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) - Louis Maciel; 0739 223 2225 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 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

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.

On a happy note, by accident really, Fr Dominic Edwards of the Birmingham Oratory, covering for Fr Chavasse recently, celebrated his first public Missa Cantata at Our Lady’s, Swynnerton. Expecting to offer the usual Sunday evening EF Mass, the altar boys (four lads ofthe Scorey family) persuaded him to celebrate a Missa Cantata, and none of us knew until after it was his debut!

There was a splendid Mass at Swynnerton on 15 August, the church being dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.

BIRMINGHAM (Oxford) - Joseph Shaw 01993 812874 oxford@lms.org.uk

I am pleased to announce that the Oxford University Chaplain, Fr Matthew Power SJ, has agreed to the celebration of a Requiem for deceased members and staff of the University in the Chaplaincy. This will take place on Saturday, 3 November at 10am.

As usual, the feast days of the quarter - All Saints and All Souls, the Immaculate Conception, and so on - are marked with celebrations of the Traditional Mass in either the Oxford Oratory or in SS Gregory & Augustine's in Oxford, or both.

The situation on Sundays, currently served with Low Mass at 8am in the Oratory and monthly Masses in SS Gregory & Augustine's and at Hethe, is currently under review. In particular, it is proving very difficult to find celebrants ab le to travel to Hethe to celebrate Masses there, following a number oclergy moves over the summer.

BRENTWOOD (East) - Alan Gardner alanmdgardner@gmail.com

In the ‘country’ region of the diocese we see Traditional Masses in various areas. In Chelmsford we are so blessed with the vibrant Norbertine Priory led by Abbot Hugh, and we have Low Masses in the Priory Chapel regularly on Sundays. Similarly, Low Masses are regularly celebrated in the Kelvedon area by Monsignor Read (many members will know of his long and loyal support of the LMS). In Leigh-on-Sea, it has been a delight for many years to attend the Missa Cantata on first Sundays celebrated by Monsignor Kevin Hale; please pray for all these priests for whom these Masses are an ‘extra’ to their busy parish duties.

If there is a need for Masses in other areas, please let me know. In terms of keeping members informed, Carol Smith has for very many years worked extremely hard to keep us all up to date. If you would like to be kept ‘in the loop’, please email me.

Our valiant and loyal servers at Chelmsford and Kelvedon would welcome support – can you help? Similarly, with the exception of Leigh, we don’t hear much music – any closet singers out there, whom we could help to become enthusiastic singers of the chant?! If you know of any, please do get in touch.

Please pray for the soul of Maud Sutton who, on 5 October in her one-hundred-and-second y ear, and fortified b y the rites of the Church, passed peacefully into the arms of Our Lord. Maud was a staunch supporter of the Traditional Mass, valiant in her attendance to her last days, despite her infirmity . Please also pray f or her son Michael w ho has lavished tender love and care on her for many years.

Cardiff - Andrew Butcher

Masses are continuing to be offered around the Archdiocese. A Missa Cantata was offered by the Fr Sebastian on the feast of Blessed John Henry Newman at the University Chaplaincy Cardiff. Byrd’s Mass for four voices was sung and the hymn to Blessed John Henry was sung for the first time.

Of your charity please pray for the soul of Corey Sharpling, the son of Tom and Elaine (the LMS Representatives for Menevia) and the brother of Louise Sharpling. Corey was a great young man who regularly served the Traditional Latin Mass for Canon Jason Jones in Morriston. Corey will be missed by those who knew him. Please pray for the repose of this soul and for his family. Requiescant in Pace.

There will be a Missa Cantata for Christmas Eve / Day, but this will be confirmed within the coming weeks. Please c heck the website for more information or con tact me on 07905 609770 or andrew.butcher@lmscardiff.org.uk

From Fr Sebastian

On Saturday 21st July, Fr Sebastian offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the dungeon at Cardiff Castle. It was here that St John Lloyd and St Philip Evans were imprisoned until their execution on the outskirts of the town in 1679. However, because of the dungeon's size only a server, Br Ambrose and two members of the Chaplaincy community were admitted. The relic of St David Lewis, the last of the Welsh Martyrs was placed upon the altar. It is not known whether the martyrs were themselves able to offer the Mass during their imprisonment. The Castle curator, Matthew Williams, gave permission for the Mass to be offered. He said there was no record of the Mass having been offered in the dungeon prior to the request of the University Chaplain.

