DIOCESAN DIGEST

Mass of Ages quarterly round-up

Arundel & Brighton - Annie-Marie Mackie-Savage 01323 411370 aandb@lms.org.uk

Regular Masses are continuing on each Sunday in A&B for the foreseeable future, supplemented by occasional Sung Masses, thanks to Tom Hagger and the Seaford Schola. We are also lucky to have extra Low Masses when possible. We have been especially grateful to Fr Thomas Mason from the Ordinariate who is very happy to say the Latin Mass, with a regular Tuesday morning Mass, as well as a fourth Sunday at Christ the King, Eastbourne. It was awful to learn of Fr Gerard Hatton’s terrible illness, and we thank God that his recovery has been so miraculously fast. Thanks to everyone who supports the Masses in the Diocese, and the priests who give their time to make them possible. All regular Masses are listed on the blog sidebar, news, cancellations, and extras can be found as separate posts.

Birmingham & Black Country - Louis Maciel 0739 223 2225 birmingham@lms.org.uk http://birmingham-lms-rep.blogspot.co.uk/

For the first time since the reforms, an Easter Triduum in the region was celebrated in the Extraordinary Form at the Birmingham Oratory. Summorum Pontificum does not apply to the Triduum, but it took place with the blessing of the Archbishop.

Ash Wednesday, the Feast of St Joseph, and the Annunciation all had a High Mass at the Oratory and a Low Mass at St Mary-on-the-Hill in Wednesbury, with several other ad-hoc Low Masses celebrated at the latter in addition to the regular third Sunday Low Mass.

I am pleased to say the discontinued first Friday Mass at St Augustine’s in Solihull has been replaced in the same deanery at Sacred Heart and All Souls in Acocks Green, which moved its short-lived fourth Friday Mass to a more traditional monthly date.

There was a very good turnout for the High Mass celebrated on the Feast of the Chair of St Peter in Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Wolverhampton, with another High Mass celebrated on Easter Friday.

The second Wednesday Mass at Maryvale in February was said for the repose of a soul whose friends and colleagues turned out in large numbers, leading to a record attendance. Despite being from the charismatic tradition, they naturally (without being told) took communion kneeling and on the tongue, showing that the Mass of Ages has an appeal beyond stereotypical supporters.

Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form will take place at the Birmingham Oratory at 7pm on Monday 15th July, to be administered by Bishop McGough. Please contact parishpriest@birminghamoratory.org.uk before the end of May if you would like to register yourself or your child for confirmation.

Birmingham (Little Malvern) - Alastair J Tocher 01684 893332 malvern@lms.org.uk extraordinarymalvern.uk Facebook: Extraordinary Malvern

Sung Sunday Mass at St Wulstan’s continues twice monthly and, although attendance has declined since the surge towards the end of last year, it is nevertheless still higher than last year’s average and includes several very welcome new faces.

The Schola Gregoriana Malverniensis, in addition to providing music for us locally was invited by Canon Scott Smith to sing Mass on the Feast of the Purification at the new ICKSP mission at St Winefride’s, Shrewsbury. Four singers sang a mixture of chant and polyphony and the Procession and Mass were well attended. The Schola has subsequently been invited back to Shrewsbury to sing the Solemn Liturgy in the pre-1955 form on Good Friday and has also been invited to sing for the LMS Annual Pilgrimage to Holywell on Sunday 7 July.

Two of our singers attended the recent LMS Chant Weekend at the Oratory School near Reading, expertly led this year by Fr Guy Nichols CO and Dominic Bevan. It was a delight to sing not only daily Mass, but also Vespers and especially Compline: a beautiful way to end the day.

This quarter also saw the first enrolment of one of our servers in the newly re-launched Society of St Tarcisius. It is hoped that our other servers might be enrolled soon.

Lastly our thanks as ever to Dom Jonathan Rollinson OSB for his faithful support and to Fr George Grynowski for celebrating Mass for us on Sexagesima. Also, to our servers and singers for their invaluable contribution.

