Requiem for Jack Conroy

This took place last Monday at St Aelred's Church in York. Fr Raymond Charlton said the Mass perched on the top step. He said it was like being on the north face of the Eiger. Despite this difficulty, caused by the altar having been moved to the front of the footpace, everything went very well. Assisted by Ben Whitworth, Fr Charlton sang the propers.

There was a very good attendance, including many of Jack's relatives and a good number of local parishioners. It is very gratifying that Jack Conroy was able to have his funeral in the ancient form, something that I am sure he very much wanted.

It is perhaps timely to remind all readers that anyone can ask to have a traditional Requiem, and that such a request should be granted. This was agreed by the Bishop's Conference many years ago and the position has been reinforced by the motu proprio. In theory, the person arranging the funeral should simply just have to ask the parish priest for a traditional requiem and it should be arranged. If he is unable to say it himself, he should arrange for another priest who knows the the older form. In practice, there may be difficulties. For example there may be no east facing altar in the church, there may be difficulties finding a priest who knows the old Mass or there may be no server available. These are all matters that usually can be resolved in one way or another. If there are difficulties, contact the Latin Mass Society for advice.

Servers Needed

We desperately need more servers for the Masses we have in the Middlesbrough Diocese. Hopefully, we will soon have many more Masses, but this will not be possible without servers who know the Latin responses and are familiar with the rubrics.

It is proposed to have some training sessions, and, I have in mind 7.00pm on Sundays prior to Compline at St Mary's, Bishophill Junior in York. I would like to propose that the first one is on Sunday 7th October, but this is dependent on having some men (preferably young) who want to learn. Anyone interested should ring Paul Waddington on 01757 638027.

Requiem frr Jack Conroy

There will be a Requiem Mass in the usus antiquior for Jack Conroy, who died recently, at St Aelred's Church, York on Monday 24th September at 2.00pm. Fr Charlton will be the celebrant.

Jack Conroy played a major part in the collecting of signatures for the petition that eventually led to the granting of permission for the monthly Sunday Mass that we now have in York. For thgis we must be very grateful to Jack Conroy.

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Vespers of the BVM at St Mary's Abbey York

The first performance of the Solemn Salve Regina, written for St Mary's Abbey, in nearly 500 years - sung by the Schola Cantorum of the Rudgate Singers.

Celebration Everywhere

On Friday 14th September, the feast of the Exhaultation of the Holy Cross, I had to decide which Mass at attend. I could have gone to Scunthorpe where Fr Cahill offered a Massa Cantata; but decided to go to St Chad's in Manchester for a Solemn High Mass to a Mozart setting. At the end we sang the Te Deum. It was marvellous with a very respectable congregation of about 100.

On Saturday 15th, I drove to Walsingham for the Latin Mass Society's pilgrimage. We said the full rosary as we walked from the village to the Catholic Shrine at the Slipper Chapel. Then there was a Solemn High Mass in the Chapel of Reconsiliation with plainsong setting, Cum Jubilo, followed by another Te Deum.

This evening I shall be going to the Church of the English Martyrs in York, where Fr Hudson will be celebrating a Missa Cantata, followed by the singing of Christus Vincit.

Of course, there have bee celebratory Masses all over the place, most notably at the Brompton Oratory.

Summorum Pontificem Takes Effect...

Te Deum laudámus:
te Dóminum confitémur.
Te ætérnum Patrem,
omnis terra venerátur.
Tibi omnes ángeli,
tibi cæli
et univérsæ potestátes:
tibi chérubim et séraphim
incessábili voce proclámant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,
Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra
maiestátis glóriæ tuæ.
Te gloriósus
apostolòrum chorus,
te prophetárum
laudábilis númerus,
te mártyrum candidátus
laudat exércitus.
Te per orbem terrárum
sancta confitétur Ecclésia,
Patrem imménsæ maiestátis;
venerándum tuum verum
et únicum Fílium;
Sanctum quoque
Paráclitum Spíritum.
Tu rex glóriæ, Christe.
Tu Patris sempitérnus es Filius.
Tu, ad liberándum susceptúrus hóminem,
non horrúisti Virginis úterum.
Tu, devícto mortis acúleo,
aperuísti credéntibus regna cælórum.
Tu ad déxteram Dei sedes,
in glória Patris.
Iudex créderis esse ventúrus.
Te ergo quǽsumus,
tuis fámulis súbveni,
quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.
Ætérna fac cum sanctis tuis
in glória numerári.
Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine,
et bénedic hereditáti tuæ.
Et rege eos, et extólle illos
usque in ætérnum.
Per síngulos dies benedícimus te;
et laudámus nomen tuum
in sǽculum, et in sǽculum sǽculi.
Dignáre, Dómine,
die isto sine peccáto nos custodíre.
Miserére nostri, Dómine, miserére nostri.
Fiat misericórdia tua,
Dómine, super nos,
quemádmodum sperávimus in te.
In te, Dómine, sperávi:
non confúndar in ætérnum.