DIOCESAN DIGEST

Mass of Ages quarterly round-up

ARUNDEL AND BRIGHTON - Anne-Marie Mackie-Savage 01323 411370 amacsav@sky.com arundelbrightonlatinmasssociety.blogspot.co.uk

Over the last few months Masses have continued to be, thankfully, regular and well attended. Pam Talbot has hosted two more days of recollection, Fr Gerard Hatton has been the celebrant, with thirty-five people attending the last one. Fr Bruno Witchalls has continued to travel and generously provide a Mass for us in Seaford, which is greatly appreciated. The transfer of feast days in the NO has also continued to be a blessing; it has been made possible for many of us to assist at the Latin Masses provided on the correct days. Selfishly, I hope the return of some days won't mean fewer Masses!

The Sacred Heart, Caterham, Fr Sean Finnegan's parish, now has the regular 10am Wednesday Mass available online at https://www.churchservices.tv/caterham. Take a look, and invite your family and friends who shake their heads at why you travel miles on a Sunday to take a look.

We still, unfortunately, face many of the same old problems in the Diocese, with scheduled Masses regularly being left off newsletters, the day or time being incorrect, and sudden cancellations by host parishes, which can be exceedingly frustrating. Add to this the resurgence of the back-to-the-70s climate, and it is even more important to support and pray for our priests.

If you would like Latin Masses in your area, please contact me, and we can see what can be done to help.

BIRMINGHAM (Black Country) - Louis Maciel 07392 232225 louis.maciel@gmail.com birmingham-lms-rep.blogspot.co.uk

There were High Masses at the Birmingham Oratory for the Feasts of the Assumption, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, All Saints and All Souls Day, as well as one for the Feast of its founder, Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman, on 9 October, the first time this has been celebrated in the EF. There will be a Pontifical High Mass with Bishop Robert Byrne Cong. Orat. on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in December. If memory serves, this is the third year running the patronal feast of the Oratory has been celebrated with Pontifical High Mass (last year with Archbishop Longley), so this seems to be becoming something of an annual tradition.

The Maryvale Mass in August was, as usual, celebrated in the parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption rather than the Institute chapel due to the holidays, rather aptly given it was a few days before the feast.

The monthly Mass usually on a first Friday at Solihull had to be delayed a couple of weeks in September due to the unavailability of the priest. We are hoping to have a Missa Cantata in December featuring a new chant group that has started in a neighbouring parish to support the able church choir.

The weekly Friday Low Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Wolverhampton continues, with the occasional High Mass/ Missa Cantata, the last of which was in October. Please follow the blog for announcements of future High Masses here.

BIRMINGHAM (North Staffordshire) - Alan Frost 01270 768144 alan.jfrost@btinternet.com north-staffs-lms.blogspot.co.uk

With the departure of Fr Dykes from Wolstanton to Lichfield, we effectively only have one priest offering the Traditional Rite Mass in North Staffs at present. Our continuing thanks to Fr Paul Chavasse of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Swynnerton. Fr Stephen Goodman from Wolverhampton kindly stepped in, as he has in the past a number of times, to offer the EF Mass on 8 Oct.

We would like to offer congratulations to Winefride Scorey, organist and singer at Swynnerton in recent years and sister of several altar servers, as she begins her studies in Medicine at Cambridge University.

BIRMINGHAM (Oxford) - Joseph Shaw 01993 812874 joseph.shaw@philosophy.ox.ac.uk lmschairman.org

With the moving of priests in Birmingham Archdiocese, Fr Paul Lester has moved away from Holy Trinity, Hethe. We are extremely grateful to him for establishing the Traditional Mass in this beautiful church, with a regular Sunday time of 12 noon, sung on the 2nd and 4th Sundays.

I am glad to say that, thanks to the solicitude of Archbishop Longley, this pattern will continue. Fr Anthony Talbot will be moving to Hethe to celebrate the Traditional Mass on Sundays and on other occasions as well. His arrival, however, is dependent on urgent repairs to the Presbytery, and in the meantime the Sunday Masses are being covered by a rota of priests. This situation may continue for much of this quarter, and readers should consult the local website for updates.

At the time of writing we are looking forward to our big annual event in Oxford, the Pilgrimage in honour of Oxford's Catholic martyrs, on Saturday 21 October.

Feast days in Oxford will be covered as usual by the Oratory and SS Gregory & Augustine's: please see the Mass listings. Of particular note is the celebration of the Ember Saturday of Advent, on Saturday 23 December, just over the diocesan boundary in Holy Rood, Abingdon Road (Portsmouth Diocese).

