DIOCESAN DIGEST

Mass of Ages quarterly round-up

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

We have been blessed with wonderfully regular Masses in Eastbourne thanks to Fr Tristan Cranfield of Our Lady of Ransom, and Fr Thomas Mason of the Ordinariate. Of course, as Latin Masses are very much dependent on where priests are assigned, we are very aware that these Masses can be ended at rather short notice, so we are extremely grateful while we have them. Fr Gerard Hatton has returned to health and is once again saying Masses in his parish at Knaphill and we still have the regular Masses in Lewes thanks to Fr Jonathan Martin, and to Fr Sean Finnegan in Caterham. There are quarterly Masses at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead. If any Masses have been omitted, please let me know so I can remedy that!

Thanks to all our supporters and the priests who make these Masses possible. If I can be of any help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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

For the first time since the reforms, the Christmas Midnight Mass at the Oratory was celebrated in the Extraordinary Form, following on from the successful Easter Triduum earlier in the year. There were also Christmas Day Masses at St Maryon-the-Hill, Wednesbury and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Wolverhampton, as well as a fine Missa Cantata at the latter on the Friday after the Epiphany.

I am sad to report that, after twenty-two years of faithful service as Parish Priest at Our Lady and St Kenelm in Halesowen, Fr Bruce Dutson retired at the end of January, with the oldest continuous EF Mass in the region ending at the same time. We wish Fr Bruce all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

St Dunstan’s church reopened in December and the EF Masses have resumed at Our Lady’s Altar while the main Altar awaits renovation, having been celebrated temporarily in the Conference Centre.

The parishioners of St Mary-on-the-Hill in Wednesbury were delighted to welcome back Fr Ian Verrier FSSP to celebrate Mass in early December, at the church where he was originally received into the Catholic Faith and where he was organist for a few years.

Birmingham (Little Malvern) - Alastair J Tocher 01684 893332 extraordinarymalvern.uk@btinternet.com extraordinarymalvern.uk, Facebook: Extraordinary Malvern

Missae Cantatae at St Wulstan’s are now established every Sunday. This has entailed additional preparation of music, much of which is now accessible on the Schola website (schola.uk). The Schola’s repertoire also, at last, includes a first polyphonic Gloria –from Hassler’s Missa super Dixit Maria – with more planned to follow in the coming year.

On the last Sunday on October – Christ the King – what is thought to be the first High Mass at StWulstan’s for 50 years was celebrated by Fr George Grynowski assisted by Canon Smith ICKSP and Fr Gribbin from Shrewsbury. This was followed two weeks later by our annual Requiem Mass on Remembrance Sunday, though this was less well attended than in the previous year.

Fr Stephen Schumacher, a priest of the Archdiocese of St Louis currently studying in Rome, was visiting the area, learned of our presence online, and kindly offered to celebrate Low Mass in the Lady Chapel on 1 January, which I believe was another first for many years.

Thanks as ever to Dom Jonathan Rollinson OSB (Belmont), Canon Scott Smith ICKSP, and Fr Anselm Gribbin for regularly giving up their Sunday afternoons to celebrate Mass for us; also to Fr George Grynowski as noted above and to Dom Paul Gunter OSB (Douai) – Parish Priest of nearby Alcester – for celebrating Mass for us on the Feastofthe Holy Family; and last but not least to our singers, servers, tea ladies, and offertory collectors, and to our Parish Priest, Dom Edward Crouzet OSB (Downside) for allowing us use of the church and hall.

Birmingham (North Staffordshire) - Alan Frost

Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Swynnerton near Stone continues to be the focus for Latin Mass devotees in North Staffs, and there is encouraging news. Two priests in the area are interested in celebrating the Tridentine Mass and hopefully we will witness this occurring in this new year and new decade. Further happy news is that a young lady and regular attender at N. Staffs Masses and LMS Summer Schools for a number of years is discerning a vocation and has recently entered a Convent as a novice.

Fr Chavasse, P.P. of Our Lady’s, who has suffered for some time from throat illness, experienced, briefly, a ‘little miracle’ by being able to join in with the carol singing at Midnight Mass. Earlier in the day the local choir gave a carol concert at Our Lady’s Church. It was well attended and Fr Chavasse gave the homily and read the Lesson.

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

Our annual Oxford Pilgrimage was well supported this year; we had a splendid High Mass in the Dominican Rite in Oxford Blackfriars (the Priory of the Holy Spirit), followed by a procession through the streets to the site of the martyrdom of Bl. George Napier in 1610, which is marked with a steel plaque in the Castle quarter, followed by Benediction. I should like to record my thanks to Fr Bruno Clifton OP, the celebrant, and the other members of the community who assisted, and to Alex Lloyd of the Newman Consort who provided some lovely polyphony to set off the Dominican chant sung by Oxford’s Schola Abelis.

Quarterly Sung Masses on Sundays in Holy Trinity, Hethe, have worked well in 2019 and will continue in 2020. The dates (tbc) this year will be 22nd March (Laetare Sunday), 7th June (Trinity Sunday), 4th October (Our Lady of the Rosary), and 13th December (Gaudete Sunday). These will be at 11am, not 12 noon as previously; I hope this will prove convenient for people. This beautiful historic church is well worth a visit.

