First Sunday of Advent and other news. UPDATED

Advent begins on Sunday. 

It is the start of the liturgical year as the cycle begins again.

  

Sunday Masses:

8.30 a.m. St. Ignatius, Ossett

1.00 p.m. St. Joseph, Bradford

Tuesday - 6.00 p.m. St. Ignatius, Ossett

Wednesday - 6.30 p.m. St. Winefride, Wibsey, Bradford

Thursday - 9.30 a.m. St. Anthony, Clayton, Bradford

                  Parish confirmations at Pontefract - no Mass

Friday -     6.30 p.m. St. John the Evangelist, Buttershaw, Bradford

                  7.30 p.m. St. Austin, Wakefield

Confessions are usually available before or after Mass at call

PLEASE NOTE THAT MASSES AT ST. WINEFRIDE'S AND ST. JOHN'S WILL NOW BE CELEBRATED AT THE LATER TIME OF 6.30 p.m. This will avoid the rush hour through the city. 

Moving to Saint Patrick's church.

Preparations are well under way for a smooth transition from St. Joseph's to St. Patrick's. We are set to leave St. Joseph's church, Pakington Street after 5 very happy years, on the third Sunday of Advent. 

Already I wish to thank the clergy - specially Fr. Angel, the Parish Priest, sacristan Mr Hirst, staff and parishioners at St. Joseph's church for their unfailing hospitality and kindness over these past years.

The first Sunday Mass at St. Patrick's will be at 1.00 p.m. on Sunday 19th December, which is the fourth Sunday of Advent. There will be Masses at 1.00 p.m. on Christmas Day and Boxing Day at St. Patrick's. The address of the church is: St. Patrick's, Sedgefield Terrace, Westgate, Bradford BD1 2RU.

We remain within the territory of St. Joseph's parish but not in the parochial church. 

I had a meeting with the Local Servant, the Rector and the Sacristan/Celebrant last week and they are very much looking forward to us going there. 

There are a few small practical issues still being addressed but nothing onerous. 

The scariest bit for me was the cupboard with the lighting and sound equipment looking like something with which you'd land a small jet. 

I hope that with the Franciscan presence the Portiuncula indulgence of 2nd  August (and/or its nearest Sunday) will be an occasion of shared joy. 

Sunday street parking is very easy on Sundays in addition to which the Rebecca Street carpark is a minute's walk from the church. 

The 617/618 buses run regularly to stop S1 at Sedgefield Terrace - to and from the Interchange and the Bradford Royal Infirmary. The Forster Square and Interchange railway stations are within reasonable walking distance.  

I would like to thank Bishop Stock for his pastoral solicitude since the Holy Father's motu proprio.

Rorate Mass

Once again we will be having the candlelit Rorate Mass at 6.30 a.m. on Monday 20th. December at St. Joseph's, Martin Street, Brighouse. 

We're on the move

 We are on the move. 

After over 5 years at St. Joseph's church, Bradford the Bishop has offered us the opportunity to be in the only church in the diocese where the only regular Sunday Mass will be the the old Mass. 

We will be moving in due course to St. Patrick's church in Sedgefield Terrace, which is still in St. Joseph's parish boundary and nearer to the railway stations. It is on the regular and frequent bus route to and from  the Royal Infirmary hospital. 

There will be no restrictions on the celebration of Mass including the Sacred Triduum and the possibility of regular Masses during the week. This is in addition to those which already take place in this deanery and the Wakefield deanery. 

St. Patrick's church is in the custody of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, whose Father Frantisek is already on the Sunday rota at St. Joseph's. 

I remember being the cross bearer at the re-opening of the church following extensive renovation when the bishop re-dedicated the church at a very dignified concelebrated Mass with diocesan priests and Franciscans. 

My daughter reminded me of my being quoted on Fr. Zuhlsdorf's blog when we were established at St. Joseph's when I had in my mind's eye the possibility of the Triduum there. The following is from June 2016 Fr. Zuhlsdorf's  blog as he comments on my remarks quoted in the Catholic Herald. His "Ah hah!" comment made me smile. 

Happy news from Bradford | Fr. Z's Blog (wdtprs.com)

The bishop offered us any liturgical paraphernalia we might need during the transition to St. Patrick's as St. Joseph's has everything! 

As instructed  by Traditionis Custodes the bishop has appointed Fr. Michael Hall to be his delegate in the spiritual, pastoral and technical matters pertaining to the old Mass. 

The friars themselves have not overtaken such care of those who will attend the old Mass. 

I have lately been arranging a series of non-polemic talks about the history, development, symbolism, spirituality etc. of the old Mass. Fr. Kieron Walker at St. Walburga's has agreed to host these talks which are scheduled to take place in the build up to Easter.

The bishop wants to see a more public profile of the old Mass at the Cathedral. The thitd Sunday Masses at 8.00 a.m. which have been suspended since lockdown will not now continue. Instead there should be the opportunity for a Corpus Christi Mass and procession, Marian devotional processions and suchlike.

Details of the move and details about the talks will appear here in due course.

This week:

This Tuesday there will be no Mass at Ossett

Wednesday Mass at St. Winefride's at 6.00 p.m.

Thursday Masses at St. Anthony's, Clayton at 9.30 a.m. and at St. Joseph's, Pontefract at 7.00 p.m.

Friday Mass at St. Austin's, Wakefield at 7.30 p.m. 

St. Mary's, Bradford

I have just seen on the Facebook page of The Regency Hall Yorkshire that this retired church will be open from 10.00 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. on Sunday:

Previously St. Marys Roman Catholic Church, We open our doors for those who wish to pay their respect to those that have died in the line of duty. The doors to the war memorial will be open. We will also be providing tea / coffee for those paying their respect.

Remembrance Day (sometimes known informally as Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

This is also a chance to have a look around the hall. Originally the first Roman Catholic Church in Bradford. some pieces of significance found during the refurbishment will also be on display. 

Remembrance Sunday - Regency Hall | Facebook

We have signed up to attend. My family has many happy and sorrowful memories associated with this church. 

Mass at St. Joseph's, Bradford on Sunday will be a sung Mass of Requiem for the War Dead followed by the now traditional censing of the cenotaph from the old Saint Ann's church in Guy Street.

This week there will be the usual Masses at St. Ignatius, Ossett on Tuesday at 6.00 p.m. and on Wednesday at 6.00 p.m. at St. Winefride's, Wibsey. 

Mass at St. Anthony's, Clayton, on Thursday at 9.30 a.m. but no Mass at  St. Joseph's, Pontefract as Canon Wiley cannot  trinate on that day. 

Mass on Sundays at 8.30 a.m. continue at St. Ignatius, Ossett.