the new Latin Mass Chaplaincy at Withermarsh Green in the Diocese of East Anglia, that a tent has been erected so that the Mass can be held outside.

I understand that it rained in East Anglia this morning, so am waiting for a report on how things went.

There will be another Mass tomorrow (Sunday) at 10am.

Here is a picture of Fr Whisenant preaching.

Shrewsbury Cathedral

Shrewsbury Cathedral has been publishing figures for Sunday Mass attendance since they reopened after lock down. 

First Sunday back:

     8am          59

     10am        65

     12am        80

Second Sunday back

     8am          67

     10am        63

     12am        72

I will leave it to readers to work out which Mass is the Latin Mass.

Feast of the Assumption

 Saturday 15th August is the Feast of the Assumption and in normal circumstances wopuld be a Holyday of Obligation.  The York Oratory will be providing a Latin Mass at 9.15am.  It is also streamed on their Youtube channel.

Plainsong at Leeds Cathedral

When churches were closed due to COVID 19, Leeds Cathedral lost no time in livestreaming a daily Mass.  Regrettably, no Latin Masses have been livestreamed, but Latin plainchant has been included in the Sunday Novus Ordo Messes.  I have just heard from a source within the Leeds Curia that this has been extremely well received by viewers, with many favourable comments.

I am told that, although Leeds Cathedral would like to livestreram their Sunday Latin Mass, they cannot do so because they only have one person to deal with the technical aspects.  However, we must be grateful that viewers are being introduced to plainsong.  For many people, it could be the thing that leads them to the Latin Mass.

Withermarsh Green, Suffolk

There is an interesting development  concerning the Latin Mass in the hamlet of Withermarsh Green, which is in the south eastern corner of Suffolk.  Bishop Alan Hopes of East Anglia has invited Fr Henry Whisenant to set up a Latin Mass Chaplaincy based at the very small church of Our Lady Immaculate and St Edmund.  The church and presbytery were sold by the diocese more than a decade ago, and are now privately owned.  By good fortune, they were purchased by Catholics, and the church remains a consecrated Catholic Church, albeit little used.

I understand that Fr Whisenant will be saying a Mass there on the Feast of the Assumption (Sat 15th August) and that there will be a weekly Sunday Mass.  No doubt, daily Masses will follow.

This is the first time in England and Wales that a bishop has allocated a diocesan priest to be a Latin Mass Chaplain exclusively to promote the Latin Mass in his diocese.  Fr Whisenant is a relatively young priest and an enthusiast for the Latin Mass, so there is every prospect of the venture being a success.

The church, which is a Grade II Listed Building, is of a fairly basic design, but none the less very attractive.  It remains unaffected by Vatican II innovations, but I understand  lacks many of the items required for the traditional liturgy.  It looks like this inside:

This post taken from a facebook page shows you the outside.

 

 

Over 500 Priests in Traditional Orders

Fourteen priests were ordained have been ordained in various locations for the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter so far this year. Cardinal Burke ordained nine priests for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest on 2nd July.  In addition, the Institute of the Good Shepherd have six new priests.

That is 29 newly ordained priests between the three traditional orders, bringing the total number of serving priests well over 500.

To this total can be added many priests who belong to traditional religious communities including Benedictines (particularly in France), Dominicans and  Redemptorists.

The traditional orders are continuing to grow at a time when the numbers of Diocesan priests are declining throughout the western world.  Gradually, our bishops are coming to recognise that the part that the traditional orders can play within our dioceses.  Currently they are established in five English dioceses.  Maybe it will be the turn of the Diocese of Middlesbrough soon.

Thursday evening Masses in Hull

Fr Massie has confirmed that Low Masses in the Extraordinary Form have resumed at the church of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel in Hull.  They tale place at 7.30pm  on Thursdays in the main church, not the chaplaincy.

On Line Conference Saturday 18th July

Because the Latin Mass Society had to cancel its Annual General Meeting which was to have taken place this coming weekend, an on line conference has been organised to take its place.  Here are the details:

An online conference “Catholicism in a Covid-19 World” will be hosted by the Latin Mass Society this Saturday, 18th July, from 12 noon (GMT + 1) until 4.45 pm (GMT + 1) featuring speakers Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Fr Tim Finigan, Fr John Zuhlsdorf, Dr Joseph Shaw, Archbishop Thomas Gullickson and Mgr Gordon Read. The event will be hosted by Dr Shaw and Sebastian Morello and will begin with Live High Mass in the Traditional Rite from St Mary’s Warrington.