BIRMINGHAM (Worcester) - Margaret Parffrey 01386 750421

Mass in the Tridentine Rite continues steadily. Numbers have increased and we have seen parishioners from Worcester Parish using our Sunday Mass due to the lack of priests in Worcester parish. Numbers vary between 28 and 40.

Missa Cantata continues on 2nd and 4th Sundays. Sung by Scola Gregoriana Malverniensis under Alistair Tocher.

We also have sad news of the departure of Fr Anthony Talbot. Tridentine Mass is homeless, please pray for Fr Anthony and our Mass centre. We are homeless from Christmas. We are eternally grateful for his spiritual guidance and continual care of our souls; this he carried out with liturgical efficiency. We wish him well in his future priestly life.

Our new priest Fr Cornelias at Redditch is making steady progress in the Tridentine Rite assisted by Louis and Steve. Please pray he will continue when he returns to Ghana in December. Thank you Fr for all the graces you bring us. Father Lamb at Kidderminster continues with 1st Sunday of each month at 3pm served faithfully by John Neale. Fr Christopher says Mass Tuesday at 7pm in Evesham. We commend all our Mass centres to Our Lady of Fatima and place all our priests under his protection.

BRENTWOOD - Mark Johnson 020 8555 1795 mark.johnson592@gmail.com

Many members will be aware that Fr Stewart Foster celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood with High Mass on Sunday, 17 September at St Margaret's Covent Chapel. Canon William Young assisted as the Deacon whilst Gary Dench, a seminarian for the Diocese of Brentwood, was the Subdeacon. A congregation of over 100 assisted at the Mass and exquisite music was provided by Cantores Missae, under the direction of Charles Finch. There was a reception afterwards in the convent next door. It was a wonderful occasion and my thanks go to all those that worked so hard. Fr Foster has been a consistent and hard-working supporter of the Traditional Mass in Brentwood and our thanks and congratulations go to him and all those priests of the diocese that work so selflessly for us.

I would remind members that the annual Sung Requiem Mass will take place at St Patrick's Cemetery Chapel at 10am on Saturday, 25 November. Please do all you can to attend and advertise the Mass. The Mass is offered for the repose of the souls of all those at rest in the cemetery.

I would also point out that the Mass on Sunday, 24 December at St Margaret's will be at 2.30pm in the afternoon. There will be NO Mass in the evening on that day or on Christmas Day.

CARDIFF - Andrew Butcher 07905 609770 andrew.butcher@lmscardiff.org.uk lmscardiff.org.uk

I must apologise for missing the last two editions of the Mass of Ages. This is due to my current work schedule. The last quarter has seen a few changes in the Archdiocese. The weekly 6.30pm Mass at Much Birch has now moved to Belmont Abbey, at an earlier time of 4pm. On 27 August we received the sad news of Fr Antony's death. Father has suffered for many years but continued to be a great advocate of the Traditional Mass and a friend who will be greatly missed. A homily given by him can be found on the LMS Cardiff website and his obituary is on page 14 of this edition of Mass of Ages. Requiescant in Pace.

Please continue to pray for our priests and vocations and continue to support the Masses where possible.

CLIFTON - James Belt & Monika Paplaczyk 07890 687453 lmsclifton@gmail.com lmsclifton.blogspot.co.uk

Our annual Glastonbury Pilgrimage was held on Saturday, 9 September, in the Shrine Church of Our Lady, St Mary of Glastonbury. Sung Mass for the External Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lady was celebrated by Fr Philip Thomas, Parish Priest in Wells. The Rupert Bevan Singers provided the music, which included Victoria’s Missa Vidi Speciosam. After Mass, Fr George Roth, of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, gave a talk in the parish hall, and then led us in the Rosary, and Benediction back in the Shrine Church. We would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation of the pilgrimage, especially Kim Woolmer, the Shrine Administrator, for her invaluable help before the Pilgrimage and on the day.

A good contingent of Clifton pilgrims attended the annual LMS walking pilgrimage to Walsingham in August.

The regular monthly Mass at Downside Abbey in August was a Sung Mass. Attendance was very good, with the crypt chapel full. It is hoped that more sung Sunday Masses will take place in the future.

Other regular Masses continue around the Diocese. We are very pleased that Fr Bede Rowe has now started another weekly Sunday Mass, in his new parish of St Mary’s, Glastonbury.