Over the diocesan boundary in south Oxford, Sunday Masses at 5pm in Holy Rood continue, thanks to the generosity of Fr Daniel Lloyd. Sung Masses have proved harder to arrange than expected and so these Masses have usually been Low.

The occasional series of Sung Masses in the English Martyrs, Didcot, continues. The next one will be for the Ember Friday of Lent, at 7:30pm.

Regular Masses at the Oratory and SS Gregory & Augustine’s also continue, covering Sundays and feast days.

The big event for the quarter is the annual LMS Pilgrimage to Caversham. This year it will take place on Saturday 21st March, at 11:30am as usual; it will be a Votive Mass of Our Lady, and lunch is provided for pilgrims in the very comfortable parish room. Mass will be celebrated by one of the priests of the Fraternity of St Peter based in Reading, and will be accompanied by polyphony from the Newman Consort, as well as chant.

Fr Richard Conrad OP celebrating Gaudete Sunday 2019 in the Dominican Rite inHoly Trinity, Hethe

© Joseph Shaw

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

We are currently being blessed in our extensive ‘country’ part of the diocese. Our well-established Masses at Chelmsford, Kelvedon and Leigh continue to thrive, while more recently established Masses at Epping, Rochford, and Saffron Walden are gaining ground. One new venture involves Stansted Mountfitchet; Fr Lee Bennet is offering Low Mass every Tuesday at 8pm, starting Tuesday, 7 January – how wonderful all this is! We are so lucky in our priests – I do hope we ensure they know how much we appreciate them (and if we haven’t thanked them recently, perhaps we should do so the next time we see them!).

The comments in many issues of Mass of Ages about regular Sunday Masses seem well-justified –how marvellous, then, to report on a new venture in this regard. Fr Gerry Drummond (PP at St Theresa’s Rochford) and Fr Michael Halsall (both formerly Anglicans) are trialling a third-Sunday Low Mass at Rochford. This very neatly – Laus Deo! – completes a full Sunday EF Mass provision in the south-east of our diocese. I hope those of us within travelling distance will do all we can to support this venture and show our appreciation. Fr Gerry and Fr Michael are considering developing this later into a Missa Cantata if resources permit – it is important, please, that servers and singers (either experienced or willing to learn) get in touch with me so that we are well-prepared for this.

God works in wonderful ways. On 24 October (feast of St Raphael), Fr Stephen Morrison offered a Requiem Mass for the soul of Joan Lyons, aged 85. The music, by Tomas Vittoria, was beautifully sung by Cantores Missae, director Charles Finch. The Mass was particularly poignant in that Joan had been received into the Faith by Fr Stephen in her hospital bed.

A number of our friends in the diocese are suffering serious illness; if you are able to remember them in your prayers, we would be most grateful.

Cardiff - Andrew Butcher 07905 609770 cardiff@lms.org.uk www.lmscardiff.org.uk

A very happy and holy New Year to you all. Christmas Masses were offered on Christmas Morning at Belmont Abbey (Low) and The Cardiff Oratory in Formation (High). Thank you to the clergy and those involved in preparing these Masses.

Masses are continuing at Belmont Abbey, Saint Francis Xavier (Hereford), Most Holy Trinity (Ledbury), Our Lady and Saint Michael (Abergavenny) and The Cardiff Oratory in Formation, at the times stated in this Mass of Ages.

May I take this opportunity to thank the clergy who have worked so hard in the Archdiocese over the last twelve months and who continue to give so much support, given that most priests have several parishes or responsibilities. I would also like to thank you, the members of the LMS and all those who support the work of the traditional movement for your prayers and support over the last twelve months. A special thank you to Canon Jason Jones and Tom and Elaine Sharpling (Menevia Reps) for their all their hard work as we combine our serving and musical resources and work together for the good of the Society and the Traditional Latin Mass in our dioceses.

Please continue to support the Masses that are being offered, where it is possible, because without your support they will stop.

Pray for the repose of the soul of Mr Leslie Jones, the father of Fr Sebastian Jones’s Cong. Orat. who died on Christmas Day. Please remember Father, his mother and the family in your prayers.

If you know of anyone who is not a member of the LMS but may like to receive the Mass of Ages in their parish, please ask them to get in touch with me or Stephen Moseling at head office.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact either Shaun Bennett (Hereford) or myself. The latest Mass listings have been included in this edition of Mass of Ages.

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

We begin this quarter’s report with the welcome news that the Traditional Mass is returning to Bath. At the request of Fr Christopher Whitehead, Parish Priest of St John the Evangelist, Bath, Fr Rupert Allen will celebrate Low Mass at St John’s. Initially this will be on Saturdays 8 February, 14 March and 25 April, at 12:30pm. There will be opportunity for Confessions from 12 noon.

Please make every effort to come and support these Masses. If they prove popular it is hoped there will be a regular Mass at St John’s.

On Saturday 7 December, the new Community of Our Lady of Glastonbury celebrated a Mass in honour of the Benedictine Abbots Richard Whiting, Hugh Faringdon, and John Beche, together with the four other Benedictine Martyrs, including two from the monastery at Glastonbury, Richard James, and John Thorne. The Mass was celebrated in the presence of the former Abbot of Buckfast, Abbot David Charlesworth, and Br Hugh, representing the Abbot and Community of Prinknash.