Birmingham (North Staffordshire) - Alan Frost

A Missa Cantata was offered at the Third Sunday Mass of Lent at Our Lady’s, Swynnerton, by Fr Stephen Goodman from Wolverhampton. He kindly stood in (as he has done on several occasions) for Fr Paul Chavasse who had travelled up to the North East for the enthronement of Bishop Byrne at Newcastle Cathedral on the Feast of the Annunciation. Long standing friends, the new Bishop and Fr Paul were novices together, and received the Oratorian habit together on the Feast of St Bruno in 1980 at the Birmingham Oratory. Bishop Byrne was previously Auxiliary Bishop in the Birmingham Archdiocese.

Fr Chavasse will be offering the Traditional Rite Mass for the Feast of Ss Peter & Paul (29 June) at Swynnerton at 10 am. During March he organised a Novena for the promotion of the canonisation of Bd Dominic Barberi, who brought J. H. Newman into the Catholic Church. Fr Chavasse is an authority on Cardinal Newman.

Fr Goodman and altar boys – all brothers

© Alan Frost

Birmingham (Oxford) - Joseph Shaw oxford@lms.org.uk

This last quarter we had our annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Caversham, in the outskirts of Reading. I should like to thank the Shrine custodian, Mgr Patrick Daly, Fr Seth Phipps FSSP, who stepped in at short notice to celebrate the Mass due to the indisposition of another priest; Adrian Taylor, who travelled all the way from South London to lead the chant schola; and Alexandra Lloyd, who led the Newman Consort in singing some lovely early polyphony, namely Obrecht’s motet, Parce Domine. And not to forget Lucy Shaw, who provided pilgrims with an excellent lunch.

Over the diocesan boundary I was able to facilitate another of the occasional Masses in English Martyrs, Didcot, on this occasion for St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary; it is good to see numbers at these Masses creeping up.

Back in Birmingham Archdiocese, we had the first of what are now quarterly Sung Masses at Holy Trinity, Hethe, with thanks to the Parish Priest, Canon John Batthula, our celebrant, Fr Aldo Tapparo, our cantor, Jeremy White, and our MC, Thomas O’Sullivan.

We also marked many feast days and third Sundays with Sung Masses at SS Gregory & Augustine’s in Oxford, thanks to the generosity of Fr John Saward.

The quarter to come will see a similar pattern. There will be a Mass in Holy Trinity, Hethe, on Whitsun (Pentecost: 9 June), at 12 noon; a Mass in Didcot for the Annunciation (2 July, 7:30pm); and a Sung or High Mass in Holy Rood, Abingdon Road, Oxford, for the Ember Saturday of Pentecost (15 June).

Regular Masses for feast days in SS Gregory & Augustine continue, and Low Masses on many of these days and also Sundays in the Oxford Oratory. Particularly worth mention is the High Mass and procession planned for Corpus Christi (20 June) at the Oratory.

At the time of writing I have yet to confirm some events, so please consult the local website and look out for local mailings.

Mass at the Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Caversham © Joseph Shaw

Report from the Society of St Tarcisius

Following its re-launch in the New Year, the Society of St Tarcisius has been very active.

Part of the re-launch was the delivery of die-cast medals, featuring a design taken from a fine black High Mass set recently purchased by the Latin Mass Society in memory of a deceased benefactor, John Arnell, comprising the monogram IHS within a crown of thorns and quatrefoil.

Servers whose level of expertise has been established can now be enrolled into the Society by a priest, with the traditional ceremony used by the Confraternity of St Stephen, substituting the name of St Tarcisius for that of St Stephen, and invested with the medal. The colour of the cord of the medal indicates the level of expertise.

We have now had two training days in St Mary Moorfields in London, with enrolments, and we had another enrolment ceremony at the St Catherine’s Trust Family Retreat. This brings the total number of enrolled members to 28, with members at each of the five ranks. I am myself on the lowest rank, that of Junior Acolyte, which means I can serve Low Mass and be Torchbearer at Sung Masses; to simplify, the next rank up, Senior Acolyte, implies mastery of the role of Thurifer, a ‘Junior MC’ can MC Sung Mass, a ‘Senior MC’ High Mass, and a ‘Grand MC’ Pontifical Masses, Holy Week services, and the other sacraments.