EAST ANGLIA (West) - Gregor and Alisa Dick 01223 322401 igregord@gmail.com alisarkd@gmail.com

Mass at Blackfriars in Cambridge is continuing as usual. We have a large number of families with young children who attend, and we recently had a Dominican Missa Cantata on the first Sunday of October. The addition of a couple of new servers has been a great help to us, and it is hoped now that the Sung Masses will be become more frequent. Further servers and choir members are always welcome.

We have just recently been informed, however, that the chaplain at Fisher House can no longer offer the Old Rite Mass on Saturdays during term time because of an overburdened schedule. We and others from Fisher House are trying to work towards a solution, and would be grateful if any interested parties could please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

The opening Mass of the new Shrine of the English Martyrs in Preston on Sunday, 24 September

LANCASTER - Bob & Jane Latin 01524 412987 lancasterlms@gmail.com latinmasslancaster.blogspot.com John Rogan 01524 858832 john_rogan@yahoo.co.uk

The highlight of this quarter was undoubtedly the opening of the new Shrine to the English Martyrs at the church of St Thomas of Canterbury & the English Martyrs in Preston on Sunday, 24 September, which will now be administered by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Bishop Michael Campbell OSA offered a Pontifical High Mass and Mgr Gilles Wach, Prior General of the Institute, was in choir. The church was packed and the music was glorious. It was a great pleasure and privilege to be present.

The Canons have now arranged their schedule so that EF Masses are said at both St Walburge and English Martyrs through the week; see Mass Listing for details. Please ignore the information given in the Autumn Mass of Ages as this is incorrect.

Following the Institute's chapter meeting in the summer there has been a change of clergy at St Walburge. Canon Poucin has now moved to the Wirral and Canon Tanner has moved from there to St Walburge. Also this summer, the Feast of the Assumption saw the traditional procession head not only around the church but also out into the surrounding streets where residents stood outside their houses to watch it go by.

We were fortunate to have four Masses at Sizergh Castle this year including, at very short notice, one offered by newly-ordained Fr Daniel Etienne. Our apologies to anyone who either didn't hear about it or was unable to come. Fr Etienne is currently based at St John Vianney & St Monica in Blackpool and is in charge of the Mass rota; this allows him to slip in some EF Masses from time to time, although at present these have to be on an ad hoc basis and are not publicised very far in advance. Fr Etienne also offered his First High Mass at St Walburge on Saturday, 7 October.

LIVERPOOL - Jim Pennington 0151 426 0361 pennington893@btinternet.com

Regular Sunday and Holyday EF Masses continue in the parishes of St Catherine Laboure, Farington, offered by the Parish Priest, Fr Simon Henry, and St Mary Magdalen, Penwortham, offered by priests of the Institute of Christ the King based at St Walburge, Preston. And of course, the priests of the Fraternity of St Peter are now well established at St Mary’s, Warrington, and the full programme of Mass and the Sacraments according to the old rite continues.

In September, two of our regular EF celebrants were moved to new parishes – Fr Sean Riley from Holy Cross and St Helen to Christ the King and Our Lady, Childwall, and Fr Ian O’Shea from St Joseph, Anderton to a Wigan parish. Consequently, the occasional EF Masses at Holy Cross, and the Saturday Mass at St Joseph’s will not continue. Unfortunately, the Sunday Mass schedule in Fr O’Shea’s new parish does not permit him to continue offering our Sunday Mass at St Anthony’s.

However, Fr Riley now finds himself able to join the Mass rota at St Anthony’s, and is joined by Fr Matthew Jolley of St Bede’s, Widnes, and Fr Leo Daley of St John the Evangelist, Burscough. Fr John Harris also continues at St Anthony’s, so these Masses continue, offered in turn by diocesan priests and Canons of the Institute of Christ the King at New Brighton.

On Christmas Day last year, we were able to have Mass at St Anthony’s, thanks to the kind offices of Fr John Hemer of Allen Hall, paying a visit to his home city. Fr Hemer will be in Liverpool again this year, so our Christmas Day Mass at St Anthony’s is assured.

We should be most thankful to these busy priests for their continuing dedication to the Mass which we all love, sometimes in the face of less support than one would wish.

I heard this week of the recent death of Fr Michael Gaine, who, for ten years from 1990 to 2000, offered Sunday and Holyday EF Mass at St Mary’s, Highfield Street, Liverpool, having been appointed to do so by Archbishop Warlock. Fr Gaine was always willing and generous, and we have much reason to be grateful to him for making a regular Sunday Mass possible in times when the provision of EF Masses was much rarer than we now enjoy in Liverpool and the neighbouring Dioceses. Please remember his soul in your prayers.

