Server training

I am delighted to announce that I have been able to organize a training day in this diocese after a similar successful event in York a couple of years ago. This event is open to Catholic men and boys wishing to learn how to serve the Traditional Mass from any diocese. The tuition will be according to demand.
Once again Fr. Peter Kravos, the chaplain at Leeds University Catholic Chaplaincy has laid the beautiful chapel of Notre Dame, which has three fine altars, at our disposal.
The training day will be on the first Saturday of Lent - February 16th. 2013 at Leeds University Catholic Chaplaincy, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds from 10.00 a.m. - with a prompt start at 10.30 a.m.
The day will conclude with Mass (sung) at around 4.00 p.m.

Please contact Paul at  paul@gooleboathouse.co.uk to register for this event and state the age and the level of tuition required - i.e. Low Mass, Missa Cantata or Solemn Mass.

There is no fee, but you are asked to bring a packed lunch and cassock and surplice if you have them. Please advise Paul if you need to borrow a cassock or surplice.

Confirmations

On Saturday, in London the third lot of traditional confirmations this year took place. Previously the Sacrament had been administered in the Midlands and on the Wirral. This time it was at St. James, Spanish Place, London and the Bishop was Alan Hopes, Auxilliary in Westminster. This has become an annual event and it is some years now since our own three daughters went to London for just such an occasion. Next year it will be the boys' turn.
Congratulations to all of those confirmed and their families.
Pictures may be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55776120@N08/sets/72157632102096879/

Pentecost XXIV

This weekend marks the last Sunday of Pentecost and means that Advent is on the horizon.

Masses are as follows:

Saturday - St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax at 6.00 p.m.
Sunday - Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall near Skipton at 10.00 a.m
               St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford at 3.00 p.m.

Please do all you can to attend any of these Masses - we are very grateful to the clergy who celebrate these Masses for us.

Wimmin bishops

I listened via livestream to the some of the debate before the Cof E synod voted this evening on the issue of female bishops. It was very interesting to listen to the arguments from those on both sides of the fence. The Bishop of Bradford made a very interesting point, saying that the synod should not be swayed by the ecumenical argument, as Rome regards all CofE orders as being invalid - hence it wouldn't make a difference if the synod voted for the Anglican episcopacy being opened up to females, which he favoured. He was of course correct. It makes no difference to me what they decided. Pope Leo XIII made it clear in 1896 in Apostolicae Curae that their orders were absolutely null and void.
The fact that twenty years ago the C of E opened its ministry of priesthood to women gave some characters in the Catholic Church the idea that they could go around demanding the same was unfortunate. It is interesting that the lay element of the C of E synod was responsible for blocking the legislation for women bishops, the lay element which incidentally makes up the majority of the C of E. If democracy is their way of defining dogma, good for them, but I doubt that this issue will go away, just as it hasn't in our Church where disobedient individuals continue to peddle heterodox ideas in defiance of what Blessed John Paul II taught about the issue in his 1994 Ordinatio Sacerdotalis after the C of E voted for female priests.
Rome has spoken. End of story. 

VI remaining Sunday after the Epiphany

As next week is the last Sunday of Pentecost the Church uses up the free Sundays after the Epiphany which are the ones used before Septuagesima.

Masses this weekend are as follows:

Saturday 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax.
Sunday  10.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, near Skipton.
               3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.
Please note no Mass at Heckmondwike until the first Sunday in December.

Remembrance Sunday

Masses this weekend are as follows:

Saturday 6.00 p.m. St. Marie's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. Low Requiem Mass.
Sunday 10.00 a.m. Sacred Heart Broughton Hall near Skipton.
              3.00 p.m. St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Bradford. Sung Requiem with absolutions at the catafalque.

Broughton Hall

The parish of the Sacred Heart, Broughton was suppressed in September and became a chapel of ease, served from  Skipton. St. Patrick's at Earby became a chapel of ease to St. Joseph's, Barnoldswick.

There is a regular OF Sunday Mass at Broughton at 8.30 a.m. There is also a regular EF Sunday Mass at Broughton at 10.00 a.m. except on the first Sundays when the Mass is sung at 11.00 a.m.
On Mondays to Saturdays there is an EF Mass at 9.30 a.m.
If you are travelling some distance please contact 01756 793 794 to check beforehand.

November at English Martyrs

A quick reminder that there is Mass every Saturday in this month of the Holy Souls at English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, Whalley Range, Manchester.
This parish was home to one of my predecessors, Kevin Cave and I always think that Kevin is still praying away for his old parish or his prayers while he was here on earth have been answered.
Thanks again to Fr. Marlor and Bernard Richards.
Photo taken from the Hermeneutic of Continuity http://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/some-beautiful-gothic-and-some-books.html.

Update: The above should have appeared on the Salford Latin Mass Society Blogspot, but instead of deleting it I'll leave it in case any readers are in Manchester this month!)

Pentecost XXIII

Mass last evening for the Feast of All Souls at Markenfield Hall was a wonderful occasion. I have known Father Parfitt for thirty years and this was the first time I have been present when he has offered a Mass for the dead. It was a filthy night outside and the atmosphere inside the medieval chapel was most evocative and had a cosy feel to it. In his sermon Father recalled the origins of the Feast of All Souls and pointed out that the house and chapel would have been around when the feast was introduced into the calendar following the end of the 100 years War.

Masses for Pentecost XXIII are as follows:

Saturday 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax (celebrant Fr. Hall).
Sunday 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, near Skipton (Missa cantata).
              3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

NO MASS AT HECKMONDWIKE THIS MONTH - as Fr. Abberton is on a lecture tour.