Friday 19th March Feast of St Joseph

 

Friday 19th March is the Feast of St Joseph in this year dedicated to St Joseph.  There will be a Solemn Mass at 6pm on that day at St Wilfrid's Church in York.  The Music will be Byrd's Mass for Three Voices.

In these days of lockdown, there are very few opportunities to hear a polyphonic Mass, so Byrd's three part setting, which is particularly beautiful, is something not to be missed.

There will also be First Vespers followed by Benediction for the Feast of St Joseph at 6pm on Thursday 18th March.  

Institute of Christ the King to Take Over Another Church

The Bishop of Plymouth, Mark O'Toole, has announced that the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is to take over a church in Torquay.  It is the Church of the Holy Angels, a relatively modest sized church that was built in the 1930's and located in a residential area of Chelston.  The existing Parish Priest will be retiring shortly and the parish will be merged with the much larger Church of the Assumption, which is located in another part of Torquay.  Although there will continue to be some provision for Novus Ordo Masses at the Holy Angels Church, The Institute will offer daily Latin Masses, as well as the Office and other devotions.

Unlike the large churches of the ICKSP in Preston and New Brighton, the Holy Angels Church was built to a modest budget and is not a great piece of architecture.  Neither is it a conspicuous building, being in a side street in a residential area.  Nevertheless, the interior is quite attractive, with a Romanesque sanctuary arch flanked by two smaller arches. These are supported on round Classical columns.

Quotation of the Week

 

"There may be traditionalist groups, but we also have them here in the Vatican. That can be cured".

Apparently this is one of the things that Pope Francis said when he addressed representatives of the Catholic News Service.  Referring to traditionalism as a "disruptive factor", he also said:

"A divided church is not the Church, it is not the true Church." 

A Glimpse into the Future

 

Paix Liturgique, the French organisation that campaigns for the traditional Mass has published an interview with Christian Marquant, in which he describes some research that he has conducted into vocations for the traditional priesthood.  

You should go to the website of Paix Liturgique to find the details, but here is a summary of how these vocations are distributed across the world.  The figures relate to the numbers of young men who are taking part in some form of Propaedeutic year or formal preliminary year in preparation for entering a seminary.

United States               57

France                          33

Brazil                           16

Germany                      10

Argentina                       7

England                          6

Portugal                          5

Philippines                      5

Spain                               5

Ireland                             4

Switzerland                      4

Canada                             4

Australia                           4

Poland                               4

Niceragua                          4

Nigeria                               3

Dominican Republic          3

Mexico                               2

Hungary                             2

Italy                                   2

Czech Republic                 2

Gabon                               2

Korea                                2

India                                 2

Columbia                         1

Costa Rica                       1

Cuba                                1

Austria                             1

Belgium                           1

Lebenon                           1

Malta                               1

Rumania                          1

Slavakia                           1

Wales                               1

Angola                             1

Benin                               1

Cameroons                      1

Congo Brazaville            1

Congo Kinshassa            1

Ghana                             1

Kenya                             1

China                             1

New Zealand                 1

Vietnam                        1

Christian Marquant points out that his research is not complete, and may contain some errors.  Also, There is no guarantee that all these candidates will become ordained priests.

Nevertheless, it indicates the geographical spread of interest in the Traditional Mass, even in countries where it is currently not available.

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday 17th February is Ash Wednesday.  There will two Latin Masses at the York Oratory at which Ashes will be distributed.  The first will be a Low Mass at 8.15am, and the second will be a Sung Mass at 6pm.  

In both cases Ashes will be distributed by sprinkling over the heads of those coming forward to the communion rail,  rather than the usual imposition of a cross on the forehead.

Candlemas

Tuesday 2nd February is Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. St Wilfrid's Church in York will be celebrating the feast with the following:

Monday 1st February, eve of Candlemas

There will be First Vespers of Candlemas at 6pm, followed by a procession reinstating Our Lady of York in her shrine in the Lady Chapel.  This will be followed by Benediction.

Tuesday 2nd February

Blessing of candles, procession and Sung Latin Mass at 6pm.

Apologies for the short notice of these events.

Sister Adorers Gain Five New Postulants

 

The Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus have gained five new postulants. The five, who come from the United States, Venezuela, Mexico, Sp[ain and Germany,received the blue cape from the hands of Monsignor Giles Wach, the Prior General of the Order, on the Feast of the Holy Innocents.

Four of the postulants are seen here with Mgr Wach at the Noviciate of the Order in Naples.  Generally, postulants take the habit after a year, and spend three years as novices before becoming fully professed nuns.

The Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus are contemplative nuns who are only partially enclosed.  Their principal work is providing support for the priests of the Institute of Christ the King Supreme Priest. They edo this in many ways including singing at Mass and the Office, making and repairing vestments and teaching in schools.  The Sisters have convents in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the USA and Preston in England.

Masses to Continue During Lockdown

 

I have copied the following from the website of the York Oratory:

During the lockdown, public worship is still permitted. The rules for the national lockdown state,

"You can leave home to attend or visit a place of worship for communal worship."

There will be sung first Vespers for the Epiphany on Tuesday at 6pm

Epiphany Masses: 8.15am (EF Latin), 9.15am at St Joseph's, 12.10pm English Mass, 6pm EF Sung Latin Mass.

Our church will be open for Masses and services only as follows:

Sunday: Mass at 8.30am, 10.30am & 12 noon; Vespers & Benediction at 4pm.

(St Joseph's Saturday evening Mass at 5pm and Sunday morning at 9.30am)

Monday-Friday: EF Latin Mass at 8.15am; Exposition and Confession from 11.30am-12 noon; Mass at 12.10pm.

Saturday: EF Latin Mass at 9.15am; Exposition and Confession from 11.30am-12 noon; Mass at 12.10pm.

Holy Communion is given after Mass.

So opportunities to attend Mass will continue durinfg lockdown.  Please observe the rules and the directions of ushers.

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.