LIVERPOOL (Warrington) - Alan Frost 01270 768144 alan.jfrost@btinternet.com

In only a short period of time, St Mary’s Shrine Church in Warrington has established itself as an important centre for the celebration and promotion of the Traditional Rite Latin Mass. It is served by the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, by appointment of the RC Archdiocese of Liverpool. The Rector is Fr de Malleray and the Assistant is Fr Mawdsley (since July 2016).

Masses are offered every day, as is the opportunity for Confession before Mass. On Sunday, a Sung Mass is celebrated with a very good choir indeed. The range of works accompanying the Mass throughout the year is wide and impressive, and advertised in the weekly bulletin (also on-line).

There are also a number of programmes offered for the promotion of the Catholic Faith and the Latin tradition, including weekly courses in learning Latin and linking it to the Sunday readings at Mass. Young people (18-35) can attend classes for the understanding and proper practice of the Catholic Faith, while young men are invited to attend talks on vocations to the Priesthood. Priests and members of the congregation regularly support Pro-Life events in Warrington. In June there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament right through the middle of the town.

This followed the previous day’s historic Ordinations in the Traditional Rite of two priests of the FSSP. They were ordained by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, the first such Traditional Rite ordinations in this country for over 50 years. The church was packed even though it is of near Cathedral size, and as a consequence requires significant funding and voluntary help for its daily maintenance. Support is invited, particularly through the FSSP quarterly magazine Dowry (free) which Fr de Malleray edits.

MIDDLESBROUGH - Paul Waddington 01757 638027 paul@gooleboathouse.co.uk latinmassmiddlesbrough.blogspot.co.uk

There will be a Solemn Mass to mark the feast of St Charles Borromeo at 12.10pm on Saturday, 4 November in the church of St Charles Borromeo in Hull. This Mass has been arranged to give a Catholic dimension to Hull’s City of Culture celebrations. The celebrant will be Fr Mark Drew and music will be provide by the Rudgate Singers.

Fr Drew has recently moved from Hornsea to Hedon and intends to start celebrating Sunday Masses at the church of St Mary and St Joseph in Hedon. These will be at 5pm on the second Sunday of each month, beginning on 14th January. Hedon is about four miles to the east of Hull, and it’s an attractive little church that dates from 1803, some 27 years before the Catholic Emancipation Act.

Attendance at the midday Sunday Masses offered by the Oratorians in York continues to increase gradually, but the numbers at the Wednesday evening Masses in Hull have been a little disappointing recently.

I am very conscious of the lack of any provision of Latin Masses in the northern part of the diocese, since the ending of Sunday Masses in Redcar. It is difficult for me to be active in that part of the diocese, due to the amount of travelling that would be involved, and because the activities in York, Hull and Hedon keep me fully occupied. Some assistance looking after LMS affairs in the Middlesbrough area would be greatly appreciated. Please do not be shy of volunteering.

NORTHAMPTON (South) - Barbara Kay 01234 340759 mbky3@outlook.com Nick Ross 07951 145240 nick@efmass.co.uk

Great news at Bedford – after two years of weekly Sunday Latin Masses, with the agreement of Bishop Peter Doyle and Parish Priest Fr Patrick Hutton, the FSSP has agreed to send a priest to Bedford every Sunday and on Holydays of Obligation to say Mass from 8 October. Priests from the FSSP have visited us from time to time and the continuity they will bring is a great joy. It will also mean that our current faithful rota of visiting priests will have less travelling to do on a Sunday. It goes without saying that we will miss them and are deeply grateful for their help over the past two years. Thank you Frs Aldritt, Crean, Diaz, Horgan and Jonak, and plenty of others who have helped out on an occasional basis to keep the Mass going.

None of this would have been possible without the openness and hospitality of Fr Patrick and his wife Rita. Their wisdom and experience have made the integration of a Latin Mass into the thriving Bedford parish much easier than it might have been, and they, along with the parishioners attending the English Mass, have made us feel welcome at every moment of our time in Bedford. We look forward to entering this new chapter with them.

We are pleased to report that we were able to have weekly Sunday Mass without a break over the summer, thanks to our regular celebrants and some others who stood in. The summer period also included the Feast of the Assumption, celebrated by Fr Gabriel Diaz, and the Birthday of Our Lady, celebrated by Fr Anton Webb.

