Mass on Sunday - the first in Lent will be a Missa cantata at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford at 3.00 p.m.

Press release

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

For Immediate Release

Latin Mass Society Announces Six New Patrons

The Latin Mass Society (LMS) has announced the establishment of six patrons, including well-known figures from the worlds of music, journalism, politics and the law.

This marks a major advance for the LMS and for the cause of the Traditional Latin Mass in England and Wales which are both attracting the support of mainstream figures within the Church.

The new patrons include Dr James MacMillan CBE, who composed the setting for the Beatification Mass of John Henry Newman and is well known for his tireless campaigning for excellence in Church music. Charles Moore, a convert to Catholicism, is a former editor of the Daily Telegraph and a prominent national journalist and political commentator. Prince Rupert Loewenstein is a former President and long time supporter of the Latin Mass Society. Lord (Brian) Gill is the second most senior judge in Scotland and was recently honoured with a papal knighthood. He has supported the Traditional Latin Mass for many years. Colin Mawby is another composer who is highly respected in Catholic music circles. He was Director of Music at Westminster Cathedral under Cardinal Heenan and more recently has been very supportive of the LMS’s attempts to nurture a wider knowledge of Gregorian Chant. Sir Adrian FitzGerald is President of the Irish Association of the Knights of Malta, a former mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and was previously a Chairman of the Governors of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School.

Announcing the establishment of the LMS’s new patrons, Chairman Dr Joseph Shaw said: ‘I’m delighted they have agreed to be patrons. This is a real indication of the Society’s standing in the Catholic community and the Church. Since Summorum Pontificum, our support of the Traditional Mass is no longer considered an eccentricity, to be tolerated at best, but an important apostolate for the good of the whole Church and recognised as such by the Holy Father.’

Quinquagesima

Masses on Sunday;

3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.
4.00 p.m. Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike, but please check with Fr. Abberton beforehand on 01924 410568.
5.10 p.m. St. Augustine's, Harehills, Leeds

Bishop Roche's Pastoral Letter will of course be read at these Masses. This Lent his Lordship places great emphasis on self sacrifice.

An elderly priest (now long since gone to his rewards) once told me how he was delighted to be invited to lunch with the bishop (rubbing his hands at the thought of the feast before him expecting salmon or something fancy with cheese) without realizing that although it was a Friday it was also in Lent. Two bowls of soup was the fare (and only on account of his age!) Everybody else got one bowl and and a glass of water. This was the same priest who considered practicality in Liturgy as being paramount. Upon receiving a different bishop for Confirmations many years ago he produced a Jif lemon to cleanse the bishop's fingers along with a slice of a Danish loaf diagonally cut into two on a little silver platter. The bishop remarked at the time how this arrangement was novel to him. Father took this as a great compliment.

ALSO on Ash Wednesday at Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton at 11.30 a.m. (contrary to erroneous information on the national website. Many thanks to DA for spotting this.) Ashes will be distributed at this Mass.

I've pondered the meaning of the "gesima" Sundays so much that I still haven't finally decided which bit of self sacrifice to have a go at. Cigarettes - would make everybody else miserable because my temper would fray after about 2 seconds. Drink - would make no real difference nor would giving up chocolate. But sugar (inc sweeteners) would be tricky - in tea and coffee, cakes, sweets, pastries, buns, ice-cream, jelly, custard and brioche. Last year was meat and that was just different.

I think I'll try to read all 150 psalms and keep dipping into Mgr Knox's  Stimuli and Lightning Meditations  as well as something I got half way through last Lent by Abbot Christopher Jamison called Finding Sanctuary and which I recall admiring until illness struck. The Stations of the Cross, which I understand is an invention of St. Francis, will also have to feature.

As we have the Sacred Triduum again this year at Notre Dame Chapel in Leeds I also need to prepare the things we need as well as printing off the texts we need and the painting the paschal candle.

Busy then!

From the Yorkshire Evening Post

LYONS GERALD BRYAN
(Gerry) February 10, of your charity please pray for the repose of the soul of Gerald, R.I.P., who passed away peacefully aged 89 years (Former Choirmaster of the Cathedral Church of St. Anne, Leeds).
Devoted husband to Mary, loving father of Geraldine, Paula, Anthony and Hilary. A dear father-in-law of Ian, Janice and the late Rob and a loved grandad of Stephanie, Alex, Adam and Joseph.
Gerald will be received into St. Urban's Catholic Church, Leeds 6 on Monday February 20 at 6.15pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday February 21 at 10.30am prior to interment at Killingbeck Catholic Cemetery. Flowers, or if desired donations to the YEP Half & Half Appeal, for which a plate will be provided at the church. Friends please accept this intimation.
Enquiries to
Hughes Funeral Services
180 York Road,
Leeds 9
tel: 2480953

Source; YEP 17.2.12

A delightful morning

Fine and milder weather was a beautiful setting for our regular half term Mass at Bewerley Grange chapel near Pateley Bridge this morning - a votive Mass of the Holy Name of Jesus. As ever the schola was in good voice and thanks to the servers Messrs Janko and O'Dowd. Fr. Parfitt preached on the venerable practice of bowing one's head at the Holy Name.
Sr Mary rang the Angelus bell at the conclusion of Mass.

Gerald Lyons RIP

It is with regret that I have to announce the death of my predecessor as LMS rep for the Leeds Diocese, Gerald Lyons, who died on Friday in Leeds.
Gerry who was a former choirmaster at the Cathedral ran the show here in far more restrictive times than we enjoy now and always worked well with Mgr Peter McGuire VG and Canon Tagney in the Killingbeck days.
My sympathy goes to his wife and children.
May he rest in peace.

Sexagesima

Masses for the feast of Sexagesima

Saturday (Vigil) St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00p.m
Sunday (missa cantata) St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford. 3.00 p.m.
Sunday (Low Mass) St.Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford. 3.00p.m.

PLEASE REMEMBER MASS AT BEWERLEY GRANGE CHAPEL on Tuesday 14th February at 11.30 a.m. This is to be a votive Mass of the Holy Name of Jesus. Many thanks to Fr. Parfitt and the Bewerley authorities for this.