The complete listing of twice-monthly Masses at Prinknash Abbey has now been published. This can be downloaded from the Clifton Latin Mass blog, address above.

Other regular Masses continue around the Diocese. We are particularly fortunate to have a Low Mass in the centre of Bristol, at the University Chaplaincy, every day of the week except Mondays and Saturdays, again celebrated by Fr Allen, the Chaplain.

East Anglia (West) - Gregor Dick

Sunday Masses continue at Blackfriars in Cambridge as usual. We would like to thank the friars for their hospitality, and also the servers and singers for their continuing generosity with their time.

Thanks are also due to Canon Eugène Harkness, the Parish Priest of Our Lady and the English Martyrs in Cambridge, for agreeing to the celebration in the parish church of a very well-attended Mass in the Traditional Rite on the Feast of All Saints, and also to the celebrant of that Mass, Fr Simon Leworthy.

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

The 2019 final quarter has been very successful in that the Barnard Castle monthly Masses have been reinstated, thanks to Fr Shaun Swales travelling in from 35 miles away. In addition, we were so pleased to welcome back recently ordained Fr Philomino, now a Priest of the Gosport Franciscan community.

He celebrated two Low Masses, firstly at his home parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Peterlee and next day, the Sunday Mass at Thornley.

On 8 December, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a large congregation gathered at St Joseph’s church, Gateshead for a Pontifical Low Mass celebrated by our new Bishop, the Rt Rev. Robert Byrne CO. This was an historic occasion, it being the first time that a Bishop ofthis diocese has offered an Ancient Rite Mass since the Novus Ordo introduction 50 years ago! In all a truly rewarding experience for all attendees.

The Bishop was assisted at the altar by Fr Michael Brown (PP) and MC Andrew Armstrong. The music was provided by the Westland Singers directed by Paul Dewhirst, who also played the organ. Choir items included Sacerdos et Pontifex (Peter Smedley), Ave Maria (Vittoria), Alma Redemptoris Mater (Palestrina), Panis Angelicus (Casciolini) and Ecce Sacerdos (Elgar).

After the Mass, His Lordship met and chatted with those attending; concluding a memorable day which we hope to see repeated in our diocese.

Bishop Byrne with Westland Singers

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

John Rogan 01524 858832 lancasterassistant@lms.org.uk

After some time, the EF Mass has returned to Our Lady and St Michael's, Workington: in November a Mass for the dead was celebrated by Canon John Watson. Around twelve parishioners attended and it was mooted that a regular Mass be organised. It is therefore planned to have a Mass at the Lady Altar every First Friday, but this will always be subject to Canon John Watson’s availability so please always check with him on 01900 602114 before travelling.

As reported in the last issue of Mass of Ages, Fr Docherty will be moving from Carlisle at Easter which will likely mean that the April Second Friday Mass will not take place; please check our website nearer the time.

Although three Masses have been booked at Hornby for the early summer, these too may be subject to change on Canon Ruscillo's return from Jerusalem, so please check before travelling. The first of these is scheduled for Sunday 17 May at 3pm.

We attended the Remembrance Sunday Mass at St Walburge, Preston in November and were most impressed. As you may have seen from the 2020 LMS calendar, there was an enormous catafalque situated on the sanctuary, covered with a Union Jack and surrounded by candles. The Requiem Mass itself took place at the war memorial side altar. It was a Solemn High Mass, celebrated by Canon Ryan Post, assisted by Canons Cristofoli and Tanner, and nine altar servers, all in an area of perhaps 12ft x 6ft! This was followed by the reading out of the names of the parish Fallen from both World Wars.

Holy Week will commence with the blessing of palms and procession only at St Walburge's at 10.30 am. Celebration of Tenebrae and Easter Sunday will be divided between St Walburge's and English Martyrs; please refer to their website for full details nearer the time.

The annual English Martyrs pilgrimage will take place on Saturday, 2 May leaving St Walburge's at 12 noon and processing to English Martyrs for High Mass and veneration of relics, followed by a social.

Liverpool (Warrington) - Alan Frost 01270 768144

There is splendid news on the vocations front at this time, as recently a young man of St Mary’s started at the FSSP Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Nebraska, and a young lady who attends regularly and helps out with events has also joined a convent as a novice.

The men’s group that meets weekly is proving very successful, with twenty on average engaging in chat and doctrinal talk. Concerning social issues, a pro-life group meets each month and there is a meeting each month for anyone suffering addiction to drugs or alcohol (a confidential phone contact is available). Also, attenders at services in the Shrine Church are encouraged to dress modestly. At the end of April Fr de Malleray will be leading a retreat for clergy at Stonyhurst (bookings@christianheritagecentre.com)

There is a change of clergy to report at St Mary’s Shrine. Fr Loewenstein is, until after Easter for health reasons, staying at a FSSP house in France. We thank him for his generous dedication at St Mary’s over the past two years and we assure him of our prayers for his recovery.

Fr Henry Whisenant, a priest from the Diocese of East Anglia, who spent time here in the summer, is now priest-in-residence for a while. After spending time at a traditional Benedictine community in Tasmania, he was allowed by his bishop to stay with us for a few months and help with pastoral ministry. Deacon Roger Gilbride, FSSP has also joined the clergy community until Easter. He is a New Zealander of English and Irish descent, in his last year of formation until priestly ordination next year. We are happy to report that Fr Alex Stewart is also back with the community until Easter.