Although we number 50 or more on most Sundays, numbers were unsurprisingly slightly down over the summer as people took their holidays. However, Sunday Masses are now reaching their usual numbers again. Our Men’s Group and Women’s Group, which have started since the Latin Mass came to Bedford, are flourishing, and a Legion of Mary Praesidium has just started in the parish.

Further afield, Deacon Peter Hyde from St Francis of Assisi, Shefford reports “The Latin Mass at Shefford is still being celebrated on the 3rd Friday of the month at 7.30 pm. The numbers attending are very low. On a number of occasions there have only been one or two people at Mass. At this time of writing no decision has been made to close this Mass, but it's a decision that will be made if numbers remain low.” He has asked me to mention this in the hope that numbers will pick up and it will be worthwhile continuing.

Looking ahead to 2018, we are pleased to announce that one of our congregation, Chris Norfolk, who has set up the Legion of Mary at Bedford, became engaged to Lucy Crabtree recently. They are planning their wedding in the Latin Rite at Christ the King next February, the first such wedding for very many years. Congratulations and every blessing to them both.

NORTHAMPTON (Northamptonshire) - Paul Beardsmore 01858 434037 pbeardsmore@btinternet.com

The regular Saturday morning Masses continue at St Brendan's in Corby. Fr Byrne also offered Mass on the feast of the Assumption, and a triduum of Masses during the Forty Hours devotion in September.

NOTTINGHAM (Lincolnshire) - Mike Carroll lmslincolnshire.blogspot.com Facebook: Latin Mass in Catholic Lincolnshire

The Latin Mass at Ashby Scunthorpe has now finished. Our priest is on sabbatical for six months, but we have been informed that the Latin Mass will return. We will give you the details in due course.

It is possible for Lincolnshire attendees to go to Latin Masses in Doncaster (third Sundays), York (every Sunday), Hull (first Wednesdays). We have also been informed that there will be a Latin Mass starting shortly in Heddon just across the river which will be once a month. So options are available relatively locally.

NOTTINGHAM (Leicestershire and Rutland) - Paul Beardsmore 01858 434037 pbeardsmore@btinternet.com

The daily Mass at Holy Cross Priory in Leicester is now back on a more even keel; our thanks to the Prior for keeping this going whenever he could over the last six months, and to Fr Matthew Jarvis who is now providing him with much needed support. Sunday Masses continue as usual, as do the Saturday and first Friday Masses at St Peter's in Leicester and the regular Friday Masses in Oakham. Sung Mass was celebrated for the feast of the Assumption at Holy Cross Priory, and also on the patronal feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (also, of course, the tenth anniversary of the implementation of Summorum Pontificum).

NOTTINGHAM - Jeremy Boot 07462 018386 jeremy.boot2@gmail.com

Our Masses in the Nottingham area are continuing apace at The Good Shepherd, Nottingham (Sat before the 2nd Sunday, 4.45pm); Our Lady and St Patrick, the Meadows, Nottingham 2pm (3rd and 4th Sundays). Some Masses are sung, usually the 3rd Sunday’s Mass at Our Lady and St Patrick. There is also a Low Mass monthly at the Cathedral at 6.15pm on the 3rd Wednesday. We hope that with a change of Administrator at the Cathedral, this will not be changed, particularly since the Mass is staffed from our own resources.

Attendances are stable and even improving. It is a joy to see many Polish families at the Our Lady and St Patrick’s Masses and of course they are very welcome. Attendance at the Good Shepherd Masses are also improving at last.

Occasionally, there are moans about venues and times of Masses, but it needs to be understood that we have these Masses because of the generosity of our priests and those with parishes are adding to their own burden. Where we are a guest of a parish, we do not always feel welcome – this applies as much here as elsewhere – but we cannot pick and choose where our Masses are. It is self-delusion to suppose we can. The EF form of the Roman Rite is not treated as equal with the OF and rarely do any resources come our way: notably servers, where we rely on our own faithful and selfless volunteers.

Our thanks to them as well as to singers and organists, but principally to our priests without whom there would be no Masses at all.

PORTSMOUTH (Bournemouth) - Tim Fawkes Tel: 01202 730200 t.fawkes136@btinternet.com

The establishment of the Bournemouth Oratory in Formation took place in May of this year and the arrival of Fr Dominic Jacob means that we have a priest based in the town who is willing to offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form. The area has waited a long time for this and we are grateful.

Low Mass is being offered regularly on the last Monday of each month in the evening, although the timing of this will change to the first Friday of the month at the earlier time of 6pm from December. Additionally, Masses were offered for the Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 14 August and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 8 September.