The training days have been very successful, with a whole serving team, from St Anne Line, South Woodford, accompanied by Fr Neil Brett, as well as individuals from Oxford, Bristol, and London, wishing to learn various roles. I am particularly grateful to Jonathan Hague, Oliver McCarthy, and Dominic Auty, for their dedication as trainers.

The next dates are 11 May (in Our Lady of the Assumption, Warwick Street, and 14 October and 16 November in St Mary Moorfields.

It was very pleasing to see serving teams made up of members of the Society of St Tarcisius, with their medals, at the LMS Pilgrimage to Caversham and at the final Mass of the St Catherine’s Trust Family Retreat. The next step is to have training days outside London: I should like to hear from Local Representatives and priests who would like to arrange these.

More information about the Society can be found at www. tarcisius.org; the contact email address is tarcisius@lms.org. uk. Joseph Shaw, National Coordinator

Birmingham (Worcester) - Margaret Parffrey 01386 750421

Apologies for the lack of reports from Worcester owing to email issues.

Firstly, we welcome our newly ordained priest, Fr Jason Maloney, to the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Redditch. He will now say Mass in the Tridentine Rite on 1st Friday of the month at 6pm. This is a new date, but for all 1st Friday devotees of the Sacred Heart a welcome change. Also, opportunity for 1st Saturday Fatima people to complete Our Lady’s requests for conversion of Russia. For details of Our Lady of Fatima & 1st Saturday devotions, please ring my number above for details.

Fr Maloney arrived last year and is a welcome relief to the problem of finding priests to say Tridentine Masses. Please remember him in your prayers. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Redditch: Fr Maloney says Tridentine Rite Mass 1st Friday at 6pm commence 7th June 2019. Kidderminster: Fr Lamb says Tridentine Rite Mass on 1st Sunday at 3pm. Evesham: Fr Christopher says Tridentine Rite Mass every Tuesday at 7pm.

Please keep all these priests in your prayers.

Clifton - James Belt & Monika Paplaczyk 07890 687453 clifton@lms.org.uk lmsclifton.blogspot.co.uk

Following the highly successful Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in December, the regular Sunday Mass at Bristol University Catholic Chaplaincy was sung for the first time on 31 March, Laetare Sunday. This was once more very well attended. It is hoped that Sung Masses will be celebrated more regularly at the Chaplaincy, with the next planned for May. Further details will be published nearer the time.

Fr Seth Phipps, FSSP, who was ordained to the Priesthood last June in Warrington, will be returning to his home diocese of Clifton in May. He will celebrate a High Mass of Requiem at Prinknash Abbey, at 10:30am on Saturday 25 May. All are welcome.

The regular Sunday Masses at the Chaplaincy continue to be well-attended, by students, university staff and others. The other regular Masses also continue to be offered around the Diocese. Thanks to all the priests and laypeople who make this possible.

East Anglia (West) - Gregor and Alisa Dick 01223 322401

The usual Sunday Mass schedule continues in Cambridge and, as last year, there will also be Mass on Ascension Thursday at Blackfriars at 9:15am

As always, volunteers to serve or sing will be received gratefully.

Hexham & Newcastle - Keith McAllister 01325 308968 07966 235329 k_mcallister@ymail.com

Principal Mass provision continues as previously, with Lent seeing a strong start, having Low Masses for Ash Wednesday at Gateshead ( Fr Michael Brown), Thornley (Fr Paul Tully) and Coxhoe (Fr Shaun Swales).

Following the retirement of Bishop Cunningham, we welcomed the installation of Bishop Robert Byrne, 14th prelate of Hexham & Newcastle, at St Mary’s Cathedral on March 25, the great feast of the solemnity of the Annunciation.

The major Latin component of the installation ceremony was indeed uplifting, with Ecce Sacerdos Magnus (Elgar), Gloria & Credo sung in Latin by the excellent Cathedral choir. This, followed by the Dixit Maria at Angelum for the offertory (H.L Hassler) and then Agnus Dei – Ave verum (Byrd).

Strong adhesion to tradition was highlighted with Bishop Robert wearing the C13th ring of St Cuthbert, recovered from the Saint’s incorrupt corpse and also his vesting with an early C15 cope, most appropriately carrying an image of the Annunciation.