Mass and Confession continue to be offered every day, with the Mass televised live (12.10pm) on the Internet (www.livemass.org). The first Mass of the New Year concluded with the singing of the ‘Te Deum’. There is also Compline each week on Wednesdays from 7 pm to 9.30. To contact the Shrine, please email www.fssp.co.uk/warrington or telephone 01925 635664. The Shrine and its mission are explained in this issue of Mass of Ages by the Rector, Fr Armand de Malleray.

Middlesbrough - Paul Waddington 01757 638027 middlesbrough@lms.org.uk

A Missa Cantata continues to be celebrated at the York Oratory every Sunday at noon. It generally attracts a congregation of about 80, many of whom are visitors to York. The York Oratory also offers Vespers and Benediction in the traditional form at 4pm on Sundays. Also, at the York Oratory, there is an Extraordinary Form Mass (usually a Solemn Mass) at 6pm on major feast days and Holy days of Obligation. Usually, there is a polyphonic setting of the Mass sung by the Choral Scholars, with the Propers sung by St Wilfrid’s Schola.

I am very pleased to be able to announce two new developments. Firstly, we now have a regular 7.30pm Thursday Low Mass at the Catholic Chaplaincy of Hull University. This is offered by Fr William Massie who has recently learned to celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form. This Mass attracts a congregation of about a dozen, which may include some students.

The second development is that there is now a regular 10am Low Mass on Saturdays at the Church ofthe Sacred Heart in Middlesbrough. This is offered by Fr Stephen Maughan.

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

The regular Saturday Masses continue at St Brendan's church in Corby. Fr Byrne offered additional Low Masses on the feast of All Saints, All Souls' Day, the Octave Day of Christmas and the feast of the Epiphany. On Christmas Eve there was a sung Midnight Mass.

Fr Byrne also officiated at St Patrick's church, Duston, for the funeral ofPeter Harrison on December 20th. Peter died in November at the age of 87; he was a long-standing member of the LMS and a former organist of Northampton Cathedral.

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

It might have been the clocks going back on 27 October so that people got an extra hour’s sleep, but on that Sunday 165 people came to the 8.30 am Mass at Christ the King, Bedford – by far the greatest number we have seen in the four years that the Latin Mass has been said there. So far this has not been repeated, but we run with a steady 100 or so each week and with newcomers all the time.

On the first weekend in November, we had a ‘first’ at Bedford in the form of trinated Masses for All Souls, said by our regular priest, Fr Patrick O’Donohue FSSP. We had the unusual experience and privilege of being able to receive Holy Communion twice in the space of an hour or so.

Three weeks later, one of the highlights of 2019 was the Mass of Reparation on 23 November at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Church of the Holy Child and St Joseph, Bedford. 110 people attended, significantly up on the 86 we had at the same event in 2018. Fr Patrick O’Donohue returned for a second year to celebrate the Mass, assisted by Fr Gabriel Diaz and Br Albert Robertson OP as Deacon and Subdeacon respectively. Unfortunately, our Director of Music, Matthew Schellhorn, was unable to be with us this time, but we had two male singers in good voice.

Our usual Christmas Day Low Mass was well attended and being at 8.30 am, there was time to enjoy a quick cup of tea or coffee in the hall before going home to put our turkeys in the oven. The Low Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany was attended by about 20 people, perhaps because it was not a Holyday of Obligation in England and Wales this year.

For various reasons, our Sung Masses in the last few months of 2019 were not as frequent as we would have liked, but we hope to remedy this in 2020. On the positive side, we have recruited some new male members lately and have also started a Children’s Choir, which practises each Sunday after Mass and is much enjoyed by our 7-year olds upwards – they are very quick to pick up the Latin. Many thanks to Katherine Smith for running this.

Our Family Catechism Days continue on the last Sunday of each month and our Patricians group, run by the Legion of Mary, continues on the second Saturday of the month and has seen some lively discussion about various ‘hot topics’ such as the Just War and Obedience to the State.

Regina Caeli, a hybrid homeschooling organisation based in the USA, of which the Bedfordshire Academy is the first in the UK, moved into its second term in January with three new children joining. I was fortunate enough to spend an afternoon there - please see report on page 42 of this issue.

Looking forward to the coming months, there will be a Low Mass for Ash Wednesday on 26 February at 7.30 pm at Bedford and at 11 am at Chesham Bois. Easter Sunday Mass will be at the usual time of 8.30 am at Bedford and 8 am at Chesham.

As always, you will find full details of our activities at https://www.facebook.com/bedfordlatinmass/

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

Our Masses in the Nottingham area continue uninterrupted. At least two Masses are sung: the anticipated Saturday for Sunday Mass at the Good Shepherd, Thackerays Lane, Nottingham at 4.45pm on the Saturday before the 2nd Sunday of the month, and the Mass at Our Lady and St Patrick’s at 2pm on the 3rd Sunday of the month.