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on 14 September, was of course the 10th anniversary of the provisions of Summorum Pontificum taking effect and to participate in the offering of a further Low Mass was a fitting way to mark this day and give thanks.

Please refer to the parish newsletter which is viewable at www.bournemouthoratory.org.uk for details of forthcoming masses.

PORTSMOUTH (Isle of Wight) - Peter Clarke 01983 566740 07790 892592 pclarke.wight@tiscali.co.uk

The final Sunday Mass offered by Fr Anthony Glaysher at St Mary’s, Ryde was 3 September. About 60 people were present. Father is now at Aldershot. The Island LMS community wish to thank him for all that he has done here to promote the EF Mass.

We were delighted to welcome Fr Martin Edwards back to Ryde for a Missa Cantata on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, followed by veneration of a Relic of the True Cross.

In his sermon Father reminded us that: “We should give thanks today on this 10th anniversary for the results of Summorum Pontificum. It freed us from the constraints and restrictions that were imposed on the celebration of the EF Mass and it placed an obligation upon bishops to provide this form of the Roman Rite where it was requested. It also emphasised that this Mass was never abrogated.

“Let us also, especially on this day, thank God for the graces that have flowed from Summorum Pontificum. Let us thank him for the ministry of Fr Glaysher here in Ryde for the past nine years.

“Let us thank him for this parish - our parish - the first in England to have three forms of the Mass (Ordinary, Extraordinary and Ordinariate) celebrated. Let us also thank Him for the steady flow of priests who have come forward to learn the EF Mass and provide spiritual nourishment for the laity.”

Fr Edwards returned a week later on the Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. On that occasion he invited us both to read and to listen to the word of God as related by the four evangelists, so that we will be inspired to a greater awareness of the gospel message.

With Fr Glaysher’s departure, the Fraternity of St Peter came to our assistance and offered us a Day of Recollection on 17 October at St Mary’s, Ryde on the theme: “Our Lady, Fatima and the Rosary”, which was led by Fr Matthew Goddard FSSP, thus marking the centenary of the final apparition of Our Lady.

As mentioned in the last Mass of Ages, we are most grateful to Fr Jonathan Revers Harris of the Ordinariate, who is also parish priest at Cowes / East Cowes. Father is learning the EF Mass, which he has agreed to offer on a monthly basis initially. This allows for the EF Mass to continue here on the Island, although greatly reduced.

We would be pleased to hear from any priest who wishes to visit our beautiful Island to offer the Mass for us. Accommodation and expenses will be covered.

For those coming from the mainland please telephone me first to confirm Masses: 01983 566740 or 07790 892592.

Fr Harry Heijveld at Sacred Heart reading the Gospel at Sacred Heart, South Street, Exeter

PLYMOUTH (Devon) - Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 mq018q1057@blueyonder.co.uk

I am happy to report that numbers attending the Old Rite Mass in the county have been pleasing throughout the summer months. At the regular Sunday morning 11.30am Sung Mass at St Edward the Confessor, Plymouth, the congregation varies between 25 – 50 people, attracting families from around the city and other areas. The young boys in training on the altar – Samuel (9), Alejandro (8), and Oliver (7) - are serving with reverence and dignity, and quite clearly love doing so. It is also pleasing to see that new vestments are making an appearance at St Edward’s, so that very soon all feasts and seasons will be catered for. Since starting this regular Sunday Missa Cantata last January, Fr Tony Pillari and many of the regulars have worked hard in making it the success that it quite clearly is. Well done everyone!

At St Mary’s Abbey, Buckfastleigh, the regular monthly Wednesday morning Mass has remained popular with everybody and still attracts visitors. Fr Guy de Gaynesford, who has been regularly celebrating this Mass all year, now alternately shares the responsibility with Fr Tom Reagan OSB., who has re-joined us after his stint looking after a parish in Dorset. Please note that on 15 November Fr Tom will be celebrating a Sung Requiem here at Buckfast, so do please check the Mass Listings if you wish to attend (there is also a notice of Vetus Ordo celebrations in the porch of the abbey).

Our regular monthly Vetus Ordo Mass at St Cyprian’s, Ugbrooke House, celebrated by Fr Guy de Gaynesford, has been attracting about 25 people on average, some of whom stayed for tea afterwards in the orangery, which has been open for the summer. With some of our regulars away on holiday at various times, the summer visitors have helped to boost the numbers attending; it was a special joy to see families on holiday with children in the congregation. Unfortunately, though, holidays naturally led to a depletion in the serving team and the choir, and as a result at least one celebration had to be changed from a Sung to a Low Mass. The good news is that from now on we are back to normal at this very special and historic Mass venue. If you intend travelling to St Cyprian’s for one of our Old Rite celebrations do take note that there will not be one in December, although the other months will not be affected. As always, do check the Mass Listings or contact me by phone or email for more information.

