Et inclinato capite tradidit spiritum.

After Fr Hall had sung the whole of St. John's account of the Passion and death of our Lord this afternoon he went on to preach about Christ the anointed prophet. Incisive as ever, we are to hear the concluding part tomorrow when he will speak about Christ the anointed king.

It was good to see people turning up in very respectable numbers again this afternoon for the Sacred Liturgy.

The Vigil is again early this year at 3.00 p.m. and confessions will be available from 2.30 p.m.

Please do all you can to attend this Mass - with extra Masses starting iminently in Leeds, including at the Cathedral we must show that there is an increasing demand for the Extraordinary Form of Mass. Perhaps I should say - bring a friend.

Consummatum est

Holy Mass last evening was well attended and some of the faithful watched at the altar of repose until 9.00 p.m. People came from far and near and it was very encouraging to meet a young man who had come from Sheffield as part of his personal Triduum. Tomorrow he will be in the diocese of Shrewsbury at the Dome of Home for the next part.

Mass was slightly late starting and I make no apologies for this as it was because of the number of penitents before Mass, some who waited for over half an hour.
Fr. Hall will be available again for confession today and tomorrow on Holy Saturday. Please remember that Confession is always available at call at any of our Masses.

The sermon last evening, the first in the series of three about the Messiah, exposed the essence of Christ the anointed Priest - on the most Eucharistic of feasts;  in it Fr. Hall also referred to Bishop Stock's sermon to his clergy at the Chrism Mass and very impressive both sermons were.

On an entirely personal note I love to attend the Chrism Mass because it is an opportunity to meet up with friends and fellow Catholics whom I would not normally see. Having received the Sacrament of extreme unction twice in the last fifteen years and both upon danger of death I always give thanks to God for our Bishop who blesses the oils of the catechumens and the sick and then consecrates the oil and balsam for the next generation of Priest and people.

Sacred Liturgy at 3.00 p.m.

Holy Week

It seems like no time since I was writing that Lent was upon us, now it is Holy Week that is upon us and the most profound time of the Church's year is here again. Once again we are privileged to have the Sacred Triduum with its dramatic re-enactment of the sacred passion, death and eternal victory over sin of our Blessed Lord and God - the very author of life.
The symbols of water, fire, wine, bread, wax, and oil so often referred to in the Old Testament become things of the earth which bring Christ to us in the Sacraments.
Oil consecrated by the Bishop - breathed upon by him at the Chrism Mass is used in the blessing of baptismal waters on Holy Saturday and then sprinkled on us at the Vigil and on Easter Sunday as we sing Vidi Aquam and recall the Resurrection and our renewed baptismal promises. We are children of the God who comes to us in the form of bread and wine - consecrated at that first Mass on Holy Thursday, when the apostles were made priest bishops and empowered to absolve sins and extend that Priesthood into time and eternity by the power of the eternal High Priest.

So then, in the stream of eternity we are at Holy Week 2015 as the Paschal candle will remind us. Mass and Sacred Liturgy in the Extraordinary Form as appear in the 1962 Rite, and given to us by Pope Benedict in his Motu Proprio with his own form of the prayer "pro conversione Judæorum" on Good Friday are as follows:

Palm Sunday

Saturday (Vigil) 6.00 p.m. St Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax

Sunday            11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton

                           3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford

                           UPDATE Correction - no Mass at Heckmondwike

Holy Monday, Tuesday & Spy Wednesday,    

                           9.30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton

Maundy Thursday    

                          7.30 p.m. Notre Dame chapel , St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds

Good Friday             

                           3.00 p.m. Notre Dame chapel , St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds

Holy Saturday Vigil        

                           3.00 p.m. Notre Dame chapel , St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds

Easter Sunday     

                          11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton  

                            3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford

                            (No Mass at Heckmondwike)

After Easter our new additional regular Masses at the Cathedral and at Our Lady of Lourdes, Leeds, will start gently. Fr Wiley sent me the details this afternoon and I was pleased to see that the Cathedral Dean, Mgr Moger joins the celebrants. I shall post details during the week of these and reminders of the various Masses and Liturgies of the Triduum. 

