Mass of Ages The quarterly magazine of the Latin Mass Society
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ISSUE 180 – SUMMER 2014
Old Rite New Evangelisation: Bishop Philip Egan interview Do we still believe in Mass every Sunday? Plus: TV Star says Fr Brown has changed him. But...is BBC 1’s Fr Brown Catholic?
NEWS, FEATURES, COLUMNS AND COMPREHENSIVE TRADITIONAL MASS LISTINGS JOIN THE LMS NOW - APPLICATION FORM, BACK PAGE
CONTENTS
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
The Latin Mass Society info@lms.org.uk 11-13 Macklin Street London, WC2B 5NH www.lms.org.uk Tel: 020-7404 7284 Registered charity Fax: 020-7831 5585 No.248388 Mass of Ages No.180 editor@lms.org.uk Of your charity, we ask your understanding of the reality that, due to the considerable volume of e-mail received at Mass of Ages, it is regrettably not always possible to provide a reply. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Latin Mass Society.
NEWS AND FEATURES 4-5 6
8 8-9 9 10-11 12-13 14-15 16 18-19 20-21 22 23 24-25 26
Interview with Bishop Philip Egan Why I am learning to say Mass in the Extraordinary Form, Fr Robbie lOW At Mass with.... Crossword, Alan Frost Do we still believe in...? Fr Bede Rowe Salve Regina: Why Mary is Our Lady Parish profile: Know Popery, Catholic life in Lewes Hard work in Europe’s heartland, J.B. Burke The Thomas More Legal Centre LMS year planner The Art of Devotion, Caroline Shaw Spectacular Stations, composer Ian Wilson, Harriet Tait Sacred Sounds in a Secular World, interview with Matthew Schellhorn Is Fr Brown Catholic? Fr Brown’s latest victim, interview with actor Mark Williams
COMMENT
17 Letters 45 Family Notebook, Amanda Lewin 46 Macklin Street, Michael Lord 37 In Illo Temporo
AROUND THE COUNTRY 27-36 38-44 47
Diocesan reports Mass Listings A Photo finish
Cover: Mark Williams as Father Brown. Photograph by Gary Moyes, courtesy the BBC.
York Pilgrimage Mass, photo Joseph Shaw
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elcome to the 180th issue of Mass of Ages. Inside, is a mixture of the old and the new. We have some new columns and features, which we hope you will like, and we have our regular contributions and news. LMS members might not appreciate change in important things but, unlike a supermarket after the shelves have been randomly reordered, there is method in this madness. And we hope you will quickly find your way around and enjoy this latest edition – both the old and the new. For the first time, we have an interview with a leading member of the Church hierarchy (who is full of praise for LMS members): Portsmouth’s Bishop Philip Egan. We have a new ‘parish profile’ column, featuring a local community which enjoys Extraordinary Form Mass We introduce other new columns including ‘Do We Still Believe In?’, which will consider a different topic in each edition, this time Sunday Mass attendance. And, we take at look at BBC1’s Father Brown. We have also tackled the conundrum of how to refer to the Mass. A variety of different forms have been present in the contributions for this edition from traditional to Traditional to Extraordinary to Tridentine to old to rite to ancient. Most are fine, although some are actually incorrect. But such a plethora of names, even the correct ones, might lead to confusion. So, after much thought in Macklin Street, decisions have been made at the highest level about the Mass of Ages’ ‘house style’ on the matter. We do not want to be too prescriptive so henceforth, any of the following correct forms will be used in the magazine: Old Rite; Vetus Ordo; Extraordinary Form (subsequently abbreviated to EF Mass or EF); Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (subsequently abbreviated to EF Mass or EF) and Traditional Mass.
THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY PATRONS:
Sir Adrian Fitzgerald Bt, Lord (Brian) Gill, Prince Rupert Loewenstein, Dr James MacMillan CBE, Colin Mawby, Charles Moore
COMMITTEE:
Dr Joseph Shaw - Chairman; Paul Waddington - Treasurer; David Forster - Secretary; David Lloyd - Vice President; Paul Beardsmore - Vice President; James Bogle; Dr Jacqueline King; Stefano Mazzeo; Roger Wemyss Brooks 2
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
COMMENT
Chairman’s message by Dr Joseph Shaw
I write in Passiontide, conscious that I will be read in Eastertide, on the other side of the great liturgical watershed of Easter. Penance and violet vestments will have given way to rejoicing and white; the cry ‘Lord, help us!’ – Domine, adiuva nos! – by the Alleluia of praise and thanksgiving. The inevitability of the succession of liturgical seasons reminds us of the inevitability of Christ’s triumph over the World. It is, to be exact, a foregone conclusion. As I write, a series of very positive developments are taking place, which I would scarcely have thought possible a few years ago. Recent episcopal appointments include Bishop Robert Byrne as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, and the promotion of Bishop Malcolm McMahon of Nottingham to be Archbishop of Liverpool. Bishop Byrne was the Rector of the Oxford Oratory who introduced the Traditional Mass there on Sundays and Holy Days, at the request of the then Archbishop of Birmingham, now Cardinal, Vincent Nichols. Bishop McMahon was the first English Ordinary (as opposed to auxiliary) to celebrate the Traditional Mass in his own diocese, since the Reform. In Scotland, a spate of very positive recent appointments includes Bishop John Keenan of Paisley. The photograph below shows him, a few steps behind me, on the 2012 Chartres Pilgrimage, the annual 75-mile walk from Paris to Chartres accompanied by the ancient Mass. Just as significant as appointments are some of our bishops’ initiatives. I will soon attend the ordination of Fr Richard Bailey, who has been co-director of the Latin Mass Society residential Latin Course for two years. The ordination is taking place at what will soon, thanks to Bishop Terence Brain of Salford, be an Oratory of St Philip Neri in Manchester, whose community has long had a Sunday Mass in the Extraordinary Form. I have just returned from the Society’s York Pilgrimage, where Mass was celebrated in what will, thanks to Bishop Terence Drainey of Middlesbrough, soon be another Oratory of St Philip Neri, where the Sunday Traditional Mass is now sung every week. St Chad’s in Manchester and St Wilfrid’s in York are both fine and important churches, whose future will now be assured by these communities. In May, we will have our first pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Augustine of Canterbury at Ramsgate. The shrine was
recently established by Fr Marcus Holden, long a friend of the Society, as part of a strategy to preserve this wonderful Pugin church; another part of the strategy is the celebration of a weekly Sunday sung Traditional Mass there. In August, we have our first pilgrimage to SS Peter & Paul and Philomena in New Brighton, given as a shrine to the Blessed Sacrament to the Institute of Christ the King, who are exclusively committed to the Extraordinary Form, by Bishop Mark Davies, as a way of preserving this impressive, landmark church. It has just been announced that the stunning, but almost disused, St Walburge’s in Preston, will be given to the same Institute to look after, again as a shrine to the Blessed Sacrament, by Bishop Michael Campbell of Lancaster. This series of breakthroughs is breathtaking. What they underline is that the Church’s ancient liturgical patrimony is part of the future of the Church in England and Wales. That is why, in view of the Latin Mass Society’s halfcentenary next year, we are launching a new scheme to ensure the continued expansion of the Society’s work. To provide a predictable income for the Society for our new and existing projects, we are calling on our members and supporters to consider making regular donations of a few pounds a month. We have set ourselves a target of ‘Anniversary Supporters’ as follows: 200 people to commit to giving an extra £2.50 a month, 100 people an extra £5 a month, and 50 people an extra £10 a month. This magazine includes a flyer with more information and a form which can be used to sign up. Please do so at the level which suits you. Never have the prospects for the traditional movement in England and Wales been more positive. Never has the Latin Mass Society been more active. Please support our transition to the next 50 years of our work. In this issue I can thank Gregory Murphy, our Editor for the last two years, for his sterling service to the Society and our readers, and welcome his successor, Sarah Atkinson. We are greatly indebted to Greg’s zeal, hard work, and attention to detail, which so successfully launched the magazine’s full-colour incarnation and expansion. We all wish him well with his future work. Sarah has many years’ experience as a freelance journalist in the national secular papers, and as the editor of a Catholic magazine similar in format to the Mass of Ages. This, her first edition, bodes well for the fresh perspective she brings to the task. We wish her the best of luck. 3
NEWS FEATURE
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
Man on a Mission: Bishop Philip Egan M
ass in the Extraordinary Form must not be kept for a select few but be open to everyone, according to Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth, who envisages that traditional liturgy will be a key element in the Church’s new evangelisation. In an interview with Mass of Ages, the relaxed and affable, but clearly determined, Bishop praised the Latin Mass Society, saying: ‘I am very grateful to the LMS… in their enthusiasm, for preserving the heritage of the Extraordinary Form Mass.’ Bishop Egan, who was appointed last year, was happy to talk to the LMS, and maintained: ‘The task now [since Summorum Pontificum] is how to be less protective, not keeping it just for a few .’ He has already given clear public backing to the use of the Extraordinary Form, presiding at High Mass in St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth, last October. And, in the interview, the Bishop emphasised: ‘Some forms since Vatican II have been paraphrased Mass settings….Some have just been unworthy. They may be fine for round the camp fire but not for Mass.’ Recently, the 59 year-old from Cheshire, has spoken about the challenge of secularisation and attracted controversy over other things he is reported to have said. You only have to talk to him for a few moments to appreciate Bishop Egan’s concern on a range of issues. But the Bishop is full of good humour. And he devotes his whole attention to questions and clearly enjoys debate.
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It was also evident, that the Bishop is prepared to speak out on matters of importance. Unafraid of potential criticism, he said: ‘I worry about the attitude that, as long as you have a baptismal certificate, you have a right to get a child into a Catholic school. We expect a school to be evangelising and this culminates in uniting people together in the Eucharist.’ And he said ‘the Bishops have to give a stronger lead [in respect of attacks on RE teaching].’ A man on a mission, Bishop Egan is considering ways of tackling the schools question. In the meantime, he is reorganising Portsmouth, with three new vicariates in the diocese: Vocation; Formation and Evangelisation. It is part of an ambitious five year plan. But, Bishop Egan emphasises, at the heart of everything, should be Our Lord: ‘People need to be helped towards an experience of a transcendent God, to meet Christ in the Gospel. I took as my bishop’s motto ‘In Corde Jesu’. Our Lord is central.’ Authenticity is a watchword for the Bishop, who maintained that the Church should respond to ‘the head winds of a highly secular culture’ through authentic liturgy, whether it is traditional or modern. He said: ‘Evangelisation in a post-modern culture needs to bring out things old and new. Creativity is the key thing.’ He wants to see the Extraordinary Form Mass available throughout his diocese, wherever possible, and has invited the priests of the diocese to go on a training course, if they wish: ‘I have asked priests if they would like to learn. But
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NEWS FEATURE
no one has come forward yet…I’m hoping for regional coverage.’ LMS supporters should be heartened, the Bishop maintained: ‘Latin and chant have a secure place in the new evangelisation. A large number of people are looking for something very authentic.’ And Bishop Egan made clear he would like to see a rediscovery of the great traditions of the Church: ‘We are our tradition….I would like people to rediscover the beauty of the ages. Vatican II called for chant and polyphony to have pride of place.’ He added: ‘Chant is part of our heritage. It expresses the feelings of the human heart before a transcendent God.’ The Bishop, who studied Classics, said: ‘Latin is a sacred language. Its nobility and majesty can help us to appreciate the transcendence of God. ‘Latin reminds us of the university and catholicity of the Church.’ But, although he emphasised again and again the importance of authenticity, the bishop maintained that this can also be modern and in English. Although it may not be to the taste of many LMS members, he has plans for ‘worship style’ services at the cathedral. ‘There are thousands of students in Portsmouth. And I also want to get in place worship style music for Sunday evening Mass in a contemporary style,’ said Bishop Egan, who believes in pursuing the new evangelisation on all fronts – as long as it is ‘authentic’. Although he backs the spread of the EF, and believes this will prove inspirational for some, the Bishop acknowledges this is not going to be for everyone: ‘I think probably, being realistic, most Catholics prefer the Ordinary Form, they prefer Mass in English.’
Bishop Egan does not have a problem with different forms existing alongside each other: ‘There can be cross fertilisation of the two forms…No liturgy though will be ideal until we’re in heaven. For the foreseeable future, there will be two forms side by side.’ He maintained: ‘I am a believer in diversity…It is important, that [the liturgy] is authentic and sound and not exclusive. It is important that people should not feel excluded. ‘The pluralism of post-Vatican II can serve us well…I am happy with pluralism as long as it is done with authenticity and as long as it is done as well as possible. As long as people are playing a full and conscious part, leading into their lives.’ Emphasising the importance of liturgy translating into people’s lives, he added: ‘The connection of liturgy and life is an area to work on.’ He added: ‘In the Extraordinary Form, the accent is on the performance of the rite. In the Novus Ordo, there is much more emphasis on hearts and minds being connected.’ As with all the bishops, Bishop Egan is concerned about vocations but believes we may find new priests among our new arrivals: ‘We are facing a clerical shortfall at some point. But we have a lot of students coming forward. We can look to our new communities to give us priests [just as the Irish provided priests in the past].’ The Bishop is clearly very busy but he does not underestimate the challenges faced by the Church today: The new evangelisation is a major challenge for us. Thirty years ago there were 75,000 practising Catholics in the diocese, now there are 35,000.’. The lessons from history are clear, Bishop Egan says: ‘North Africa [where the early fathers of the Church came from] should be a warning to anyone.’
‘Some forms since Vatican II have been paraphrased Mass settings….Some have just been unworthy. They may be fine for round the camp fire but not for Mass.’
Bishop Egan enjoys the debate: Photos Aloysius Atkinson 5
NEWS FEATURE
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Taking the Plunge: Why I am learning the Extraordinary Form Mass
A previous LMS training course, Photo: Joseph Shaw
Fr Robbie Low
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hen a musician friend called me to ask if I was interested in learning to celebrate the Extraordinary Rite at Belmont Abbey after Easter, I said ‘Yes’ straightaway. Why? It might be helpful to give a bit of background. First, I am a convert. As a former Anglican I never had Latin in the liturgy anyway. Nostalgia or a sense of deprivation are not issues for me. Nevertheless some of the same ‘culture wars’ that occupied the Catholic Church for much of my lifetime, sidelining the old liturgy, reorientation of the priest, radical changes to sanctuaries, vestments and ‘music’ also washed through Ecclesia Anglicana. My Latin is rusty to non-existent. I got a poor O level in it and had to do a bit for my university entrance 40-odd years ago now. When my Medieval History tutor set me Latin texts, I had to buzz round to my reliable Classics neighbour for aid. I was glad I did it because it is the foundational language of our culture in any number of academic disciplines. Nowadays, I can remember rudimentary stuff but am well aware that, to use a modern cliché, a ‘steep learning curve’ is in prospect at Belmont Abbey in April. I am not going because I dislike the new. Indeed I enjoy celebrating the modern rite, especially now that it has been afforded an immensely improved translation, so I am not doing this as an act of self gratification or self improvement. I am not a ‘party’ man. I do not count myself among those who think Jesus invented the baroque and am not greatly taken with lace on men or the sort of culture which gives
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marks out of ten for liturgical dressage. Nor am I an enthusiast for the iconoclastic school whose mission seems to have been to evacuate the sanctuaries of any sense of the numinous and defend banality and justify bad taste by pointing, dishonestly, to the Second Vatican Council. It seems to me that Mass should be offered simply, prayerfully and to the best of our ability. It also seems to me that if the Church says she offers something then, as one of her priests, I ought to be in a position to do just that. That is the burden of my own heart and not a judgement on anyone else’s decision . I have had some older folk say they would like the opportunity of the Extraordinary Form and some of their contemporaries say that wild horses wouldn’t drag them back to it. I have had testimony from priests who have learnt to celebrate it saying that it has deepened and enriched their priesthood and others who would regard my trip to Belmont as quirky. But I have also met young people, with no history, who have come to it and spoken with gratitude of a dimension it has opened for them. I also resonate profoundly with Pope Benedict XVI’s ‘hermeneutic of continuity’. In the Catholic Church we have great liturgies, ancient and modern, and great treasuries of music and prayer. They should be at our disposal to lift up the hearts of our people and offer the Sacrifice. I am grateful to the Latin Mass Society for this opportunity to learn and will take up their kind offer of reporting back to you in due course. Four of us are going from our deanery. Pray for us.
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
MASS OF AGES
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NEWS FEATURE
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
At Mass with… Timothy Whitebloom
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n keeping with the new evangelisation, for each edition Mass of Ages will be asking someone to attend Extraordinary Form Mass and then tell us about it. They might barely remember it or have never been before. They might have negative memories or be interested to investigate. We will not, though, put words into their mouths. This first time we hear from the Grammy award-winning director, Timothy Whitebloom, who has a string of prizes for television and cinema work to his name. More familiar these days with a movie camera than the Traditional Mass, Timothy, a former altar boy, who has not been to an Old Rite service since his First Holy Communion, agreed to attend an EF Mass when he was in London recently. He admitted he was sceptical, but what can you do when your sister asks a favour? ‘It was a real throwback to when we used to go to Mass,’ he said. ‘I went to the Brompton Oratory and, to my surprise, there were about 50 to 60 people there. I thought there would only be about five people.’ ‘It was all in Latin and the whole time the priest has his back to the congregation. At Communion, we knelt down at the altar rails.’ He was impressed that the EF felt less of a ‘performance’ with less focus on the personality of the priest: ‘It was really traditional but, somehow, less parochial. I was focused during the whole of the service.
‘It felt more spiritual and I felt much more connected to the service because it wasn’t in English. It seemed a lot more profound…there was no shaking of hands or anything. We were all focused on the Mass rather than the priest. Often, at Mass it’s all about the character of the priest and this wasn’t like that.’ Timothy maintained: ‘It didn’t feel as though we were all trying to be religious, though, but it did feel as though we were a group together, even though most people were alone. ‘It was a mixed crowd. There were teenagers there and people in their 80s.’ He added: ‘I felt myself listening intently. It was stripped back, a proper Catholic Mass, much truer and simpler. ‘I would definitely go again. I feel really pleased to have had this experience in Lent. I am much more likely to go to a Latin Mass than an English one.’ Timothy concluded: ‘From being a very odd thing to do, I got something out of it that I hadn’t expected. It felt really special in a way I hadn’t thought about Mass being special in 40 years.’