As elsewhere, the numbers attending the Traditional Latin Mass at Blessed Sacrament in Exeter has been in the 25-30 range, again attracting holiday visitors and students alike. We have to thank Fr Harry Heijveld and Mgr Adrian Toffolo for celebrating Mass for us at this venue over the summer months. One big change that happens every year at Blessed Sacrament that you need to take note of is that the Traditional Rite Mass in December will be brought forward from the third Sunday to the second Sunday. This is because the annual parish Carol Service is always held on the third Sunday of December, being an important and well attended event for the parish.

In Devon, due to the hard work of many priests and people, the Traditional Rite Latin Mass is gaining in popularity to the extent that we are looking for other venues for our celebrations. This can only benefit the wider church, but it does mean that we need more men/boys charitable enough to offer themselves for training as altar servers, especially (but not exclusively) in the Exeter area. If you would like to train as an altar server contact me after Mass or by phone or email for more details.

PLYMOUTH (Dorset) - Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 Mq018q1057@blueyonder.co.uk

Once again it was a great pleasure for me to attend the Extraordinary Form Latin Mass on Thursday, 10 August (St Lawrence) at Our Lady’s, in the delightful village of Marnhull. The Mass, celebrated by Fr Martin Budge, was reasonably well attended, and the little gathering in the church rooms for lunch afterwards gave everyone present a chance to socialise. Unfortunately, I was unable to be present at Marnhull for Fr Martin’s October Latin Mass due to other commitments, but I hope to be present at future celebrations (the photo shows Fr Martin during the Agnus Dei at Our Lady’s on Corpus Christi). At the present time, since the recent departure of Fr Tom Reagan OSB from Blandford Forum, Fr Martin’s two monthly celebration of the Vetus Ordo is the only one in Dorset. However, Fr Tom’s replacement at Blandford Forum – Mgr Francis Jamieson – is fully conversant with Mass in the Extraordinary Form, having celebrated it at Spanish Place, London, from whence he came. It may be possible to celebrate the EF Mass at Blandford at some point in the future, and if this is the case please do give your wholesale support. There may be other priests in Dorset interested in learning to celebrate this beautiful, dignified and reverent pre-Vatican II Mass. If this is the case, please do not hesitate in contacting me for more information and LMS support.

Fr Martin at the Agnus Dei on Corpus Christi at Our Lady’s, Marnhull

SHREWSBURY (Chester) - Andrew Nielsen Andrew Nielsen 01352 713633

Last March the long running third Sunday monthly Mass at St Thomas Becket, Tarporley, Cheshire was discontinued due to Fr Joseph Carney, the Parish Priest, not being in the best of health. Since then third Sunday monthly Masses are being said at St Clare's in Lache on the outskirts of Chester.

The Institute of Christ the King have kindly agreed to celebrate the Masses on an on-going basis, ending problems in finding priests to regularly say Mass. Congregation numbers are not large, but starting in October, the parish choir, complete with ex-Brompton Oratory organist, will be singing at the Traditional Latin Mass. With this in mind, future Masses will be Missa Cantata instead of Low Mass.

SOUTHWARK (St Bede’s Clapham Park) - Thomas Windsor 020 8654 9352 thomaswindsor@mac.com

The summer is usually a quiet time but here at St Bede’s our Sunday Sung Masses continue in July and August. We also had an extra weekday Sung Mass for the Feast of the Assumption. I would like to Thank Fr Southwell for spending the summer with us celebrating our daily Mass while our usual priests have been on a much deserved Holiday.

Fr Michael Rowe has also been visiting us celebrating Sung Masses for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Michaelmass, and St Bruno. We also have had the Abbot of Clear Creek visiting, and he celebrated a Pontifical High Mass on the Feast of St Wenceslaus.

On Sunday 24th we had a High Mass, and shared much to say goodbye to Fr Pawel, one of our Polish visiting priests. We are grateful to him for learning to say the Traditional Mass while he has been with us. He has now moved down to help the Polish community in Maidstone, and hopefully will be able to help out with Traditional Masses in that area. Another Polish Priest, Fr Gregory Klaja, made a return visit to us having learned to say the Traditional Mass at St Bede’s a few years ago. This gave us the opportunity to have another High Mass. Once again we would like to thank Fr Rowe in doing so much of the organising for two High Masses and the Pontifical High Mass; he returned to Perth on the 11 October.