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

Our main event this quarter was the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury, on Saturday, 8 October. The highlight of the day was a Solemn High Mass, celebrated by Fr Bede Rowe, the Rector of the Shrine. Fr Philip Thomas was Deacon, and Sebastian Crawford, of the Institute of the Good Shepherd, was Subdeacon. The Mass was sung by the Rupert Bevan Singers. Thanks to Fr Rowe for welcoming us to his parish, and to Kim Woolmer, the Shrine Manager, for her help and support on the day.

Glastonbury Pilgrimage High Mass

Another High Mass was celebrated the following week, at the Church of the Holy Ghost, Yeovil, f or the F east of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The parish priest, Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon, was celebrant.

The regular Sunday Masses at Bristol University chaplaincy continue to be well-attended. We are grateful to Fr Rupert Allen for providing this opportunity each week for the Catholics of Bristol to worship in the Traditional Rite.

Fr Allen will be leading another day of recollection at the Chaplaincy on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Saturday 8 December, beginning with a Missa Cantata for the Feast. Please see our blog (address above) for details if you would like to attend.

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

Sunday Masses continue at Blackfriars in Cambridge. Two of the friars who celebrated the Dominican Rite here have moved on to other houses, but two more have arrived who have also begun to say it, so the availability of priests has remained stable. The return of the students f or Michaelmas term has helped with the availability of servers, but further new volunteers to serve would, as always, be welcome, as would singers for sung Masses.

Hexham & Newcastle - Keith McAllister 01325 308968 07966 235329 K_mcallister@ymail.Com

There are no changes in the Mass schedules, except that following the transfer of Fr David Phillips from Berwick to St Mary Immaculate Parish, Whittingham Nr Alnwick, his weekly Mass is on Tuesdays at 6.30pm in his new posting.

Fr Paul Tully (Hospital Chaplain) is in the process of moving to the Spennymoor area, but intends to continue with the Sunday Masses at Thornley.

There was a sung Requiem at St Joseph’s, North Shields on the feast of St Francis Borgia, celebrated by Fr Shaun Swales, the first such M ass in the area f or many y ears. This followed the death of Mrs Patsy O’Callaghan and we are grateful to Fr Christopher Hughes (PP), M.C. Leo Darroch and the choir for their assistance.

As ever, we need more young servers (any males under 60 qualify!), as some of us septuagenarian and octogenarian semi-geriatrics can kneel / genuflect but are not able to get up unassisted! Comprehensive and patient training is on offer.

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

We have been very pleased to welcome each of the three Canons from St Walburge, Preston to offer Mass for us at Sizergh Castle this summer, and on the last occasion in September we had the extra treat of the three Sisters from English Martyrs who sang the parts of a Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart.

We introduced ourselves to our new Bishop, Paul Swarbrick, after the M ass f or the Assumption at the Cathedral, and quite unprompted he said that he would like to meet with us to talk about how he can support the work of the Society. He also ventured that since he was able to learn the Tonga language when he was in Zambia, he ought to be able to learn Latin!

At two of the Masses at Sizergh a 'new' server was trained up, or rather had his memory refreshed in the Extraordinary Form, from some 60 years back. We have also heard that two priests have expressed a wish to learn the Mass so we hope this will come to fruition.

On Sunday 10 November there was a Requiem High Mass for deceased members and friends of the Order of St Lazarus at English Martyrs, Preston at 12 noon. Also, on that day, being Remembrance Sunday, at both English Martyrs and St Walburge after the normal Sunday Masses there was recitation of the names of the Fallen from the parish.

Leading up to Advent and Christmas, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest will be holding their traditional novena to the Immaculate Conception from 30 November to 7 December. This will include a sermon on Our Lady from a guest preacher each day at 6 pm, except Saturday 1st when it will be at 2.45 pm. There will also be an Advent Retreat on Saturday 1 December from 10 am to 3.30 pm which will include Confessions, Mass, Talks, Rosary and Benediction. In addition to the Christmas Masses (see Mass Listings) the Sisters Adorers will sing Matins of Christmas at English Martyrs at 7.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Finally, on New Y ear's Eve there will be Adoration from 11 pm at St Walburge with Benediction at midnight, followed by mince pies and hot chocolate in the presbytery! For full details of all these events see their website www.stwalburge.org.