MASS of AGES CROSSWORD (AF1) May 2014 Name:................................................................. Address:............................................................. .......................................................................... .......................................................................... .......................................................................... Landline:............................................................ Mobile (optional)............................................... E-mail (optional):............................................... [Alan Frost : March 2014 ]
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Do we still believe in.... Going to Mass on Sunday? Fr Bede Rowe
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t is a well known fact that children do not like eating vegetables, and parents spend a disproportionate amount of their time trying to persuade their offspring that they are (i) good for them, (ii) essential if they want to be taller/shorter/stronger/ cleverer… Of course, you can have a thousand well meaning explanations and arguments, but what it comes down to is this: I am your mother, and know what is best for you, and you will eat these darned things or you will have no chocolate cake. Perhaps this is a little too autobiographical, but this is the basis and reason for our Sunday Mass obligation. We are children and do not necessarily know what is best for us. We can be selfish and self-centred and want a cosy religion, turning up when we want to, doing what we want in our own way and on our own terms. But the worship of God is His right and due, not ours. It gives us His grace and puts us in the presence of the angels and saints. The obligation is there to stiffen our resolve and strengthen us when our faith is weak. We must attend Holy Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, if we willfully do not do so then we must go to Confession as soon as possible. Our mother, the Church, knows what is good for us, what will help us grow up, strong in the faith. And sometimes she just tells us to get on and do it.
Across 1. Maurice, French composer (d.1986) of religious works, especially his Requiem (7) 5. Saint, Doctor of the Church and a herb! (5) 8. A 19 Down, with Latin (3) 9. Book of the Pentateuch (9) 10. ‘----- Te devote’, eucharistic hymn by St. Thomas Aquinas (5) 11. Bull issued by Pope Pius V in 1570 declaring the universality of the Tridentine Roman Rite Mass (3,6) 14. --------- de Faverches, Lady who in 1061 established the Shrine of Walsingham (9) 18. Pensive, mournful poem, as in the one by Thomas Gray ‘Written in a Country Churchyard’ (5) 21. Our Lady of ---------, shrine derived from Milan, in West Grinstead where Hillaire Belloc buried (9) 22 & 20. Down: --- ---- International, or FIUV, global federation to which LMS belongs promoting Traditional Rite (3,4) 23. St. Cuthbert -----, one of the Forty Martyrs whose head is kept in the monastery of the F.I. Sisters at Lanherne (5) 24. Lancs. town of paints and motors fame where Fr. Simon Henry (Offerimus Tibi Domine Blog) is parish priest (7) Down 1. Ruler with absolute power, usually applied despotically (8) 2. Our Lady of ------, Feast Day 24 September and name of famous Guild (6) 3. Clause of some historical controversy in the Credo, ‘(and) from the Son’ (8) 4. ‘-- ----‘, type of prayer offering associated with a vow (2,4) 5. City of origin of a pilgrim wife with a story in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (4) 6. In human anatomy the main triangular bone of the pelvis (6) 7. One of the seven deadly sins (4) 12. Mystical and nominal invocation of Our Lady for a herb! (8) 13. State of the USA probably named after Our Lady (8) 15. All Saints Pastoral Centre, London ------, where LMS held Priest Training Conference in 2009 (6) 16. Go off track with anagram of Ailred (6) 17. “What’s ------ to him or he to ------”, Hamlet (Act 2 Sc.2) (6) 19. Jargon term for a swindle (4) 20. See 22 Across
The LMS’s own Alan Frost, a professional crossword compiler, contributed the puzzle this time. Keeping it in the family still further, anyone ready to take on the challenge can submit completed entries for the excellent prize of Matthew Schellhorn’s debut solo CD, Stations, see page 23. Entries must be submitted by 29 June 2014 to the Mass of Ages Crossword Competition, Latin Mass Society, 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH. The prize last time was won by Mr David Banister of Ipswich. He received a copy of ‘Black Legends’ by Dr John Rao Answers: to Issue 179
ACROSS: 1. Deus, 4. Alto, 8. Morgan, 9. Gloria, 12. Hewn, 13. Atoll, 14 Tibi, 17 Rubrics, 18. Stephen, 19. Peccata, 22. Caritas, 25. Upon, 26. Stole, 27. Mull, 30. Oratio, 31 Martha, 32. Pray, 33. Ante. DOWN: 2. Ergo, 3. Sanctus, 4. Angelus, 5. Troy, 6. Cobweb, 7. Finish, 10. Thor, 11. Zion/Sion, 15. Silas, 16. Terra, 19. Paul, 20. Choirs, 21. Anthony, 22. Columba, 23. Taught, 24. Silk, 28. Star, 29. Erit.
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Salve Regina:Why Mary is Our Lady O
ur Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, these are just a few of the titles given to the woman known in the Gospels, most often as Mary . Why does she hold such a place of honour within the Church and in the lives of so many millions of Christians? Our Lady is referred to in the Creeds, she is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass and is celebrated in 14 or more feast days not to mention votive Masses and prayers and devotions, particularly the Rosary. There is no doubt about the place of honour that Mary has held down the ages and in the spiritual life of so many people of faith. Why is this and what should our response be to the Blessed Virgin Mary on our own faith journey? The references in the New Testament to Our Lady are few but significant. The Annunciation. The Visitation to Elizabeth. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and the Presentation in the Temple. St Matthew tells us of the flight into Egypt and the return to Nazareth. Our Lady is with Jesus at Cana. She is there as Jesus suffers and dies on Calvary: Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother (Jn19:25). She was in the upper room: Then, in the Book of the Apocalypse, we find the prophetic vision of the great sign appearing in heaven: A woman adored with the sun, standing on the moon with twelve stars on her head for a crown. We learn from Our Lady about the way of discipleship. She teaches us in and through the events of her life. She is revealed to us as the woman of faith, who played a unique part in the
life and mission of her Son, Jesus. We know little about the details of her life but tradition has given us a number of accounts of her early years and events following that first Easter morning. In the manuscript known as the Protoevangelium of James, Our Lady’s parents are identified as Anna and Joachim. We are told that Mary spent her early years living in the Temple at Jerusalem and was betrothed to Joseph at the age of 12. Other sources, known as apocryphal writings (non canonical writings of the early Church) also elaborate details concerning the life of Mary. Following Pentecost, Our Lady is said to have lived at Ephesus, under the care of St John. It was at the Council of Ephesus in 432AD that she was given the title Theotokos Mother of God, or more accurately, the one who gave birth to God . This is the oldest and most significant of her titles. Early theologians such as Tertullian, Justin and Irenaeus, exalted Our Lady’s holiness and developed the theme of Mary as the New Eve, who reverses the disobedience of the first Eve. What is crucial to note is that Our Lady’s significance is derived wholly from her relationship to her Son. Mariology is derived from Christology. The Church s teaching about The Blessed Virgin Mary; the dogmas of her Immaculate Conception and Assumption, are rooted in Christology and speak to us first and foremost about Christ. Mary stands as silent witness to the divinity of her Son Jesus.
Photos from Our Lady of Consolation shrine in West Grinstead 10
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We can see how the dogmas of her Immaculate Conception and Assumption speak to us of the destiny of the Church, and therefore of each one of us united in Christ through our Baptism. These beliefs reveal truths to us about Jesus, as our Lord and Saviour, about Mary His mother and about ourselves. Our Lady holds a unique place within the Church. It is place of honour given to her as Mother of the Redeemer. This honour should never be confused with adoration, which alone is offered equally to the Incarnate Word and to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Our Lady continues to fulfil the will of God in her life; she teaches us much about our relationship with God; what it means to be totally open to grace. Our Lady has been given to us by her Son, as our mother. She cares for us with unlimited love. She desires that we too, come to share the eternal glory of heaven. She will lead us to Jesus, if we allow her into our lives. In so doing, we can come to share in her joy and proclaim her words as our own: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exalts in God my Saviour. Such was the devotion on these shores to Mary, Mother of God, that England was known as Our Lady’s Dowry during medieval times. It is not known when this dedication began but, experts believe, it was already established by the reign of St Edward the Confessor. May is Mary’s month and also of the LMS’s pilgrimage to a very special shrine to Our Lady – at West Grinstead. Here is a brief introduction to some of the shrines of England and Wales. Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead. Unlike most other shrines to Our Lady, the shrine at West Grinstead is post-reformation. It was created in 1876 to give thanks for the fact that Mass was said in the area in recusant times, by dedicated priests and with the assistance of the local Caryll
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From the church at West Grinstead family. The priest’s house is said to be the oldest Catholic presbytery in continuous occupation in the country and boasts a secret chapel. Its history speaks of the determination to keep the faith alive and represents a tribute to those who gave their lives for the Church and who dedicated themselves to Our Lady’s Dowry. With thanks to Fr Rod
Renowned bishop to lead LMS Marian pilgrims Bishop Athanasius Schneider will be presiding at the LMS West Grinstead pilgrimage Pontifical High Mass on Saturday 17 May and attending the Society’s Conference on 24 May in London. He will also celebrate Mass at the LMS pilgrimage to Ramsgate on 26 May. Born during the Soviet era, Bishop Schneider is the general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Kazakhstan. The 53 year-old bishop is particularly well known for his ‘small book’, Dominus Est It is the Lord (a quotation from the Gospel of St John). In the work, which aroused considerable attention, Bishop Schneider argued for the Blessed Sacrament to be received kneeling and on the tongue. He pointed out that the present practice is different from that of the early Church. Bishop Schneider went with his family to Germany as a child and joined the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra (Augustinians) aged 20. Bishop Schneider returned to the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan as an auxiliary bishop at the age of 45. There are some 250,000 Catholics in Kazakhstan, many are ethnic Germans. (For full details of his visit to the UK, see the LMS website.) 11
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Know Popery: Catholic Life in Lewes M
ass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite is simply part of the ‘weekly prayer cycle’ at St Pancras Catholic Church in the historic county town of East Sussex. Fr Jonathan Martin told Mass of Ages it is an important part of the diet of Catholic Lewes, alongside the Ordinary Form Mass, the Rosary, Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, and the daily public recitation of Lauds and Vespers. He said: ‘There’s something for everyone in the parish.’ He maintained: ‘The two forms of the Roman Rite sit
alongside each other. There is so much diversity now. It is mutually enriching.’ Fr Martin has been parish priest in Lewes, which is better known as the capital of the Sussex bonfire belt, for two years. His predecessor established the tradition of saying Mass in the Extraordinary Form on the first Sunday of the month. Fr Martin has added a Saturday morning Mass in this Form each week and celebrates in both forms on Holy Days. He hopes, one day, to say it at Lewes Priory, the town’s ruined Cluniac monastery, on the feast of St Pancras.
Fr Jonathan Martin and (overleaf) St Pancras Church, Lewes
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Fr Martin says: ‘I really love it. It has enriched my devotion to the Mass enormously. The two forms of the Mass inform each other. Sunday by Sunday, I have become more conscious of the history and development of the Mass and more appreciative of this great Mystery of which we are stewards.’ ‘The whole breadth of experience and the great range of authentic Catholic worship can only be enriching.’ According to Fr Martin, they may not be great in number, but a wide and diverse group attends Extraordinary Form Mass in Lewes, many of whom are not LMS members: ‘The youngest person is 15, the oldest is about 80. There are 20-somethings, married couples, and some young families. ‘People come for all sorts of reasons and they have found it enormously rewarding and enriching. They are glad to have the opportunity.’ ‘At the moment, about 15 people a week come to the Saturday morning Mass,’ says Fr Martin. ‘Fewer people attend the Tuesday evening Rosary, but we wouldn’t abandon that just because of low numbers’. Fr Martin is very glad he is able to offer both forms of the Mass. Only recently, he said, he had two funerals in a few days; one elderly lady had specified in her will that she wanted an Extraordinary Form funeral Mass, the other wanted an ordinary Mass. He was able to do both: ‘I would hate to be in a situation where it was becoming widely available and I was unable to say it.’ Fr Martin recognises that the Extraordinary Form is outside the experience of a lot of Catholics, who have been brought up with the idea that you have to be ‘doing something’ at Mass in order actively to be participating. But, he says, taking part in a pre-Conciliar Mass, I think people often participate more deeply in terms of their interior engagement with the action of the Mass. ‘You have to do that in the Extraordinary Form,’ he says. ‘It is enriching when you then attend an Ordinary Form Mass.’ But, Fr Martin says, the people who attend the Extraordinary Form are not part of a separate community; nor would he want them to be. They are very much part of the wider St Pancras community. ‘They have the opportunity here to experience of all sorts of authentic Catholic forms of prayer.’ Fr Martin may have even greater challenges. Once a year, he invites Lewes to a Know Popery talk, as a slightly tonguein-cheek response to the No Popery of the town’s bonfires. About 50 people have attended, which is a real result for
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Lewes. One of Fr Jonathan Martin’s irregular regulars at Lewes is Anne-Marie Mackie-Savage, one of the many younger people who have no historic memory of the Latin Mass, but are now positively evangelical about the Extraordinary Form. The 40-something Sussex resident is making up for the past with dedicated enthusiasm for the Traditional Mass, which sees her family travelling hundreds of miles a month to different parishes across the county. She is such an enthusiast, that Anne-Marie has even become one of the LMS Reps in Arundel & Brighton. It was not always so and Anne-Marie admits that, when she first attended an Extraordinary Form Mass, she wondered what it was all about. It was not long, though, before she was hooked and became one of A&B’s travellers, who go on long weekly progress in search of the nearest Traditional Sunday Mass. ‘Once you’re hooked,’ she says. ‘Nothing else will do. There’s nothing like it.’ It is becoming easier, as more priests offer the Extraordinary Form, but many of the travellers wish they could just be part of a local parish. ‘Travelling over an hour is not unusual,’ she says. ‘If you don’t have a car it can be impossible.’ Anne-Marie adds: ‘Nobody wants to feel out of it [in terms of not being a full part of a parish community] and you do meet lovely people in the local parish but, spiritually speaking, it [the Extraordinary Form] is why we travel.’ Anne-Marie speaks with genuine passion for the Traditional Mass and the stillness and silence that goes with it. And she is far from alone in her pilgrim’s progress. ‘A lot of people travel very long distances, ’ she says. And, she also points out that not all of them are stalwart members of the LMS or stereotypical traditionalists at all. Extraordinary Form Mass is attracting a varied congregation. According to Anne-Marie: ‘LMS members are probably in the minority of those attending. Some people are not society-type people. They hear about the Masses through word of mouth in the parishes. Some might call themselves traditionalists but they’re not necessarily members.’ The A&B Rep said there has been strong interest among young people in Brighton and among families in Lewes. Anne-Marie has a young relative who really enjoys going and now does not like Masses where there is too much talking. ‘To say there is no demand is ludicrous,’ Anne-Marie insists. 13
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Hard Work In Europe’s Heartland by J.B. Burke
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W
e met at the venerable Schlossgarten Hotel opposite Stuttgart’s classical railway-station that ‘progress’ is forcing underground in a new direction - despite environmental demonstrations. It seemed a symbolic place to meet Monika Rheinschmitt, who chairs the leading Germanic equivalent of the Latin Mass Society, as she is protesting against the Vatican’s latest shift in the name of modernity, and will be at the traditionalists’ next rally in Rome, Further change of policy could drive Swiss, German and Austrian access to the klassisches rite virtually underground because their Pro Missa Tridentina (PMT) is not as well established as the LMS. Mrs Rheinschmitt explains: ‘All ages are represented among our members, but most are in western and southern Germany, while some groups nationwide cannot get the old liturgy. Today, not a single German bishop favours it.’ There was never a basis like Cardinal Heenan’s indult, and East Germany was closed territory until the Iron Curtain collapsed, which is why only Leipzig, Potsdam and two small towns there have the Extraordinary Form Mass. Swiss traditionalists did get a boost from Lefèbvre’s seminary while still recognised, and then in 1988 from the papal founding of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, based in Freibourg. Germans benefited from having its seminary at Wigratzbad in Bavaria which I visited in 1990. Its priests say Mass in nearly all seven Austrian dioceses, four out of six Swiss ones and 12 out of Germany’s 27 dioceses, including Stuttgart. One such celebration at a local school in 1989 was a revelation to Mrs Rheinschmitt, then aged 28, and barely a year later she was not only in a new Gregorian choir but vicechairman of the recently formed lay association, Pro Missa Tridentina. In 1995, she went to Rome with 70,000 Swiss, German and Austrian signatures, requesting access to the EF Mass. Meanwhile it took intense effort to get even 70 churches in the three German-speaking countries to provide the old Mass, and the breakthrough was the election of a Bavarian as pope, whose Summorum Pontificum in 2007 produced a surge. After trebling to 120 the following year, the number of German churches with a regular EF Mass has become somewhat static at 152, including 53 on any Sunday and 27 on some – covering every diocese except Erfurt and Magdeburg. Compare that with our own 163 locations in all 22 dioceses serving a nominal Catholic population one-fifth that of Germany’s, even though its total has fallen from 28m to 24m since reunification made a nation of 80 million. Extraordinary Form centres in Austria have actually dipped to 36, being overtaken by a steady increase in Switzerland that includes 21 Masses every Sunday. These include the Senti church in Lucerne, which was packed when I went there, as well as both EF churches in Geneva and two of Zurich’s five. As for Austria, three of Vienna’s nine sympathetic churches offer the Traditional Mass on Sunday, and I have attended one of the two Sunday Masses said at the Minoritenkirche in Linz. Two churches are available in Salzburg, the home of PMT’s honorary president, Professor Wolfgang Waldstein. The situation in Berlin is somewhat mixed in that it had only
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an unauthorised Pius X chapel until 1994, when the diocese allowed the EF Mass in easterly Prenzlauer Burg. Ten years later, Sunday celebration was also allowed in working-class Wedding, and with weekday Masses at four churches, Berlin’s monthly total is 47. It is just one church in other German cities like Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt as well as Cologne where 250 lay folk attended Pro Missa Tridentina’s last annual general meeting when Dr Wolfgang Denkhaus from Mainz was confirmed as the current vice-chairman. The main speaker at this year’s event on 28 June will be Martin Mosebach, a Büchner prize-winner, whose Heresy of Formlessness is in English translation. Complete with Sung Mass, the AGM will include veneration of a Marian reliquary in Aachen. It is exactly 1,200 years since Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, died there, and the traditionalist remnant’s ardent prayer is for rebirth of the sacred in Rome, as Mrs Rheinschmitt explains: ‘The challenge can be summed up as Lex orandi, lex credendi. How can Catholics keep the faith when priests, bishops and even cardinals deviate from it? ‘Our only long-term success is that thousands of Catholic persevere throughout the year in getting to centres for the Mass of ages, but there are occasional achievements such as the Pontifical High Masses: Ratzinger in Weimar (1999); Castrillon in Munster (2001); Burke in Essen (2010); Dick in Cologne (2013).’ Following a March lecture in Kiel on Extreme Unction, last month saw a gathering in Cologne of several liturgists, ranging from Fr Uwe Michael Lange, a German at Brompton Oratory, to Dr Athanasius Schneider, now a bishop in Kazakhstan. German speakers will join the traditionalists’ pilgrimage to Rome in October, and Mrs Rheinschmitt has already gathered 2,000 signatures in favour of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. PMT is affiliated to Una Voce, which even has a parallel organization in Germany as well as an Austrian one that was defunct for a decade and is most resurgent in Vienna. Una Voce Deutschland, whose latest three-day conference was in April, publishes a liturgical calendar as well as a quarterly bulletin. Also traditional is Pro Sancta Ecclesia, a small group of papal loyalists centred on Bavaria, whose agenda is similar to Pro Ecclesia here. Its activities include a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine at Alltötting complete with High Mass. Plainchant has already made a comeback, and last year saw the formation of a second Gregorian choir school in Stuttgart, this time for male voice. ‘German Catholics take the trouble to sing the liturgy, either with a choir or just an organist,’ says Monika Rheinschmitt, a computer specialist, whose labours extend to editing the twiceyearly Dominus Vobiscum, now into its eighth issue. Earlier ones are available on the website pro-missatridentina.org that lists all Mass centres where German is widely spoken. That includes 14 in Alsace, Luxemborg, South Tyrol, Liechtenstein and Croatia. The writer is a former Reuter’s correspondent in Berlin, and he was also a religious commentator on the BBC’s onetime German service. 15