Joseph Shaw writes “I am delighted to be taking part in the Latin Mass Society’s first online conference with a wonderful selection of speakers. I hope that many people will be able to join us on the day.”

This event is being held online for free and can be viewed on the Latin Mass Society’s new YouTube channel. To bookmark the LMS YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxse5AR6hhY6ATQW34vn8w/.

The direct link for the Conference is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WTtjXDjfUM

No registration is necessary, although to sign up for updates before and during the event, go to http://lms.org.uk/civicrm/event/info%3Fid%3D171%26reset%3D1.

A recording of the day will remain on our YouTube channel.

PROGRAMME (Subject to change)

12 noon Introduction from Dr Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society and Sebastian Morello, Formation Adviser for the Archdiocese of Southwark.

12.10pm High Mass Live from St Mary’s Warrington. Celebrant Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP

13.25 Archbishop Gullickson, Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland and Liechtenstein and Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan

13.45 Fr Tim Finigan, Priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark

14.15 Mgr Gordon Read, National Chaplain to the LMS

14.45 Fr John Zuhlsdorf, President of the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison and Blogger: Covid-19 : What are the implications for Tradition?

15.45 Dr Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the LMS: After the Plague

16.15 Live Q & A with Dr Shaw, Fr Tim Finigan and Sebastian Morello

16.45 End

A Quarter of a Million Views

By the end of today, this blog will have been viewed 250,000 times.

Saturday Latin Masses in Middlesbrough

I have had confirmation that the Saturday Latin Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Middlesbrough is NOT being resumed at the present time.

Reopening for Public Worship St Wilfrid's York

St Wilfrid's Church in York (The York Oratory) will be reopening for public worship on Saturday 5th July.  There will be a DAILY Mass in the Extraordinary Form according to the following schedule:

                Monday to Friday   8.15am

                Saturday                  9.15am

                Sunday                    12 noon

All Masses will be Low Masses, because of the ban on singing.  There Masses will also be livestreamed.

There is no mention on St Wilfrid's website of any special arrangements that have to be complied with, so I suppose it is in order just to turn up.  I understand that the church has sufficient capacity (after taking into account social distancing) for the usual Sunday congregation at the Latin Mass.

The Institute of Christ the King in Fundraising Mode

The Institute of Christ the King has launched a campaign to raise £3.5 million for restoration works at St Walburge's Church in Preston.  The proposed works include the renewal and insulation of he roof, and the provision of a new heating system.  A later phase will be the restoration of the Sanctuary.

The Institute has also just launched an appeal for funds to redecorate the interior of the Sacred Heart Church in Limerick.

 

Please visit the websites of these churches to find out how to contribute to these schemes.

Feast of St John Fisher and St Thomas Moore

I am sorry that this is a little late as the Feast of St John Fisher and St Thomas Moore in the traditional calendar was a few days ago on 22nd June.  However in the new calendar it is still to come on 6th July.

I attended the John Fisher School at Purley in Surrey in the late fifties and early sixties.  In fact I was there for 11 years.  When I joined the school the headmaster was Canon Byrne, who had been headmaster since the school's founding, 50 years before.  Canon Byrne had written the school hymn, which was a tribute to John Fisher (John Fisher has not been canonised at the time the hymn was written).  Here are the words.

Sharing Christ’s Priesthood, high honour, dread burden,
Steadfast amid all its manifold cares,
Friend of the poor, of the aged, the dying,
Saint of the Priesthood, give ear to our prayers,
And pray for us now.

Patron of learning, enriching, ennobling,
The home of the scholar, inspirer of youth;
Through thy far vision, athwart the late ages,
The lamp of true wisdom, the torchlight of truth.
Illumine us now.

Counsellor of State, ever tireless in service,
Dauntless defender of faith without stain;
Alone thou didst see and rebuke the first heralds
Of heresy, liberty’s cloak – and its bane:
O counsel us now.

Alone of thy peers thou didst brook the displeasure
Of King and his court, God’s law to proclaim;
Loyal to England and Christ’s earthly vicar.
Death found thee fearless, despising the shame.
O strengthen us now.

Gentle yet stern, like John the beloved,
Aflame with the fire of the Baptist’s zeal;
England’s own Chrysostom, Saint of the Priesthood,
St John of England, before thee we kneel:
O plead for us now.

I am pleased to be able to report that the hymn is still sung at the school now, although less frequently that in my day.  I am also pleased to report that another tradition of the school continues.  That is of producing candidates for the priesthood.  Some well known priests in the traditional world are products of the John Fisher School.  These include Fr Tim Finigan, Fr Sean Finnegan and Fr Mark Higgins.