We can have great confidence in our new bishop’s approach to this fresh apostolate, given his broad experience and solid formation within the Oratorian community in the Midland counties.

The diocesan summary highlights the scale of our new Shepherd’s task, noting a population of 2.32m souls in 3195 sq miles, embracing c.167000 Catholics within 146 parishes! Ad multos annos!

We were privileged to have a patronal High Mass at Gateshead on the feast of St Joseph, March 19, thanks to Fr Michael Brown with Fr David Phillips as Deacon and Fr Martin Wheaton, Subdeacon. The Westland Singers directed by Paul Dewhirst performed a Mass setting by Henri Nibelle, plus Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Lancaster - Bob & Jane Latin 01524 412987 lancaster@lms.org.uk latinmasslancaster.blogspot.com John Rogan 01524 858832 lancasterassistant@lms.org.uk

By the time this edition goes to press we will have had our first Mass of the year at Sizergh Castle which, deo volente, Canon John Watson will have kindly travelled from Workington to offer for us. The next scheduled Mass will be on Friday 14 June at 7 pm, but this is dependent on priest availability, so please check the website or phone us before travelling.

A Traditional Latin Mass was sung at Lanercost Priory near Brampton in Cumbria on Saturday 23 March, with the kind permission of the Anglican authorities and Bishop Paul Swarbrick. The celebrant was Canon Scott Tanner, ICKSP from St Walburge's in Preston, with Charles Jordan as MC and Nicholas and George Steven serving as acolytes. This was a very beautiful Missa Cantata with the Brampton Consort (leader Simon Mortimer) singing the Byrd Four Part Mass and the propers sung by a local Schola (leader Andrew Plasom-Scott). The Schola also sang Parson's Ave Maria at the Offertory and Byrd's Ave Verum and Tallis's O Sacrum Convivium as Communion motets.

Lanercost Priory was an Augustinian foundation from 1169, dissolved in 1538 and subsequently ruined but the nave of the former Priory Church, re-roofed in 1747, was the setting for this beautiful Missa Cantata, probably the first Traditional Latin Mass since the Reformation. Mass was offered for the living and deceased members of the Steven family (on the occasion of Lucy Steven's 25th, Edward Steven's 26th, William Steven's 30th and Nicholas Steven's 70th birthdays).

Thank you to Jonathan Steven for this report.

Liverpool (Warrington) - Alan Frost 01270 768144

The life of St Mary’s Priory Shrine seems to get busier as groups and activities grow. There are young families and young adults’ groups with members going on the forthcoming annual Pilgrimage (7 – 11 June) to Chartres. There are regular activities for teenagers and children with summer camps taking place in August. Concerning social issues, a pro-life group meets each month and there is also a meeting each month for anyone suffering addiction to drugs or alcohol (a confidential phone contact is available).

Mass and Confession continue to be offered everyday, with the Mass televised live on the Internet (www.livemass. org). The Mass on March 30 was part of a whole Day of Lenten Recollection led by Rector, Fr de Malleray, FSSP, who will be giving a Lenten Retreat for clergy at Douai Abbey, 13 -17 May. The Summer issue of the FSSP quarterly ‘Dowry’, edited by the Rector, will be available in June. The following month, on Thursday, July 4, there will be Confirmations in the Traditional Rite in a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon O.P. Candidates from other dioceses are welcome to be confirmed at this Mass (contact Fr Lowenstein at padrek@libero.it).

There was a bit of a hitch in the Priory Campaign to purchase nearby property to provide the Shrine with necessary additional building space, but the news is now good. The purchase of Priory Court has been agreed (two Units to be paid now and the third Unit within a year, subject to further fund-raising).

Northampton North (Northamptonshire) - Paul Beardsmore northampton@lms.org.uk

Fr Byrne continues to offer Mass every Saturday at St Brendan's, Corby. There was an additional Low Mass at St Brendan's on Easter Sunday.

