A productive meeting

Tonight I had a co-ordination meeting with Fr. Wiley, diocesan co-ordinator for the TLM. As ever we were able to exchange news and views and to make further plans for the direction we are taking to become increasingly more mainstream.

Top of the agenda was arrangements for the Priests' training conference at Ushaw in Low week.

Several Leeds priests have signed up for the conference and two are on the staff. Fr. Wiley will be the sacristan, a position he held as a student there in the 1980s and Fr. David Smith, PP of St. Marie's Halifax who will be a tutor.

I have had a good number of people contacting me by 'phone and e-mail about the Sacred Triduum, to be held at Notre Dame Leeds, for the first time in many many years. Please pray for this event if you are unable to attend yourself.

Please remember also our Holy Father Pope Benedict and the new Archbishop of Westminster in your prayers.

Our Lady, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

Learn liturgical Latin?

If you would be interested in participating in a summer school devoted to liturgical Latin, an idea only in its infancy at the moment, please let me know at lmsleeds@gmail.com , it will probably take place in the south of England. At the moment we are just trying to gauge interest.

HOLY WEEK 2009 LEEDS DIOCESE

PALM SUNDAY:

Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton, 11.45a.m.

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

(N.B. No Mass at Heckmondwike)

MAUNDY THURSDAY:

Notre Dame Chapel, 5 St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds (near university) 7.30p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY:

Notre Dame Chapel, 5 St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds (near university) 3.00p.m.

HOLY SATURDAY:

Notre Dame Chapel, 5 St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds (near university) 7.30p.m.

EASTER SUNDAY:

St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Bradford. 3.00p.m.

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

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE SACRED TRIDUUM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS ACCORDING TO THE TRADITIONAL RITE.

New LMS Chairman and Treasurer

At the LMS Committee meeting on Saturday 21st. March Dr. Joseph Shaw was elected as Chairman and Mr. Paul Waddington was elected as Treasurer.

I am looking forward to working with both of these men who, like me, are active diocesan representatives. Dr. Shaw is the rep in Oxford and organizer of many events there as well as the St. Catherine's Trust Summer School and chant training days. Mr. Waddington has been responsible for organizing the two southern priest training conferences and the training conference at Ushaw to be held after Easter.

I have every confidence that the Society will now be able to move forward. A lot of time was spent discussing the way ahead to help implement the Holy Father's Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum.

Another first

There will be a sung Mass in the chapel of Notre Dame, St. Mark's Anenue, Leeds on Wednesday 25th. March, for the feast of the Incarnation at 7.30p.m.

Feast of St. Patrick

Eight years ago today our fifth child died only seconds after I had baptized him. As the cleansing waters of baptism touched his forehead he opened and closed his eyes for the only time in his short life. Although we rejoice at him being our own Saint, young Patrick's rapid entry into Heaven still causes us periods of grief which can and do hit at any moment.
I still remember when towards the end of the pregnancy serious abnormalities were detected we were offered "an alternative" procedure. The sheer bloody injustice of it revolts me to this day. Killing the patient is not the answer. We detested the work the consultant was doing and told him so politely but firmly. No abortion, thank-you.

The feast of St. Patrick also is a time when I think of those members of my family tree now long gone who came to England from Mayo and Sligo in the mid 1800s. The Churches of Ss. Mary, Joseph, Ann, Patrick and their daughter churches, schools and convents here in Bradford were all testimony to the Faith and sense of community of those often desperate and impoverished people.

Patrick is also one of my baptismal names, so I'm celebrating with a not so Irish curry!


Patrick Benedict, born and died March 17, 2001.

Mass at Seacroft

Fr. Billington of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Seacroft, Leeds has e-mailed me to say that his weekly Friday Mass at 9.15a.m. (funerals and suchlike excepted) will be according to the EF of Rite of Mass.

Please pray for the success of this Mass and for Fr. Billington, who attended the LMS Summer Conference last year and had follow up sessions with Fr. Parfitt almost immediately.