Laetare

The fourth Sunday of Lent is upon us already. I am having to prepare for the Triduum once again and I am sorting things out - apart from the Easter fire which has caused a pre-paschal laugh in the past at the Vigil - I'm confident that things are under control, but as for the Easter fire - watch this space.

The Gospel of today's Mass looks forward to Holy Thursday, a feast which is then given its own prominence at Corpus Christi. We are at the half way point. The penitential nature of the season lightens a little, there are rose vestments.

Masses this weekend:

Saturday Vigil St. Mary's, Gibbett Street, Halifax. 6.00 p.m.
Sunday            Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton, 11.00 a.m.
                      St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford. 3.00 p.m.
                      Holy Spirit, Bath Road Heckmondwike. 4.00 p.m.

Increased provision

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of meeting our new Bishop along with Fr. Wiley the diocesan co-ordinator for the Extraordinary Form.
His Lordship was very supportive and is keen for us to continue and expand our activities in the everyday life of the diocese. He expressed a strong desire to see in house training in the diocese in such things as the spirituality of the Extraordinary Form and even suggested a possible speaker for us.
He has also requested that there be a monthly Sunday Mass at the Cathedral and increased provision generally in Leeds. He also offered to attend some of our Masses to preside and so I shall be contacting him again with a list of suggestions. This means we will have a Solemn High Mass. It has also been agreed that we have a Solemn High Mass of Requiem in November in the Cathedral. When details of these extra Masses have been agreed and the arrangements made I shall of course post the information. There is also to be a solemn high Mass on the Feast of the Holy Trinity at the end of May in Leeds.
We are lucky in this diocese to have daily Mass at Broughton Hall and several Sunday Masses but in order for this to continue and for us to expand it does mean that people will have to attend the Masses to show that there is a demand and to make our clergy feel that their considerable efforts and time commitments are appreciated.
We have also been given permission to advertise our activities on the diocesan website, something which sends out the signal that not only is the EF Mass provided but also promoted in this diocese as foreseen in Pope Benedict's motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, the contents of which the Bishop was well aware of.
I shall write to his Lordship again to thank him for his solicitude and personal kindness.

Masses for Lent III

Saturday Vigil  St. Mary's, Gibbet Street,  Halifax, 6.00 p.m.
Sunday             Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton 11.00 a.m.
                       St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford, 3.00 p.m. (sung)
                       St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford, 3.00 p.m.

Lent II

The second Sunday of Lent is upon us and the Gospel recounts the Transfiguration an occasion which has its own feast in August - 40 days before the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Transfiguration is of course a feast which looks forward to the joy of the Resurrection. Easter.

Masses this weekend:

Saturday Vigil, St.Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00 p.m.
Sunday Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton, 11.00 a.m. Sung Mass.
           St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford, 3.00 p.m.
           Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike, 4.00 p.m.

A charming read

One of the best things about school holidays is the chance to read more than time normally allows. A scout round a second hand bookshop earlier this week enabled me to pick up a delightful read. Patrick Leigh Fermor's A time to keep silence recounts his experiences in French monasteries in the 1950s.

At the Abbey of St Wandrille de Fontanelle in Normandy he recalls conventual High Mass:

"Tierce ended, the officiating monk entered in his vestments, and the deacon and sub-deacon, the acolytes and torch-bearers. They genuflected together,and the Mass began. Every moment the ceremony gained splendour. If it was the feast of a great saint, the enthroned abbot was arrayed by his myrmidons in the pontificalia. A gold mitre was placed on his head, and the gloved hand that held the crosier was  jewelled at the point of the stigma and on the third finger the great ring sparkled over the fabric. The thurifer approached the celebrant and a column of incense climbed into the air, growing and spreading like an elm-tree of smoke across the shafts of sunlight. The chanting became steadily more complex, led by a choir of monks who stood in the middle of the aisle, their voices limning chants that the black Gregorian block-notes, within their comet-like tails and Moorish-looking arabesques, wove and remove across the threads of the antique four-line clef on the page of their graduals. Then, with a quiet solemnity, the monks streamed into the cloister in the wake of a jewelled cross. Slowly they proceeded through the cylinders of gold into which the Gothic tracery cut the sunlight. Their footfalls made no noise and only the ring of the crosier's butt on the flags and the clanging of the censer could be heard across the Gregorian....The antiphonal singing from the stalls continued to build its invisible architecture of music: a scaffolding that sent columns of plain-song soaring upwards, to be completed by an anthem from the choir that roofed it like a canopy. The anthem was followed by a long stillness which seemed to be scooped out of the very heart of sound. After long minutes, a small bell rang and then the great bell from the tower which told of the rites that were being celebrated and the mysterious events taking place; and the heads of the monks fell as if one blow had scythed them away. Next, an unwinding, a decrescendo. The Mass sang itself out, the kiss of peace passed like a whispered message down the stalls, the officiating court dispersed, and the vestments were removed." pp 36-37.