It is a pity that the hymn has not been taken up more widely by the church.  Canon Byrne certainly had a talent with words and a good appreciation of the character of St John Fisher.  Unfortunately, I cannot reproduce the tune here.  It is an unusual tune for a hymn, mostly being in triple time, with the final line of each verse being quite different.

Church Doors Open - Just a Little

The church doors of the York Oratory were opened very briefly yesterday, the Feast of Corpus Christi, as then following picture shows.

After Benediction, the Blessed Sacrament was taken to the church steps and a blessing given to the City of York.  It is interesting to see that at least three people knelt on the wet ground to receive the Blessing.  Presumably this was a spontaneous reaction of passers by.

In normal circumstances, there would have been a procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of York to mark the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Solemnity of Corpus Christi

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi is on Thursday, 11 June. Our Masses will be live streamed on our YouTube Channel.

9.15am Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form

There will also be Rosary and Benediction at 5.50pn

Corpus Christi

Thursday 11th June is the Feast of Corpus Christi.  There are many opportunities to follow Mass livestream.  The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel in Hull have their Thursday Latin Mass at 7.30pm.  It may be preceded by Benediction.  I like to follow the Mass from the Sacred Heart Church in Limerick, Ireland.  It is at 7pm and can b e found via the Institute of Christ the King's Irish website.

The website of the Latin Mass Society has a long list of livestreamed Masses for those who are looking for a different time of the day.

Priests Showing Interest in the Latin Mass

I was part of an on line meeting of the committee of the Latin Mass Society earlier today.  One of the things that I learned was that there has been a substantial upsurge in the number of priests ordering copies of the Missale Romanum and altar cards from the LMS shop during the of lockdown due to COVID 19.  This is surely evidence that priests are taking the opportunity created by the closure of their churches to study the celebration of Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

It remains to be seen hbow this works out in the long run, but it is surely good news for supporters of the Traditional Mass.

Livestreamed Mass in Hull

I have discovered that Mass in the Extraordinary Form is being livestreamed at 7.30pm on Thursdays from the Church of Our Lady and St Peter Chanel in Hull.  The celebrant is Fr William Massie.

Mass for the Feast of the Ascension

I have just watched the livestream Mass and Benediction for the Feast of the Ascension from the Church of the Sacred Heart in Limerick.  That is the Church belonging to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.  It was superb.  The singing, which I think was provided by Canon  Lebocq and a few nuns was the best that I have ever heard.

I strongly recommend a visit to their you tube channel.  They have a livestreamed Low Mass and a Sung one every day.  Also, the church is very beautiful.

Preference for the Latin Mass

The York Oratory is livestreaming a daily Mass in both the Ordinary Form and the Extraordinary Form.  I noticed that yesterday that the Extraordinary Form had 81 viewings and that the Ordinary Form had 61 viewings.

This would seem to suggest some preference for the Extraordinary Form.

FSSP Seminary at Widratzbad

There is news that the Seminary of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter at Widratzbad in Bavaria is suffering from coronavirus.  All the priests and half of the 90 seminarians are affected.  Everyone is confined to their rooms.  I understand that no one is seriously ill, but it is thought that the virus will eventually affect all the students.

Please remember these good priests and students in your prayers.

Feast of the Annunciation

THIS MASS IS CANCELLED

Wednesday 25th March, being exactly nine months before the Feast of Christmas, is the Feast of the Annunciation.

There will be two opportunities to attend a Sung Mass in the usus antiquior in the Diocese of Middlesbrough on this very great Feast.

As is usually the case on major Feasts, the York Oratory will be offering a Solemn Mass at 6pm.

Fr William Massie will be offering his first old right Missa Cantata at 7.30pm at the Church of Our Lady of Lourds and St Peter Chanel, Cottingham Road, in Hull.

Fr Massie is putting a great deal of effort into learning how to sing a Missa Cantata.  It will also be a new venture for the servers and for the choir, so we must all hope and pray that it goes well.

I would urge anyone living in the Hull area who is free on the evening of the 25th March to  give Fr Massie their support by attending this Mass.

THIS MASS IS CANCELLED

Coronavirus

REVISED AND CORRECTED

The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales have announced that as from Saturday 21st March, all public church services will be suspended, although churches will remain open where possible.

At St Wilfrids in York there will be daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form live streamed on the internet.  The link is given on the St Wilfrid's website.