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Thomas More Legal Centre O
n 1 September 2007 a group met in London to consider where abortion-inducing drugs were administered. In each the formation of an organisation to provide legal advice case after TMLC intervention the nurses were told that the and representation to individuals whose religious hospital accepted their right to conscientious objection and freedom was threatened by employers or Government. they would not be required to work in the abortion clinic. TMLC also represented a former NHS employee, Margaret The initial impetus was the coming into force of the Sexual Orientation Regulations which were to ultimately lead to the Forrester, who in the course of a conversation with a colleague gave the colleague a booklet ‘Forsaken’ in which five women closure of the Catholic adoption agencies. Following that meeting, the Thomas More Legal Centre who have had abortions talked about their experience and its affects on them. (TMLC) was created as a When Margaret was sacked, registered Charity with Richard TMLC became involved and Kornicki OBE a retired Senior put in an Employment Tribunal Civil Servant, as Chairman and claim as well as a High Court Neil Addison as Director. Neil claim alleging discrimination and is a Barrister and combines the breach of the Human Rights Act. TMLC job with ordinary legal The NHS settled the claim. practice. As he puts it: ‘I would When abortion provider Marie love to do the job full time but we Stopes International wrote to the simply do not have the money Catholic charity, Good Counsel so I do the job unpaid because Network, threatening them with what we do is important.’ injunctions, TMLC responded to He is also one of the tour the solicitor’s letters. Following guides at the “Dome of Home” TMLC response, Marie Stopes did Traditional Latin Mass shrine in not proceed with any legal action. New Brighton. In another case a Catholic In January 2014, TMLC mother, who had had a nervous celebrated its sixth year of breakdown, had her son taken operations by publishing, into care though they kept in through CTS, a Guide to contact. Brighton Council were Religious Freedom and the going to move him to a same sex Law, the first booklet of its kind foster couple, against the wishes designed to advise Catholics and of him and his mother. After Catholic Organisations of their TMLC became involved this did legal rights in an increasingly not happen. hostile society. TMLC is increasingly involved Though the adoption in defending the rights of proagencies’ problem was the main life groups in universities, where inspiration for the formation Student Unions are increasingly of TMLC, the English agencies attempting to silence prodeclined to follow TMLC legal Neil Addison of the TMLC life groups. For example, at advice and ultimately all closed. The St Margaret’s Agency in Scotland, however, did follow University College London, the Student Union passed a exactly the legal strategy recommended by TMLC and has resolution which would, in effect, have given the Union the right to veto any event concerning abortion. When contacted continued as a Catholic Charity. In January this year St Margaret’s won a legal challenge by TMLC, however, the Union backed down and revoked the brought against it by the National Secular Society and Neil resolution. TMLC also gives legal advice and training to the commented afterwards that he felt vindicated by that victory. new Alliance of Pro-Life Students. In all its work TMLC has tried to be robust, but also Much of the work of TMLC has been in the pro-life area. For example, a Catholic trainee doctor approached TMLC non-confrontational. This has often meant that TMLC has not after being told that he had to refer patients for abortion or be achieved the publicity given to other organisations, but it has sacked. TMLC advised him on his legal rights to conscientious also meant that TMLC has been successful in every case it objection and wrote on his behalf to his employers Ultimately has handled. The next few years, however, are likely to be he was exonerated and has now completed his training and is more testing. But it is now clear that there is a need for an organisations such as TMLC to be there to provide legal help a fully qualified, and still pro-life, doctor. TMLC have dealt with various cases where Catholic nurses and advice to Catholics trying to live their faith without fear. www.ThomasMoreLegal.org.uk were told by their hospital that they had to assist in clinics 16
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DEAR EDITOR
first published in 1990 does in fact contain Rites for use at Crematoria for both adults and children. The Rites contained in the Order of Christian Funerals and approved by the Bishops of England and Wales allow for the possibility of the entire funeral liturgy taking place at the crematorium chapel or a simple committal when a funeral liturgy has immediately proceeded. As a busy Parish Priest who conducts many funerals in the course of a year I have often availed myself of these approved Rites of the Church. On occasion, for sound pastoral reasons, I have combined the Traditional Requiem Mass in church with a vernacular liturgy for the committal at the crematorium. Once again I would like to thank the LMS for producing this helpful guide but feel that it should be corrected to reflect the views of the Church and the availability of approved Rites at Crematoria. Fr. Francis Wadsworth, St Marie and St Joseph Bury Diocese of Salford
St Francis de Sales, writers’ patron, guide us
ON INCREASE IN PROFILE AND ACTIVITY OF THE LMS
Write to: Letters, Mass of Ages, LMS, 11-13 Macklin Street, London, WC2B 5NH or e-mail editor@lms.org.uk (aim for 250 words; e-mails gain no priority over postal submissions; we reserve the right to edit) ON HOW TO ARRANGE A TRADITIONAL MASS FOR FUNERALS I would first like to congratulate the LMS on producing such a comprehensive booklet on how to arrange a Traditional Mass for Funerals. I am sure that the information contained therein will be invaluable to relatives and others who will have to make the necessary arrangements at the time of death. However I feel I must point out a glaring error contained on page 19. Your booklet states: ‘The negative view of cremation is reflected in the fact that the Ordinary Form, like the Extraordinary Form, contains no approved prayers or ceremonies for use at a crematorium...’ The Order of Christian Funerals prepared by the Liturgy Office of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and
Congratulations are due to the Chairman and the Committee for the increase in profile and activity of the LMS over the past few years. The research into the statistics that demonstrate the collapse in the practice of the faith during the past few decades is particularly important. However, I am disappointed that these figures are only given in Mass of Ages in the form of graphs, which are useful in showing long term trends but are of limited use in discussion. Perhaps you could publish extracts of the more important statistics in the form of tables, so that numbers and dates can be quoted. I know these are available on the LMS website, but it is not a simple matter to study them and, in any case, not everyone has access to a computer. I like your increased coverage of the traditionalist religious orders and look forward to more in the futureÖIt is not too fanciful to forsee a time when the future of the Church depends on these traditionalist orders. On a less happy note, I am afraid that I simply cannot reconcile myself to the paper that Mass of Ages in printed on. ..Please change back. BJ Eason
Please pray for the souls of the members who have died recently Requiescant in pace Leslie Butt Rev Fr James Douglas Vincent Howard Frances Murphy Rev Fr David Rhys Graham Ellis
Richard Cronin Elizabeth Hollihead Peter Johnson Charles O’Beirne James Rowley
Every effort is made to ensure that this list is accurate and up-to-date. However, if you know of a recently deceased member whose name has not so far appeared on our prayer memorial, then please contact the LMS (details - Pg 2)
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LMS NOTABLE EVENTS - 2014
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Pilgrimage to West Grinstead, The 2nd LMS One-Day Sussex. May Conference. May
Chartres Pilgrimage. June
Pilgrimage to Holywell. July
Saturday, 17 May 2014 Pilgrimage to West Grinstead, Sussex
Friday, 6 to Tuesday, 10 June 2014 Chartres Pilgrimage
Our Lady of Consolation, Park Lane, West Grinstead, Sussex RH13 8LT. Pontifical High Mass celebrated by Bishop Athanasius Schneider who is visiting England at the invitation of the Latin Mass Society. Mass starts at 12 noon, followed by lunch, a spiritual talk and concluding with Benediction at 4pm. There will be a coach running from central London; cost £15 per person. Booking and payment in advance are necessary. Call 020 7404 7284. _____________________________________________________
Not so much an event, as an institution! Around 10,000 people participate in the annual Paris to Chartres Pilgrimage each Pentecost weekend, walking the 70 miles in three days, camping overnight before arriving for Mass in Chartres Cathedral. This year the British Chapter of the pilgrimage will be embarking on its 21st trip to France and the LMS is subsidising the cost for 15 young people (aged 18-35). _____________________________________________________
Saturday, 24 May 2014 The 2nd LMS One-Day Conference Doors open at 10.30am, conference begins at 11.00am and finishes at 5pm (admission by ticket only - on sale from the LMS office) The second of our biennial conferences. This year we have another excellent line-up of speakers for you. Venue: Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ. Theme: The Traditional Mass and Evangelisation. Speakers: Bishop Athanasius Schneider, author of Dominus Est; Joseph Pearce, author of Literary Converts, a new autobiography Race with the Devil, biographies of Chesterton, Tolkien and Belloc and many other works; Fr Michael Mary F.SS.R, Superior of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, based on Papa Stronsay, Orkney; Prof. Thomas Pink of King’s College, London; and Dr Christopher Hodkinson, Director of the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge. Tickets are £20 each (£15 for LMS members). Refreshments available. Buffet lunch (optional) for a £5 extra charge. _____________________________________________________
Monday, 26 May 2014 Pilgrimage to Ramsgate This will be our first pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Augustine. There will be Pontifical High Mass at 12pm, celebrated by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, who will be visiting England at the invitation of the LMS. Mass will be preceded by a procession with the relic of St Augustine along the cliff at 11am. Please phone the LMS office for information. _____________________________________________________ 18
Sunday, 6 July 2014 Pilgrimage to Holywell Our long-established and popular annual pilgrimage to St Winefride’s Shrine and the Holy Well in north Wales. Venue: St Winefride’s Catholic Church, Well Street, Holywell CH8 7PL. Pontifical High Mass starts at 2.30pm and will be celebrated by Rt Rev Paul Stonham, OSB, Abbot of Belmont. Mass will be followed by a procession to the Shrine. _____________________________________________________
Saturday, 12 July 2014 Annual General Meeting, 2014 The AGM will take place at Westminster Cathedral Hall at 11am. Buffet lunch will be available for £5 (please book via the LMS office on 020 7404 7284). There will be High Mass at 2pm at Westminster Cathedral. _____________________________________________________
Saturday, 19 July 2014 Day of Recollection at St Edmund’s College, Ware, Hertfordshire Mass in the Pugin-designed chapel at St Edmund’s College, Ware, followed by a spiritual conference and other devotions. Solemn Mass starts at 12.00pm and Solemn Vespers and Benediction begin from 3.30pm. The Day of Recollection will be preached by a priest of the FSSP. The cost is £7 per person on the day. Tea and coffee provided, but please make your own lunch provision. For more information contact Nicandro Porcelli (07920 122014) or Eric Friar (07792 766103). _____________________________________________________
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14 ROLLING YEAR PLANNER
St Catherine’s Trust Summer School. July
Pilgrimage to the ‘Dome of Walking Pilgrimage to Home’, New Brighton, Wirral. Walsingham. August August
Sunday, 27 July to Sunday, 3 August 2014 St Catherine’s Trust Summer School This popular summer school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18 will take place at the same venue as last year - the Franciscan Retreat Centre, Pantasaph, Flintshire, north Wales. For more details in due course, visit the St Catherine’s Trust website: www.stcatherinestrust.org _____________________________________________________
Monday, 28 July to Saturday, 2nd August 2014. Residential Latin Course This will be the 4th Residential Latin Course organised by the LMS and we are returning to last year’s venue at: The Franciscan Retreat Centre, Monastery Road, Pantasaph, Holywell, Flintshire, North Wales CH8 8PE. Prices are £340 full price, £306 for LMS members and £170 for clergy, seminarians and full-time students. The course is intensive, over six days, with accommodation close by in the St Winifrede’s Guest House in Holywell, which is run by the Bridgettine Sisters. The Latinists will be able to attend the daily Missa Cantata and sung Compline which are part of the St Catherine’s Trust Summer School, which will be running simultaneously to the Latin course in another part of the Retreat Centre. Course tutors are Fr John Hunwicke (Ordinariate) and Fr Richard Bailey, Cong. Orat. _____________________________________________________
Pilgrimage to Aylesford. October
from our pilgrimage chaplain. The cost this year will be £60 for LMS members, £70 for non-members and £40 for full-time students and under-18s (the latter must be accompanied by an adult). Deadline for bookings: Tuesday 12 August. Full details from the LMS website lms.org.uk or phone 020 7404 7284. _____________________________________________________
Saturday, 31 August 2014 Tyburn Walk, London To commemorate the route taken by the many Catholic Martyrs from Newgate Prison to Tyburn gallows. Starting from St Sepulchre’s Church in the City, moving on to Ely Place, then to Kingsway in Holborn, and via Soho Square on to Oxford Street finishing at Tyburn Convent on the Bayswater Road just beyond the end of Edgware Road. The start time will be 2.30pm and we would expect to reach Tyburn around 4pm. Further details to follow. _____________________________________________________
Saturday, 11 October 2014 Pilgrimage to Aylesford Annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Simon Stock (founder of the Scapular) at Aylesford Priory in Kent. Sung Mass, spiritual talk, Marian devotions. Details to be finalised. Coach from London. _____________________________________________________
Sunday, 26 October 2014 Saturday, 2 August 2014 Pilgrimage to the ‘Dome of Home’, New High Mass in Portsmouth Cathedral High Mass starting at 3pm in St John’s Cathedral, Brighton, Wirral Portsmouth. Further details to follow.
All are welcome to join this first pilgrimage to Britain’s first fully traditional shrine which is administered by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. 11.30am Solemn Mass, 1pm break for lunch, 1.45 Talk, 2.30 Tour of the Shrine, 3.00 Benediction and Veneration of a Relic of St Philomena. _____________________________________________________
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Thursday, 21 to Sunday, 24 August 2014 Walking Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Our annual Confirmations in the Extraordinary Form take place at St James’s, Spanish Place at 11.30am. We are hoping that the Sacrament will be conferred by Bishop John Arnold, auxiliary of Westminster, although this is to be confirmed. Please contact the office on 020 7404 7284 if you are interested in registering your child, or yourself, or to obtain information and advice. _____________________________________________________
Our now well-established three-day walking pilgrimage from Ely to Walsingham (55 miles) for the conversion of England. Traditional High Mass every day, with traditional devotions and prayers en route. Confessions available throughout the pilgrimage. There are also spiritual talks and words of reflection
Saturday, 15 November 2014 (Provisional date, TBC) Confirmations in Traditional Rite
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Art and Devotion Caroline Shaw
I
n the National Gallery one can currently view a work of art that has been described by at least one art historian as ‘arguably the world’s greatest painting’. Perhaps surprisingly, it is not an image with which many people are familiar. And it was painted by an artist who, although certainly admired, is by no means as revered as some of his Renaissance contemporaries. Paolo Veronese’s ‘Martyrdom of Saint George’ is a vast, complex altarpiece that is still, mercifully, in situ in the church for which it was painted: San Giorgio in Braida in Verona. It has travelled to London as the centrepiece of the Veronese exhibition at the National Gallery, and it is absolutely magnificent. St George kneels at the bottom of the canvas, surrounded by the High Priest of the Temple of Apollo and various servants. The saint’s armour, so much a part of his usual iconography, lies in a heap on the ground. The St George Cross is attached to his blue garment. Behind him stands the executioner, ready and eager with his sword. St George’s chest is bare and his arms are outstretched in a gesture of resignation and entreaty. It is a gesture that cannot but remind us of the self-abandonment of the Crucifixion; indeed, the servant who is stripping him of his clothes and tying him up holds him in a position that is reminiscent of Joseph of Arimathea bringing the body of Our Lord down from the Cross. The priest, an elderly bearded man in a pink cape, points towards a rather louche-looking statue of Apollo loitering on a plinth on the far left of the canvas. He solicits the saint one final time to offer incense to the idol in order to save himself. But St George is beyond all earthly arguments. His mind, his heart, his very soul, are already fixed on Heaven, and his gaze is not of this world. He looks up, his eyes full of tears, with an expression that is one of the most beautiful and complex in the history of art: a mixture of entreaty, trust, resignation, hope, holy fear and joy. Above, in the clouds of Heaven, Our Lady and the Infant Jesus are flanked by Sts Peter and Paul. Around them hover personifications of the three theological virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity. The heavenly scene is painted in delicate pastel colours and a blaze of pink-gold light which contrasts with the stronger, darker and more vivid colours and pale light of the events below. Bridging the chasm between Heaven and Earth is a small putto who extends the palm branch and laurel wreath of martyrdom towards St George. This image is important not only for its size and beauty. It was painted at a crucial time in the history of the Church: the start of the Counter Reformation. After many years of attempted compromise with the Protestants, the Church was now on the attack, and it is not difficult to see, in the statue
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of Apollo, a reference to Lutheranism and false religion. It is also more than likely that Veronese, in painting the death of the patron saint of England, had in mind the martyrs being created at this time under Edward VI and Elizabeth I. By the time of the painting, more than 60 priests, religious and lay Catholics had already been put to death since 1534 for refusing to renounce their faith. The toll would continue to rise throughout the rest of the century. In 1564, a year before the painting was completed, the decrees of the Council of Trent were published, including recommendations for the use of sacred images. The Council decreed that the lives and, in particular, the holy deaths of saints were to be subjects for painters, in order that the faithful could ‘fashion their own life and conduct in imitation of the saints’. There followed a huge crop of martyrdom images, and Veronese’s painting proved to be one of the most influential models. His depiction of St George broke the mould of the iconography of the saint. Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance St George
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had been portrayed as a brave knight clad in armour on a rearing horse, plunging a huge spear into the mouth of a writhing dragon. He was a symbol of the potency of faith, of Christian valour defeating evil. Here, Veronese portrays him differently. His valour is still very much in evidence,
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but instead of fighting as a warrior, St George is bravely giving up his life in order to witness to the truth and preserve his soul. The Veronese exhibition is at the National Gallery until June 15th.