I found this to be quite breathtaking.

No sung or high Mass for us in Leeds this weekend - but Masses for the 1st Sunday of Lent are as follows:

 

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

A quick look at this Sunday's gospel reminded me of Pope Benedict's compelling chapter on  the temptations of Jesus in part 2 of his Jesus of Nazareth. The temptation account is this weekend's Gospel. The Pope devotes an entire chapter of over 20 pages to this and in it compares Jesus in the wilderness of the desert with the wild beasts with Adam in the paradise of the garden. Christ is with beasts and angels but here for 40 days peace is restored, the peace Isaiah proclaims for the days of the Messiah when the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard with the kid. When sin has been overcome peace and harmony with God shall be restored.  Again it is of course pointing to Easter and I suppose to Mary's discovery in the early hours of Easter day - the new Sabbath.

Daily Mass at Broughton (except Sundays) at 9.30 a.m.

Ash Wednesday

REMINDER. MASS AT BROUGHTON HALL AT 11.00 A.M. WITH IMPOSITION OF ASHES.

Quinquagesima

Masses this weekend:

Saturday- St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00 p.m.

Sunday - Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton, 11.00 a.m.

              St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford, 3.00 p.m.

AND      St. Joseph's, Skipton Road, Bilton, Harrogate, 4.00 p.m. followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  Thanks to Fr. David Smith the celebrant and PP Fr. Byrne.

REMINDER

Lent begins on Wednesday and there will be Mass with imposition of ashes at Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton. Mass at 11.00 a.m. 

It is of course a day of fast and abstinence which ever increasingly seems to fast forwards us to Good Friday. 

Mass every other weekday will be at the usual time of 9.30 a.m. throughout Lent except on Sundays when Mass is at 11.00 a.m.

Spring is in the air; there are more than tiny little signs of a new season sprouting up out of the ground in the garden, parkland and woodland alike. The frosts are still long and sharp and the fogs are still freezing but the amount of daylight lengthens. From this root we get the word Lent. 

Lengthening suggests something which reaches a yielding point when something stops or irreparably changes. The source and the summit for us is naturally the Resurrection - the risen God - who suffered and died for us when He became man.
Easter. 

There is for me a holy terror about the word resurrection, as opposed to resuscitation, regeneration or reawakening. Its immediacy is startling and unique. 

Lent will soon enough be over if I don't make up my mind now how to celebrate the spiritually beneficial opportunities this season brings without simultaneously trying to lose weight or save up money for the Easter "do" etc.

Time to be spent carefully is Lent. 

Sexagesima

Masses this weekend

Saturday 6.00 p.m.St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax

Sunday 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton

             3.00 p.m. St. Peter's, Leeds Rd. Laisterdyke, Bradford

             3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Rd, Castleford

Septuagesima

If Lent is the race, now starts the preparation for the start of the race. No Gloria. Sunday Masses are being trimmed down and from now on we shall not hear the Gloria on a Sunday until the Easter Vigil.

Masses this weekend:

Saturday (vigil) 6.00 p.m. St Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax.
Sunday   (sung) 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart chapel, Broughton Hall, Skipton.
                         3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

NO MASSES AT HECKMONDWIKE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Fr. David Smith of Harrogate has asked me to announce the following Mass. Thanks to the Parish Priest Father Byrne for permitting this Mass.

