REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
DIOCESAN DIGEST Mass of Ages quarterly round-up
Arundel & Brighton Annie-Marie Mackie-Savage 01323 411370 In A&B I am glad to report that we have had an increasing number of Sung Masses, along with Vespers and Benediction. At Our Lady of Ransom, Eastbourne, a Missa Cantata, celebrated by Fr Gerard Hatton, with music led by Matthew Ward, for the Vigil of the Feast of the Assumption was followed by an early morning Low Mass on the Feast Day, and Vespers and Benediction in the afternoon. Seaford and Lewes Masses continue. There was also a Sung Mass on Romney Marsh, and there is the possibility that more regular sung Masses, possibly quarterly, might be scheduled for West Grinstead in the future, so watch this space. Fr Gerard Hatton is moving from Eastbourne to Knaphill, and we are so grateful for all the Masses he has said, and all the salt blessings. He really will be greatly missed. While usually the departure of a priest means the loss of the Mass in a parish, it may well be the start of something good for Knaphill, and I am delighted to say that second Sunday Masses are continuing in Eastbourne thanks to the arrival of two priests who are able and willing to say it. We are still extremely short of servers, and need volunteers, so please chaps, have a pray and a think, then volunteer! Full training is available. All Mass updates I receive are put up on the blog, so, please check there for any extras or cancellations. Thanks to all those supporting us, and to all the priests who give of their time so generously. Birmingham (City & Black Country) LR: Louis Maciel; Tel: 0739 223 2225 E: louis.maciel@gmail.com W: http://birmingham-lms-rep.blogspot.co.uk/ Bishop Robert Byrne celebrated another Pontifical High Mass at the Birmingham Oratory, but the for the first time on the Feast of founder Blessed John Henry Newman. Other High Masses at the Oratory this quarter included the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the opening Mass for the Forty Hours devotion in October and the Assumption. The latter was complemented by a Low Mass at St Maryon-the Hill in Wednesbury where several Masses were also celebrated on Saturday for feasts, including St Michael, St Giles and St Edward. Fr Anthony Dykes also celebrated Low Mass for the latter two feasts in his new parish of Holy Cross in Lichfield, having worked in North Staffordshire previously. The Oratory will remember the dead in November with Requiem Masses at 5.45pm each Monday, followed by Sung Vespers for the dead. Similarly, a Votive Mass of the dead takes place on the first and last Wednesday in November at 6pm in Wednesbury. St Dunstan’s in Kings Heath had its first two Low Masses this quarter, having had Sung Masses previously. The parish
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priest gradually introduced to the Traditional Mass by way of Gregorian chant in the Novus Ordo before moving to Sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form. At the time of writing All Saints and All Souls have not taken place yet but given the latter is on a Friday there is a good chance there will be a plethora of Masses in the region for these, particularly given the latter is falling on a first Friday. BIRMINGHAM (Little Malvern) Alastair J Tocher 01684 893332 extraordinarymalvern.uk@btinternet.com extraordinarymalvern.uk Facebook: Extraordinary Malvern As we approach the end of our first twelve months at our new home at St Wulstan’s, I am pleased to report that both congregation and schola continue to grow. With almost 60 now signed up to our monthly newsletter, average Mass attendance has grown slowly but steadily and will, Deo volente, continue on this trajectory. We now have regulars travelling from as far afield as Wednesbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Abergavenny! Saturday 22 September saw our first baptism – of Isabel Barker – in the Extraordinary Form at Sacred Heart, Cheltenham with the Litany etc. sung by the Schola in their recently acquired choir robes. There will be a Sung Requiem Mass on Sunday 11 November, the centenary of the Armistice at the end of the Great War. A little ecclesiastical archaeology has unearthed the original parish catafalque and funeral pall in an upstairs store room; it is hoped to restore the six wrought iron catafalque candle stands; requiem altar cards, missal, and antique black vestments have been acquired; and our parish candle-maker has offered to make unbleached candles for altar and catafalque. Two of our members attended the LMS Latin Course near Oxford in early August and a couple will be attending the Guild of St Clare Sewing Retreat in November. Our regular chaplain, Dom Jonathan Rollinson OSB, has been temporarily unavailable on Abbey duties recently. We are grateful therefore also to Fr Paul Lester, Fr George Grynowski, and Canon Amaury Montjean ICKSP for celebrating Mass during his absence. Thanks also to our faithful servers and singers without whom we would not have Mass. Birmingham (North Staffordshire) Alan Frost 01270 768144 Masses continue each Sunday and Saturday (fortnightly) at Our Lady’s, Swynnerton, courtesy of Fr Paul Chavasse, Cong. Orat. However, there is disappointing news about Fr Chris Miller, a keen supporter of the Traditional Rite. Impending surgery and other pressures have finally forced him to resign as Parish Priest at Tunstall and Burslem in Stoke. Our prayers for a successful operation and recovery.
WINTER 2018