Other Masses at the Cathedral, 3rd Wednesday at 6.15 and the Mass at Our Lady and St Patrick at 2pm on 4th Sunday of the month are usually Low Masses. Details as advertised in the Mass summary in this magazine are correct. There will not be a Mass at the Good Shepherd however on Saturday 11th April (Holy Saturday), nor on Easter Sunday.

Masses are also frequently celebrated at St Mary’s church, 97 Ashby Rd, Loughborough LE11 3AB on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Those interested in receiving updates should contact Fr Gillham, the Parish Priest, directly for confirmation.

It is good to see families with children attending our Masses as well as students and visitors from further afield. All are very welcome.

Our thanks to our hard-working celebrants, servers and musicians, as ever.

Nottingham South (Leicestershire and Rutland) - Paul Beardsmore

Our grateful thanks go to the Prior and Community at Holy Cross, Leicester, for sustaining the Sunday and weekday Masses. Our first Sunday Sung Masses have included, over the last quarter, The Holy Rosary and the Holy Name, and in December Mass was sung for the Immaculate Conception on the second Sunday.

A special day of liturgical studies for members of the Dominican province was held in Leicester on 15 November, and this was followed by a High Mass celebrated by the Prior for the feast of St Albert. Supper was provided for all after the Mass, and the day concluded with a talk on Dominican chant by Fr Innocent Smith, OP, of the Province of St Joseph, USA.

At dawn on 21 December a votive Mass of Our Lady (Rorate Mass) was sung at Holy Cross, episcopal permission having been obtained for this to take place on the feast of St Thomas. The celebrant was the Prior, and three Dominican student brothers were in attendance to serve the Mass.

Meanwhile in the neighbouring parish of St Peter's in Leicester, Canon Cahill continues to offer Mass on Saturday mornings and in the evening on first Fridays. On the first Friday and Saturday of November the Masses were sung for the feast of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls. An additional Sung Mass was celebrated for the feast of the Epiphany.

At St Mary of the Annunciation, Loughborough, Fr Gillham offers Mass frequently on Wednesday evenings, and Fr Dye at Oakham continues to say Mass on Friday evenings. On Friday, 31 January this Mass will be a Sung Requiem for the repose of the soul of Mackenzie Urquhart.

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

Whereas 2019 gave us some challenges to overcome – clergy movements and the loss of Buckfast Abbey as a venue for the celebration of the Old Rite – we start this year with the good news of another priest learning to celebrate the Latin Mass coupled with the provision of a new venue in uncharted territory. Fr Ralph Candy, parish priest of Sacred Heart & St Theresa of the Child Jesus in Paignton, is learning to celebrate the usus antiquior, and is keen for us to have this recently remodelled church as a venue. Not only is this good news for the local Catholic population, but also for the many summer visitors to this part of the English Riviera.

We also have to thank Fr Ralph for allowing an impromptu Latin Low Mass –the first usus antiquior to be celebrated in Paignton since the post Vatican II conciliar changes. This Mass was requested and celebrated – within a few hours on the same day - by Dom Gregory Carey OSB (Farnborough Abbey) while on a visit to family in the area, and took place on the afternoon of Friday, 27 December 2019 with myself as server and a dozen people in the congregation including, Fr Ralph.

Clergy movements are always of great concern to Latin Mass congregations as it often means the loss of a regular usus antiquior and a celebrant. Fortunately, this was not the case for us when we discovered that Fr Tony Pillari, who, since January 2017, looked after the spiritual needs of the nuns at Lanherne Convent, Cornwall, and of the Traditional Rite Mass congregation at St Edward the Confessor in Plymouth, had to leave us in January for further studies in Rome at the request of Bishop Mark. We were pleased to learn that Fr Pillari has been replaced by a French priest, Fr Xavier Champagne of the Institute of the Good Shepherd, who was officially introduced to us on Sunday, 5 January after Holy Mass during Fr Anthony’s leaving party (photo shows Fr Pillari and altar servers after the Epiphany Mass). At the moment, the Mass at St Edward the Confessor in Plymouth is the only regular Sunday morning usus antiquior celebrated for us in Devon, although we hope that this will change in the near future. We cannot thank Fr Tony enough for his dedication and exemplary pastoral care over these last few years, and we wish him every success in the future, while at the same time welcoming Fr Xavier among us.

Due to the lack of a celebrant for November’s second Sunday of the month Mass at Blessed Sacrament in Exeter, a cancellation at short notice was unavoidable. From a pastoral point of view a cancellation is never a good thing, especially at short notice as was the case, so I have to apologise to anyone that could not be contacted in time. However, for the December Mass we have to thank Fr Paul Rae CRL for standing in for Fr Peter Coxe, who I am happy to report, has confirmed his availability for most months this year. Fr Peter also celebrates the fourth Sunday of the month usus antiquior for us in the beautiful and unique St Cyprian’s Chapel at Ugbrooke House, Chudleigh, and has been a great help to us over the past months.

Do take note of the Mass Listings, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding our Latin Mass celebrations anywhere in the Plymouth Diocese.