X7478. Paolo Veronese (1528-1588) Martyrdom of Saint George, about 1565, Chiesa di San Giorgio in Braida, Verona Š Photo Scala, Florence, By kind permission of the National Gallery
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Spectacular Stations Harriet Tait
Ian Wilson: people will find their own inspiration in the music.
O
ne of Ireland’s foremost contemporary composers, Ian Wilson, is genial and relaxed when talking about his music. Stations was written eight years ago, when he was attracted to the idea of working with larger forms, and it is not easy to find a structure on which to compose large scale music. The Stations of the Cross provided a perfect, dramatic and ready-made architecture while at the same time being well known enough for all listeners to relate to it. Taking inspiration from The Seven Last Words, the title of his Piano Trio no. 2 (1995), he sought to produce a new work on a scale not attempted by many other composers. A 70 minute, 14 movement piece requires a lot of manipulating and careful planning. Indeed, Wilson has arranged Stations into ‘books’ of three, four, four and three Stations for shorter performances, although some pianists prefer to perform just one or two movements. Before composition, he charted a graph showing the emotional peaks and troughs of the music, giving it a graduated flow peaking at the right times so that it is not always intense. Such organisation leads to a greater understanding of the essence of each Station, so that the finished product is neither too obvious nor too literal. Very academic. ‘Yes,’ he replies. But it is often instinctive, which works well for smaller pieces. However, for larger works, such as Stations, which was composed over two years, a set path is required. This scholarly approach is hardly surprising: among his other awards, Mr Wilson was the first person to gain a PhD in Composition from the University of Ulster, later completing two post-doctorate Research Fellowships. A meeting in 2005 with the LMS’s own Matthew Schellhorn at the Presteigne Festival in Wales also proved fruitful to the beginnings of Stations. Mr Wilson was the featured composer and Schellhorn was performing his music. Mr Schellhorn was keen for the composer to write him something new, and the latter was already considering a large scale work, so, as Mr Wilson says, the collaboration was well-timed. And the performer’s experience of performing Messiaen’s
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larger works meant he was no stranger to playing music on this scale. The two discussed the concept and structure before he started writing. Mr Wilson wanted to achieve a balance between purely musical abstraction and the strength, or clarity, of the connection with the religious devotion. Ultimately, they might view and experience the work in slightly different ways but, according to Mr Wilson, such is the beauty of music. What reception does he anticipate? When composing, he thinks of himself and the performer rather than the audience, as people will find their own inspirations within the music. This is one of the reasons why movements in Stations are not titled: there is a danger that an audience will listen out for possible representations. The work was not meant to be pictorialised so an audience’s response can be much broader. After hearing the recording of Stations, it is certainly the best way to listen to this uniquely spectacular work of art. A CD recording of Stations by Ian Wilson (piano: Matthew Schellhorn) is available to buy from Amazon and iTunes, as well as directly from Diatribe Records at www.diatribe.ie.
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NEWS FEATURE
Clash of Civilisations? Sacred sounds in a Secular World.
C
utting your first solo disc is a momentous point for any of scenes but he was not just writing representative music. professional musician. Just as a first novel can propel It’s a piece in its own right…In musical terms, it starts with an author to critical acclaim, so it is important for a an idea and grows…It is very much in the modern era.’ musical performer to hit the right initial note (apologies). And the piece is also very much intended to be played in But Matthew Schellhorn is set to challenge convention the traditional way in a concert hall, in a secular context. So with his exciting solo debut CD, Stations, in which he much sacred music is taken out of the church and played performs Ian Wilson’s Stations. in the concert hall these days, just as pieces of music, but A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Mr Schellhorn is Stations reverses that idea, according to Mr Schellhorn. It a well known pianist is not a sacred piece, and performer of new since it is not part music. He has given of the liturgy but, recitals in some of the he says, there is a UK’s most prestigious devotional side and classical venues, such an artistic side to the as the Wigmore Hall piece. and the Southbank ‘The musical world Centre. But his latest is secular,’ he says. project sees him ‘So it is really exciting going against the to be involved with grain of the classical Stations.’ establishment. Both Mr Indeed, some in Schellhorn’s love of the classical music music and his interest world may question in religion began whether the leading very early. He was a soloist is entirely wise 13-year-old, Anglican to tackle Stations, pupil at Chetham’s which is also the School of Music in Matthew Schellhorn with Archbishop Bernard Longley after a recent basis for his current Manchester when he concert: Photo by Joseph Shaw tour of the British first came across the Isles. Why might some view this as unwise? Well, Stations Traditional Mass in the city’s Church of the Holy Name. is based on a religious idea, that of the Stations of the Cross. He and a friend, who is shortly to be ordained, were so But, you will say, sacred music is all the rage. Masses, intrigued by the pre-Conciliar Mass that they would trudge Requiems, polyphony and even plainchant have become an across the city each week to attend the Sunday afternoon easy-listening backdrop to dinner parties and car journeys service. and for desert island castaways. Meditative spirituality, if Mr Schellhorn was eventually received into the Church in not religion, is fashionable in fashionable quarters. the chaplaincy at Cambridge, when he was a student. Stations is very much a classical work but, according to When he was a child, he says, what attracted him to the Mr Schellhorn, the religious inspiration behind it makes it a Traditional Mass was the ‘stark difference’ with Anglicanism: risk: ‘This is something different…bringing religion into the ‘It was very obviously Catholic and that just stuck.’ concert hall, when [it is traditionally thought that] never the But, according to the father of two, his love of the twain shall meet.’ sacredness of the service includes a ‘cultural aspect too’: The pianist maintained: ‘I imagine different people will ‘You can’t hear Gregorian chant and polyphony at the local get different things from it. It is a difficult piece…such a church…I find it more of a difference with the humdrum complex and malleable piece will suit a range of different nature of ordinary life.’ venues.’ Mr Schellhorn laughs at the idea that 1970s hymns are the Stations is an extraordinary, 70-minute-long work. Five music of today: ‘They’re positively old-fashioned now,’ he of Mr Schellhorn’s nine concerts were scheduled for an maintains with good humour. exhausting eight-day period in Lent. There are four remaining dates on the tour: Robinson ‘Ian Wilson brought this idea to me of a big piece inspired College Cambridge, 16 May; St Augustine’s Church, Thorpe by the Stations of the Cross and thought I might be interested. Bay, Essex 18 May; Wymondham Abbey, Norfolk, 29 June [In fact, the pianist nearly bit his hand off]. You don’t often and Ripon Cathedral, Yorks, 10 July. get offered a big piece of 70-minutes long. Ian wanted to CDs are now available from Amazon, iTunes or direct distil the content of the belief behind each scene in a series from Diatribe records. 23
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Is Father Brown Catholic? I
GK Chesterton’s priest was not a Holmesian sleuth
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t is tempting to watch the BBC’s latest adaptation of Father Brown for the ‘clerical errors’. Filming has just started on the third series of the daytime programme, which features as its hero a preConciliar priest, based on GK Chesterton’s detective, and admirably played by the wellknown character actor Mark Williams (see interview) overleaf. But, whatever Wilde might have said about not being able to resist it, Catholics know all too well that they should not give in to temptation, especially when It is so easy to mock that it is no sport at all. Bless me, Father, but there were so many mistakes in one episode that we lost count, and that was without really trying. So let us get it out of our system, with a couple of egregious examples, and then say no more about it. Yes, Fr Brown genuflected in the chapel of a cult dedicated to the sun. Yes, the parish secretary said she was going to write the bidding prayers. Yes, there are about a dozen candles on the altar and no sanctuary light. And yes, Fr Brown’s church is obviously Anglican and set in an improbable village where all the locals for miles around are Catholics. To dwell on such matters, as with much temptation, might provide momentary pleasure. But it gets in the way of proper appreciation of what is an entertaining and, considering the hero, what is these days a remarkable programme. For ‘Fr Brown’ sees a clergyman, a 1950s Catholic priest at that, feature in a highly favourable light. He is the hero of the stories: intelligent; humorous; hard-working and sympathetic. It is difficult to think of another programme in which a pre-Conciliar priest has been so favourably portrayed since ‘Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width’. And the commissioning of a third series – for a bumper run of 15 new episodes – is a measure of how successful Fr Brown has proved with BBC 1’s daytime viewers. Indeed, some critics predict it really could run and run. Fr Brown fans have taken to the internet to hail it as the replacement for Poirot, the long-running detective series that finally concluded late last year after more than two decades. Will this hero priest translate into a less hostile attitude towards the Church among the media or the general public? It is not
that far-fetched a possibility. The acclaimed comedy programme Rev, concerning a Church of England minister, which has recently started a new series, has apparently improved the public perception of the CofE more than any amount of advertising. Should Catholics anticipate a similar Fr Brown bounce? Enthusiasm for the programme can, in large part, be attributed to the strong cast, led by Mr Williams and including Sorcha Cusak, Nancy Carroll and Alex Price. But its emergence as a replacement for Poirot must be explained in part by its period nature, so beloved of television programmers and viewers, rather than interest in the Church or religion. Indeed, it could be argued that the programme is like a warm bath cross between Miss Marple and Poirot. As with Miss Marple, and unlike in Chesterton’s stories, it is set in a lovely English village. And, unlike the books, in which the priest is a largely solitary figure, the BBC’s Fr Brown has his gang, of Mrs McCarthy, Sid and Lady Felicia, just as Poirot has Colonel Hastings, Miss Lemon and Inspector Japp. And it could be that Fr Brown, in soutane and cappello romano, is a hero, despite being a Catholic priest. Because he is in costume, he can be seen as a figure from history, not in any way associated with the modern Church, and might just as well be a cavalier or Roman soldier detective. Indeed, it could be argued, that this latest production of Chesterton’s stories is actually anti-Catholic. Although the priest, Fr Brown, is admirable the same cannot be said of his fellow clergy. There was a mad Monsignor, who was obsessed with visions and relics and an unpleasant, repressed curate who became nice only when he abandoned his Holy Orders. Then there was the German priest, who came to visit Fr Brown on a reconciliation tour and inevitably turned out to be an unrepentant Nazi war criminal. So far so bad. Even the Anglican vicar was a murderer, although this was an original Chesterton idea. Finally, there is the inevitable overbearing and ambitious bishop, who loathes our hero. The latter is a stock character from detective programmes, where the main protagonist is always underestimated by his boss, be the hero Morse or Kojak, whatever his clear up rate.
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But there can be no doubt that in the programme Fr Brown is supposed to be quite different from his fellow clergy and not just in respect of his sleuthing. He is a rebel, outside the norms of the Church. In this, the BBC’s Fr Brown differs greatly from the character in Chesterton’s stories, who may be unusual but is firmly in the mainstream. In one story from The Secret of Fr Brown collection, he explains that he has taken up a case simply because he wants to defend the Church against the usual unfair accusations made against it. According to Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society and guardian of all things Chestertonian, the latest Fr Brown has little relationship with the priest from the stories. He told Mass of Ages: ‘I was watching the first episode
NEWS FEATURE
proving, he says, that a faithful, commercial adaptation is possible. He maintains that Chesterton’s Fr Brown introduced the concept of the underdog detective, which subsequently became a mainstay of detective fiction through characters such as Miss Marple and Columbo. Chesterton’s hero was underestimated by all because he was a simple priest. Unlike Sherlock Holmes, he was not lauded as a genius, tracking down criminals with his razor-sharp mind and highly developed detective skills. Unlike Poirot, Fr Brown was modest and did not boast of his little grey cells or anything else. And Mark Williams’s Fr Brown is a model of modesty. But Fr Brown’s method in the books is not to look for clues but to consider why someone might have committed a crime. With his Confessor’s knowledge of sin, the apparently unworldly priest imagines himself in the murderer’s shoes. He is deliberately not a Holmesian sleuth but he understands who has done it, by working out why they did it. And, crucially, he could imagine that he, in similar circumstances, might have done the same. This was the whole point of having a priest as the detective; Chesterton’s hero did not stand in judgement but he recognised that anyone was a potential killer, even himself, and that no one is an innately ‘better’ person. The fact that he was a priest was central to the stories. In Chesterton’s Chief Mourner of Marne, Fr Brown argues that only a priest will pardon true sin: ‘There is…a real difference between human charity and Christian charity. ‘It seems you only pardon sins you don’t see as sinful…You forgive because there isn’t anything to be forgiven.’ In the new series, there are many departures not just from correct clerical forms but also from Chesterton’s character. But BBC1’s Father Brown was not made as an apology for the Church or for the author. And yet and yet, in some ways it is both. Mark Williams’s excellent Fr Brown is proving irresistible. Although it may not be faithful to the stories, it is bringing a sympathetic religious character to our screens. Mr Ahlquist hopes it may encourage some viewers to start reading Chesterton’s originals. But, even more importantly, BBC1’s Fr Brown brings Christian charity, forgiveness and redemption into the nation’s homes. That cannot be anything but a good thing. Please do not send in letters pointing out clerical errors in the BBC series. To assist readers in avoiding temptation, they will not be published.
Bless me, Father, but there were so many mistakes in one episode that we lost count, and that was without really trying. and my wife, who was in the next room, insisted I turn it off because of the noise I was making.’ He explained: ‘I was so distressed at how it departed from the text. A great opportunity has been wasted.’ Mr Ahlquist maintained: ‘They had such a fine actor and such good material, but they didn’t use it. They have just used the name. But it is not the Chesterton character.’ Does it necessarily matter? Characters have often been taken from fiction and used outside their original brief – witness Lewis, which would not have been made if programme makers had stuck rigidly to Colin Dexter’s novels. Fans of Fr Brown point out that it is necessary to make the a programme that appeals to viewers, most of whom are not fixated on minor points of Church practice and have no interest in watching televised Tridentine Masses or Rites. Mr Ahlquist insists, though, that by not being faithful to Chesterton, the BBC is missing crucial and fascinating elements of the character and the stories. He maintains that previous adaptations, including the Alec Guinness film and the Kenneth More series from the 1970s, were more faithful to the text, although critics point out that Alec Guinness’s portrayal was actually very similar to his Lord Henry D’Ascoyne, from Kind Hearts and Coronets. Mr Ahlquist disclosed the Chesterton Society has produced one story for EWTN on the story The Honor [sic] of Israel Gow,
Mark Williams as Fr Brown, courtesy the BBC.
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Another victim for Fr Brown? T
he fictional detective Fr Brown has miraculous, if not to be in Fr Brown, he wanted to know which character he magical, powers. His creator, GK Chesterton, famously would be playing, never imagining that he would be taking became a Catholic after creating his famous clerical the lead. And he displays Fr Brown-style investigatory character. And Alec Guinness, who starred in the iconic enthusiasm for finding out about the pre-Conciliar 1954 film, also converted after taking the role. background to his character. The actor, who studied English But what of Mark Williams, the actor who plays Fr Brown Literature at Brasenose College, said that he was keen from in the BBC’s latest adaptation? Is he going to become a the beginning that the character should be a ‘Latinate’ priest: Catholic? Caught off-guard ‘Latin was very much part of by the question, an amused my education.’ Mark Williams said he ‘did And he wants to not rule it out’. make sure that the Latin Playing the priest has pronunciation and usage is clearly had a big impact on correct and is interested in the genial actor. He told attending an Extraordinary Mass of Ages: ‘It has had an Form Mass, as part of his effect on me, definitely…He researches. is so un-judgmental about Mr Williams stoutly people…It has been very defends the programme powerful for me. I enjoy his against critics who would like amused forbearance.’ to see more of an EF Mass. And the 53-year old actor He points out, always with is clearly enjoying playing good humour, that it would the part of the umbrellanot make great TV and said, wielding priest, even though in any event, that Fr Brown filming can mean a 72-hour in the books was not very week. According to Mark often seen in church or even Williams, the cast really dispensing the sacraments. does enjoy it: ‘He is such a Mr Williams, who is ‘forever fantastic character and there whipping out his travelling are very rewarding scenes.’ stole’, maintained: ‘I don’t Mr Williams said ‘Fr think Chesterton would have Brown moments’ do keep had a problem with what happening. Recently, in we’ve done. I don’t see any his favourite second hand point in nit picking, that’s bookshop, Mr Williams not in the spirit of what we turned to find an 1850s do.’ Missal right in front of him. The actor, who clearly No escape: Mark Williams plays BBC1’s ‘I thought, oh hello,’ enjoys a good discussion, Father Brown, photo by Gary Moyes, courtesy the BBC said the actor, who has a added rather wistfully: ‘GK’s seemingly endless list of verse can be very, very credits to his name, including Mr Weasley the wizard father funny. He would have been a pleasure to be around. I would from the Harry Potter films. very much like to have had a long protracted lunch with But Mr Williams’s enthusiasm for his latest role shines him.’ through: ‘I am very proud to have had the chance to play one The public has reacted very positively to the programme. of the great roles.’ One supermarket worker told Mr Williams recently how she It may not be textbook Chesterton, but his Fr Brown is watched Fr Brown live in the afternoon and then watched it an engaging and amusing character and it is easy to see why again when her husband came home. the BBC series is now filming its third series. Mr Williams Who knows for how long Fr Brown could go on? If it laughed when he admitted: ‘Fr Brown’s a lot like me, curious has replaced Poirot in the nation’s affections, expect it still and amused….It’s my idea that he moves quickly, Fr Brown to be filming around 2034. It is not beyond the bounds of just takes off at times and everybody has to go with him.’ possibility. The BBC has a precious hit on its hands and Mr It is easy to believe. The actor is so used to playing Williams would still not have reached the retirement age for supporting roles, that when he was asked if he would like priests – or actors.