Low Mass and Benediction

St Joseph’s, Skipton Road,  Bilton, Harrogate

15th February 2015 at 4pm

Epiphany III

On Sunday evening the body of Mgr McGuire will be received into the Cathedral at 7.15 p.m. to be followed by Requiem Mass at 11.00 a.m. on Monday and burial at Selby Cemetery later in the day.

Masses in the old Rite which fulfil the obligation this weekend :

Saturday - St.. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00 p.m.
Sunday   - Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton. 11.00 a.m.
             - St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford. 3.00 p.m.

Reminder that a sung Mass is offered Sundays at noon at St Wilfrid's, York.

Mgr Peter McGuire

It was with great sadness that I learned yesterday of the death of Monsignor Canon Peter McGuire, a former Vicar General and Dean of the Cathedral in Leeds. It was whilst at the Cathedral that Mgr McGuire was a regular celebrant for us both at the Cathedral and at Killingbeck Cemetery Chapel, a role he continued when he left the Cathedral to become Parish Priest at Holy Name. After Canon Denis Tangney retired Mgr McGuire became the senior priest responsible for drawing up the rota of priests to offer Mass at Killingbeck before the publication of Summorum Pontificum. As a celebrant he was always popular with people coming to Mass and always gave a sympathetic ear to those who sought his help. Both my predecessor Gerry Lyons and I always enjoyed working with him and rejoiced in his fairness and good humour. On a very personal note it was Mgr McGuire who offered the Mass of Angels and buried our baby son at a time when a previous bishop forbade any priest ordained after 1970 to offer the old Mass. Mgr McGuire always realised how unjust this ban was. He was a  pragmatic and gentle confessor and a preacher who always gave food for thought and who enjoyed singing the Mass. May his soul rest in peace and perpetual light shine upon him. 

Feast of the Holy Family

This weekend is the Feast of the Holy Family.

Masses:

Saturday (Vigil) 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax

Sunday 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton
             3.00 p.m. St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke,Bradford (sung)
             3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford

Epiphany 2

Mass for the actual Feast of the Epiphany at 9.30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton.

Epiphany

Masses this weekend:

Saturday (Vigil) 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax

Sunday (Sung) 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton

                       3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

Octave day of the Nativity

Fr. Parfitt will be offering Mass at 11.00 a.m. today at Sacred Heart Chapel, Broughton Hall, Skipton.

May I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones every peace and joy in 2015.

Update: Looking at the way I had written Nativity in the original post I think my new year's resolution must be to see an optician more regularly.

Mass at Wakefield

Requiem Mass on Tuesday evening at Wakefield's historic Chantry Chapel at 7.00 p.m. to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Wakefield and death of Richard, Duke of York in 1460.

Christmas Masses

Masses over the next couple of days:

Wednesday

7.00 p.m. Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds University, St Mark's Avenue, Leeds
11.30 p.m. Sacred Heart Chapel, Broughton Hall, Skipton

Thursday

11.00 a.m.  Sacred Heart Chapel, Broughton Hall, Skipton

Merry Christmas!

Gaudete

We are already at the third Sunday of Advent.
Masses for Gaudete Sunday are as follows:

Saturday (vigil) 6.00 p.m. St Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax
Sunday             11.00 a,m. Sacred Heart Chapel, Broughton Hall, Skipton
                          3.00 p.m. St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford (sung)
                          3.00 p.m. St Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford

                         

Happy new year

Advent is upon us.

Masses this weekend

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

Reminder that there is Mass every day except Sundays at Sacred Heart, Broughton at 9.30 a.m.

On Wednesday I shall be giving my little talk at the Cathedral's Wheeler Hall as part of the regular series, this is the third in this present series. My topic is about the life, works and influence of Monsignor Ronald Knox. Squeezing this into 40 odd minutes will be interesting, I hope. The talk starts at 7.00 p.m.

Ad multos annos, Bishop Stock

The above picture of our new Bishop, Marcus Stock is from the Leeds Diocese's website. I hope they do not mind my using it.

 May I take this opportunity to wish His Lordship all good wishes and prayers on his episcopal ordination as 10th bishop of Leeds.

Ad multos annos!

This weekend's Masses for Pentecost XXIII include:

Saturday (Vigil) St Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax, 6.00 p.m.