Northampton (South) - Barbara Kay mbky3@outlook.com 01234 340759

All good things must come to an end and so it is that my former fellow Rep, Nick Ross, moved with his wife Kerrie to Nottinghamshire on 7 March. He served for the last time on Ash Wednesday, the evening before the day of the move, and was thanked by Fr Matthew Goddard, FSSP for his work as both Diocesan Rep and that of MC at our Sung Masses. Nick went out on a high, in that the Mass on Ash Wednesday was attended by some 120 people, the most we have had at Bedford to date. Nick hopes that this Mass will not be his last, as he hopes to visit Bedford from time to time and has kindly offered to help out with the serving if needed. Meanwhile he has been enlisted as Rep for Hallam, where he will work to build up the Latin Mass in that part of the country.

Another good thing which has come to an end in the last few months is the monthly Friday evening Mass at Shefford. We are grateful to Canon Bennie Noonan for celebrating this Mass over the years. Apart from Bedford, the other remaining Mass in Northampton South is at Chesham Bois every Sunday at 8 am.

We are grateful to the FSSP based at Reading for providing celebrants both at Chesham and at Bedford each Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, the latter of which there are, of course, several this summer.

Sunday Masses at Bedford continue with around 80 – 90 people each week. The first Sunday in the month is usually a Sung Mass with the schola. On the third Sunday of the month and normally one other, Matthew Schellhorn, our Director of Music, plays and sings at the Mass. In Lent, apart from Laetare Sunday, he has been singing unaccompanied in the sanctuary.

Our series of First Sunday Family Catechism Days at Christ the King, Bedford are being well attended, with sessions for the under 8s, under 16s and adults, led by Fr Patrick O’Donohue, FSSP. Fr O’Donohue is giving some fascinating talks to the adults about the background to the various parts of the Mass and the significance of what happens in the sanctuary.

Regina Caeli, the new Bedfordshire-based homeschooling academy, held an Open Day on 13 April with opportunity to enrol for the autumn term, when the Academy opens its doors for the first time. Full details can be found at https://www.rcahybrid.org.uk/.

Following the success of last year’s Mass of Reparation, we are starting to plan for a second visit from the Latin Mass Society to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Church of the Holy Child and St Joseph, Bedford, probably in November.

For details of all our activities, as always please see our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ bedfordlatinmass/

Nottingham - Jeremy Boot Nottingham@lms.org.uk 07462-018386

I am very pleased to report a considerable increase in size of our congregations and interest at all our Masses, now for some months. It is heartening for our celebrants, but also an increase in numbers seems to attract more new attendees as the word gets around. This particularly applies to the Masses at The Good Shepherd, Nottingham, on Saturdays anticipating the Sunday Mass (4.45pm Sat before 2nd Sunday of the month) where numbers had been somewhat disappointing for some time. There for several months we have been able to welcome 30-40+ not only LMS members but many new faces. Similarly, the attendance at our Masses at Our Lady and St Patrick, Nottingham (2pm 3rd and 4th Sundays) has also increased by about 50% or more, with many families and students and other new faces, besides those who have been attending for some time. Masses at the Cathedral continue also at 6.15pm on 3rd Wednesdays. All are most welcome to all our Masses.

In addition, we have been able to form a schola with new singers – who in fact came together almost by accident in Advent - with whom we are able now to sing full plainsong Masses and a little polyphony during at least two of the Masses (Good Shepherd and 3rd Sunday Mass at Our Lady and St Patrick), if not to some degree at the (usually) Low Mass on 4th Sundays there. All this is really a sign of God’s grace and we should be very grateful, as indeed we are, to celebrants, servers, musicians and all those who help in any way to maintain these Masses.

Please note, that as usual, because of holidays and other absences, there will be no Masses throughout August. Masses resume at all venues in September.

Nottingham South (Leicestershire and Rutland) - Paul Beardsmore

The usual weekly schedule of Masses has continued in the area, with additional Sung Masses being offered on Ash Wednesday (St Peter's, Leicester), the feast of St Joseph (Holy Cross, Leicester) and the feast of the Annunciation (St Peter's again). A sung Requiem Mass was also offered at St Peter's on the second anniversary of the death of Mark Jacques, a LMS benefactor.

Longstanding member of the Society, Gerald Pearce, died on 3 April; his Old Rite Funeral Mass will be at St Peter's, Leicester, but as I write the date has still to be agreed.