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AROUND THE COUNTRY
DIOCESAN DIGEST Mass of Ages quarterly round-up, spring 2014
Passing the Minster, the LMS York Pilgrimage on 29 March 2014, photograph by kind permission John Aron
Arundel and Brighton Anne-Marie Mackie-Savage
This has become the year of the Missa Cantata in A&B, thanks to the enthusiasm of the Seaford Schola, and the priests who have sung them. Thank you so much, your commitment is very much appreciated by those of us in the pews. Regular Masses continue in Lewes, West Grinstead, Seaford, Steyning and now we have Extraordinary Form Mass in two parishes in Brighton. Fr Bruno Witchalls has moved to St Mary’s in Preston Park, Brighton, and has introduced another parish to the beauty of the Traditional Mass, which takes place every Thursday evening at 7.00 pm. The time of Mass at Our Lady of Consolation, West
Grinstead, has changed for the Summer months. Please note, it is back at the old time of 3.00 pm until the Autumn. Do keep an eye on the listings, blogs, and the A&B blog for sudden changes to Mass times and extra Masses. If anyone has any photos of Masses in the Diocese, I’d love to put them up on the blog, so please send me them. Servers, or chaps who would like to serve, there was a training course in March at St Mary Magdalen’s church in Brighton. If you missed it, and would like to meet up with the like-minded and learn how to serve, or simply brush up on your skills, let me know and we can try to arrange another session. Tel: 01323 411 370 Email: amacsav@sky.com www.arundelbrightonlatinmasssociety.blogspot.com
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Birmingham & Black Country Report Louis Maciel
It has been a relatively quiet quarter in the Birmingham & Black Country region, although the Birmingham Oratory still managed to fit in three evening High Masses in March for Ash Wednesday, the feast of St Joseph and the Annunciation. Fr Daniel Horgan led a Lenten morning of prayer and recollection on 29 March following the relatively successful morning in Advent. But the numbers attending were disappointing. This is a pity, because those who attended all agreed that the setting, the Pugin designed Sisters of Mercy convent in Handsworth, was one of the many wonderful hidden Catholic gems that can be found in inner-city Birmingham. It was particularly satisfying to hear one of the nuns say that the Mass reminded her of her childhood. I left her a copy of Mass of Ages just in case! Please watch out for two High Masses next quarter, one at St John Fisher in West Heath on the patronal feast and, hopefully, although this is still to be confirmed, a noon Mass at St Chad’s Cathedral on 17 May. Please use the contact details below or the newsletters on the parish websites to get further details nearer the date. Sadly, this is another year where there was no Extraordinary Form provision for the Easter Triduum in Birmingham. If anyone has any ideas on how we can move forward with this in future, please get in touch.
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North Staffordshire Alan Frost
In the last report, we were uncertain as to the situation beyond the short term with the loss of Sunday parish Masses at St. Joseph’s Burslem. Masses had switched to the lovely and appropriate, if somewhat tucked away, church of Our Lady of the Assumption, in the village of Swynnerton near Stone. However, the longer term picture is looking much rosier after parish priest
Fr Paul Chevasse, Cong. Orat. had meetings with Archbishop Longley and Bishop McGough. The latter sent a blessing with his support. An interesting inclusion in a recent Mass was the brief ceremony of the admittance of one of the young altar boys into the Guild of St Stephen. A further uplifting sign was the fact that three Masses were held in the Extraordinary Form Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Sad news came at the end of last month that Graham Ellis has died, please pray for him. Fr Dykes and Fr Howell continue to celebrate in the Extraordinary Form in St. Wulstan’s, Wolstanton and Oulton Abbey. Tel: 01270 768 144 Alan.jfrost@btopenworld.com
LR: Louis Maciel; Tel: 07855 723445 E: louis.maciel@gmail.com W: http://birmingham-lms-rep. blogspot.co.uk/ __________________________________
Kent
At the Leicester EF day, photo by kind permission of John Aron
Marygold Turner The wonderful ancient liturgy of the Catholic Church flows on in Kent and our beloved priests come at great inconvenience to minister to us. We were most honoured to have Mgr Antony Conlon with us on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. And we have a Mass on Ascension Day and Fr Richard Whinder, an old friend, is coming to celebrate Mass on Corpus Christi at noon at Headcorn. We look forward to supporting Fr Marcus Holden in Ramsgate in May for his celebrations in honour of St Augustine. He is a great inspiration. Tel: 01580 291372 28
Birmingham: Oxford area Joseph Shaw
In addition to our regular weekly Masses, there are many feast days marked with Sung or High Mass this quarter: please see the listings. Another special event is Mass in Milton Manor House chapel. To mark the 250th anniversary of purchase of the property by the Barret family (whose descendants still occupy the house), there will be a High Mass there on Saturday 31 May, the Feast of Our Lady Queen, at 11am, in this very lovely private chapel. It will be accompanied with polyphony as well as chant. Tel: O1993 812 874; joseph.shaw@philosophy.ox.ac.uk; www.oxfordlmsrep.blogspot.com
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Clifton
Ken and Carol Reis Here in Clifton Diocese we continue to be blessed with a regular celebration of Parish Masses in the Extraordinary Form. Fr Alex Redman celebrates a Missa Cantata on the first Sunday of each month at St Dominic’s Church, Dursley. February’s coincided with ‘The Purification of The Blessed Virgin Mary’ (CandleMass). The St Dominic’s Schola provided the music and their singing was magnificent. The Mass was very well supported with more than 50 people, including several young families. As the weather was actually dry, it enabled a candlelight procession to take place around the car park, with only the occasional pit-stop being made to re-light candles extinguished by the odd gust of wind. On a cold and wet night more than 20 people braved the weather to attend the Missa Cantata celebrating the Annunciation, at SS Joseph and Teresa Church in Wells. The celebrant was Fr Philip Thomas. It was a lovely Mass and the Rupert Bevan singers sang beautifully, taking full advantage of the wonderful acoustics in the Church. One of our priests Fr Kevin Knox-Lecky was diagnosed
East Anglia
Kevin Marshall
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with a brain tumour in February this year, and is now recovering following an operation. Please keep him in your prayers. Third Sunday Masses at St Alphege’s will continue, but please check the website for updates. Ending on what may be a controversial note, we believe that we have the oldest EF Happy Birthday Archie Mass supporter in the country - Archie Campbell-Murdoch, who lives in Salisbury - recently celebrated his 103rd birthday! Congratulations to Archie! Tel: 07896 879 116 pussyfooters@blueyonder.co.uk www.lmsclifton.blogspot.com
Bournemouth Tim Fawkes
The fortnightly Masses at Thomas of Canterbury Church, Woodbridge, Suffolk, continue to be suspended. Hopefully, the suspension will not last too much longer. Traditional Masses continue in Cambridge, Peterborough, and Ipswich. On Sundays during termtime only, Extraordinary Form Masses are celebrated at Fisher House, Cambridge at 8.30 am. Regular Sunday Masses are celebrated at 9.15 am at Blackfriars, Cambridge, according to the Dominican Rite. I would urge all local members to continue in their support for these Masses. On Easter Sunday a Missa Cantata was celebrated by Fr. Aidan Nichols OP, according to the Dominican Rite, at Blackfriars. We are most grateful to Gregor Dick for all his hard work organising the music. I am quite hopeful that sometime this year Mass according to the Old Rite will be celebrated at Norwich Cathedral. I am not at liberty to disclose details, but a positive response has been received. As I wrote in my last report, it will be a moment of great joy for all who hold an attachment to the Traditional Mass. We continue to pray for this cause. In Domino,
We were very pleased to see the start of our monthly Sunday Masses in January, at Our Lady Immaculate Church, Westbourne, Bournemouth. It is now possible to participate in the The Extraordinary Form within the Bournemouth/ Poole conurbation on a Sunday for the first time since the liturgical reforms, albeit on a monthly basis. We are grateful to Fr Wilson, the parish priest, for making the church available and for agreeing to the sanctuary being modified to enable Mass to be said ad orientem. We are also grateful to Fr Glaysher who travels to us from the Isle of Wight to say Mass and hear Confessions beforehand (from 6pm). There have been between 35 and 60 people in the congregation, so far, which has been pleasing considering the timing and dark nights of the winter. Interestingly, the congregation includes more than a few who attend this Mass in addition to attending the Ordinary Form Mass earlier in the day. The two forms of the Mass have co-existed in our church quite happily, which should be encouraging to any priests asked for Extraordinary Form provision in their churches. On a practical note, we have no car park and the on-street parking is limited. But there are car parks in the vicinity and ample free parking in the Grosvenor Road area, around 10 minutes walk away.
Tel: 01440 708 416 fammarshall@aim.com lmseastanglia.blogspot.co.uk
Tel: 01202 730200 Email: t.fawkes136@btinternet.com
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Lancaster
Bob and Jane Latin It has been a quiet quarter, but all our scheduled Masses have taken place as planned. Numbers at Mass fluctuate, but there is still a steady, loyal group of attendees. At the Cathedral we see new faces and, we are pleased to say, many return. In Carlisle, the parishes of St Augustine, Our Lady & St Joseph and Our Lady & St Wilfrid have been merged into a new parish of Christ the King. At the ceremony, where the Bishop formally instituted the new parish, we were pleased to see that Traditional chasubles were used. Due to pressures on clergy, we have so far only been able to arrange one Mass at the chapel in Sizergh Castle for this summer, on May 9 at 7.30 pm, which Fr John Millar has kindly agreed to offer for us. If you receive this journal in time, please do join us! It may be that others will be arranged, so please check the website for the most up to date information. On May 31 there will be a High Mass in honour of St Petronilla at Our Lady & St Wilfrid, Warwick Bridge, Carlisle.
Liverpool
Jim Pennington The established Sunday and Holyday Extraordinary Form Masses continue as before in four parishes, as do regular weekday EF Masses at St. Catherine Labour, Holy Spirit, Ford and St. Joseph’s, Anderton. On Ash Wednesday at St Anthony’s, ashes were blessed and imposed before Mass by Fr Mark Drew. On Laetare Sunday, we had Missa Cantata offered by Fr Andrew Robinson and sung once again by our friends from the Wirral. This is Fr Robinson’s first time at St Anthony’s and I hope we may see him again occasionally. He told me ‘that did my soul good’. Us too, Father, and thank you. We hope to have had Missa Cantata again on Easter Sunday, this time sung by Fr Leo Daley and friends. Our thanks go to both these singing groups for enabling us to have Sung Masses once again. The Good Friday Liturgy was celebrated by Canon Montjean at St Mary Magdalen, Penwortham, at 11am. I was sad to hear the LMS Committee’s announcement that local member, Gregory Murphy, is no longer to edit Mass of Ages. In the course of the last two and a half years he has restructured, I could say rejuvenated, the magazine in a way that has seemed popular with both members and representatives; I myself found the presentation and emphasis on the reports ‘from the ground’ very helpful, as also the occasional light touch applied to my own sometimes raw material. However, the Committee now considers it time for someone else to build upon his sterling work. I am sure we all wish him the very best of success with future commissions. We in Liverpool will not be losing touch with him: he is still an active member, and is the chief server at Fr Wood’s Masses. Tel: 0151 426 0361 Pennington893@btinternet.com
St Petronilla’s body rests in the church and this is her feast day. Mass will be followed by devotions and a procession, then lunch in the parish hall. We are also pleased to report that there will be Mass on the feasts of the Ascension, Corpus Christi and the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at Warwick Bridge (see Mass Listings for times). Our hopes that we would have two more priests saying Extraordinary Form Mass have been put on hold for the present, as they have both been given extra duties. But we hope this may change as they get settled so, again, we recommend you check the website for further information. Just as we were going to press we received the wonderful news that the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest are to set up a foundation at the church of St Walburge, Preston, hopefully in the autumn. This follows twelve months of discussions between Bishop Michael Campbell, Mgr Gilles Wach, General Prior of the Institute and Fr Simon Hawksworth, Parish Priest of St Walburge and the Sacred Heart. This will safeguard the future of St Walburge’s and it is intended that the church will be open each day as a centre and shrine for Eucharistic Devotion with Masses and Devotions in the Extraordinary Form. Bishop Michael sent a pastoral letter to the parish of St Walburge and the Sacred Heart announcing the good news and asking parishioners to give a warm welcome to the Institute. We have sent a letter of appreciation to the Bishop. Tel: 01524 412 987 lancasterlms@gmail.com latinmasslancaster.blogspot.com _____________________________________________________
The Wirral
Anthony Sibert The weekly Sunday Masses at St Winefride, Shrewsbury, and the monthly Masses at St Vincent, Altrincham, and St Thomas Becket, Tarporley, continue in a very steady pattern. We are always grateful to the diocesan priests who say the Extraordinary Form Masses for us. The Shrine church of Sts Peter and Paul and Philomena, New Brighton has daily Mass, Divine Office and other devotions. Forty Hours Devotions took place on 3 and 4 March and there was a Holy Week retreat day on 12 April. As the heritage grant has been obtained, repair work is expected to start on the roof very soon. People can send donations to the LMS Dome of Home appeal, to help with the repairs. Tel: 0151 625 9033 _____________________________________________________
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AROUND THE COUNTRY
Middlesbrough Paul Waddington
The annual pilgrimage in honour of St Margaret Clitherow took place in York on 29 March. This year, the patronage was extended to include the 50 other martyrs who were executed in York. It was also the first pilgrimage in York with the Oratorians in charge of St Wilfrid’s Church, and this enabled us to promote the event more widely, resulting in a larger attendance. The Celebrant was Fr Michael Brown, with Fr John Cahill as deacon and Fr Stephen Brown as sub-deacon. The music was Mozart’s Missa Brevis sung by the Rudgate Singers. The statue of St Margaret Clitherow, beautifully decorated with flowers, attracted much attention, as it was carried through the narrow, medieval streets of York on a busy Saturday afternoon. The Rosary, led by six priests, was recited as the procession progressed, pausing for extra prayers at the shrine of St Margaret Clitherow in The Shambles, and on Ouse Bridge, the place of her execution. The procession finished back at St Wilfrid’s Church, where Solemn Benediction was offered. Finally, some ladies of the parish provided welcome tea and refreshments in the cramped conditions of the church’s only meeting room. The 5pm Sunday Mass at St Wilfrid’s Church in York, is now a Missa Cantata, and the 6pm Sunday Mass in Redcar continues as a Low Mass (anyone travelling a distance should check it is taking place as we are dependant on Mgr Heslin, a retired priest not in good health). There will be additional Masses in York at 6pm on the feasts of the Ascension, Corpus Christi and the Assumption. Tel: 01757 638027 paul@gooleboathouse.co.uk latinmassmiddlesbrough.blogspot.co.uk
Photo courtesy John Aron
Menevia
Luigi Dimaio The third Sunday Masses have been transferred from St Benedict’s, Clydach, to The Sacred Heart, Morriston, at 3pm. Second Sunday Masses at St Therese, Sandfields, have been discontinued. We are grateful to Fr Paul Brophy, whose work in fostering and providing Mass in the Extraordinary Form over the past six years has been recorded in past editions of Mass of Ages. It included assembling a polyphonic choir in 2008 for the first High Mass at the Cathedral in many years. He offered a regular and almost uninterrupted
monthly Sunday Mass for five years and Mass at Lourdes on Corpus Christi last year. Fr Brophy arranged for Cathedral choristers to sing at their first EF requiem on Remembrance Sunday 2012 and was enthusiastic and supportive of many other activities. His support and contributions have been significant and will be remembered. We in Menevia have long memories. There is usually a parish Mass on the eve of the 2nd Sunday at 4pm at Our Lady of Ransom, Llandrindod Wells. The LMS is not involved in requesting or arranging this Mass, hence it is not included in the formal listings, but I will endeavour to find out on a monthly basis whether it is proceeding. Any members wishing to attend, are advised to check before travelling. (contd over) 31
AROUND THE COUNTRY
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
An Extraordinary Day at Leicester
An Extraordinary Day at Leicester, photographs by kind permission of John Aron
A very successful Extraordinary Form day was held in February at St Peter’s Church in Leicester. The brainchild of the LMS’s Midlands chaplain, Fr John Cahill, the day saw an extremely encouraging turnout. We commenced with High Mass celebrated by Fr Stephen Brown, with Frs Michael Brown and Dominic O’Connor assisting. A variety of sessions were arranged for the afternoon and participants were able to select two to attend. Stephen Parker, who had earlier acted as MC, led a session on serving Low Mass. Fr Stephen Brown coached those who had yet to familiarise themselves with the pronunciation of the responses. Fr Cahill gave a talk on the history of the Roman Rite, which proved extremely popular. Jeremy Boot
went through the Mass responses, Mass XI and Credo I with existing and potential singers. Meanwhile, I introduced another group to the traditional Benediction settings and Marian antiphons. The day concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, given by Fr Matthew Jakes. Enormous thanks go to Fr Cahill for organising this event, to the clergy who attended – who included, in addition to those mentioned above, Fr Stephen Dye at the organ – to Stephen Parker and Jeremy Boot for leading server and singer training sessions respectively, and to everyone who helped by serving, singing and organising the tea-urn.
Menevia Contd
to expand EF provision into Holy Week, however willing priests might be. Nevertheless, it can legitimately be asked why, in this age of equal validity of both rites, nearly every parish even those which are two to three miles from each other has its own Ordinary Form Holy Week services but it is not possible to have a single EF Triduum in the whole of the Principality of Wales? If Reps and members in Wales wish to try to achieve some progress on this next year, we need to start work in earnest straight after Christmas to ascertain suitable venues in one of the dioceses, and available priests.
Alternatively, there is usually a 6.30pm Sunday Mass over the border at the convent of the Poor Clares, Much Birch, near Hereford. Other Masses are unchanged and we extend our continued thanks to Fr Jason Jones and Fr Michael Burke. If there is an elephant in the room, it is surely the degree of provision around the country for Holy Week services, as highlighted in the Mass of Ages a couple of years ago. We all know the additional time pressures priests are under in this season, and it might well be that the time is simply not right 32
Paul Beardsmore
Tel: 01639 761 763
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
Herts, Beds and Bucks Mike Mason
Thanks to Nicandro Porcelli and Eric Friar, Mass at St Albans is now firmly established as is also Mass at Flitwick, thanks to Canon Denis McSweeney, and also Mass at Chesham Bois, thanks to the FSSP. We have reorganised the Day of Recollection at St Edmund’s College for Saturday July 19. Everything is in place, and I hope that we shall receive a lot of publicity from the LMS.I am hoping to continue Holydays of Obligation in anticipation at Welwyn Garden City , subject to agreement. Old Hall Green. Due to changes in parishes there will be an acute shortage of priests. The new priest at Canning Town unfortunately does not know the Extraordinary Form, so Fr Patrick Hayward will be on supply indefinitely on Sunday afternoons. Fr Mgr Anthony Conlon is leaving the Oratory School, and on 1 May will be taking over as Parish Priest at Goringon-Thames so I am faced with a maximum of two priests to fill three Sundays at Old Hall Green. So you see the predicament we are facing. Tel: 01359 240 768 _____________________________________________________
Nottingham North (Notts, Derbys and Lincs) Jeremy Boot
In Nottingham North our established Masses continue at St Mary’s Brigg, Lincs, (weekly 5pm). In Nottingham: Corpus Christi (3pm 1st Sundays), Good Shepherd (Sat 4.45pm before 2nd Sun), Our Lady and St Patrick’s, The Meadows (2pm 3rd Sundays) as well as the Cathedral Mass (3rd Weds, 6.15pm) in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Our renewed thanks to servers, singers, organist and Celebrants. Although most of the Masses in these reports and events are organized or staffed or arranged by the LMS, in one way or another, it is important to remember that they are diocesan Masses, open to everyone and not exclusive to any one group. All the Nottingham Latin Mass community, Reps and people, would like to express our good wishes and thanks to Bishop Malcolm who will be leaving us in May to take up his post as Archbishop of Liverpool. In the years he has been our Bishop, he has done much to encourage those attached to the Traditional Mass. His cheerfulness and good humour, and the occasions he has celebrated the Old Rite in the diocese have been a great source of joy to us. The Pontifical High Mass in Leicester at Holy Cross, for his 10th anniversary as Bishop, particularly comes to mind and, more recently, last year’s Priests’ Training conference at Ratcliffe College. We will very much miss him. We do hope he will ‘put in a good word’ for us to his successor, whom we look forward to working with and welcoming here soon.