Sunday               Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton, 11.00 a.m.

                         St. Joseph's, Pontefract Rd. Castleford, 3.00 p.m. 

A Catholic colleague at school today told me that she had recently seen my talk about Monsignor Ronald Knox advertised (on the Cathedral noticeboard) for December in the Wheeler Hall . This scared me as I still have a lot to do to it having started and roughly finished it in May. Details to follow.

Please remember to pray for those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith in this month of November dedicated as ever to the souls of the faithful departed.

Requiem Masses of Remembrance

This weekend there will be several Masses which fulfil the Sunday obligation.

Saturday - Sung Mass of Requiem- Leeds University Chaplaincy- Notre Dame, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds, 4.00 p.m. Thanks to Fr. Kravos for this.
             Also    St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00 p.m.
Sunday 11.00 a.m  Sacred Heart Chapel,  Broughton Hall, Skipton
             3.00 p.m. St. Peter's, Laisterdyke, Leeds Road, Bradford (Requiem)
             3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

UPDATE  UPDATE   UPDATE

Apologies to Fr Smith of Harrogate.

I forgot to announce another extra Mass on Sunday

4.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Skipton Road, Bilton, Harrogate (Requiem)

All Saints and All Souls

Masses this weekend:

Saturday (Vigil) 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax.
Sunday             11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton (sung)
                         3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's Pontefract Road, Castleford
                         4.00 p.m. Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike


Monday             11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton.

This week

It will not have escaped the notice of some readers of this blog that this is the start of half-term. This has been a long half-term and I am glad to have breathing space to catch up on my extra-curricular activities. I have to finish preparing my forthcoming December talk at the Cathedral on the life of Mgr Knox, fix up some wardrobes and do the garden. Simple!

Masses for the fourth Sunday of the month are  at the usual venues and times - Halifax, Saturday 6.00 p.m., Broughton Hall, Sunday 11.00 a.m. and St. Joseph's Castleford, 3.00 p.m. It is of course the Feast of Christ the King.

During the coming week there will be two differences to the regular schedule,

On Tuesday there will be a sung Mass at Pateley' Bridge's beautiful medieval chapel at Bewerley Grange. This will be at 11.30 a.m. All hopeless cases welcome.

On Wednesday morning the funeral of Mgr. Boyle takes place at Glasgow Cathedral. Fr. Parfitt will also offer a Mass of Requiem for Mgr Boyle (who often attended Mass at Broughton when on holiday) on Wednesday morning at 11.00 a.m.

Thanks as always to Fr. Parfitt for offering these Masses.

Of your charity

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mgr Canon Hugh Boyle, who died today at the home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Glasgow. He was 79 and in the 52nd year of his sacred ministry. 

Mgr Boyle was a great friend to the Latin Mass Society - especially in this diocese and to Una Voce in Scotland. When I joined the LMS thirty four years ago it was Mgr Boyle who was one of the regular celebrants I remember from the start, offering Masses regularly each year at St. John's, Normanton and at the shrine of St. Margaret Clitherow in York. Mgr Boyle was celebrant at the first solemn high Mass at St Joseph's, Bradford since 1970 and by chance offered the first Mass at Killingbeck Cemetery chapel following the release of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.

In his own diocese of Glasgow Mgr Hugh was a former Archdiocesan Chancellor and Administrator of the Cathedral.

A very pragmatic, erudite and honest man, Mgr always had a kind word and a dry sense of humour. Despite his failing health I was saddened and shocked to learn of his death and my prayers go out to his family in Leeds, London and Glasgow. I shall ask Fr. Parfitt to offer Mass for the repose of his soul and I ask Almighty God to let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

  

Pentecost XIX

Masses this weekend:

Saturday (Vigil) 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's, Halifax

Sunday 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton
            3.00 p.m.  St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford
            4.00 p.m.  Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike

Holy Michael Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke we humbly pray, and do thou Prince of the heavenly host, thrust down to hell, Satan and all wicked spirits who wander the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Mater ecclesia

And the tempest-tossed Church, all her eyes are on thee, as they look to thy shining sweet star of the sea.