SOUTHWARK (Kent) - Marygold Turner 01580 291372

Our main event recently has been the Missa Cantata at the pre-Reformation church at Snave on the Marsh. Mgr Conlon celebrated and gave a most erudite and interesting sermon, he is a very fine historian. The augmented Victoria Consort sang Luis de Victoria, which was a joy, especially as the church has good acoustics. This was our third annual Mass at Snave, and the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust have invited us to come again next year, which we will do with pleasure. We had drinks and sandwiches after the Mass, which was very well attended by over 70 people.

All our Masses are continuing, including the Immaculate Conception and the Epiphany. Fr Neil Brett very kindly said Mass for us on the Assumption of Our Lady - we much appreciate his annual visit!

On a less positive note, Fr Michael Woodgate feels (rightly) that he cannot say Mass on Christmas Day, as before, with all his many commitments, but there will be Mass at Headcorn (12 noon) on Christmas Eve.

SOUTHWARK (Thanet) - Antonia Robinson

The Traditional Latin Mass continues to thrive in Thanet with strong and growing congregations in both Margate and Ramsgate. Margate has seen the addition of several families over the summer, including one who had visited and having liked the parish and the Traditional Mass so much they decided to move to the area!

The scholas in both parishes continue to increase their repertoire, and both parishes are encouraging a community to grow with tea and coffee after the Sunday Mass. The feast of St Philomena (11 August) was celebrated at St Austin and St Gregory, Margate with music provided by Cantabo Domino. Pugin Week (7-14 September) in Ramsgate was very successful with a full calendar of talks, concerts, exhibitions and liturgical events, including a Requiem Mass for Pugin and his family in the Pugin Chantry Chapel above his tomb at St Augustine’s. The new sanctuary arrangement at St Augustine’s has been received enthusiastically by both visitors and parishioners alike, and by the time this is published, the new reliquary for the shrine will have been blessed by Cardinal Burke on a visit specially for the occasion on 14 October. For more on St Augustine’s see pages 42-45.

SOUTHWARK (Wandsworth) - Julia Ashenden julia.ashenden@gmail.com

The Mass of Ages continues to be celebrated by Fr Martin Edwards at St Mary Magdalen's Church at 11am every Sunday (unless he is away).

Indeed, it has been ever thus since Fr Martin's arrival in the parish in 1997, so this year, on 3 September, we celebrated twenty years of Usus Antiquor.

The Sunday Mass is a Low Mass but once a month we have a Missa Cantata with a professional choir who have sung Masses by Mozart, Haydn and Rheinberger as well as Gregorian Chant.

There are now drinks served after this Mass and all visitors are most welcome.

Our Patronal Festival on 22 July was joyfully celebrated with Mozart's Coronation Mass, sung by David Guest's choir. It was well-attended, as was the barbecue which followed.

Fr Martin's MC, Matthew McInally, who has served at the 11am Mass since he was very young, has just gone to Durham University this term and we shall all miss his quiet and beautiful way of serving Mass – Fr Martin most of all.

WESTMINSTER (Spanish Place) - Roger Wemyss Brooks

Finding priests to say our Old Rite Holy Mass each Sunday is often a difficult task. Many priests who are able to say this Rite have parochial commitments elsewhere.

Our regular Old Rite Chaplain, Fr Michael Cullinan, has important duties teaching and examining students of Maryvale Institute International Catholic College in Birmingham Diocese and there are occasions when he is not available for us. Mgr Francis Jamieson who lived in the Rectory here has now moved to Plymouth Diocese and Fr David Irwin, still very much with us, has not been enjoying good health.

Recent Masses have been supplied by Fr John Hemer from Allen Hall seminary, Fr Gabriel Diaz-Patri of Argentina, Fr Gerard Hatton from Eastbourne, Fr Mark Elliott-Smith of the Ordinariate at Warwick Street, Fr Michael Rowe from Perth, Western Australia, Fr Gregory Morgan also from Australia, in Sydney and not forgetting dear Fr Patrick Hayward, a long-serving friend here and elsewhere in the Archdiocese.

We should pray in thanksgiving for these holy men from far and wide who bring us this precious Rite. I pay tribute to their readiness to help us, often at considerable personal cost and for their care in offering the immemorial Mass of Ages. Please also contribute generously to the 9.30am Mass collection which helps the parish with necessary expenses.