The timings are:

           Mondays to Fridays              8.15am
           Saturdays & Sundays           9.15am


 

Please also note that the Thursday evening Latin Mass at the Catholic Chaplaincy in Hull is discontinued, and that the proposed Mass for the Annunciation in Hull has been cancelled.

Solemn Vespers at Gateshead

Latin Vespers and Benediction in Gateshead

Submitted by Stephen Moseling on Wed, 26/02/2020 - 11:20

Latin Vespers and Benediction in Gateshead

Solemn Vespers will be sung in St Joseph’s, Gateshead, on the Feast of St Joseph. This will be the first occasion that Solemn Vespers have been sung in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle since the liturgical changes were introduced in the 1960s.

Vespers - sung by the parish men’s Schola and the Westland Singers under the direction of Paul Dewhurst - will include a setting of the Magnificat by Orlando de Lassus, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, with music by Elgar and Perosi.

Officiant: Fr Paul Zielinski. Cantors: Fr Michael Brown and Fr David Phillips.

Thursday 19th March 2020 at 7pm. St Joseph’s Church, High West Street, Gateshead NE8 1LX.

The LMS is delighted to be sponsoring this event. Everyone is most welcome. A poster advertising the event can be downloaded HERE.

Thursday Evening Masses in Hull

This is a a reminder that there is an Extraordinary Form Mass at 7.30pm on Thursday evenings at the Catholic Chaplaincy of Hull University.  It is celebrated by Fr William Massie and currently attracts a congregation of a dozen or more.

I am pleased to report that the proportion of students at this Mass, although a minority, is increasing.  This is further evidence of the popularity of the Traditional Mass among young people.

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday 26th February will be Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.  As usual there will be a Solemn Mass with the blessing of Ashes at 6pm at St Wilfrid's Church in York.

The York Oratory

There will be a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving for the establishment of the York Oratory on Saturday, 22 February at 12 noon, celebrated by Bishop Terence Patrick. Bishop Robert Byrne of Hexham and Newcastle will be the preacher. Our Fr Procurator, Fr Michele Nicolis of the Verona Oratory, will read the Papal Brief and will be accompanied by the Oratorian Fr Visitor, Fr Marco Guillén of the Toronto Oratory.

This Mass will be in the Novus Ordo, but nevertheless it is to celebrate a great achievement, and will be well worth attending.

Priestly Ordinations in Poland

According to a Polish website, more than one in four of the ordinations of diocesan priests occurring in Europe take place in Poland.  The following is an extract from the website.


One in four ordainments of Catholic diocesan priests in Europe takes place in Poland, according to data from the Polish Institute for Catholic Church Statistics.

Around 350 new Catholic priests have been ordained annually in Poland in the last few years, representing 26% of the total number in Europe, which was 1,272 in 2017, the last year for which data are available. The total number of ordainments worldwide in 2017 was 5,800.


These figures relate only to diocesan ordinations.  It may be that the figures for the total number of ordinations would produce a different result.  Nevertheless, these are surprising figures.

Church Bells

St Wilfrid's Church in York, the York Oratory, has a peal of 10 bells that are expertly rung by St Wilfrid's Bellringers before Masses on Sundays, Feast Days and on special occasions.  Although the Church of St Wilfrid was opened in 1864, the bells were not installed in the tower until 1995. 

Recently, an additional bell has been installed in the tower and it was blessed by Bishop Byrne.  The new bell has been given the name "John Henry", but it formerly belonged to Trinity House, and was used to warn shipping of dangerous rocks in the English Channel. 

John Henry will sound the Angelus daily at noon and 6pm.  Unlike the main peal, it will be operated remotely by the press of a button.

John Henry being blessed by Bishop Byrne

Meanwhile, the bell at Shrewsbury Cathedral, originally cast in 1856, but silent for the past 50 years,  is being brought back into use.  It too, will be operated remotely at the press of a button.

Bell being installed at Shrewsbury Cathedral

The Institute of the Good Shepherd

I was interested to read in the latest edition of Mass of Ages that the Institute of the Good Shepherd now have a priest stationed in England.  He is a Frenchman, Fr Xavier Champagne, and is based at Lanherne in Cornwall where he is chaplain to a community of Carmalite nuns.

 Fr Champagne also says a Sunday Mass at the Church of St Edward the Confessor in Plymouth.

The Institute of the Good Shepherd is a Society of Apostolic Life that only celebrates Mass in the Usus Antiquior, and is much like the FSSP and the ICKSP.  They were founded in 2006, much later than the other two, but have grown at an impressive rate.  They now have nearly 40 priests and 30 seminarians, including one Englishman