Mater Ecclesia, ora pro nobis

Pentecost XVIII

Masses this weekend:

Saturday, Vigil Mass, Halifax, St. Mary's 6.00 p.m.

Sunday, 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton
                3.00 p.m. St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford (Sung)
                3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford

Advance notice - Mass at Bewerley Grange chapel near Pateley Bridge,  October 28th. 11.30 a.m. This will be a sung Mass. Thanks to Fr. Parfitt and Sr. Mary Cuthbert for this.

Pentecost XVII

Masses this weekend:

Saturday 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's Halifax
Sunday  11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton (Sung)
                 3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Castleford.
                 4.00 p.m. Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike

Confessions at call.


             

Pentecost XVI

Masses for this weekend

Saturday (Vigil) 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's, Halifax

Sunday 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton
               3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Rd. Castleford


Due to blocked fuel pipe I was unable to attend the Mass at Preston today, but by all accounts it was a tremendous occasion with standing room only. I wish the Institute all the best in their new venture and pray that their presence will revitalise Catholic life in that area.

St. Walburge's Preston

Pontifical High Mass this Saturday (27th September) at noon at St. Walburge's, Preston. The music will be provided by the Seminarians of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and the celebrant Mgr Gilles Wach of the Institute.
I know there are people coming from far and near to hear this Mass which will be offered in the presence of Bishop Michael Campbell OSA, Bishop of Lancaster, who has offered the church to the Institute, who are also custodians of Ss Peter, Paul and Philomena in New Brighton.

Church address:  Weston Street, Preston PR2 2QE

Pentecost XV

Masses this weekend:

Saturday - Vigil Mass, St. Mary's, Halifax, 6.00 p.m.

Sunday - Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton, 11.00 a.m.
               St. Joseph's, Pontefract, 3.00 p.m.
               Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike, 4.00 p.m.

Please pray for our new bishop.

We have a Bishop

 

It was a great relief to learn the Holy Father has appointed the tenth Bishop of Leeds in the person of Mgr Marcus Stock, who is a Priest of the archdiocese of Birmingham and Secretary to the Bishop's Conference.
I pray that Bishop-elect Stock will quickly settle in to his new role and wish him every happiness in his new position. Ad multos annos!
I shall write to his Lordship in the coming weeks to offer him our best wishes.
I should also like to put on record my sincere thanks to Mgr John Wilson for his solicitude over the last couple of years, especially in permitting Fr Wiley to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the absence of a Bishop in 2013 and for permitting an early celebration of the Easter Vigil earlier this year due to pastoral need.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Masses tomorrow:

11.30 a.m. Sacred Heart chapel, Broughton Hall
3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Castleford
3.00 p.m. St. Peter's Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford (Sung Mass)

Pentecost XIII

Masses this weekend for the thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost:

Saturday - 6.00 p.m. Halifax, St. Mary's, Gibbet Street.

Sunday- 11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart Chapel, Broughton Hall, Skipton. (Sung)
                 3.00 p.m . Castleford,  St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road.

No Mass at Heckmondwike.

Holiday reflections

We have just returned from a very enjoyable rest in northern France. Mass last Sunday was offered by a priest of the Institute of Christ the King in the chapel of Our Lady of Fatima school at Chapelle d'Armentieres near Lille (pictured in the internet photo). This substantial chapel was filled to capacity with a lot of people (including us) standing at the back. What was instantly noticeable was the number of young and very young families. It was unusual to feel like a very old oldie at Mass and to hear little lots of little babies crying throughout the Mass as their older siblings were silent watching what was happening in the sanctuary. Also noticeable was the inevitable and seemingly unending stream of small children processing in and out with maman or papa for the customary visits to the toilet! Despite this activity the atmosphere was one of unity of purpose and absolute reverence. Another ICKSP priest heard confessions during Mass. At one point a little girl walked over to the priest for a little chat as he sat there and it was enchanting to watch her radiant little face as he was obviously telling her something very important sitting on the step of the box at his feet! The eldest server of a total of ten was about 15 and the youngest no older than 4 years old. The younger boys sat on the altar steps during the sermon. It was an occasion where the buzz expression of "community" fizzled away in my mind and there was a real sense of family. 