AROUND THE COUNTRY
Northampton North (Northamptonshire) Paul Beardsmore
In addition to the regular Saturday morning Masses at St Brendan Corby, Fr Byrne celebrated a special lunchtime Mass on Ash Wednesday. There was also Mass on Easter Sunday. Responding to the Holy Father’s call for a special period of penance and prayer during the last weekend of March, Fr Byrne arranged a 24-hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with opportunity for Confession. Saturday morning Extraordinary Form Mass on 29 March was offered during this period and attracted increased numbers as a result. Tel: 01858 434 037 _________________________________________________
Nottingham South (Leicestershire and Rutland) Paul Beardsmore
I am pleased to report that Fr Cahill has kindly arranged a new regular Mass at St Peter’s, Leicester, on the first Friday of every month. This is in addition to the existing regular Saturday morning Mass. There was also a Sung Mass at St Peter’s on Ash Wednesday. The very successful liturgy day at the same church on 22 February is the subject of a separate report. Meanwhile, in the neighbouring parish of Holy Cross, the Fathers continue to provide daily Mass in the Dominican Rite. The Priory was also the venue for Sung Masses on the feasts of the Purification and the Annunciation. Masses continue at Oakham on Friday evenings, and on 31 January, Fr Dye sang a Requiem Mass on the first anniversary of the death of Mackenzie Urquhart. Tel: 01858 434 037
Tel: 0115 913 1592 _____________________________________________________ 33
AROUND THE COUNTRY
Isle of Wight Peter Clarke
On the Island we are delighted to now have a regular Sunday Extraordinary Form Mass, which will be offered at St. Mary’s, Ryde. The first one was on Easter Sunday. Seven forty five in the morning is rather early, especially for those travelling from afar, but it is the only time that the parish priest, Fr Anthony Glaysher, can manage on a regular basis. We are extremely grateful to him for his pastoral care for those attached to the Old Mass. The Isle of Wight continues to have two weekday EF Masses; again, at St. Mary’s, Ryde, Tuesday at 12.30pm and Thursday at 7pm. In addition, there is a First Friday Mass at St. Michael’s, Bembridge (four miles south east of Ryde). We were pleased to welcome Fr. Simon Leworthy back to the Island. This is a significant day for St Mary’s, as it marks the birthday of the foundress of the church, Elizabeth, Countess of Clare, in 1793. In his sermon at Mass, he reminded the congregation: ‘In Spain this feast is commonly referred to the ìIncarnation’. It emphasizes the fact that life begins at conception rather than at birth. ‘On this day we unite ourselves with the offering of the Lord, who came on earth to redeem us and to show us the way to salvation.’ Two days later, Fr. Leworthy led a Day of Recollection at St. Mary’s on ‘Sorrow and Repentance’. The day included EF Mass, exposition, Confessions, Stations of the Cross, Holy Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction. Among Father’s themes were: the Agony in the Garden, seeking eternal salvation, forgiveness, the importance of the Sacrament of Penance, and the seven joys and sorrows of St Joseph. It was good to have the 40-hours Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament once again over the Passion Sunday weekend. This year it was held at St. Michael’s, Bembridge. In addition to the various devotions that took place, there were two EF Masses during the 40hours. In his sermon Fr. Glaysher reminded the people that: ‘The most beautiful and wonderful thing on this earth is the presence of Our Blessed Lord, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, a gift to us and an aid to our salvation. We are fortunate to have these 40 Hours in which to come along and worship and adore Our Lord and Saviour.’ Last Summer, there was an increasing number of LMS members visiting the Island for a day visit. Why not combine a day visit on a Tuesday and include an EF Mass at 12.30pm with a guided tour of our beautiful Victorian church in Ryde? To arrange this contact Tel: Peter Clarke 01983 566740 __________________________________________ 34
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014 Ademar and Oliver Garcia learning to serve with Fr Simon Leworthy on the IoW
Portsmouth
Peter Cullinane The highlight of last year was High Mass on 27 October in the presence of Bishop Egan. No fewer than 13 altar servers were present, including six in their teens or twenties, for whom it was a great training exercise. Many thanks to the MC, Aidan McKeague, and to Gordon Dimon, the bishop’s personal MC. The servers, choir and congregation numbered some 120 despite the forecast of a tornado. We were lucky to have Fr Phillip Harris, newly moved to Jersey, as principal celebrant, Deacon Stephen Morgan as deacon and Fr John Maunder as sub-deacon. The latter is of the Ordinariate at St Agatha’s, almost next to the Cathedral, and it was most fitting that he and a couple of young accompanying servers were integrated into High Mass as there has been little official contact with them in the past, a situation which I hope to remedy. Bishop Philip gave a most encouraging homily, promising to support the EF Mass where there is a desire to celebrate it in the diocese and he promises to attend again next year when his diary is clearer. In my letter of thanks to Bishop Philip I said that I felt as if we had emerged from the shadows. A 50-strong congregation attended the Sung Mass at St Joseph’s Basingstoke on 9 March, celebrated by Canon Griffiths with the kind permission of the parish priest, Fr Mark Hogan. The sermon was given by Fr John Maunder of the Ordinariate who took angels as his theme. He described the frequent reaction of disbelief which people expressed concerning angels. He drew as a comparison the unknown marine
life recently discovered in the depths of the Pacific Ocean which until then no-one could possibly have imagined was capable of existence. Tel: 02392471324
Hexham & Newcastle
David & Theresa O’Neill There is little of import to report this quarter. Our Masses continue as always, with a slight adjustment at St Joseph’s Gateshead where Saturday Mass has been reassigned to 11.00am instead of 10.00am. A further change at St Joseph’s is that Missa Cantata will be celebrated on the first and third Sundays of each month, instead of just once a month. It is hoped that our annual Mass at Brinkburn Priory will take place in September but, at this point in time, no date has been arranged. 34 Morston Drive Dumpling Hall Estate NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE15 7RZ Tel: 0191 264 5771 Mob: 0771 2727198 Email: david-oneill3@sky.com Blog: www. latinmasshexhamnewcastle@ blogspot.co.uk
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
AROUND THE COUNTRY
Reading Area
and seminarians. Contact Fr de Malleray via FSSP website. There has been a flurry of activity in the Basingstoke area with the provision of Extraordinary Form Masses and one in particular connected to May devotions. Hopefully many will have attended having picked this out at http://lmsreading.wordpress.com/ as well as the latest LMS videos excellently presented by Dr Shaw about understanding traditional practices pertaining to the Mass. Finally, and as a general reminder, there is much activity going on at St William of York: daily Masses; Confessions; funerals; baptisms; spiritual direction; writing of articles; preparation for the Sacraments; instruction of converts; visits to the faithful and clergy; men’s group; women’s group; adolescents’ group; family catechism day and Holy Hour with Benediction. See the FSSP website for further details. We can only thank God for this unique UK ministry, based on orthodox sacred Traditional thinking. May it bear fruit for the promotion of the Traditional Mass to restore England to Our Lady, but Reading first with the visitation of the statue of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom!
Adrian Dulston
By the time you get this report, we no doubt will be focussing on the month of May - Our Lady’s month. During the last few months, on an initiative between myself and Fr de Malleray, a statue of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom has been making its rounds to various individuals and families who attend St William of York Latin Masses. For further reflection on this, I invite you to read ‘Our Mother visits her children at home’ article in the Dowry, the FSSP magazine available online and in hard copy. The Traditional Mass, of course, impacts not just on our daily lives here in Reading, but on our cultural experiences. So, as a part of the ‘Art for Souls’ tour, Fr de Malleray will be giving a guided talk/tour at the Victoria & Albert Museum on 24 May on the theme of ‘After Pentecost: the Acts of the Apostles in the Raphael cartoons’. For those with boys between 10-13 and 14-17 there is a Summer Camp at Douai Abbey on 27 July run by FSSP priests
adrian.dulston@btinternet.com http://lmsreading.wordpress.com/
Lincolnshire Mike Carroll
Lincolnshire continues to have one Sunday Latin Mass at St. Mary, Brigg, with Benediction at 4.15pm and Low Mass at 5pm. In this first report it may, or may not, come as a surprise that Lincolnshire, the second largest county in Britain, has only one priest offering Extraordinary Form Mass. On top of this, comes the sobering thought that the county does not possess one server. (The Brigg server travels from South Yorkshire). There appears to have been a literal severing of EF Mass, not only physically on the ground, but also, unfortunately, in the psyche of practising Catholics in Lincolnshire. The recent Solemn Mass at Louth gave a strong indication of where future efforts might best be served. At present the required Summorum Pontificum signatures have been collected for Louth, with plans for a second Mass now being organised. What became apparent at the Louth Mass, was the number of people who attended from Lincoln. All major efforts will now be concentrated in this area and a plan to reinstitute Traditional Mass in Lincoln is in hand. Your patience is asked. My greatest concern is that the hard working priest at Brigg, our only EF priest, is not inundated with requests. Finally, to my mind, there has also been a severing of our Catholic heritage in Lincolnshire. Alongside a new LMS Lincolnshire website, I have also created a site entitled the Lincolnshire Martyrs and Rising (link below) with the aim of reclaiming some of this history. For the first time, the county’s martyrs have been highlighted. This work has been accomplished to help facilitate a future walking pilgrimage honouring the Lincolnshire Martyrs.
Worcester area Margaret Parffrey
Masses continue in this part of Worcestershire with an improvement in the Sunday obligations in the Extraordinary Form. We have Mass on the 1st Sunday of the month at 3pm at Kidderminster and the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month at 12.45pm at Spetchley, said by Fr Talbot. This is said in the recusant chapel in the Georgian house, home of the Berkeley family. It is by kind permission of Juliana Berkeley, who allows the use of the chapel, which is situated in the Spetchley gardens, near to Worcester. The grounds are open to the public in the summer and offer a delightful day out for the Catholic family. Fr Anthony Talbot, the chaplain, has spent much love and care in restoring the chapel to conform to the Extraordinary Form. Traditional Mass has begun at Redditch on the 1st Monday at 6.30pm, at 9am Saturday morning at Kidderminster with Fr Lamb and at 7pm Tuesday evening at the Shrine of Our Lady of Evesham. We need more flock, young and old. Any information of priests willing to say the Extraordinary Form is welcome. And we need a 3rd Sunday Mass somewhere in the Worcester area. Missa Cantata, Spetchley St John the Baptist, Low Sunday at 12.45. Tel: 01386 750421
http://lmslincolnshire.blogspot.com http://lincolnshiremartyrs.blogspot.co.uk/ Tel: 01491 682909 _____________________________________________________ 35
AROUND THE COUNTRY
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
Wrexham
Cardiff
Regular Old Rite Masses continue in North Wales with the valued support of our regular clergy and servers. At the February second Saturday Missa Cantata at Our Lady of Rosary, Buckley we welcomed a new member to the Schola Cantorum and hopefully this additional voice will continue to strengthen the existing committed group. The April Mass at St Francis of Assisi, Llay was a week earlier on Passion Sunday. A prudent move as the longer Parish Palm Sunday liturgy of the following week risked ‘tailgating’ the Traditional Mass. There was a good turnout on Sexagesima Sunday for the monthly Sung Mass at St Winefride’s, Holywell. However, our numbers were diminished on the Third Sunday in Lent. Perhaps the inclement weather caused the significant drop in numbers for the March Mass? Great to see is LMS stalwart David Lloyd assisting in the Schola. Furthermore, the additional servers from the Scorey family were most welcome on Sexagesima Sunday. Planning for the July Holywell pilgrimage continues, Diaconal roles been filled to assist the Abbot of Belmont. A practice Mass will be held in May. Sincere thanks to all involved with special appreciation to Canon Montjean for the facilitation and hosting of the practice. Finally, Cead Mile Failte to Father David Murphy, a priest of Galway Diocese, …ire now attached to Wrexham. Having joined the LMS, he will be taking a trip to Wirral to learn the Usus Antiquior, again with thanks to Canon Montjean. There are some changes to Mass times in the forthcoming months. Please see the listings.
Masses are still being celebrated at Hereford, Much Birch, Abergavenny and the Chaplaincy Cardiff. Please check Mass listings for more information. Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form to take Place at Saint Dyfrig’s Church, Broadway, Treforest, Pontypridd, CF37 1DB (Just off the A470 to Merthyr Tydfil) on Monday 12 May 2014 at 6.15pm by Archbishop Stack. This will be the first time (to my knowledge) that Confirmations have been celebrated under the Old Rite since 1970. Please come along and support those being confirmed, but contact me before travelling as the arrangement may change. As always, you can find out all the latest information, Mass times, articles and photographs on our website or you can email me. If I do not respond within a few days, do email again. Please keep the priests of the Archdiocese who celebrate the Extraordinary Form in your prayers. In Domino.
Kevin Jones
Tel: 01244 674011 Email: lms.wrexham@outlook.com _____________________________________________________
Westminster
Roger Wemyss Brooks During the horrendous February floods, a Mass for Any Necessity was sung on the 17th at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, by Fr Patrick Hayward, followed by a procession and a special form of the Litany of the Saints asking for fair weather. Our Rep. and the Society’s Senior MC, Gordon Dimon, has suffered a serious accident and will be indisposed for some time. Holy Mass was offered for him at Spanish Place on 23 March. He has been sorely missed, especially in Holy Week. The MC for the Triduum ceremonies at St Mary Moorfields was Richard Hawker and the music from plainsong and masterpieces of the renaissance and baroque was again provided by Cantus Magnus, directed by Matthew Schellhorn. Westminster is suffering a severe shortage, not only of priests to say our Masses but also of altar servers. A training day at Willesden on 29 March attracted only three men and one boy. Their enthusiasm should inspire others to come forward. Men are needed both to support the recently established Sunday EF Masses at St Alban’s and Willesden, and to travel at short notice for occasional events such as First Friday Masses and Requiems. Training can be given on a one-to-one basis if required. Tel: 0207 224 5323 36
Andrew Butcher
Tel: 07905 609770 Email: andrew.butcher@lmscardiff.org.uk Web: www.lmscardiff.org.uk _____________________________________________________
Southwark North Matthew Schellhorn
With the birth of a second son and a busy work schedule, I have decided to take a sabbatical from my LMS duties until next year. I hand over to our Assistant Rep, Angus Rhodes, who will continue to help with local activities. Please note, the next Cathedral Mass will be Saturday 26 July at 10:30 the feast of St Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And bear in mind the date for our Aylesford Pilgrimage on Saturday 11 October. Email: lmssouthwarknorth@gmail.com Web: http://lmssouthwarknorth.blogspot.com Angus Rhodes can be contacted at angusrhodes@aol.com or on 07890 898 258
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
IN ILLO TEMPORE Tellingly retold, from our magazine archives, a regular look-back at key LMS developments over the decades 30 YEARS AGO
From the chairman’s message. May 1984 News Bulletin No.60
“Funerals are sad and moving events which often not only stir up memories of the departed but put us into a thoughtful frame of mind, making us stop and think of the things that matter in life and death. “In recent weeks I have been to two – both for founding members of our Society, Mrs Hargreaves of Tenterden and Father Mark Taylor of the London Oratory.. “Mrs Hargreaves was a woman of great kindness and gentleness who will be sadly missed…. “Father Mark’s…confreres observed as much of the externals as are compatible with the new ways, and there was none of the gross irreverence that one associates with the new Mass in general and with the conduct of Normative funerals in particular. (I recall my grandmother’s funeral: [the priest] began by inviting hearty ‘participation’ in the celebration and asked non-Catholics to put up their hands so they could be identified and particularly warmly welcomed.
NEWS FEATURE
In any other circumstances, I would have walked out).”
20 YEARS AGO
Sursum Corda
“This newsletter is the one hundredth since the Society was founded in 1965….Our hopes for the restoration of the old Latin Mass, unfettered by petty restrictions, have been raised and dashed on many occasions. “Down the years…the Society…has grown in strength and conviction. The one thing that has sustained this Society, in the face of a great deal of hostility (both clerical and lay) is the unshakeable belief that the Mass of Ages must not be lost to the Church and to our children and future generations. After many years of apparently hopeless struggle, it is becoming more and more clear that the old Roman Latin Rite is regaining ground.”
15 YEARS AGO
The Shrine of Our Lady at Ladyewell “Just north of Preston and in the Diocese of Lancaster is the shrine of Ladyewell, Our Lady of the Well, at Fernyhalgh. “Its origins are lost in the mists of time. According to Prof Walter Skeat, the Anglo-Saxon place name Fernyhalgh means ‘ancient shrine’ indicating that this was already an ancient site in Anglo-Saxon times, while Prof EJ Popham maintains that it was a pagan shrine which was converted to Our Lady when the North was Christianised after the King of Northumbria was baptised at York on Easter Day 627…..
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MASS LISTINGS
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
The Latin Mass Society
Mass Listings Supplement to Mass of Ages 180 Summer 2014 While the Latin Mass Society makes every effort to ensure that these listings are accurate, we cannot guarantee that they are free of errors or omissions and acknowledge that some Masses can be cancelled at very short notice.
