This is old news, but nevertheless worth repeating. On both Facebook and Twitter, the Vatican published a pole on the subject of Synodality. Not surprisingly, the posts were taken down soon after a consistent trend emerged. Here are the results after 6,908 votes had been cast.
1,600 people who took part in the walking pilgrimage from Oviedo to Covadonga in Spain, I am not sure how this compares with last year, but the extensive video coverage available on the internet would suggest that it is a substantial increase on last year. The pilgrims were arranged in 32 chapters, of which 8 were from outside Spain.
An instruction, originating in Rome, prevented the final Mass from taking place at the basilica in Covadonga, so it was rearranged to take place earlier in the day under a marquee at the campsite. This change did nothing to dampen the spirits of the pilgrims, and, arguably, boosted the number of pilgrims attending.
The Latin Mass Society's pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham is approaching. Those intending to walk the 57 miles from Ely to Walsingham should gather in Ely on the evening of Thursday 22nd August. Those wishing to to make a single day pilgrimage can gather at the Walsingham Shrine for a Mass at 2pm.
Full details and the application form, which must be completed by all walkers, can be found on the Latin Mass Society website, https://lms.org.uk/ Don't leave it too late to book.
The Latin Mass that has been offered at 3pm on Sundays at the church of St Andrew in Teesville is to be discontinued. The last Mass was today, 28th July. The reason is that Fr Sellers has been moved to Whitby. We are very grateful to Fr Sellers for offering this Mass since January 2023.
In its place will be a Mass at the church of St Mary and St Romuald in Yarm. This will take place at 2pm on Sundays, starting on 4th August. It will be offered by Fr David Smith, who used to say Latin Masses at Catterick Garrison.
The Church of St Mary and St Romuald is an interesting one, designed by George Goldie, the architect that designed st Wilfrid's in York. Here is a picture.
We are, of course grateful to Fr Smith for making this provision. We are also grateful to Bishop Drainey, who has made this arrangement to ensure that Latin Masses continue in the northern part of the diocese.
Some months ago, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest started saying a Latin Mass on Sundays and Wednesdays at the church of St Mary in Wigan. This was with the approval of Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, the Archbishop of Liverpool, although he did ask that the Masses should not be publicly advertised.
Despite the lack of publicity, these Masses were very well attended, with a congregation of 90 on Sundays and 40 on Wednesdays.
It has now been announced that the archbishop has instructed that these Masses be discontinued. There is a very short notice about this development on the church's website, but it does not give any explanation.
Yesterday, Sir James McMillan, the Catholic composer started a petition to stop the ban on the traditional Latin Mass. Within 16 hours, the petition had gained 1600 signatures. The petition can be found at Change.org Here is a quick reference.
The Chartres Pilgrimage, that takes place every year over the Feast of Pentecost, has a growing popularity. It is a grueling three day walk from Paris to Chartres that attracts traditional Catholics (mostly young people) from all over the world. This year 18,000 pilgrims took part, which compares with 16,000 in 2023. No doubt there would have been many more had the organisers not found it necessary to limit the numbers for practical and logistical reasons.
The Oviedo to Cavadongo Pilgrimage, which takes place every July, is a Spanish version of the Chartres Pilgrimage. Last year it attracted 3,000 pilgrims, which was a huge increase on the previous year. Reports from the organisers indicate that bookings for 2024 are well up on last year. A few days ago, it became known that the Dicastery for Divine Worship had banned the Solemn Latin Mass in the great Shrine Church in Cavadongo that was to have been the culmination of the pilgrimage.
It does seem that the Vatican authorities are getting a little desperate in their attempts to curtail the use of the Latin Mass. However, all is not lost. The pilgrimage will go ahead with the final Mass offered at a temporary altar set up at the final campsite. After the Mass, the pilgrims will process to the Shrine, where there will sing the Te Deum before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. I have little doubt that the publicity generated by the banning of the final Mass will have the result of boosting the numbers attending, and serving to promote the Latin Mass cause generally. Here is a picture from last year's Cavadongo Pilgrimage.
There will be a Solemn Mass in St Wilfrid's Church (the York Oratory) at 6pm on Thursday 30th May, the Feast of Corpus Christi. It will be followed by a procession bearing the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of York, and then Benediction back in the church This is what tprocession looked like last year.
Please note that the Latin Mass that normally takes place at the Church of Our Lady and St Peter Chanel in Hull on Thursday evenings will NOT take place on Ascension Day. This is because Fr Massie has to say a Novus Ordo Mass at that time.