Plymouth (Devon) - Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 devon@lms.org.uk

Once again, many good things have been happening on the Devon Latin Mass scene, such as at St Edward the Confessor, Plymouth, where they await the coming baptism of a new baby, and the formation of a young adult’s group. I managed to attend Mass at St Edward’s on Sunday, 3 March, and was pleased to discover that immediately after Mass, Fr Anthony had arranged a Holy Hour with Benediction. We have to thank Fr Pillari for working hard to ensure that the ‘Latin Mass Mission’ at St Edward’s continues to thrive, whilst also continuing with his normal duties at Lanherne Covent in Cornwall (I might just add that although it is out of my area, Fr Anthony celebrates a daily usus antiquior at Lanherne throughout the year).

During January we were saddened to learn that Mr Stephen Lowry died on the Feast of the Epiphany after a long illness. Stephen, a barrister by profession until his retirement, had been a member of the Latin Mass Society since the early days, and was a valued member of the choir at our Traditional Rite Latin Mass celebrations in the Exeter area until failing health prevented this. Stephen’s Old Rite Sung Requiem Mass took place at Blessed Sacrament in Exeter on Thursday 24 January, with Fr Thomas Reagan OSB as celebrant, and with the Abbot Administrator of Buckfast Abbey, the Rt Rev. David Charlesworth sitting in choir. The MC travelled down from the Birmingham area especially, and was assisted on the sanctuary by myself and by Joseph Jones and John Tristram. Tegwyn Harris was organist, with Stephen Bemrose, Michael Crawford, Timothy Tindal-Robertson and Mary Coghill in the choir. Stephen is survived by his wife Mary and family, so do please keep them all in your prayers.

There have been recent changes at St Mary’s Abbey, Buckfast, where we were disappointed to learn that both the Abbot Administrator, the Rt Rev. David Charlesworth OSB, and Fr. Thomas Reagan OSB left for pastures new. However, in this instance Devon’s loss is Staffordshire’s gain, where Fr Thomas has taken up the position of chaplain at Oulton Abbey (Benedictine nuns) where he will continue celebrating the usus antiquior along with his other duties. We thank them both for their continual support of the Old Rite at the Abbey in the past, and wish them well for the future. Unfortunately, though, at the time of writing, this means that the future of the Traditional Rite Mass at the Abbey is in doubt, as I have been as yet unable to obtain confirmation of any future usus antiquior celebrations there. However, as this situation could change at any moment, please get in touch with me for the latest information/details. The last Traditional Rite Latin Mass at Buckfast was a Low Mass celebrated by Fr Guy de Gaynesford on Ember Day, Wednesday 13 March, and was much appreciated by all present (see photograph).

At Blessed Sacrament in Exeter, the monthly Latin Mass has been made possible by Mgr Adrian Toffolo and by Fr Peter Coxe, both of whom have kindly agreed to celebrate Mass for us on different dates. Fr Peter, especially, has agreed to become a regular celebrant at Blessed Sacrament during the coming year. This Blessed Sacrament venue can attract a sizeable congregation for the usus antiquior, so it was with much disappointment that we had to cancel April’s third Sunday of the month Mass as it fell on Easter Sunday - a very busy time for our clergy - when we could not get a celebrant. However, we have to thank our priests for doing everything that they can in order to accommodate our needs for now and in the future.

Apart from his celebrating the last Latin Mass for us at Buckfast Abbey in March, we are pleased to report that Fr Guy de Gaynesford still continues to serve our spiritual needs on the fourth Sunday of every month (see Mass Listings) at St Cyprian’s, Ugbrooke House, Chudleigh, the home of Lord and Lady Clifford. It was pleasing to have Mr John Tristram assist me in serving the Sung Mass at this venue, and once again to have the benefit of Dr Andrew Beards and Michael Crawford leading the Latin chants, without whom we could not have had a Sung Mass. We heartily thank Fr Guy, the Clifford family, and all concerned in giving up time and energy in order that we could have a usus antiquior at this truly beautiful and historic venue. Please note, however, that as I reported in the previous issue of the Mass of Ages magazine, there will be no Traditional Rite Latin Mass at St Cyprian’s on the fourth Sunday in May due to circumstances beyond our control. The Hon. Alexander Clifford did offer us an alternative date but it proved to be unworkable, so, as always, check the Mass Listings or contact me before travelling any distance.