The ICKSP are to take charge of another church in northern England. As I reported earlier this year they are to become custodians of St Walburge's in Preston at the invitation of Bishop Campbell of Lancaster. The inaugural Mass of the Institute's tenure will take place in September and I shall post details later. It will be a solemn high Mass offered by Mgr Wach in the presence of Bishop Campbell. I hope that this church will also see standing room only in years to come.

Masses on Sunday in this diocese:

11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart chapel, Broughton Hall

3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Castleford

No Mass at Heckmondwike next week as Fr. Abberton will be in Lourdes.

Pentecost X

Masses this weekend:

Saturday - St Mary's Halifax at 6.00 p.m.
Sunday - Sacred Heart, Broughton at 11.00 a.m.
              St. Joseph's, Castleford at 3.00 p.m.
              Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike at 4.00 p.m.

Friday's Mass at Broughton for the Assumption saw a good attendance, a thought provoking sermon and was concluded with the litany of Loreto. Many thanks, as ever, to Fr. Parfitt for this. Reminder that Mass is offered each weekday in the old Rite at 9.30 a.m. and at 11.00 a.m. on Sundays.

Pentecost IX

Masses this weekend for the ninth Sunday after Pentecost:

Saturday St Mary's, Halifax 6.00 p.m.
Sunday   Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton 11.00 a.m.
              St. Peter's, Laisterdyke, Bradford 3.00 p.m. (sung)
              St. Joseph's, Castleford 3.00 p.m.
             
Reminder also that this week sees the feast of the Assumption. Mass at Broughton Hall at 11.00 a.m.

Latest LMS video

The LMS has produced another excellent instructional video about the Mass and the direction the priest faces whilst offering the sacrifice.
Please copy, paste and follow this link : http://www.lmschairman.org/2014/08/video-on-mass-ad-orientem.html
I have tried to embed this video with little success and the children are all away. Sorry to do it the old fashioned way.

100 years

100 years

Requiescant in pace.

Pentecost VIII

Sunday Masses this weekend are as follows:

Saturday at St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00 p.m.

Sunday at Broughton Hall, Skipton. 11.00 a.m. *
                Castleford, St. Joseph's. 3.00 p.m.
                Heckmondwike, Holy Spirit. 4.00 p.m.

* There is an event in the grounds at Broughton Hall which will not affect the Mass but may cause traffic to be heavier than usual so please allow yourself a little extra time for travelling.

Masses each day next week at Broughton Hall at 9.30 a.m.

Pentecost VII

Apologies to those of you who went to Halifax this evening, I only found out as I was en route that the Mass had been cancelled because Mgr Smith had missed his flight. Regular time of 6.00 p.m. resumes next week.

Masses tomorrow:
11.00 a.m. at Broughton
3.00 p.m. At Castleford

Please watch this blog for any changes over the holiday period. I shall be spending time near Wisque in August and so there will be no Mass at Notre Dame, Leeds on the last Saturday of August.

Pentecost VI

Masses for tomorrow

11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall Skipton
3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.
4.00 p.m. Holy Spirit. Bath Road, Heckmondwike.  

No Mass at Halifax

There will be no Mass at Halifax this week or next as the Parish Priest is away.
Masses on Sunday for the fifth Sunday of Pentecost are as follows:

11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall Skipton
3.00 p.m. St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford (Sung)
3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

Le grand tour

Unless you have been asleep during the last few weeks you will know that this diocese is the place where this year's Tour de France is starting this weekend. Over 1000 roads are to be closed over the next three days and this is having a lot of impact on weekend Masses in both Rites in many parishes.

There will be no first Friday Mass tomorrow at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Moortown, Leeds. As Broughton Hall is now a huge campsite the first Sunday Mass at sacred Heart has been CANCELLED. This is only the second time in over 30 years that this has happened (the last time was the early nineteen-eighties when flooding occurred).

Unaffected Masses -

Saturday Halifax, St. Mary's, Gibbet Street 6.00 p.m.
Sunday, Castleford, St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road 3.00 p.m.
             Heckmondwike, Holy Spirit, Bath Road 4.00 p.m.

Happy cycling. The Madonna del Ghisallo was named patron saint of bicyclists by Pope Pius XII.