Fr Pillari's last Mass at St Edward's on Epiphany Sunday

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

I am very happy to report that although 2019 was a cracking year on the Dorset Latin Mass scene, with our very first Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Chideock in honour of the Chideock Martyrs (see previous issue of Mass of Ages), 2020 has all the hallmarks of being even better. I can now inform you that the 2020 Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Chideock will take place at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius on Saturday, 27 June, and that Bishop Mark O’Toole will be in attendance. The Rupert Bevan Singers have been engaged to enhance the reverence and dignity of the liturgical celebration by singing William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices, making this an event not to be missed. Do put this date/event in your diary, although more information will be available nearer the time and it will be widely advertised.

The good news continues with Mgr Francis Jamieson - PP at Our Lady of Lourdes & St Cecilia, Blandford Forum – who, in addition to his usual two-monthly Latin Mass, has started a weekly Saturday morning 8am Traditional Low Mass of Our Lady on Saturday. It is quite possible that this new Saturday morning Mass will be moved to a later time depending on the needs of the congregation, so do be mindful of this if you intend travelling any distance to attend. This is the first weekly usus antiquior to take place in this part of Dorset for many years, in a church that has risen from being a mid-20th Century iconoclastic disaster, to the beautiful place that it is today - a worthy setting in which to experience the Traditional Roman Rite. In order to cope with the extra demand for the Old Rite in Blandford, two boys have taken up the offer of learning to serve on the sanctuary, so it will be a pleasure to see them in action soon.

At the Church of Our Lady, Marnhull, where Fr Martin Budge offers Confession before Mass, it was pleasing to see a young married couple experiencing the beauty of the usus antiquior for the first time, and to be assured that they will attend again. It was also pleasing to see the two ladies – Clair Gathouse and Emmy Drayton - who made the journey from Honiton (in appalling weather conditions) - specially to attend this particular venue for Mass. Both Clair and Emmy are regulars at our Traditional Mass in Exeter where I usually see them. Dominic Prendergast served Holy Mass, and, along with members of the congregation joined us in the church rooms afterwards for the popular free social lunch. This has become something of a tradition both here and at Blandford Forum, where at both venues, congregation members catch up with old friends and meet new ones over a shared meal.

At the moment we are working towards setting up other Dorset venues for a regular usus antiquior to cater for this growing pastoral need, so please pray for this intention and be both hopeful and patient. As always, do check the Mass Listings, and contact me if you require more information.

Portsmouth (Bournemouth) - Tim Fawkes 01202 730200

Our first Friday Masses at 6 pm have continued at the Bournemouth Oratory and have continued to attract a steady congregation of around 25 people. Additionally, a Missa Cantata was offered on 31 October at 7 pm and Low Mass for All Souls day at 8 am. A High Mass was offered on the feast of the Epiphany at 6 pm when the celebrant was Fr Tim Finigan, assisted by Fr Andrew Wagstaff as Deacon and Br Francisco Hintikka as Subdeacon.

A new venue for the TLM will be the church of St Thomas More, 42 Exton Rd, Iford, Bournemouth, BH6 5QG when, with the kind permission of the Parish Priest Fr Darryl Jordan, Mass will be offered each Sunday at 5.30pm and each Holiday of Obligation at 5pm by a visiting priest from the Marian Friars of Gosport. The Masses will start on Sunday, 9 February and Mass on 23 February will be a Missa Cantata. This is clearly a welcome development for those in the Bournemouth area wishing to attend Mass on Sundays and Holydays and we are grateful to the Marian Friars, Fr Daryll and Mr Nicholas Steven who have caused it to happen.

Portsmouth (Isle of Wight) - Peter Clarke

EF Masses continue on the Isle of Wight. With Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris moving from East Cowes to Cowes, most of the E.F. Mass will be offered at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Cowes; with occasional Masses at St Mary’s, Ryde.

This year marks 32 years of EF Masses being offered on the Island. We remember with gratitude all the visiting priests who came here in the past to keep the Old Mass alive. We would be pleased to hear from any priest who would like to spend a few days with us on our beautiful Island and to offer Mass for us.

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

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

Third Sunday Traditional Masses are continuing to be celebrated at St Clare's in Chester by priests of the Institute of Christ the King, with the support of a loyal core of congregants and choir.

One regular attendee was my father, Peter Nielsen, who passed away this December. He had always loved the Latin Mass since converting to Catholicism about 60 years ago and used to serve Latin Masses in the 1990s in the Liverpool / Wirral area and at St Winifride's Holywell. Please remember him in your prayers.

Shrewsbury (The Wirral) - Stefano Mazzeo 0151 638 6822 (For the Dome)

We had a wonderful Christmas at the Dome of Home, the shrine Church of SS Peter, Paul and Philomena, New Brighton, with a big thank you to Fr Sean Riley of Liverpool Archdiocese for coming over to celebrate Christmas Midnight Mass, and for the warm words in his sermon. Having had such a blessed Christmas season, we look forward to the spring. The activities and groups on offer at the Dome increase with the size our congregation. It is particularly heartening that tradition is popular among young people. Every Saturday morning there is also our weekly liturgy in honour of one of our patrons, St Philomena, said at her altar in the main church.

Canon Montjean, Canon Poucin and their team have enthusiastically put in place many actives such Catechisms Classes, Faith Talks, Fatima Family Days, church tours and Canon Poucin is teaching the traditional Gregorian chant method every Monday from 7 to 7:30 and Sundays before Mass in the presbytery for the Propers, contact chn.v.pouchindewouilt@icrsp.org. We also have a well-stocked Traditional Piety shop run by Ronnie and Maureen, with everything from Bibles, Missals to spiritual classics and from statues, rosaries, devotional cards to mantillas.