Frs. O'Reilly and Harrison are both former P.P.s of this parish and were regular celebrants of the EF at Killingbeck in the time of Bishop Konstant.

Rome has spoken

The Universe weekly newspaper will from Sunday feature a regular page devoted to the TLM - activities, Masses and other events and related news items and by no means reserved to LMS activities.

I shall try submit events to this venture myself and for the first time in over twenty years buy a copy this weekend of the Universe, which was always a favourite with my great grandmother, who died in 1956. I'll carry on taking it if I like what I see. Regulars to this blog will be aware that I have long since stopped taking the Catholic Times because of the bitterly offensive stance against the Tridentine Mass and those who prefer it, as taken by its regular columnist and self styled Vatican Counsellor, Basil Loftus.

Basil's quaint views, usually directed with sarcastic vitriol disguised as humour or in personal recollection are common among a small minority of a particular generation of clergy, who realise that their desire to chop the tree from its roots and be masters of the new church are now proving to be an exercise in humility and they now know how those old and young priests in the late sixties felt when all that they had presumably held as true was quickly dismantled.

Thanks be to Pope Benedict the "Old Latin Mass" is still Mass, is still Latin (with vernacular readings if desired) but is now no longer old. The Holy Father's letter to the bishops seems to assume that the reintegration of the EF is now to be accepted as over. Roma locuta est, causa finita est.

Papal letter to Bishops with the fire and charity of St. Paul the Apostle

I have just read an astonishingly humble but extraordinarily powerful letter from the Pope. Not to me, but to the world's bishops about the lifting of the excommunications of the four SSPX bishops and the Williamson affair.

I did read the letter in German and so the following is only my recollection. The advantage of reading it in German for me is that I can also hear the Pope's voice.

The Holy Father makes no secret of the fact that the whole episode was badly handled, that there will have to be improvements in the future and that those who have sought to make things worse are those claiming to be champions of ecumenism, but show no such desire to extend their love to those in danger of schism and who are validly but illicitly ordained. The Holy Father reminds his bishops that Vat II wasn't the start of something different but a continuation of all that had gone before it. He likens a tree being severed from its roots and how this is destructive.

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei will henceforth be part of Faith and Doctrine and not Worship. It is I suppose now felt that the Liturgy of 1962 has been sufficiently absorbed or kick started back in to the mainstream life that the process continues. It is totally assumed that the EF is now part of the norm (which he probably well knows is not the case) and the letter sends out this message without saying it.

It will be fascinating to see who is appointed to take over Cardinal Cormac and according to some blogsites this may be very soon. Let us pray that he will be a Pope Benedict's man.

God bless Pope Benedict!

Lent

The planning for the Training Conference at Ushaw is now well underway. At the last count there were 5 priests from the Leeds Diocese involved. We are grateful to the Diocese for alerting clergy to the Training Conference.
I have been charged by Mr. Waddington, chief organizer, with working with the Father Sacristan to co-ordinate the simultaneous celebration of Mass at 10 altars up to four times a day.
I am on the hunt for ten sets of Low Mass Vestments in red and white along with cruets, linen, candlesticks, candles, bells, lavabo dishes, chalices, cards, Missal stands and Missals with ribbons. I have one or two people in mind to help me. If you regularly read this blog you might be asked for a favour!

Until I get the gadget to download photos from the camera replaced, you will just have to imagine what a magnificent setting Ushaw is. The St. Cuthbert's chapel is totally stunning. Father Abberton asked me what I thought about the altar used for celebration of the New Mass. Having hardly noticed it I said that it hardly imposed. What did impose was the old high altar. It was quite a marvellous sensation to feel humbled before it. The altar represents Christ, the Lord. This is why it is blessed, consecrated, venerated, kissed, anointed with holy oil, doused in water, dressed, undressed, veiled and unveiled. In the tabernacle we behold the Manger in Bethlehem, the blessed fruit of Mary's womb, Christ crucified and resurrected. Like those wise men in search of the Manger so to we go to the tabernacle - to Christ - to the altar to find the Lord, we encounter Herods, Pilates and hostile people all the way to the tabernacle - whoever we are. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the obstacles. For me the words of a modern hymn spring to mind, when this is the case - "But then Lord I think of You and I am given strength, Walk with me O my Lord..." . When I was Head of Year at my last school I had the children sing this at exam times in assembly.