Liverpool - Jim Pennington 0151 4260361 pennington893@btinternet.com

The regular Sunday and Holyday EF Masses in the parishes of St Catherine Laboure, Farington, St Mary Magdalen, Penwortham, and St Anthony’s, Scotland Road, Liverpool, continue.

Fr O’Shea’s Thursday Traditional Rite Masses continue at St John’s, Standishgate. Wigan, with a good attendance, usually 20 to 30. Several young men are training as servers under the guidance of Arthur Chadwick, a veteran like me.

Traditional Rite Masses were offered at St Anthony’s, Scotland Road on the Friday and Saturday of the ‘Adoremus’ Eucharistic Congress. These were intended to give traditionally-minded visitors the opportunity to attend the Mass of their choice before the Congress events. However, the Friday Mass proved to be not very popular: the Saturday Mass, a Missa Cantata, was offered by Fr Michael Lang of the London Oratory, with Anthony Dickinson as Cantor, and attracted a larger congregation, though I do not think many of them were Congress visitors. On Sunday afternoon the conclusion of the Parish Exposition was followed by Missa Cantata with a full choir directed by Anthony, and concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. This also attracted a larger than usual congregation.

Sad to say, two of our long-standing members have died – Tom Finch and John Chase, who both faithfully attended our Sunday Masses from the days at St Mary’s, Highfield Street until recent years. John’s Requiem Mass was offered at St Anthony’s by Fr Leo Daley, followed by interment at Anfield Cemetery.

August saw the tenth anniversary of the death of Fr Godfrey Carney, a great lover of the old Mass, who offered it each week in the days before we had a regular Sunday Mass. Fr John Hemer of Allen Hall offered Mass for him in the chapel of Ince Blundell Hall, where Fr Carney spent his final years, with a congregation that filled the chapel.

For several reasons, the number of diocesan priests we can call upon for our St Anthony’s Masses has been reduced to two. Fr John Harris has been in hospital and is now recovering and back in his parish, but unlikely to be available for St Anthony’s for some time yet. Fr Matthew Jolley is leaving for Rome for three years of further study. Of the remaining two, Fr Sean Riley is on study leave until the end of October, so at the moment, Fr Daley and the ICKSP Canons are on a two-week rota, until Fr Riley becomes available again.

Liverpool (Warrington) - Alan Frost 01270 768144

The latest main development in the hub of activity that is the Warrington Shrine is the promotion of the ‘Priory Campaign’, to buy back the old school and surrounding buildings next to St Mary’s Church. The hope is to endow St Mary’s with the space urgently needed f or a parish hall, music room, clergy offices , and classrooms. In addition, a pr o-life office , a publishing company, a catholic bookshop, a vestments-sewing workshop and accommodation for retreatants could be added. £1.5 million is needed in a limited time, but much has already been raised. A promotional video has been made b y EWTN film director Stefano Mazzeo of the LMS. Added to which is a n endorsement from leading Catholic MP Jacob Rees-Mogg who adds, “I am honoured to support the Priory Campaign for fundraising.”

In August F r Matthew Jolly celebrated his first traditional Latin M ass at St Mary’s, having been ordained there three years earlier in the Ordinary Form, and in time for the Adoremus Conference, Shrine Rector Fr de Malleray had a new book published on the Holy Eucharist. The imprimatur and promoter is Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool.

After a brief spell as part of the clergy at St Mary’s, Fr Seth Phipps, ordained here in the Traditional Rite earlier in the year, has moved to St John Fisher House in Reading to join Frs Goddard and O’Donohue.

Northampton North (Northamptonshire) - Paul Beardsmore

In addition to the regular Saturday Mass at St Brendan's, Corby, Fr Byrne offered Mass on the feast of the Assumption, and three Masses on consecutive days in September during the Forty Hours devotions.

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

On 2 September we launched our new series of First Sunday Family Catechism Days at Christ the King, Bedford which was well attended. The Family Catechism Days in Chesham Bois are planned to resume in October.

On 8 September there was a meeting of the ‘Regina Caeli’ Traditional Catholic home-schooling academy at their new base at Barton-Le-Clay. The Academy plans to open in September 2019.

After a quiet summer, Mass attendance at Bedford is rising again and we reached a new record of 92 on 9 September.