Westminster Westminster Cathedral, Victoria Street, VICTORIA, London SW1P 1QW The Oratory, Brompton Road, LONDON SW7 2RP
St. James's, Spanish Place, LONDON W1U 3QY
Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, COVENT GARDEN, London WC2E 7NA
St Etheldreda, Ely Place, LONDON EC1N 6RY St. John the Baptist, 3 King Edward's Road, HACKNEY, London E9 7SF St Mary Moorfields, Eldon Street, LONDON EC2M 7LS Holy Trinity and St Augustine, London Road, BALDOCK, Herts SG7 6LQ St. Edmund of Canterbury & English Martyrs, Farm Lane, Old Hall Green, Nr. WARE, Hertfordshire SG11 1DT Our Lady of Lourdes & St Michael, Osborn Rd, UXBRIDGE, UB8 1UE Our Lady and St Catherine, 177 Bow Road, Bow, LONDON E3 2SG St Bartholomew’s, 47 Vesta Avenue, ST ALBANS AL1 2PE
2nd Saturdays (Lady Chapel) Sat 12 Jul (AGM) Sundays Sun 25 May Mon to Sat (St Joseph’s Altar) Saturdays (usually in St [1] Wilfrid’s Chapel) Sundays Holy Days of Obligation Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Mondays nd 2 Fridays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) st 1 Fridays st 1 Fridays Fridays Last Fridays st 1 Sundays nd rd th th 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 Sundays st
1 Fridays [2] Thursdays Sundays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Our Lady of Willesden, Acton Lane, WILLESDEN, London NW10 9AX Sundays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) [1] Phone 020 7808 0900 to check before travelling. [2] Check Parish newsletters for correct times
4.30pm 2.00pm 9.00am 9.00am 8.00am 12.15pm
Low Mass High Mass Low Mass Pontifical Low Low Mass Low Mass
9.30am 11.00am 11.00am 11.00am 6.30pm 6.30pm 6.30pm 6.30pm 6.30pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 7.45am 7.30pm 3.00pm 3.00pm
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass High Mass Low Mass Low Mass
7.00pm TBA 5.00pm 7.00pm 7.00pm 5.30pm 7.00pm 7.00pm 7.00pm
Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
Arundel and Brighton St Pancras, Ireland’s Lane, LEWES, Sussex BN7 1QX St Mary Magdalene, Upper North Street, BRIGHTON BN1 3FH St Mary, Surrenden Road, BRIGHTON BN1 6PA St Thomas More, Sutton Road, SEAFORD Sussex BN25 1SS Our Lady of Consolation, Park Lane, WEST GRINSTEAD RH13 8LT Christ the King, Bramber Road, STEYNING BN44 3PB
st
1 Sundays Saturdays Sundays Fridays Thursdays rd 3 Sundays nd 2 Sundays Sat 17 May (Pilgrimage) th 4 Sundays
12.30pm 10.00am 6.30pm 7.00pm 7.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 12.00pm 9.00am
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low/Sung Low Mass Pontifical High Low Mass
Birmingham St Chad's Cathedral, St Chad’s Queensway, BIRMINGHAM B4 6EU
The Oratory, Hagley Road, BIRMINGHAM B16 8UE
38
Sat 17 May (transferred Feast of the Translation of the Relics of St Chad) Sundays Fridays
12.00pm
High Mass
10.30am 6.00pm
High Mass Low Mass
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
MASS LISTINGS
Saturdays Holy Days of Obligation
St John Fisher, 1 Cofton Road, West Heath, BIRMINGHAM B31 3QT
Maryvale Institute Chapel, Old Oscott Hill, BIRMINGHAM B44 9AG Our Lady & St Kenelm Cobham Road, HALESOWEN B63 3JZ Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Cannock Road, WOLVERHAMPTON WV10 8PG The Oratory, Woodstock Road, OXFORD OX2 6HA
SS Gregory & Augustine, 322 Woodstock Road, OXFORD OX2 7NS
St Birinus, DORCHESTER-ON-THAMES, Oxfordshire OX10 7JR Oratory School, WOODCOTE, Reading RG8 0PJ
Milton Manor House Chapel, High St, Milton, ABINGDON OX14 4EN St Wulstan, Wolstanton, NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME, Staffordshire ST5 0EF
Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter & Paul) [1] Fridays Wed 9 Jul (SS John Fisher & Thomas More) nd 2 Wednesdays Wednesdays [2] Fridays
9.30am 6.00pm or 7.00pm 7.00pm 7.00pm 6.00pm 10.30am 6.30pm 7.00pm
Low Mass Low Mass High Mass High Mass High Mass Sung Mass High Mass Low Mass High Mass
7.00pm 12.00pm 6.30pm
Low/Sung Low Mass Low Mass
Sundays 29 May (Ascension) 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) rd 3 Sundays Wednesdays Fridays st 1 Thursdays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) Tue 1 Jul (Precious Blood) Wed 6 Aug (Transfiguration) Saturdays Thu 29 May (Ascension) [3] Mondays [3] Fridays [3] Saturdays Sat 31 May (BVM Queen)
8.00am 12.15pm 12.15pm 6.00pm 12.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 12.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 9.30am 7.30pm 7.30am 7.30am 7.30am 11.00am
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass High Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Low Mass High Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass
st
1 Fridays 7.00pm Low Mass Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) 7.00pm Low/Sung Our Lady of Mount Carmel, REDDITCH B98 8LT Mondays 6.30pm Low Mass St Mary & Egwin, High Street, EVESHAM Worcestershire WR11 4EJ Tuesdays 7.00pm Low Mass st St Ambrose, Birmingham Road, KIDDERMINSTER DY10 2BY 1 Sundays 3.00pm Low/Sung Saturdays 9.00am Low Mass nd th [4] St John Baptist, Spetchley Park, WORCESTER WR5 1RS 2 & 4 Sundays 12.45pm Low Mass 6.00pm Sung Mass Our Lady of the Assumption, 8 Weaver's Walk, Swynnerton, nr STONE, Sundays [6] 10.00am Low Mass ST15 0QZ Saturdays Fortnightly Thu 29 May (Ascension) 7.00pm Low/Sung Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) 7.00pm Low/Sung rd [5] Oulton Abbey, Kibblestone Road, Oulton, Nr STONE ST15 8UP 3 Sundays 3.00pm Sung/Low [1] No Mass on 30 May. [2] No Mass on 21 May. Please phone 0121-602 1972 prior to travelling. [3] During term time and liable to cancellation at short notice. Phone 01491 683503 to confirm before travelling. [4] Check with Parish on 01905 345109 before travelling. [5] Monthly Masses - check for future dates on http://north-staffs-lms.blogspot.co.uk or call Local LMS Representative, Alan Frost, on 01270 768144. Subject to cancellation, so check blog above before travelling. [6] Phone Local Rep on 01270 768144 to confirm dates.
Brentwood Our Lady of Lourdes & St Joseph, Leigh Rd, LEIGH-ON-SEA, Essex SS9 1LN Our Lady Immaculate, New London Road, CHELMSFORD, Essex CM2 0AR
st
1 Sundays st 1 Fridays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) St Philip’s Priory, New London Road, CHELMSFORD, Essex CM2 0AR Sun 8 Jun (Pentecost) [1] Church of the Assumption, 98 Manford Way, HAINAULT, Essex IG7 4DF Most Mondays st St. Mary Immaculate and the Holy Archangels, KELVEDON, Essex CO5 9AH 1 Saturdays St Margaret's Convent Chapel, Bethell Avenue, CANNING TOWN, London Sundays E16 4JU Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) [1] Please telephone 020 8500 3953 to confirm before travelling or email nda.hainault@btinternet.com
4.00pm 7.30pm 10.00am 7.30pm 10.30am 6.30pm 12.15pm 6.00pm 7.30pm 7.30pm
Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass
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Cardiff University Chaplaincy, 62 Park Place, CARDIFF CF10 3AS Poor Clare Convent, Much Birch, HEREFORD HR2 8PS St Francis Xavier, Broad Street, HEREFORD HR4 9AP
st
1 Thursdays 7.00pm Low Mass Sundays 6.30pm Low Mass Last Sundays 11.30am Low/Sung Fridays 7.00pm Low Mass Our Lady & St Michael, Pen-y-Pound, ABERGAVENNY NP7 5UD Fridays 7.00pm Low Mass Masses may be celebrated in various churches around the Archdiocese for Corpus Christi, Ascension of the Lord and the Sacred Heart. Please contact Andrew Butcher (Local Representative) on 07905 609770 or andrew.butcher@lmscardiff.org.uk or visit the website www.lmscardiff.org.uk for more information and full listings.
Clifton Holy Cross Church, Dean Lane, Bedminster, BRISTOL BS3 1DB St Dominic’s, Jubilee Road, DURSLEY, Gloucestershire GL11 4ES
St George’s, Boreham Road, WARMINSTER, Wiltshire BA12 9JP SS Joseph & Teresa, 16 Chamberlain Street, WELLS, Somerset BA5 2PF Our Lady & St Kenelm, STOW-ON-THE-WOLD, Gloucestershire GL54 1DR Prinknash Abbey, CRANHAM, Gloucestershire GL4 8EX
Our Lady of Lourdes, 28 Baytree Road, WESTON-SUPER-MARE BS22 8HQ St Benedict’s, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, RADSTOCK, nr. Bath, Somerset BA3 4RH Our Lady of Glastonbury, Magdalene Street, GLASTONBURY, Somerset BA6 9EJ Our Lady & St Alphege, Oldfield Lane, Oldfield Park, BATH, BA2 3NR
Sundays st 1 Wednesdays Fri 15 Aug (Assumption) [1] Sundays Mondays & Tuesdays Wednesdays to Saturdays incl. Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter and Paul) Tue 1 Jul (Precious Blood) Wed 2 Jul (Visitation) Wed 6 Aug (Transfiguration) Fri 15 Aug (Assumption) [2] One Saturday per month [3] Tuesdays Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Fri 15 Aug (Assumption) [4] Saturdays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) st 1 Sundays [5] Saturdays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter and Paul) Fri 15 Aug (Assumption) th th 4 and 5 Sundays st 1 Thursdays Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) st 1 Sundays
12.30pm 6.30pm 12.45pm 5.30pm 9.00am 8.00am 8.00am 8.00am 8.00am 5.30pm 9.00am 8.00am 8.00am 8.00am 9.30am 6.00pm 8.00am 6.00pm 10.00am 10.00am 10.00am 3.00pm 11.00am 8.15am 11.00am 8.15am 8.15am 11.30am 9.30am 7.30pm 11.15am
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass High Mass Low Mass
12.30pm
Low Mass
[6]
12.00pm 12.00pm 7.00pm
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
rd
3 Sundays rd
St Gregory’s, 10 Saint James' Square, CHELTENHAM GL50 3PR
3 Sundays [6] Thu 29 May (Ascension) st 1 Wednesdays
Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, RADSTOCK, nr. Bath BA3 4RH
Sat 31 May
11.00am
High Mass
The Holy Ghost, 73 Higher Kingston, YEOVIL, Somerset BA21 4AR
Eyre Chantry, Perrymead Cemetery, BATH BA2 5AZ
Fridays Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) Fri 15 Aug (Assumption) st [7] Quarterly 1 Tuesdays
6.00pm 7.00pm 6.00pm 12.30pm
Low Mass High Mass Low Mass Low Mass
All Saints, WARDOUR CASTLE, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6RR
Quarterly 3 Saturdays
rd
[8]
11.00am
Low Mass
rd
[9]
Holy Redeemer, Fotherby Crescent, SALISBURY, Wiltshire SP1 3EG Quarterly 3 Saturdays 11.30am Low Mass [1] Missa Cantata first Sunday of each month. [2] Please check with Parish Office on 01985 212329. [3] Phone 01749 673183 to confirm before travelling. [4] Phone 01451 830431 to confirm before travelling. [5] Phone Fr Damian on 07742 659106 to confirm before travelling. [6] Please call 01225 471180 before travelling. [7] These Masses will continue quarterly (March, June, September and December) until further notice. Please call 01225 471180 before travelling. [8] These Masses will continue quarterly (February, May, August, November) until further notice. Please call 01373 301691 before travelling. [9] Quarterly (March, June, September, December). Please call 01373 301691 before travelling.
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MASS LISTINGS
East Anglia Blackfriars, Buckingham Road, CAMBRIDGE CB3 0DD University Chaplaincy, Fisher House, Guildhall St, CAMBRIDGE CB2 3NH St Peter & All Souls, Park Road, PETERBOROUGH, Cambs PE1 2RS St Mary Magdalene, 468 Norwich Rd, IPSWICH IP1 6JS St Pancras, Orwell Place, IPSWICH, Suffolk IP4 1BD St Thomas of Canterbury, St. John's St, WOODBRIDGE, Suffolk IP12 1EB nd
Sundays Sundays (during term time) st 1 Fridays [1] Wednesdays nd 2 Sundays nd 2 Thursdays [2] Temporarily Suspended
9.15am 8.30am 7.00pm 12.00pm 5.30pm 10.30am 11.00am
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
rd
[1] Please phone 01473 741975 for more information. [2] The 2 and 3 Sunday Masses at Woodbridge have been temporarily suspended, please contact the Rep on 01440 708416 or see lmseastanglia.blogspot.co.uk.
Hallam nd [1] St Marie’s Cathedral, Norfolk Row, SHEFFIELD S1 2JB 2 Saturdays 10.00am [1] St Teresa’s Church, Prince of Wales Road, SHEFFIELD S2 1EY Last Sundays 4.00pm [1] Please phone 0114 2332801 for more information or visit our Facebook page (Hallam lms) for updated events .
Sung Mass Sung/High
Hexham and Newcastle [1]
St Joseph’s, High West Street, GATESHEAD NE8 1LX
Sundays Saturdays St. Mary's Church, Birch Road, BARNARD CASTLE, Co. Durham Sundays DL12 8NR Tuesdays [2] Holy Days of Obligation Sacred Heart & English Martyrs, THORNLEY, Co. Durham DH6 3HA Sundays rd St Patrick, Smith Street, Ryhope, SUNDERLAND SR2 0RG 3 Wednesdays SS Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert, Church Street, COXHOE, Co Durham Thursdays DH6 4DA Holy Days of Obligation nd St Augustine’s, 30 Coniscliffe Road, DARLINGTON DL3 7RG 2 Wednesdays st rd [1] Sung Mass on 1 & 3 Sundays. [2] Please confirm with Rep before travelling (0191 264 5771).
12.00pm 11.00am 9.00am 7.30pm 7.30pm 9.30am 7.30pm 12.00pm 12.00pm 7.00pm
Low/Sung Low Mass Low Mass Low/Sung Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
Sun 11 May Sun 15 Jun Sun 13 Jul st [1] 1 Sundays
3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 6.00pm
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
Sun 25 May Thu 29 May (Ascension) Sat 31 May (St Petronilla) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) Fri 9 May
6.00pm 7.30pm 10.00am 7.00pm 7.00pm 7.30pm
Low Mass Low Mass High Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
Lancaster St Peter’s Cathedral, Balmoral Road, LANCASTER LA1 3BT
Christ the King Catholic Church, Winton Crescent, Harraby, CARLISLE CA1 3JX Our Lady & St Wilfrid, Warwick Bridge, CARLISLE CA4 8RL
Sizergh Castle Chapel, Sizergh, Nr KENDAL LA8 8DZ [1] No Mass in August.
Leeds th
5 Saturdays 4.00pm First Fridays 7.30pm Saturdays 6.00pm Sundays 3.00pm [1] Sundays 11.00am [1] Monday-Saturday inclusive 9.30am nd St Peter’s, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, BRADFORD, Yorkshire BD3 8EL 2 Sundays 3.00pm st rd Holy Spirit, Bath Road, HECKMONDWIKE, Yorkshire WF16 9EA 1 & 3 Sundays 4.00pm Last Mondays 7.30pm St Ignatius, Storrs Hill Road, OSSETT WF5 0DQ [1] Anybody wishing to attend these Masses is advised to ring 01756 793794 or visit www.lmsleeds.blogspot.com. Leeds University RC Chaplaincy, 5–7 St Mark’s Avenue, LEEDS LS2 9BN Immaculate Heart of Mary, Harrogate Road, LEEDS LS17 6LE St Mary’s, Gibbet Street, HALIFAX, Yorkshire HX1 5DH St Joseph's, Pontefract Road, CASTLEFORD, Yorkshire WF10 4JB The Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, SKIPTON, Yorkshire BD23 3AE
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass
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Liverpool [1]
St Anthony’s, Scotland Road, LIVERPOOL L5 5BD
Sundays 3.00pm Low Mass Holy Days of Obligation 12.00pm Low Mass Thu 29 May (Ascension) 12.00pm Low Mass Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) 12.00pm Low Mass Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) 12.00pm Low Mass Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter & Paul) 3.00pm Low Mass [2] Our Lady Star of the Sea, 1 Crescent Road, Seaforth, LIVERPOOL L21 4LJ 9.30am Low Mass Sundays [2] Holy Days of Obligation TBA Low Mass Thu 29 May (Ascension) 7.00pm Low Mass Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) 7.00pm Low Mass Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) 7.00pm Low Mass Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter & Paul) 9.30am Low Mass [3] St Joseph, Bolton Road, ANDERTON PR6 9NA 9.00am Low Mass Saturdays [4] Holy Spirit, 66/68 Poulsom Drive, BOOTLE L30 2NR Tuesdays 7.00pm Low Mass St Mary Magdalene, Leyland Road, PENWORTHAM PR1 9NE Sundays 9.00am Low Mass [5] St Catherine Labouré, Stanifield Lane, Farington, LEYLAND, PR25 4QG 11.30am Low Mass Sundays Tuesdays 12.00pm Low Mass Saturdays 12.00pm Low Mass [5] Holydays of Obligation 7.00pm Low Mass Thu 29 May (Ascension) 7.00pm Sung Mass Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) 7.00pm Sung Mass Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) 7.00pm Sung Mass Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter & Paul) 11.30am Sung Mass [1] For all Masses, please phone 0151 426 0361 before travelling. [2] Additional Masses may be announced on the parish website. Please phone Fr Wood on 0151 928 2338 before travelling. [3] Please phone Fr. Ian O’Shea 01257 480237 before travelling. [4] Please check with Fr John Harris 0151 928 0040 before travelling. [5] Additional Masses may be posted on Fr Henry’s blog (offerimustibidomine.blogspot.com). Please phone Fr Henry 01772 421174 before travelling.
Menevia St Joseph’s Cathedral, Greenhill, SWANSEA SA1 2BX Sacred Heart, School Road, Morriston, SWANSEA, SA6 6HZ St. Benedict's Church, Llythrid Avenue, Sketty, SWANSEA SA2 0JJ
th
4 Sundays st Saturday before 1 Sundays rd 3 Sundays th 5 Sundays
12.00pm 5.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm
Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
Sundays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) Fri 15 Aug (Assumption) [1] Sundays
5.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm
Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
Middlesbrough St Wilfrid’s, Duncombe Place, YORK YO1 7EF
Sacred Heart Church, Lobster Road, REDCAR TS10 1SH [1] Please check before travelling (01642 484 047).
Northampton St Brendan, Beanfield Avenue, CORBY NN18 0AZ
Saturdays 9.30am Low Mass Thu 29 May (Ascension) 7.00pm Low Mass Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) 7.00pm Low Mass Sacred Heart, Pope Close, FLITWICK, Bedfordshire MK45 1JP Sundays 5.00pm Low Mass [1] Last Thursdays 7.30pm Low Mass 7.30pm Sung Mass Thu 29 May (Ascension) Low Mass Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter & Paul) 7.30pm [2] Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Amersham Road, CHESHAM BOIS HP6 5PE Sundays 8.00am Low Mass rd St. Francis of Assisi, 25 High Street, SHEFFORD, Bedfordshire SG17 5DD 3 Fridays 7.30pm Low Mass Fri 15 Aug (Assumption) 7.30pm Low Mass [1] Thursday, 26 June and Thursday, 31 July. There is no monthly Thursday Mass in August. [2] Phone 01494 727469 before travelling. Sung st Mass on 1 Sundays.
