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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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
It has been announced that Fr William Massie will be staying on at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel in Hull. This will allow the Latin Mass at 7.30 on Thursday evenings to continue.
It had been expected that Fr Massie would move to York, but this transfer has been cancelled. It is very good news for supporters of the Latin Mass in Hull.
Friday 15th August is the Feast of the Assumption. There will be Latin Masses at the York Oratory as follows:
8.15am Low Mass
6pm Solemn High Mass
The musical setting of the Solemn High Mass will be Palistrina's Missa Assumpta est Maria. There will also be the motets, Ave maris stella by Grieg and Assumpta est Maria by Byrd.
Please note that there will be no Latin M ass at the Church of Our Lady and St Peter Chanel in Hull on Thursday 31st July.