This Lent like every Lent, the days seem to to get longer sooner and yet things always seem harder. Through regular fast and abstinence I do believe we gain spiritual strength, even when we are hanging on by the tips of our fingers to resisting that glass of scotch, that cigarette, that chocolate, that keema dansak or bag of crisps and that when we fail we are no worse for starting again.

Tomorrow I have the second of a series of meetings to make arrangements for the Sacred Triduum as well as liturgical research and...yes more year 9 reports.

A restful Sunday

Today was one of those when my mood is in harmony with the lovely weather. Although it was cold the sun was shining and it was dry. I stayed in bed for as long as I dared before the sarcastic reminders of the time from anybody going upstairs or downstairs started.

Mass at St. Peter's was sung by Fr. Hall who gave a very interesting insight into the Transfiguration. I love the Transfiguration and I could share Father's amazement at the sheer power of the presence of God at that moment in time and replicated for us in the Gospel.

The late afternoon sun shone beautifully into the lovely church. Father had heard several confessions before Mass and at Mass Fr. Wiley sat in choir and acted as bell ringer! There were several students at Mass (half the congregation was under 25) who were able to help Mike Murphy sing the wonderful Attende Domine at the Offertory and Communion. Fellow Blogger, Jane Theresa, of the excellent My Heart was Restless blog was at the Mass and she was able to make contact with Frs. Hall and Wiley as well as Mike Murphy who has roped her in to singing there again on Easter Sunday!

A LMS Committee meeting yesterday prevented us celebrating my eldest daughter's birthday together so we went out for a meal after Mass. It was nice to be able to eat some meat, even if it wasn't curried.

Normal sevice....

I have been encountering a lot of difficulty accessing the internet , with crashing e-mails and lots of access errors. Having prepared the slide show of typical LMS activity in the diocese and trying to download photos from my camera was the last straw.
There is excellent news about the Sacred Triduum about which I'll post in the next couple of days.
On Sunday there is the regular monthly Missa Cantata for Lent II at St. Peter's Leeds Road, Bradford at 3.00p.m. Mass will be preceded by Confessions and the Diocesan co-ordinator for the EF, Fr. Wiley will be in choir. Our regular celebrant Fr. Hall will sing the Mass.
At Castleford, also on Sunday, at 3.00p.m. we will welcome a new regular celebrant. Please make every effort to attend one of these Masses.

Ash Wednesday

This Wednesday sees the start of Lent. Mass and distribution of ashes will be at Sacred Heart, Broughton at 11.30a.m.

Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence.

Who is afraid of the big bad wolf?

My little photo gallery of activities will be complete tomorrow. It has been a very busy week not least because I have had lots of household jobs to do as well as marking and preparation which I was unable to complete even after spending a half day in school earlier this week. Our youngest son came back from his friend's full of beans but with something walking in his hair, I have inadvertently overdrawn at the bank and incurred a £100 penalty charge, the car needs a new front light bulb and the dog has to have a lump removed.

So life goes on, thanks be to God.

Local stuff I'll post about tomorrow.

This has been a very interesting week in the traditional Catholic world. For some I imagine it has been a nightmare and for others a delight. For others a mixture.

To summarize;

Bishop Richard Nelson Williamson has been requested to leave Argentina within ten days for apparently not having stated his correct status when requesting his residence permit.

Austrian Bishops are in revolt over the appointment of an outspoken priest as auxiliary Bishop of Linz, Herr Pater Wagner. Pater Wagner has according to some sources requested the Holy Father remove his name as candidate. Other sources suggest this request has not yet been formerly received, accepted or rejected by the Vatican.