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MASS LISTINGS
Nottingham St Barnabas Cathedral, Derby Road, NOTTINGHAM NG1 5AE Corpus Christi, Southchurch Drive, Clifton, NOTTINGHAM NG11 9BP The Good Shepherd, 3 Thackeray's Lane, Woodthorpe, NOTTINGHAM NG5 4HT Our Lady and St Patrick, Launder Street, Meadows, NOTTINGHAM NG2 1JQ Holy Cross Priory, 45 Wellington Street, LEICESTER LE1 6HW
rd
[1] [2]
3 Wednesdays st [2] 1 Sundays nd [2] Saturday before 2 Sundays (anticipated Mass of Sunday) rd [2] 3 Sundays
6.15pm 3.00pm 4.45pm
Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass
2.00pm
Low Mass
Sundays 12.30pm Low Mass Mondays to Saturdays inclusive 8.00am Low Mass St St Peter's Church, Hinckley Road, LEICESTER LE3 0TA 1 Fridays 6.00pm Low Mass Saturdays 11.00am Low Mass [3] St Joseph, Station Road, OAKHAM, Rutland LE15 6QU Fridays 7.00pm Low Mass St Mary’s, 12 Barnard Avenue, BRIGG DN20 8AS Sundays 5.00pm Low Mass [1] Mass is followed by a social for young Catholic adults (18-35), organised by Juventutem Nottingham. For more details contact Corinna on 07791 041442. [2] No scheduled Masses in August. [3] Check newsletter at www.stjosephs-oakham.org.
Plymouth Plymouth Cathedral, Wyndham Street West, PLYMOUTH PL1 5HW Blessed Sacrament Church, Fore Street, Heavitree, EXETER EX1 2QJ Exeter University Catholic Chaplaincy, Boniface House, Glenthorne Road, EXETER EX4 4QU St Cyprian’s Chapel, Ugbrooke House, nr CHUDLEIGH, Devon TQ13 0AD Lanherne Convent, St Mawgan, Nr NEWQUAY, Cornwall TR8 4ER
st
1 Sundays [1] Most Saturdays rd 3 Sundays Fridays th
[2]
4 Sundays Sundays & Holydays of Obligation Mondays to Saturdays inclusive St Mary’s, Old Mill Lane, MARNHULL, Dorset DT10 1JX Thu 5 Jun [1] Please telephone 01752 361239 or the Cathedral 01752 662537 for information. [2] No Mass in August.
3.00pm 12.00pm
Sung Mass Low Mass
3.00pm 7.30pm
Sung Mass Low Mass
3.00pm 10.00am
Sung Mass Sung Mass
7.30am 12.00pm
Sung Mass Low Mass
Portsmouth St John’s Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh Road, PORTSMOUTH PO1 3HG St William of York, Upper Redlands Road, READING, Berkshire RG1 5JT
Sundays Sundays Mondays [1] Tuesdays to Thursdays Fridays Saturdays [1] Holy Days of Obligation Thu 29 May (Ascension) Tue 24 Jun (St John the Baptist) Fri 27 Jun (Sacred Heart) rd Our Lady Immaculate, Westbourne, BOURNEMOUTH BH4 9AE 3 Sundays nd St Peter, Jewry Street, WINCHESTER, Hampshire SO23 8RY 2 Sundays St Mary’s, High Street, RYDE, Isle of Wight PO33 2RG Sundays Tuesdays Thursdays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) st St Michael’s Church, Walls Road, BEMBRIDGE, Isle of Wight PO35 5RA 1 Fridays [1] Please check before travelling - 0118 966 5284 or visit www.fssp.co.uk/england for details.
8.00am 11.00am 12.00pm 7.00am 7.30pm 8.00am 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.00pm 12.15pm 7.45am 12.30pm 7.00pm 7.00pm 7.00pm 9.15am
Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Sung/Low Sung Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low/Sung Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass
4.45pm 10.00am
Low Mass Low Mass
7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm
Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass
Salford St. Chad’s, Cheetham Hill, MANCHESTER M8 8GG English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, Whalley Range MANCHESTER M16 8QT St Osmund’s, Long Lane, Breightmet, BOLTON BL2 6EB St Marie’s, Manchester Road, BURY BL9 0DR [1] This Mass is to celebrate Fr Hilton’s Silver Jubilee as a priest.
Sundays Saturdays st
1 Thursdays [1] Thu 29 May (Ascension) Fridays
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Shrewsbury St Winefride’s, Crowmere Road, Monkmoor, SHREWSBURY SY2 5RA St Vincent de Paul’s, 2 Bentinck Road, ALTRINCHAM WA14 2BP SS Peter & Paul and Philomena, Atherton Street, NEW BRIGHTON, Wallasey CH45 9LT
Sundays 12.15pm Low Mass nd 2 Sundays 3.00pm Low Mass [1] 11.30am Sung Mass Sundays [2] 9.00am Low Mass Mondays-Thursdays [2] 7.00pm Low Mass Fridays [2] 10.00am Low Mass Saturdays and Bank Holidays [3] 7.00pm Sung/Low Holy Days of Obligation Thu 29 May (Ascension) 6.30pm Low Mass rd St Thomas Becket, Nantwich Road, TARPORLEY CW6 9UN 3 Sundays 12.30pm Low Mass [1] Preceded by Confession and Rosary. Sunday Vespers & Benediction at 5.00pm. [2] Confessions are heard and the Rosary is recited half an hour before Mass. In the evening Vespers is said at 5.30pm followed by Adoration. [3] In accordance with the Calendar of the 1962 Missal.
Southwark (North) St George’s Cathedral, St George’s Road, Lambeth, LONDON SE1 7HY Our Lady of the Rosary, Burnt Oak Lane, BLACKFEN, Sidcup, Kent DA15 8LW St Bede’s 58 Thornton Road, CLAPHAM PARK, London SW12 0LF
St. Mary Magdalen (East Hill), 96 North Side, WANDSWORTH COMMON, London SW18 2QU St Mary, 28 Crown Lane, CHISLEHURST, Kent BR7 5PL St Mary Magdalen, 61 North Worple Wy, MORTLAKE, London SW14 8PR [1] Sung Mass on first Saturdays of the month.
Sat 26 Jul (St Anne) Sundays [1] Saturdays Thu 29 May (Ascension) Sundays Mondays – Fridays (inclusive) Thursdays Saturdays Sundays
10.30am 10.30am 10.30am 8.00pm 10.45am 7.00am 12.30pm 9.00am 11.00am
Sung Mass Sung Mass Low/Sung Sung Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low/Sung
3 Sundays Fridays st 1 Fridays
11.00am 7.30pm 7.00pm
Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass
Sundays [1] Fridays Mon 26 May (LMS Pilgrimage) [2] Wednesdays
12.00pm 9.30am 12.00pm 9.30am
Sung Mass Low Mass Pontifical High Low Mass
rd
Southwark (Kent) St Augustine’s Church, St Augustine’s Road, RAMSGATE, Kent CT11 9PA St Ethelbert, 72 Hereson Road, RAMSGATE, Kent CT11 7DS St Thomas of Canterbury, Station Road, HEADCORN, Kent
th
4 Sundays 12.00pm Low Mass Most Fridays 9.30am Low Mass Thu 29 May (Ascension) 12.00pm Low Mass 12.00pm Low Mass Thu 19 Jun (Corpus Christi) 12.00pm Low Mass Fri 15 Aug (Assumption) [3] St Augustine’s, Crescent Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN1 2LY Wednesdays 7.00pm Low Mass st St Francis, Week Street, MAIDSTONE, Kent ME14 1RL 1 Sundays 12.30pm Low Mass nd th St Simon Stock, Brookfield Road, ASHFORD SOUTH, Kent TN23 4EU 2 & 5 Sundays 12.15pm Low Mass Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter & Paul) 12.15pm Low Mass rd St Andrew, Ashford Road, TENTERDEN, Kent TN30 6LL 3 Sundays 12.30pm Low Mass [1] Followed at 10.00am by Exposition, Confession and Benediction. [2] Preceded at 8.30am by Exposition and Benediction. [3] Phone church to check on 01892 522525.
Wrexham St Francis of Assisi, Llay Chain, Llay, nr. WREXHAM LL12 0NT Our Lady of the Rosary, Jubilee Road, BUCKLEY CH7 2AF
nd
2 Sundays Sat 7 June Sat 12 July Sat 9 August St Winefride’s Catholic Church, Well Street, HOLYWELL CH8 7PL Sun 25 May Sun 29 Jun (SS Peter & Paul) Sun 6 Jul (LMS Pilgrimage) St David, Franciscan Friary, Monastery Road, PANTASAPH, CH8 8PE Sun 27 Jul (Summer School) Mon 28 – Sat 2 Aug Sun 3 Aug [1] Dependent on cantor availability. [2] Times to be confirmed, please check www.stcatherinestrust.org
44
12.30pm 12.30pm 12.30pm 12.30pm 12.00pm 11.30am 2.30pm [2] 5.40pm [2] 11.30am [2] 11.00am
[1]
Low/Sung [1] Low/Sung [1] Low/Sung [1] Low/Sung [1] Low/Sung [1] Low/Sung High Mass Sung Mass High Mass Sung Mass
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
COMMENT
Precious Lives FAMILY NOTEBOOK by Amanda Lewin - a column for everyone with children in their lives
‘H
ow utterly wonderful,’ I sighed to myself as I saw the line of beautiful, young ladies standing witnessing for the precious unborn. The emotion welled inside me as I thought, for the millionth time, how truly good God is. Over the years the pro-life witnesses have been running in Oxford, more and more young people have come to defend human life at its most vulnerable. Bringing up truly pro-life children is imperative to our Catholic faith and it isn’t very difficult as all young children are truly and deeply pro-life. When my little Grace was two years old, I showed her a picture of an unborn baby and she pointed to it and said ‘baby’. If she can see it, so can anyone, so how does one retain this pure love for humanity? Babies love babies, all my toddlers have cared for their dolls as if they were real; feeding, rocking and nursing them. It is a deeply rooted need to love. It is God given, yes, and fostered by our Catholic faith. One of the most beautiful witnesses to life are large families. In our Catholic community, my six children are pretty small fry! Growing up among siblings, seeing Mammy with a new baby reinforces what is the most important aspect of life, and teaches and shows the older children God’s glorious grace to give life. Having babies is a pro-life witness to one’s own children and to the fallen world. It takes courage to stand up for what is wrong when the world tells us it is right, to be noble and full of fortitude when one is always in the minority. That’s why it is such a grace to see so many young people willing to sacrifice their Saturday afternoon to stand along a street corner at the entrance to the John Radcliffe Hospital. If Fr Frank Pavone would rather be doing something, anything, else, as I once heard him say at a pro-life conference, then I am pretty sure these young heroes would too. How do we bring up children in this world to revere and love God enough to put others before themselves, always? To be willing to stand and say no this is wrong and this is why. As Catholics we have a treasure of graces to depend upon, the assurance of the truth of our Heavenly reward. Our faith teaches us that we must love and respect life. that every life is worth living, that abortion for any reason is wrong. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen said: Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right.
Interestingly, young people generally abhor abortion and euthanasia. Yet the pressures of the world, especially without a faith, but even with one, are alluring and very powerful: Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Never have words been so true in this spiritual battle against abortion today, and our children are the precious unborn’s future voices. My first passion was for babies. There I was, a Jewish girl, sitting in her Dominican convent school (that’s another story!) waiting for the pro-life talk to begin. No one I knew had a clue as to what an abortion was, mainly because the majority of us were not religious and had not been informed about such things. The lady from S.P.U.C. began talking and I was enthralled, although at first I was sure she was pretending. How could this be true? How was it that at 14 years old I didn’t know what an abortion entailed? And WHY hadn’t my Mam told me? Then came the pivotal, life changing part of that chilling afternoon; twenty minutes of ‘The Silent Scream’ which was produced and made by Dr Bernard Nathanson, a one-time abortionist responsible for 75,000 babies’ deaths, who had an entire turn around with the development of the ultrasound scans in the 1970s. The film ended, girls were crying, some had fled the room, others were complaining to the teacher, and I just sat there, numb and silent. I made a vow to myself (and to God whom I was becoming to know more and more and whom I felt I had just met in that video in the soul of that torn apart baby) that from that day forth I would be pro-life until the day I died no matter what. Roll on 30 years (is it that long?) and I’m back in Oxford looking at the line of beautiful, young ladies holding pro-life banners. Among them is my 16 year-old daughter, Marie, and her friends. I feel so proud of them all. I could sing for joy at their passion to be there and pray with all my might that their faith and courage will lead them on. Amanda Lewin is a home educating mother of six. She blogs at catholichomeeducationuk.blogspot.co.uk - Catholic Home Education UK and at lovingmantillas@ blogspot.co.uk - Loving Mantillas. Amanda runs the monthly Oxford Pro-Life Witness at the Entrance of the John Radcliffe Hospital, on the last Saturday of every month. 45
COMMENT
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
To York with Love Mike Lord, LMS General Manager
Y
ork was one of my favourite places to live, and I say and the faith that goes with it is, in my opinion, the only that as a born-and-bred Southerner. At the end of serious hope we have. So please watch the videos (once March, I was back there again for the first time in again, on YouTube search for ‘Latin Mass Society Videos’) far too many years for our annual pilgrimage in honour of and share the link with your friends and family. Another new initiative that we’ve started in the LMS St Margaret Clitherow and the York Martyrs. The weather was glorious as was the turnout – St Wilfrid’s Church, office is email newsletters. You might already receive an standing just opposite the Minster and now run by Fr email update from your Local Representative. The new Richard Duffield and Fr Nicholas Edmonds-Smith from the national ones are meant to complement the local with Oxford Oratory, was full, and resounded to the beautiful brief news and alerts about forthcoming national events and other items singing of the of interest. If Rudgate Singers. you have given The main us your email reason for address already, travelling up you should have the M1 to this been receiving inspiring event them. If not, and was that I’d said you’d like to sign I would video up for the email the day for the newsletter, go to LMS. By the our home page time you read (lms.org.uk) and this, you should click on the big be able to see yellow icon, top the fruits of my right, and fill labours on the in your details. LMS’s YouTube Importantly, you channel (search don’t have to be for ‘Latin Mass York shoppers watch ‘something to do with Jesus’, photo Joseph Shaw an LMS member Society Videos’). to receive the Filming a line of well over a hundred pilgrims weaving their way through email newsletter, although we hope you will join us, so York’s Saturday afternoon shoppers while reciting the encourage your Traditional Mass-supporting friends who Rosary was an enjoyable challenge, but carrying a camera aren’t members to sign up too. You can unsubscribe any on your shoulder and being perceived by the crowds as time. Finally, it’s that time of year when we ask for volunteers ‘media’ allows you to do all sorts of things. Two Scousers, seeing my camera, asked if it would be on Sky Sport, three to stand for election to the National Committee. The young women asked me what it was all about and were Committee is responsible for the policies and overall surprised that a local woman had been crushed to death direction of the Society and is elected by our paid-up for her Catholic Faith not 300 yards from where they were members. This year, Dr Jacqueline King has come to the standing. And a by-standing mother told her child that it end of her term of office, and we’d like to thank Jacquie for her contributions over the past three years. We are was ‘something to do with Jesus’. On the subject of videos, many of you have been now inviting nominations for her successor. In order watching the series of short videos that I’ve been making to stand as a candidate, you must have been a paid-up with our Chairman Dr Joseph Shaw on aspects of the member of the LMS for at least two years. You will also liturgy. At the time of writing, our most recent one need to have your nomination signed by another paid-up had been viewed by more than 6,000 people, which is member. Nomination forms are available from me, Mike gratifying. Many of them will not have been followers of Lord, at the office. Phone me on 020 7404 7284 or email the Traditional Mass, and that was one of the ideas – to me on michael@lms.org.uk. If you are thinking about evangelise outside the normal traditionalist circles. As standing, but would like more information, please feel free the Church in this country continues its decline by just to contact me. The deadline for nomination forms to reach about any measure you care to name, the Traditional Mass the office is Friday, 23rd May 2014. 46
ISSUE 180 - SUMMER 2014
PHOTOFINISH
Next stop: the Holy Land for Pope Francis
4Popes F 4 On one day in Rome
New Bishops
In E&W so far in ‘14
2
New Papal Saints
1
New Cardinal
ollowing the canonisation last month of the two Blessed Popes, John Paul II and John XXIII, 2014 is set to continue with momentous events abroad and at home. At the end of May, Pope Francis will be sending a powerful signal to the world about his priorities with his first planned overseas visit (World Youth Day in Brazil having been pre-organised). Rather than his homeland of Argentina or a Catholic country, the Pope is planning to travel to the Holy Land and will be visiting Jordan, the Palestinian territory and Israel in a packed three-day programme. The Holy Father will meet political and religious leaders during his stay as well as local Christians and the disadvantaged. His Holiness’s visit is certain to highlight concerns about the plight of Christians in the Middle East and is also likely to focus attention on relations with the Orthodox communities. Meanwhile, in England and Wales, the new wind from the Vatican has seen significant changes to the hierarchy since the beginning of this year with four Episcopal vacancies filled, at the time of writing, and a Cardinal appointed, in the presence of both Pope Francis and the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI.
So we can expect a series of installations and elevations this summer. Three of the bishops, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon; Bishop Robert Byrne and Bishop Alan Williams, are members of religious orders, respectively: the Dominicans, the Oratorians and the Marists. And, as Joseph Shaw, the chairman, says in his message, there are positive developments in all this for the Traditional community. Archbishop McMahon, who was installed on 1 May in Liverpool, has been a friend to the LMS, even celebrating Mass in the Extraordinary Form at last year’s training course for priests. The picture above does not do justice to the Archbishop’s generosity. It was many degrees below zero in the chapel as he celebrated Mass at Ratcliffe College on that particularly cold day, with no heating. But he impressed all present with his positive comments. Bishop Byrne, meanwhile, who was formerly at the Oratory in Oxford, is scheduled to be installed at St Chad’s in Birmingham on 13 May. Bishop Williams and Mgr Nicholas Hudson, who was appointed as an auxiliary in Westminster are to be installed later in the summer.
From top left clockwise: St John Paul; Emeritus Pope Benedict; Pope Francis; Jerusalem; St John XXIII; Archbishop elect Malcolm McMahon and Cardinal Archbishop Vincent Nichols. Photo of Jerusalem courtesy of Israeli Ministry of Tourism, www.goisrael.com, by Alberto Peral. Other pictures thanks to the Catholic Church and, Archbishop Mc Mahon, thanks to Joseph Shaw
47
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