The running of such a big church as the Dome is not always easy, especially one that was once closed for a few years and saved by the vision of our inspirational Bishop, Mark Davies, who invited the Institute of Christ the King to take over and restore the church. However, we recently needed to have an extensive restoration to our heating system which cost a lot of money, this and our ongoing restoration means we are in ever need of donations, if you would like to help please contact the Rector, Canon Montjean, chn.montjean@icrsp.org. The Sisters at Birkenhead Carmel are making progress with their renovation project but there is still a long way to go. Daily and weekly Masses continue at both the Dome and Birkenhead Carmel, please see the Mass Listings for times.

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

This quarter has seen plenty of visitors, Henri de Villiers and the Schola Sainte Cecile visited at the end of August and we were treated to the Missa Exsultate Deo (François Cosset), including polyphonic settings of the Credo and Prayer for the Queen.

In September Cardinal Burke visited, his private weekday Low Mass was very well attended with at least 6 of our families. The Cardinal graciously came out to speak with us all after the Mass.

Our next visitor was Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett, who celebrated Sung Masses for us, on the Feast of All Saints, All Souls, and the Sunday. On the Sunday the Church was filled with families attending our annual All Saints party, with many of the children dressed as their favourite saint. After Mass each child was given the opportunity to tell us all about their Saint, with prizes for the children with the best costumes and story, the bishop then kindly gave an inspiring talk to our future Saints. After a shared lunch we repaired to the church for Procession, Litany of the Saints and Benediction to end the day.

Our next event of note, was the Confirmation of nine of our young people at St James’s, Spanish Place, with our Parish Priest, Fr Holden assisting on the sanctuary. The following day saw six of our children make their First Communion at our Sung Mass with the Propers sung to polyphonic settings by Isaac and Palestrina.

Our next visitor was Fr Tim Finigan for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The choir sang the Missa Dixit Maria (Hasler), including the Motet and Credo, the beautiful setting of the Ave Maria by Parsons, and finally the Alma by Guerrero. After the Mass, St Nicholas made his customary visit to hand out fruit and chocolate coins to the children.

On Gaudete Sunday Fr Basden returned for Solemn Vespers to celebrate his 40th anniversary of priestly ordination.

Once again we must thank Fr Southwell for spending his Christmas break with us. This year we have had a Sung Mass everyday between Christmas and Epiphany.

The Feast of the Holy Name being the Vigil saw our annual Blessing of Epiphany water and chalk, with sung Litany of the Saints, psalms, Antiphon, Magnificat and Solemn Te Deum. With the Gallons of water and pounds of salt that were blessed, we should be safe from the “accursed dragon and every diabolical legion” as one part of the many prayers accompanying this blessing tell us.

The following day the choir returned to sing for the Feast of the Epiphany, with over 70 in attendance, 6 servers, and 5 in the choir.

We now have an extra Mass on Friday at 6.15pm, this Mass will normally be sung and is followed by Bible study and light meal.

Southwark (Kent) - Marygold Turner 01580 291372

Our main excitement is the addition of a Missa Cantata at St Simon’s, Ashford, on the 2nd Sunday of the month at 12.30pm. It’s an “ill wind”, and due to Ben Bevan, (who over many years had given so much to a certain parish) and his choir being driven out, he offered to come to us once a month. They are very kind with their time, and all sing beautifully, and our regular server, Dr Andrew Czaykowski, is most generously mainly financing their singing.

On 12 January Ben brought a marvellous choir and organist and they sang Palestrina and a Bruckner motet – I have never heard better! Alderman David Hurley (former Mayor of Gravesham) was a very efficient MC and ably assisted by Andrew. Ben Bevan has arranged music for us on 3 or 4 other occasions, including an excellent amateur choir from Faversham with Ken Garbett in charge.

On a few occasions we have been lucky enough to have Hugo and Wolfgang Robinson as MC and server, which they do perfectly.

We had a beautiful Mass on the Feast of the Epiphany at Headcorn, with a very distinguished priest from London.

We are very blessed with our priest friends who come to minister to us in rural Kent. It was a great joy that Fr Richard Whinder was well enough to celebrate Holy Mass on the Feast of All Saints.

Westminster (Hertfordshire) - Tom Short

Masses continue on first Sundays at Baldock and on third Sundays at Old Hall Green. I am grateful to Canon Noonan for Baldock, especially as he is now taking care of an extra parish in addition to Shefford. Jamie MacDonald one of the former servers from St Albans, has taken on serving at Baldock on alternate months, and I am very grateful to him, and to Jim Whittamore who drives me there to serve the other months. It is good that the congregation has stayed stable, and in fact grown a bit. I would encourage members to support the two remaining Society Sunday Masses in Hertfordshire. Also, thanks to Mike Mason, who continues to organise Old Hall Green, to the priests, Mgr Read and Fr Cullinan, among others, who celebrate the Mass, and to Alan Robinson's son who serves.