The LMS is in hot water for an invitation sent to Archbishop Raymond Burke requesting him to offer Mass at Westminster Cathedral and to address its AGM, before squaring it with His Eminence, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor. On learning of the acceptance of Archbishop Burke the Cardinal appears to have objected on grounds of canon law, but aware probably that come June

he will be in retirement, graciously offered one of his auxiliary bishops, who will be the first ever English bishop to offer the Society's annual AGM in Westminster Cathedral. This confidential information was mysteriously leaked to a blog site and understandably the Cardinal's office was less than happy when this information got round, there is a full report in today's Catholic Herald.

The Universe newspaper, which for many years has been a poor read and full of clips and captions of crimpolene clad clergy with silly badges and and multi-coloured stoles is from Lent onwards to carry a regular Traditional Catholic News page. I hope that this breath of life will not prove to be a case of calling the vet to save the life of the pig in a pork pie. As a Lenten exercise I shall start taking the Universe and then carry on buying it after Easter if it successfully achieves what is says it is setting out to do. I no longer take the Catholic Times on account of Basil Loftus's boring attacks on what he loathes and his repulsive adulation of those thing which I dislike most.

The Tablet this week attempts to do a hatchet job on an ideal post Summorum Pontificum parish to which I have referred elsewhere, namely Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen in the Archdiocese of Southwark. This parish in south east London offers a Saturday Vigil Mass and three Sunday Masses, three of which are in the Ordinary Form, one in Latin and one ad orientem, one family Mass and one in the Extraordinary Form. A group of no more than a dozen parishioners have complained about this and having received no satisfaction from Bishop Pat Lynch have resorted to imploring the help of the Tablet which published a venomous but equally self-defeating assault on the PP and his legal innovations .

Two priests in this diocese of Leeds who share the view that the Tablet has truly overstepped the mark have recently refrained from offering this seditious little rag at the back of their churches and others have told me of rapidly declining interest even amongst its more relaxed parishioners, making them consider the value of continuing to offer it.

As I write I have learned of another priest wishing to learn to offer the 1962 Mass and two others offering to help out which is leading to another possible first for us.

Please continue to pray for our Holy Father Pope Benedict as he feeds his sheep and searches for his lost lambs whilst fighting off the wolves and the wolves in sheep's clothing. Who are the big bad wolves? Have they had their day?

The week ahead

Tuesday sees another visit to Bewerley Grange chapel at Pateley Bridge, with a Missa cantata at 11.30a.m.

I took photographs on Saturday at Halifax, on Sunday at Castleford and intend to keep the camera to hand for the rest of the week's activities. I shall post these in due course. Bewerley is very camera friendly. I remember the snowdrops vividly last year.

Wednesday will be a first for me with trip to Ushaw. Again I shall have my camera to hand.

To those who are in the west of the diocese and/or who can get to Bury on Friday evenings should be aware of the regular Mass there at 7.30p.m.

Fr. Francis Wadsworth, the P.P. offers Mass and gives an inspiring/thought provoking/practical and invariably Christ-centred sermon, which never fails to bring a wry smile to the lips, at least once.

It is wonderful that in so many parishes, compared with the situation much less than a decade ago, the Extraordinary Form has taken root and is flourishing, the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen or St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton would be obvious examples to regular bloggers but closer to home St. Joseph's, Castleford, St. Marie's, Halifax, Sacred Heart, Broughton, St. Mary's Batley, Our Lady of Lourdes, Leeds, St. Peter's, Bradford and Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike are all already regular venues in this Diocese. There are more in the pipeline.

The photo above was at St. Peter's Bradford before the Mass of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14th. 2008.

Half term

Half term is here, very shortly we will be half way through the school year and it will be downhill to the summer.

My trip to Ushaw is scheduled for Wednesday and before that on Tuesday there is Mass at Bewerley Grange Chapel at 11.30a.m. This will be a Missa cantata. The medieval chapel of Bewerley is noble simplicity itself which comes alive whenever Mass is offered there.