On 16 September, Matthew Schellhorn returned to sing the M ass for us and will do so twice a month on various Sundays from now on. 7 October marked the completion of the FSSP’s first year of ministry at Christ the King.

The Latin Mass Society comes to Bedford on 10 November for a High Mass of Reparation for the Abortion Referendum in Ireland at the Church of the Holy Child and St Joseph, 2 Brereton Road, Bedford MK40 1HU, a beautiful Victorian church which houses Great Britain’s authenticated copy of the Miraculous Relic Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in whose presence the Mass will be said.

Masses at Chesham and Shefford continue respectively at 8 am on Sunday and 7.30 pm on the third Friday of the month.

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

Nottingham - Jeremy Boot 07462-018386

A Missa Cantata took place at St Mary’s Loughborough for the feast of the Transfiguration on 6 August, celebrated b y the parish priest, Fr Paul Gillham IC. Servers, singers and organist were from that church or from Leicester and Nottingham.

Missa Cantata for the Transfiguration- St Mary's Loughborough. Celebrant Paul Gillham IC

The Mass on the Saturday be fore the 2nd Sunday of the month (4.45pm) at The Good Shepherd Church, Arnold, Nottingham may have to be re-scheduled in the near future. At present nothing has been decided and we are very grateful to Canon Ziomek, who, now without a cur ate, makes time for these Masses to be available to us. Attendance could be better but has improved over the last twelve months. The other monthly Masses at Our Lady and St Patrick Nottingham remain unchanged (3rd and 4th Sundays of the month at 2pm).

Our usual thanks to our celebrants as well as to those who give their time in whatever way to maintain these Masses.

Nottingham (Lincoln) - M. Carroll mcarroll3@hotmail.co.uk

I have great pleasure in announcing that after a year’s break from Latin Masses in Lincolnshire Masses will return, initially on Second Sundays at St Hugh's Catholic Church, 34, Broadgate, Lincoln. LN255AQ. We must thank the resident priest for his support as well as our local Latin Mass priest who is much appreciated and respected by all of us. Both Lincoln and St Hugh's are wonderful settings for the Latin Mass and I ask you to support this new date on the calendar.

I am led to believe that there will be more information to follow regarding further Mass dates and please keep an eye out on the website and the Facebook page. I would like to draw the local home schoolers attention to this Mass and to thank them for their help particularly with singing (and cake) in the past. I also wish to thank all those who supported the Latin Masses both in Brigg and Scunthorpe in the past, as we look forward to this new chapter.

Nottingham South (Leicestershire and Rutland) - Paul Beardsmore

Sunday Masses continue at Holy Cross Priory in Leicester, with a congregation stable in numbers at a round 70. Masses are sung on the first Sunday of the month, and happily in recent months first Sundays have included the feast of the Precious Blood, and the f east of the Holy Rosary (first class in the Dominica n Missal). Sung Mass was celebrated for the feast of the Assumption at St Peter's in Leicester by Canon Cahill. There will be a sung Mass at Holy Cross Priory for the feast of All Saints, and at St Joseph's, Oakham on All Souls' Day, when Fauré's setting of the Requiem Mass will be performed by the St Peter's Singers.

The regular schedule of Low Masses continues at Holy Cross, St Peter's and St Joseph's; thanks go to our celebrants and servers.

Plymouth (Devon) - Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 mauricequinn375@gmail.com

Once again, I have many good and positive things to report from Devon. The Plymouth and Exeter venues (St Edward the Confessor and Blessed Sacrament respectively) have seen an increase in the number of new people attending our Traditional Latin Mass celebrations over the last couple of months. At St Edward the Confessor the increase leans more towards young people with children, probably because the Mass is a regular Sunday morning affair, whereas at Blessed Sacrament, where the Mass takes place on Sunday afternoons once a month, the increase is with the more mature as well as students. We also have a smattering of people from further afield (London, Andover and elsewhere) who make a round trip by rail to attend Mass at Blessed Sacrament.

Fr Anthony Pillari still looks after the St Edward the Confessor congregation in Plymouth, and it was pleasing to be present at the Mass on the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, when, at the request of Bishop Mark, there was Eucharistic Adoration, and a Blessed Sacrament procession that went around the church and outside in the street giving full public witness to our faith. We have to thank Fr Harry Hiejveld for agreeing to celebrate Mass at St Edward’s on the fourth Sunday of September when Fr Pillari was unable to do so, thus maintaining what has become a regular feature of Catholic life and worship in Plymouth.