While it would be good to have more Masses in Hertfordshire, getting priests would be a problem. The fact is that, apart from Baldock and Old Hall Green, members in all corners of Hertfordshire have Old Rite Mass opportunities on Sundays at Cambridge, Bedford, Chesham Bois, Our Lady of Willesden, Spanish Place, and Haverstock Hill. The lack I perceive is in Holy Day of Obligation Masses. Many of the venues above have Holy Day Masses in the morning, but people who work have few evening opportunities. Accordingly, I am looking into the possibility of getting some Holy Day evening Masses in Hertfordshire churches. If any member feels like approaching their Parish Priest to see if he would be willing to have a Mass on a Holy Day evening, or a vigil Mass to fulfil obligation the evening before, in his church, please do so and let me know if you get a positive result. Realistically, church and a priest may be easier to access for a vigil Mass.

Westminster (Spanish Place) - Roger Wemyss Brooks spanishplace@lms.org.uk

A busy season with well-attended Advent Sunday Masses, a glorious New Year's Day High Mass beautifully sung by Fr Rosario Joseph Mary; the Feast of the Epiphany on its proper day with Low Mass at Spanish Place and a wonderful High Mass for Epiphany in the beautifully restored shrine of the Blessed Sacrament at Maiden Lane.

First Holy Communions on the feast of the Immaculate Conception for three children of the Emezie family - Stephen, Rita and Michael.

The regular Low Mass at the Cathedral is now on the First Saturday of the month, in obedience to Our Lady's promises at Fatima. This Mass, prominently in the Lady Chapel, is beautifully said by Fr John Scott of the Cathedral staff.

Fr Michael Cullinan celebrates his Silver Jubilee of ordination with Solemn Mass at Spanish Place on 21 February. Please say a prayer in thanksgiving for his faithful ministry to the Old Rite community here.

After prolonged uncertainties we need to pray to Our Lady of Walsingham for her Dowry, our country, and to Our Lady of Willesden, Patroness of London, for our metropolis.

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

Not a lot to report this quarter, other than in the last couple of months, we have seen a worrying trend of attendance to our Low Mass dropping. We rarely see more than 13 to 19 people maximum, whereas just a few weeks prior we were achieving 30 plus. I am hoping that festive travel, the cold and dark winter days are responsible for the drop and that we will see a pick-up in the spring.

In addition, our regular altar server, Patrick, is no longer able to serve for us due to other commitments, but we are fortunate that Brandon, a media student working to achieve his PhD, is able to take on the role.

Wrexham - Kevin Jones 01244 674011 wrexham@lms.org.uk lmswrexham.weebly.com

It was with deep regret that I learned of the passing of Elizabeth Lloyd, wife of David Lloyd, a former Secretary and Chairman of the Society. Elizabeth (Betty) was a great support to our Holywell pilgrimage and prepared beautiful flowers to adorn the altar each year. Pray for the repose of Elizabeth’s soul and also for David and the Lloyd family.

Another regretful item of news concerns a long-time clergy supporter of the Society. Canon Bernard Lordan has celebrated the Old Rite at a number of assignments he has held in the Diocese of Wrexham over the years and most recently at Llay near Wrexham. Canon is under the weather and is undergoing medical treatment. Again, I ask for your prayers for his speedy recovery. Given this, I ask prospective attendees that you keep an eye on www.lmswrexham.weebly.com/mass-times.html for confirmation of Masses until further notice.

All the usual Masses for the previous quarter took place, with a Requiem at Llay in November for the War dead.

On Saturday, 12 October, the Latin Mass Society held its annual pilgrimage to Wrexham Cathedral, or to give the correct title, the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Sorrows.

The Mass was a Votive Mass of St Richard Gwyn, local Martyr for the faith and also a patron of the LMS.

Canon Ryan Post of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest was celebrant. Canon Scott Smith (also of the Institute) was deacon and Deacon Andrew Morrow (of Shrewsbury Cathedral) was Subdeacon. Canon Vianney Poucin de Wouilt sang in the choir with Mr Bernard Beattie and Mr Peter Bamford; Mr Christian Spence was organist; Mr Phillip Russell was the Master of Ceremonies.

The usual thanks go to the clergy, servers, cantors and of course the Bishop of Wrexham, the Rt Rev. Peter Brignall and the Cathedral Dean, Canon Simon Treloar for the their kind permission to use the Cathedral.

Following Mass, the Relic of St Richard was venerated and following that, Canon Post gave first blessings of a newly ordained priest.

Report from the Society of St Tarcisius - Joseph Shaw, National Coordinator tarcisius@lms.org.uk

The Society of St Tarcisius, the server training guild affiliated to the Latin Mass Society, was re-launched with new statutes and a beautiful medal for members to wear when serving, in December 2018. After a full year’s operation, it has seventy enrolled members, with twice that many on an email list, having had five training days in London, and five training and/or enrolment events outside London. I am hugely grateful for the many instructors who devoted many hours to this training, and to the various parish priests who welcomed us into their churches.

In the first half of 2020 I have arranged server training days in St James’s, Spanish Place, for 25 January, 14 March, and 9 May. These all have pages on the LMS website with full details and online booking forms. Demand for training does not seem to be slackening, and I would like to hear from those who can help with training, and also from those who can help to organise training events outside London.

Charles Reddin teaching Low Mass in St Mary Moorfields at the Society of St Tarcisius training day in November 2019

© Joseph Shaw