Feast of the Assumption

The Feast of the Assumption, Saturday 15th August, will be celebrated at the York Oratory with a High Mass at 12.10pm.

 

Corpus Christi

The York Oratory has given information on its facebook page about Corpus Christi, and clearly intends that its public procession through the streets of York will make a big impression.  The Date given in the poster is Sunday 7th June, which is when Corpus Christi is celebrated in the Novus Ordo.  Bishop Marcus Stock will be leading the procession , which will be departing from St George's Church at 3pm.   It will conclude with Benediction at 4.30pm at the York Oratory. 

No doubt, there will also be celebrations on the Thursday for Traditionally minded folk.

44th Chartres Pilgrimage

The 44th Chartres Pilgrimage will take place from 23rd to 25th May 2026, which is the weekend of Pentecost.  Four adult chapters and one family chapter are being organised for English participants.

Bookings are now open, and early booking is essential for anyone who wants a seat on one of the coaches which both depart from London.  Here is some information.

Coaches from London

This year we will have two coaches leaving London. 

Coach 1: One coach will be leaving Brompton Oratory, London on Friday, 22nd May after the 8am Mass at 8.45am sharp. 

Coach 2: A second coach will depart from a location close to St Mary Magdalen Church in Clapham: 96 North Side, London SW18 2QU. There will be Mass at 8.30am and the coach will aim to leave by 9.15am. Note due to hotel room allocations in Chartres, this coach would be best suited to families (although not exclusively).

Cost

The coach package cost of the pilgrimage is £330 (plus £80 for a single room supplement, subject to availability). Children under 12 are £150. This includes hotel accommodation just outside Paris (B&B) on Friday night and in Chartres on Tuesday night (DBB). Please note all under 18s need to be accompanied by a parent or a responsible older relative. 

The cost for those travelling independently wanting to walk in an English Chapter is £10 (this includes a hymn/prayer booklet (including all of the mass propers) and a contribution towards the cost of receiver/speaker device (to hear the meditations etc. during the pilgrimage).

Please do not delay registering even if you are not intending travelling on the coach as there will be limited spaces available in the chapters and these may close early if we are oversubscribed.

REGISTER NOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S PILGRIMAGE!

Registrations are now open for you via this link: Registration Form. 

You may pay online through the form via card (for a small fee) or by bank transfer if you prefer. Details are in the payment section of the form. Please register with us by 15th March 2026. 

Remember, places on thge coaches are limited, so book early.

Ash Wednesday

 Ash Wednesday, which is a day of fast and abstinence and the beginning of Lent, is on 18th February.  There will be two Latin Masses at the York Oratory, with blessing and imposition of ashes at both.  The usual weekday Low Mass will be at 8.15am and additionally there there will be a Solemn Mass at 6pm. The musical setting will be Palestrina's Exaltabo Te Domine with motets by Byrd and Palestrina.

Candlemas

The Feast of Candlemas is on Monday 2nd February and will be celebrated at the York Oratory with two Latin Masses.  As is the case on every weekday, there will be a Low Mass at 8.15am.  Additionally, at 6pm, there will be the blessing of candles and a procession followed by a Solemn Mass.

The musical setting of the Solemn Mass will be Victoria's Missa quatri toni with motets by Byrd.

Remarkable Development in Charlotte Diocese

Most readers will be aware that Latin Masses in the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina have been drastically reduced by their bishop, who has reduced the number of locations for Sunday Masses from four to one.  By taking this action, the bishop has caused much of the traditional movement within the Catholic Church to focus its attention on the Diocese of Charlotte.

In this context, it is quite remarkable that Pope Leo XIV has extended an Apostolic Blessing to the Society of St. Pius X's chapel in the Charlotte Diocese of North Carolina.  The blessing has been conveyed in an illuminated document which is now on display in the chapel.  Here it is:

 

 The story of how the SSPX came to acquire this chapel has been relayed on the Rorate Caeli website.  Although it is a modest building, it is quite attractive, and seemingly set in spacious grounds.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is on Monday 8th December.  It will be celebrated in style at the York Oratory with the usual Low Mass at 8.15am and a Solemn Mass at 6pm.  

Leading up to the feast, there will be a Novena of prayers.  Details are in the poster below.

Feasts of All Saints and All Souls at the York Oratory

The Feast of All Saints (1st November) falls this year on a Saturday, although in the Novus Ordo, it will be celebrated on the Sunday, thus transferring the Day of Obligation to the Sunday.  There will, nevertheless, be two Masses to celebrate the Feast on Saturday. at the York Oratory

Since the Feast of All Souls (2nd November) falls on a Sunday this year, the celebration of the Feast in the old rite is transferred to the Monday, and there will be a Solemn Requiem in the York Oratory at 6pm. Bishop Eleganti OSB, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Chur in Switzerland, will be preaching.

Details of the Masses, including the musical settings, are given in the poster below.

Masses at Yarm

Fr David Smith has passed on to me some details of additional Masses at the Church of St Mary & St Romuald in Yarm.  Please note the Rorate Mass an d the Christmas Day Mass.

Remembrance Sunday (9th November 2025)

2pm Requiem Mass for the War Dead

2.45pm Benediction

Saturday 20th December 2025

07.30am Rorate Mass of Our Lady in Advent 

08:15am Benediction

Christmas Day 25th December 2025

11am Low Mass

11.45am Benediction

Sunday 28th December 2025

2pm Low Mass

2.45pm Benediction

New Year’s Day 1st January 2026

12noon Low Mass

12.45pm Benediction

Sunday 4th January 2026

2pm  Low Mass

2.45pm  Benediction

Margaret Clitherow Pilgrimage

 The pilgrimage in homour of St Margaret Clitherow and the Martyrs of York took place in York on Bank Holiday Monday.  It was a great success with around 350 people taking part.  There is a short video of part of the procession on the facebook and twitter pages of the York Oratory.

https://x.com/i/status/1960257010940748042