Fr Harry Heijveld and Mgr Adrian Toffolo alternately share officiating at the Blessed Sacrament (Exeter) Mass celebrations on the third Sundays, and Fr Harry still offers Benediction afterwards when it is his turn, something that is much appreciated. On the 17th Sunday after Pentecost there were a few moments of panic when it was discovered that the route to the organ loft was blocked by scaffolding, but our intrepid organist, Tegwyn Harris, along with the equally intrepid choir members, overcame this problem by simply singing the whole Missa Cantata unaccompanied with very pleasing results. Many thanks to you all! Do take note that the usual Missa Cantata at Blessed Sacrament in December is to be celebrated on the Second Sunday and not the Third Sunday. This is because the ever-popular parish Christmas Carol Service takes place in the church every year in the afternoon on that day. We thank Fr Jonathan Stewart, the parish priest, for making Blessed Sacrament available to us on the Second Sunday.

I am happy to report that our regular monthly Sunday afternoon Sung Mass at St Cyprian’s Ugbrooke House, Chudleigh, has been running quite smoothly throughout the last quarter. We appreciate Fr Guy de Gaynesford celebrating every Mass for us at this historically important venue (for Catholicism in the South West) situated at the home of Lord Clifford. Two of the advertised usus antiquior celebrations had to be changed at the last moment from Sung to Low due to the lack of a choir, but this did not detract from the dignity and reverence of the Mass, which, as always, was much appreciated by those attending.

At St Mary’s Abbey Buckfast, the millennial celebrations have been going on continually all year, and have not impinged negatively on our monthly Vetus Ordo Low Mass. The televised Antiques Road Show took place at the Abbey in September (Most Holy Name of Mary) w hen the celebrant w as Fr Guy de Gaynesford, and although the film crew filmed in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel immediately prior to our Low Mass they were respectful, efficient, and very quick, allowing our Mass to go ahead without interruption. I am pleased to report that at this venue, the Traditional Latin Mass celebrations are still shared alternately between Fr Guy and Fr Tom Regan OSB. Do check the Mass Listings where you will see that there are two changes (day and time) to our Buckfast Abbey Latin celebrations. The first change will be Thursday 11 October (Motherhood of BVM) at the earlier time of 10am, whereas the Mass for December is on Saturday 8 (Immaculate Conception), likewise at 10am.

On Friday 2 November (All Souls) at 12 noon Fr Harry Hiejveld celebrated the Mass for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, which, thanks to Fr Harry (thanks also to the parish priest, Fr Kieron Kirby) has become a regular feature in Devon’s Vetus Ordo calendar.

We were all saddened to hear of the death of Peter Kiely (see Obituary, page 40) during August. Peter w as a real gentleman of the old school, being an ardent advocate of the Old Rite, who served on the altar in Exeter, Ugbrooke House, and at Buckfast Abbey for many years. Peter’s Traditional Old Rite Requiem took place in the church of The Most Precious Blood, Sidmouth. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Gregory Carey OSB of Farnborough Abbey, being served by Colin Harte. We have to thank Fr Martin Budge of Marnhull, Dorset, for the loan of the Old Rite Requiem booklets used by the congregation at this Mass.

Plymouth (Dorset) - Maurice Quinn 07555536579 mauricequinn375@gmail.com

The Church of Our Lady in the village of Marnhull is prettily situated down leafy lanes just a ten-minute walk from the River Stour, and those who seek it out to attend the Old Rite are always rewarded for their efforts. At this beautiful old stone church with its adjoining Catholic cemetery, Fr Martin Budge always offers Confessions beforehand, with the Angelus immediately preceding Holy Mass. Whereas in my last report I mentioned that numbers attending the Thursday 12 noon Mass had dwindled to just a few regular stalwarts, the July celebration saw a pleasing reversal of this trend with some new people in the congregation, some of whom stayed afterwards for the social lunch.