Fr Guy de Gaynesford preparing for Holy Mass

Plymouth (Dorset) - Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 devon@lms.org.uk

In Dorset the usus antiquior is still celebrated in alternate months by Fr Martin Budge at Our Lady’s in the lovely village of Marnhull, and just a short distance away by Mgr Francis Jamieson at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Cecilia in the quaint market town of Blandford Forum, usually at 12 noon on weekdays at both venues. Although at both churches the congregations are relatively small in number, the summer months may well attract more people. For those considering attending one of the Latin celebrations at either Marnhull or Blandford Forum for the first time, do check the Mass Listings or contact me for details. Also, remember that at both venues there is always an enjoyable free social lunch after Mass at which you will be most welcome.

Interestingly, over the past year I have been approached by different people asking about the possibility of having a Traditional Rite Latin Mass at Chideock (Queen of Martyrs and St Ignatius) in honour of the Dorset Martyrs. As interest in this appears to be growing, I have promised to look into it and report back my findings. If you think that you could throw some light on this please do not hesitate in contacting me by phone or by email.

Portsmouth (Isle of Wight) - Peter Clarke

We have just completed thirty-one years of E.F. Masses here on the Island. These have been mainly at St Mary’s, Ryde. Today, they are offered mainly by Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris (Ordinariate and parish priest of Cowes and East Cowes) on Thursdays at 12 noon, at St David’s, East Cowes; with occasional Masses at St Thomas’s, Cowes and St Mary’s, Ryde. There is always Exposition and Confessions for half an hour before the Mass.

We look forward to having our annual Corpus Christi Mass and Procession at St Mary’s on 20 May.

Please ring for confirmation of these Masses if you are coming from the mainland. Tel. 01983 566740 or 07790 892592

Shrewsbury (Chester) - Andrew Nielsen chester@lms.org.uk

Third Sunday Sung Masses are continuing at St Clare's Chester. The Mass for the Second Sunday of Lent was celebrated by Canon Poucin de Wouilt ICKSP with a full team of servers, including torches. As usual we had the services of our reliable local based choir. Congregation numbers are steady with a core of regular attendees but more would be welcome.

Shrewsbury (The Wirral) - Stefano Mazzeo 0151 638 6822

At the Dome of Home, the Shrine Church of Saints Peter and Paul and St Philomena, we continue to make progress both to the fabric of the church and with the continued growth in the congregation both in size and, hopefully, spiritually.

We continue to renovate this huge church and for this we have manage to secure various Heritage Lottery grants. One of the conditions of the Heritage Lottery grant has been that we reach out to the local community; they do not seem to mind that we are a Traditional Catholic Church, which suits us very well. They have helped us provide a heritage book, heritage days, tours and an education pack. We need to provide a certain amount of the funds ourselves - for example the cost of hiring someone to do a detailed structural survey of the dome was £3,000! This was not covered by the HLF grant. Any donations to help us cover this cost would be very much appreciated, small or large.

But we continue with our grant applications. The dome and sanctuary still need major work but we must, again, raise a proportion of the money ourselves. Please contact Anne Archer, our project manager, - contactus@domeofhome.org for further information - or Rachel Buckley, our engagements officer, to find out more or to become a member of the Friends of SSPPP. Alternatively, contact Canon Montjean on 0151 683 6822 or email chn.montjean@icrsp.org.

The Masses at Birkenhead Carmel continue at 7:45 on Thursday mornings.

Southward (Kent) - Marygold Turner

We have been well blessed in the past few months, no cries of priests being held up or ill, since I wrote in my last report on the incapacity of Fr Whinder (Balham) at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Father tells me he is much better and we shall see him soon, I hope. He is a very good friend to us.

I have had two telephone calls from a priest in the Ivory Coast! Just social calls complimenting us on The Mass of Ages! Nice to know how far we reach.

Again, all our slots are filled, including Ascension and Corpus Christi – Deo gratias.