This weekend there will be Mass at Broughton at 9.30a.m. at Heckmondwike at 11.30a.m. and at Halifax at 6.00p.m. on Saturday and on Sunday at Castleford at 3.00p.m.

Mass on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at Broughton Hall at 9.30a.m.

Please pray for one of the pupils at my school who was taken to hospital this afternoon having been stabbed at the bus stop after school. As yet I have no other details.

Buzzing!

I often hear this word at school but have never used it before, but today I am buzzing!

All of a sudden a lot of things have come together and I have had lots of loose ends tied up. This I had expected long before Christmas, so patience has now been rewarded. I will post on these in due course.

There has been a lot of interest in the forthcoming conference at Ushaw and as a member of the sub-committee responsible for this Conference I am taking a trip to Ushaw with fellow Committee member and Middlesbrough Rep next week to check out things.

Leeds clergy have been e-mailed about the event by the Diocese and I am heartened by the number of priests from all over the UK who have written letters of support or to personally to apologize for not being able to attend but to be informed of similar events in the future.

After a bit of prompting from the LMS the Catholic Herald and The Tablet now give the Feastdays of the 1962 missal each week.

Buzz over!

In the wider Church it appears that Mgr. Williamson has been relieved of his position as rector of the SSPX seminary in Argentina after the 4 bishops wrote a joint letter to the Vatican.

Cardinal Lehmann of Germany has since called for the re-excommunication of Mgr. Williamson.

Unity does not come easily.

More prayers for the Pope please.

First Friday

Tomorrow is the First Friday of February. There will be Mass in the morning at Broughton at 9.30a.m.

Mass in the evening at St. Mary's, Cross Bank Road, Batley at 7.30p.m. preceded by confesions.

Snow for Candlemas

This morning I arrived at school at 8.20 to find that it had been closed due to heavy snow. I did a couple of hours of filing and preparation and at 10.40 took my marking to the car. A trouble free stretch over the moors to Keighley enabled me to join the Skipton Road for Broughton's Candlemas Mass at 11.30a.m. A few others had braved the weather from the western side of Skipton. It was a beautiful Mass, with incense at the blessing of the candles and a token procession around the little chapel. The blessing of candles and procession replace the prayers at the foot of the altar, and as Father made the sign of the Cross at the Introit, the symbolism of this rubric suddenly struck me.

Lunch as Father Parfitt's guest was a very enjoyable and unexpected pleasure enhanced by the welcome break from the routine. The Mass was offered for the intentions of Barbara Cave and so I was pleased to be able to hear the Mass "on behalf" of my old teacher, friend and mentor Mary Cave, for whose sister, the Mass was being offered and was unable to hear the Mass herself.

Even better news then - when I got home the Deputy Head rang to say school is closed tomorrow, along with all other local schools.

I was able to discuss one or two other matters with Fr. Parfitt and already have to pass on details of extra Masses to the Office.

As we are back to liturgical purple for the pre-Lentern Season on Sunday I am pleased to say that there will be Mass on Ash Wednesday to mark the start of Lent at Broughton at the slightly later time of 11.30a.m......... Dare I ask for snow on that day?!

Tomorrow gives me a chance to do the marking still in the boot. I also have a great deal of LMS Committee business to deal with. More than ever I can recall. The Pope knows how to keep us busy. I now smile to myself at the thought of a former Bishop of this diocese joking to one of my predecessors that as Rep he would hardly be exhausted with his workload. What goes round appears to come round.

Just over twenty years ago Archbishop Lefebvre excommunicated; last week the excommunication of the four ordinands the Archbishop consecrated was lifted. Meanwhile there was the uproar caused by imprudent remarks and the humble apology to Cardinal Hoyos and the Holy Father from Bishop Richard Williamson following the interview with Swedish television in which he expressed some ghastly opinions about the holocaust. Williamson has since been silenced by the order's Superior General, Bishop Fellay and has also written a humble letter to Cardinal Hoyos in which he expresses his sorrow at his imprudence and the problems these have caused the See of Peter, without actually acknowledging the very nature of that for which he was having to apologize.