I am very happy to report that the refurbishment work that has been going on at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Cecelia in the delightful market town of Blandford Forum is nearing completion. Mgr Francis Jamieson (see photograph) has also managed to procure some altar rails that are to be properly installed soon, which will greatly enhance the dignified and reverent Traditional Low Mass that takes place here every other month. September’s celebration took place on Saturday 8 at 12 noon, the Nativity of the BVM. Colin Harte, the usual server, could not make it this time so we have to thank Dominic Prendergast for kindly agreeing to take his place on the sanctuary. The little free lunch/social that took place after Mass was enjoyed by all present, especially by those attending for the fir st time . The next usus antiquior to take place at Blandford Forum will be in November (see the Mass listings).

Mgr Francis Jamieson

Portsmouth - Peter Cullinane. Tel. 02392 471324. Email: pmcullinane@hotmail.com

As I mentioned in my previous report, news of Fr Joe McNerney’s move from Portsmouth to Southampton as Hospital Chaplain was received just before copy date.

St John’s Cathedral old rite Mass attenders were very sorry to see Father go, but we all understand why and we welcome and thank the Friars from Gosport who replace him.

For a period of almost five years Fr Joe said Mass for us every Sunday at 8am and with almost spilt second timing had to return swiftly to his own parish some 5 miles away for the 9.30 Mass.

Inevitably we could not engage with him socially after Mass but we should all like to say a warm “Thank you, Father and best wishes in your new role!’’

One disappointment recently was the lack of response to the suggestion of a monthly EF Mass at Holy Family in Southampton.

Whereas the Thursday evening EF Mass there is quite well attended, very few have indicated their future support or availability for a first Sunday monthly Mass at 8.30 or 9 am, which the parish priest is offering to say.

This is a great pity - if you live within a reasonable distance of Southampton and feel you could help, please email or telephone me for a form to return to the parish indicating your interest.

Portsmouth (Bournemouth) - Tim Fawkes 01202 730200 t.fawkes136@btinternet.com

Our regular first Friday Masses have continued at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Bournemouth at 6 pm and there were around 45 in the congregation for Mass on 14 August for the Vigil of the Assumption of Our Lady.

Whilst Extraordinary Form Masses have until now been offered in the Lady Chapel, forthcoming work in the main sanctuary will make it possible for Masses to be offered there, which will be a positive and welcome development.

Portsmouth (Isle of Wight) - Peter Clarke

Latin (EF) Masses continue here on the island thanks to Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris, who offers a Mass on most Thursday, mostly at St David’s, East Cowes, with Exposition and Confessions before the Mass.

We were pleased to welcome Canon Martin Edwards back to St Mary’s in Ryde again for two recent Masses. He was fresh from a cruise and dressed in his canonical black and red. Consequently, he was taken for a Cardinal. Rumour spread round the ship that a Cardinal was on board. Needless to say, he milk ed this for all it was worth.

We were delighted that Father gave a short sermon at the Mass in St Mary’s, Ryde on the Feast of SS Cosmas and Damian. Father spoke about the Canon of the Mass in the early Church and how Cosmas and Damian’s names were mentioned then. They were doctors who were martyred for their faith. Hence the reference to healing in today’s gospel.

He also mentioned how the Church has benefitted greatly from the zeal of convert clergy and what they do (and have done ) to provide spiritual nourishment for Catholics, both here on the Island and further afield. Canon Edwards reminded us that with the approach of the month of October – the month of the Holy Rosary - it is important to remind ourselves of the value of two valuable tools to aid our eternal salvation: namely, the Rosary and the Traditional Mass, which has been offered here on the island for thirty years.

The LMS group on the island were pleased to meet Fr Christopher Basden in the summer. Both he and Canon Martin Edwards offered Mass at St Thomas’s, Cowes during the “Cowes Week of Catholic Witness”.

Portsmouth (Reading) - Adrian Dulston

As you are probably aware, the FSSP community in Reading have been given a Personal Parish status by Bishop Philip Egan officially from Our Lady’s birthday, 8 September 2018 –this effectively means a newly formed Parish called St John Fisher, albeit awaiting permanent dwelling. More on this can be obtained from the FSSP link below and particularly in the current Dowry Magazine (FSSP official magazine here in the UK).

The newly ordained Fr Phipps has joined us from St Mary’s Warrington, with Fr O’Donohue still around but serving Bedford. Fr Goddard continues as Parish Priest, indeed the first of the new Parish arrangement.

In the Dowry magazine you will find reports on youth summer camps of which I partook running the football session! Men and Women groups are still running but the Holy Mass on Thursday has been moved to the 10am slot generally ( check link f or timings ) the catechesis has been swallowed up by the new venture via the Guild for home schooling.

