Ernest and Mary Carey RIP

Richard Pickett reports from Birmingham. Photographs by John Aron

For the first time in almost sixty years the Latin Mass Society was unable to hold its annual summer High Mass at Westminster Cathedral. Instead, on 29 June 2024, the society held a pilgrimage to St John Henry Newman’s shrine at the Birmingham Oratory, seeking his intercession.

High Mass and veneration of St John Henry's relics was followed by a tour of the Newman Museum, two talks and the AGM. After a convivial lunch at which old friends connected and new friendships were made, Prof Jacob Phillips of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, spoke about Newman and Pope Benedict and LMS Chairman, Dr Joseph Shaw, gave a talk on Newman and church & state. Recordings of the talks are available at lms.org.uk/newman2024 and Prof Phillips’ talk will be published in the next edition of Mass of Ages.

Members can see reports from the AGM and the annual accounts for 2023 at lms.org.uk/AGM2024. The Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory provided a warm welcome, for which the LMS is grateful. It was a day with a lively schedule and an increase in devotion to a great saint. Deo gratias!