Monsignor Wach very generously invited me to the opera in Milan in February – La Traviata – which was the best I have seen. Canon Hudson will be joining me at Glyndebourne in June for The Barber of Seville. The Institute expands and flourishes with such distinguished priests.

Southwark (Wandsworth)

Since our last report, our regular Sunday 11am Masses have continued, and have recently witnessed a satisfying increase in numbers. This Mass is sung on the first Sunday of each month and, since Canon Edwards currently enjoys the assistance of a transitional deacon with links to the seminary, we have been able to have several High Masses. During Lent Canon Edwards has celebrated a Low Mass on Friday evenings and traditional Compline has been sung on Tuesday evenings.

At the time of writing we are looking forward to a Missa Cantata at 11am on Palm Sunday and at 8pm on Maundy Thursday. The Easter Sunday 11am Mass will be a High Mass: the setting will be the luxuriant and rarely heard Messa di Gloria by Puccini.

Southwark (St Bede’s Clapham Park) - Thomas Windsor

This quarter started with a particularly busy time, Christmas. Between December 22 and January 7 our servers and singers managed a Sung Mass on all but 3 days. Once again David Guest’s excellent professional choir sang the Mozart Mass at Midnight giving our own schola a break between singing the Vigil Mass at 12.30pm, and the Day Mass of Christmas. Once again, we must thank Fr Southwell for spending his Christmas break with us. We also thank Fr Diaz who now lives locally.

We celebrated the Blessing of Epiphany Water after our usual Saturday Sung Mass on the Vigil of the Epiphany, with the chalk being blessed after our Sung Mass on the Feast of the Epiphany. This year Candlemas fell on a Saturday so we were able to have a full Sung Mass and procession.

Over this quarter our Choir has sung polyphonic Propers by Palestrina (Offertory) and Issac (Introit, Alleluia, and Communion) on the 3rd and 5th Sundays after Pentecost. On the 2nd Sunday of Lent they sang the Byrd three-part Mass with the rarely heard Credo, as well as his setting of the Emmendemus in melium and Ave Verum.

This year thanks to our new parish Priest, Fr Holden, we have also started up a monthly special Sunday with shared lunch, talks for adults and catechism for children, ending with Rosary and Benediction. We also now have catechism preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation meeting twice a month after the Sunday Mass.

Our Chapter of the Guild of St Clare, continues to repair our vestments meeting on the 3rd Saturday of the month. As part of this day we have added servers practice, and children’s choir practice, as well as run a creche for smaller children and babies.

Our Community continues to grow with so far five new babies being baptised this year, with another three mothers expecting!

Westminster (Willesden) - Anna Grayson-Morley willesden@lms.org.uk 07710 472295

Since we started offering Mass in the Traditional Form almost 6 years ago, the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden continues to flourish. Last year, as part of ongoing restorations, an intricate wrought iron gate was fitted to encompass the chancel, adding to the splendour of our beautiful Shrine chapel.

Attendance at the Low Mass has fluctuated between 7 and 60, but is usually around 25, a mix in age, most of whom come for the Form, although some parishioners also find the time convenient.

Over the years, we have had difficulty in finding servers, but are most grateful to Patrick Valente, who having been received into the Church last Easter, is now our regular altar server. Fr Stephen Willis is our only priest in the parish able to celebrate the Traditional Form, which poses a challenge when he is away, since finding a celebrant to take his place is difficult. Our most pressing need is more faithful and more priests in London who can offer Mass in the E.F.

The weekly 5:30pm Sunday Low Mass and the E.F. Masses offered on Holy Days and occasional High Masses, such as the Latin Mass Society Pilgrimages, have been celebrated at the High Altar. We are lucky that all the original furnishings of the church are intact, and the main Shrine Church has one of the largest sanctuaries in London.

Our hope is to grow in number and confidence, and to contribute to the life of the parish, and if so, to have the resources to begin having a monthly Missa Cantata. In the last four years, we have established a Pueri Cantores of 15 children, who have been learning chant and who generally prefer to sing in Latin. Our hope is to build on this. In addition, the parish is fundraising to rescue an historic organ and rebuild it in the Shrine Church to replace our currently rather limited instrument.