A reminder to check the following address link for timings of Masses during the week, which can change but generally follow the pattern of Monday 12noon, Tuesday 7am at St John Fisher House, Wednesday 12noon, Thursday 10am, Friday 7.30pm ( except First Fridays which start with M ass at 7am followed b y devotions), Saturday 8am –do note that after the 8am M ass on fir st Saturdays there a re prayers at BPAS Abortion centre some 10mins away. Further details on all activities can be found at https://fssp.co.uk/reading/

For those in the vicinity of Didcot there is now a regular Wednesday evening (7.30pm ) Latin M ass at English Martyrs Catholic Church offered by Philip Pennington Harris with a 1st Sunday 7am Mass, although there are changes so please refer to newsletter (for Didcot) www.thamesisis.org.uk/ community/newsletters/newsletter.htm

May Royal St Joseph continue to rebuild Our Lady’s Dowry.

Shrewsbury (Chester) - Andrew Nielsen

Third Sunday Sung Masses are continuing at St Clare's in Chester. We are lucky to have the continued support of a local choir and organist and the priests of the Institute of Christ the King in New Brighton who celebrate the Masses.

Unfortunately, numbers for the last few masses have been dipping. For September there were fewer than 20 people in the congregation.

Shrewsbury (The Wirral) - Stefano Mazzeo 0151 6386822

Life at the Dome of Home, The Shrine Church of SS Peter & Paul and St Philomena is as full as ever. We said a fond farewell to Canon Parant who after celebrating a High Mass on Sunday 16 September left for pastures new in the South of France where he is to take care of the Institute in Beziers and also be chaplain to the school of the Institute at Montpellier. We welcome Fr Gribbin and two seminarians who will be with us for a year and we are very pleased to announce that we have yet another vocation to the priesthood from the Dome, Lee Jones who has now already started his priestly formation at Gricigliano near Florence in Italy. Canon Piaggio celebrated his first High Mass at the Dome and conf erred the blessings of a newly ordained priest afterwards.

There is a full set of activities happening every week at the Dome, Catechism Class, Youth Group, Fatima Family Days, Adult Faith Formation and many more, for further information on our very full programme please email Canon Montjean chn.montjean@icrsp.org or telephone 0151 6386822

Southwark (Kent) - Marygold Turner 01580 291372

Fr Neil Brett gave us a beautiful Mass at Headcorn for the Feast of the Assumption.

Our main event recently was a Sung Mass in St Augustine’s, Snave on Saturday, 22 September, which was our fourth time there. Fr Marcus Holden celebrated and delivered a magnificent sermon, largely on Our Lady. Dominic Be van brought five singers to accompany the Mass which, with such superb acoustics, was excellent. Jonathan Hague and David Hurley (now Mayor of Gravesham) provided the serving. It is always a very moving occasion to be in this Pre-Reformation church. John Doyle MBE (President of The Romney Marsh Historic Churches T rust) and Peter Anwyl-Harris (Chairman) both spoke, prior to us all enjoying a glass of wine and sandwiches. The provisional date for our visit next year is Saturday, 28 September 2019.

I went to hear Fr Ignatius Harrison’s talk on Blessed John Henry Newman on 15 October at Warwick Street. It was a very unusual and thought-provoking talk. This was followed by a question and answers session with Mgr Newton and overseas Ordinaries of the Ordinariate. It was a most successful fundraising event.

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

In the last report I mentioned that a new Parish Priest was a possibility, and we are delighted to welcome Fr Holden who started here at the beginning of October. We look forward to working with our new Parish Priest to build on the work of Fr Basden.

I must also thank Fr Basden for all he has done to help build and nurture the traditional community here at St Bede’s. We have been truly blest to have him for almost a quarter of a century, and wish him well as he heads down to the Isle of Thanet.

Our choir has continued its programme of regular polyphonic Masses singing the Byrd 3-part Mass on the Feast of the Precious Blood, and the Missa Dixit Maria, on Rosary Sunday, including the rarely heard creeds for both Masses. On Rosary Sunday we also sang Hasler’s Ave Maris Stella and the Dixit Maria Motet.

For most of this year we have had five servers and up to seven choir members attending our Saturday morning Low Mass. From the Feast of the Nativity of the BVM onwards, this will become a Sung Mass.

Finally, some sad news; on 31 July Mgr Leo White, Prefect Apostolic Emeritus of Garissa in Kenya, died at the age of 89. Resident her e fr om 1997 to 2001, returning in 2017, our usual August Bank Holiday Sung Mass was a Requiem for the repose of his soul.

Westminster (Hertfordshire) - Tom Short

Hertfordshire traditionalists have been spoiled for the past five years by Fr Tim Edgar who has shown great commitment providing Masses on days of obligation and some traditional feasts as well as on Sundays. Lovers of the old Mass will be very grateful to Fr Tim and wish him well for the future. Masses at Baldock, Old Hall Green and Hertford continue. Thanks to Ed, one of the regular St Albans servers, for stepping in to help at Hertford in September. Many thanks also to the other priests, Mgr Reed, Canon Noonan, Fr Phipps and Fr Cullinan. One of the last Masses in St Albans was in the Dominican Rite, celebrated by Fr Thomas Crean who was visiting.

Thanks also to Tony Nevard who served weekday Masses which Fr Tim said daily for the last three weeks he was in St Albans when he returned early from holiday.

Mass at Spanish Place

Westminster (Spanish Place) - Roger Wemyss Brooks wemyssbrooks@outlook.com

Attendance at Mass has remained steady through the summer and is impressive with many visitors and a high proportion of young people and children. The provision of Mass books and propers is proving popular.

Fr Michael Cullinan, our regular chaplain for these Masses, has duties at Maryvale and has not always been able to be with us. Finding substitute priests on a Sunday is not easy as many have other commitments. Our sacristan, Linda Helm, works tirelessly to make sure that each date is covered. We are most grateful for the help offered recently by the following priests – Fr Mark Higgins who has moved from Ramsgate to Croydon, Fr Gabriel Diaz Patri from Argentina who is now based at Clapham Park, Fr Greg Norman w ho now is returning to Australia, and our close neighbour from Warwick Street Fr Mark Elliott Smith. As well as offering inspiring Masses they have given some stirring homilies.

Please pray for a former member of our Old Rite congregation - Maud Sutton, who has died aged 102. Many will remember her and her son Mike making a long journey to Spanish Place each week and making her way faithfully to the communion rail. Please pray also for Fr George Dangerfield who has died. For many years he offered the Old Rite Mass at Spanish Place before his retirement ten years ago.

Westminster (Maiden Lane)

After a short break during the summer months, the Monday Missa Cantata at Corpus Christi has resumed. Fr Patrick Hayward requested that another priest be found to celebrate this Mass and Fr Gabriel Diaz has very kindly agreed to do so. The LMS is immensely grateful to Fr Hayward for the many years he has cared for the Traditional Mass congregation at Corpus Christi, not only by offering Mass but also in his pastoral care.

As well as Monday and 2nd Friday Masses, there will also be a Traditional Latin Mass on Holy Days of obligation, as part of the parish Mass schedule.

Wrexham - Kevin Jones lms.wrexham@outlook.com 01244 674011

All Masses took place as planned during the last quarter at Our Lady of the Rosary, Buckley (first Saturday), St Francis of Assisi, Llay (second Sunday) and St Winefride’s, Holywell (fourth Sunday).

Sadly, this summer we were not able to welcome the St Catherine’s Trust Summer School and LMS Latin Course to Franciscan Friary Retreat Centre at Pantasaph due to its closure last Christmas. However, I know that both events took place in their new homes with great success!

On Saturday, 13 October the Latin Mass Society in conjunction with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, held what has become an annual pilgrimage to the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Sorrows at Wrexham. The pilgrimage is in honour of Wrexham Martyr, St Richard Gywn who is also co-patron of the LMS.

Our Mass was a Missa Cantata (Gregorian Chant) celebrated by Canon Poucin de Wouilt ICKSP who is assigned to SS Peter & Paul and St Philomena, New Brighton. MC was Mr P Russell and the Schola was led by Mr Christian Spence who also played the organ.

Despite the fact that Storm Callum was heavily afflicting Wales both North and South with truly atrocious weather, Mass attendance was on par with last year.

I’m grateful to the Bishop of Wrexham, the Rt Rev Peter Brignall and Canon Treloar, Cathedral Dean for allowing us use of the church once again.