Some blogs had quoted rumours about official recognition by Rome of the SSPX as soon as tomorrow. Others believe that this has been put back because of the anti-semitic remarks by Bishop Williamson.

There are also blog rumours of a personal prelature for disaffected Anglicans given the carry on over "women bishops".

What, I wonder, will tomorrow's historians make of today's news?

Our Holy Father Pope Benedict is at the helm.

God bless the Pope, the Great, the Good.

News from Rome

Earlier today it was announced in Rome that the Holy Father has lifted the 20 year excommunications imposed upon the bishops by Pope JPII who were consecrated by the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
I am sure that those who hear Mass tomorrow at the SSPX church in Keighley will feel that the Holy Father has gone a long way to address grievances referred to him by Bishop Fellay. I rejoice in the Lord for them that the path to dialogue has been opened.

Just after Summorum Pontificum was published a priest I know had been speaking to a Vatican Official at the time who had made no secret of the fact that the Motu proprio was in fact just a start to further Benedictine Reforms. It is a good time to be a Catholic.

Meanwhile I expect that there will be a lot of muck being thrown at the Pope given that Bishop Williamson is a holocaust denier, or would have us believe this. Bishop Williamson also has some unusual views about The Sound of Music.
How do you solve a problem like Richard?

Octave for Christian Unity

I have no desire to be controversial but I must confess to being mystified by what is meant by Christian Unity. It cannot mean that there is a new truth out there waiting to be discovered which will be suddenly become clear. We have the Truth - we have the Church. The reason we have disunity is because of disobedience and rejection of the Truth by people breaking away from the Church, founded by Christ upon the rock which is Peter. You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church. My vision of Unity is a wholesale return to the Catholic Church by those whose ecclesial communities have become estranged. The document on Ecuminism in the documents of Vat II is not the horror story some over enthusiastic people might portray it to be. It is a very beautiful document.
I have always found the following prayer, as well as the Prayer for England very good at focusing my mind on these issues.

O God, you bring back to the right way those who have gone astray, you gather the scattered, and keep together those you have gathered. Mercifully fill Christian people with the grace of your own oneness, that they mey reject all division and, being one in communion with the true shepherd of your Church, be able to serve you as you should be served.

For the Epiphany

The arrival of the wise men always fills me with great interest. Maybe because amid the hay and animals - some colour arrives with the camels - there is more hustle and bustle around the stable. These wise men fascinate me. They are gentiles - non-Jews, they have travelled a long way. They are searching and continue to do so until they find the Child. They are expecting to find a child who is also a King, so they go to an obvious place - to a Palace, but when they do not find Him they enquire further and again set off to find their goal. Upon finding the Infant Prince of Peace, they worship him, leave their gifts and depart. In all of this, they are an example to us all.

Unwittingly they alerted Herod to Christ's existence and as the scriptures tell us the Holy Infant was a threat to Herod, a threat to the establishment and of course a threat to Satan, the Prince of Darkness. The Child Jesus is a contradiction, here in a manger is God.

The world as we know it, does not recognise Him, often does not even search for Him, but He is there for all people. But the world will not recognize Him because it is blind to God's message which has been occluded by sin.

Our Nativity accounts are in many ways so simple , yet so pregnant with meaning, but the world goes round in circles trying to explain in human terms what God has done. The world sees everything else but God. Why?

The Gospel message is often unwelcome, because it challenges us, it makes us ask ourselves (or at least it should) if what we do is right, it asks us where we place God in our lives.

As in the time of Herod for many people the world revolves around them. But it doesn't. The Gospel is rejected because it doesn't suit this or that sort of lifestyle.

Recently Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI gave an address to the Roman Curia, before Christmas about the youth, about love and about the family.

What was reported was totally inaccurate - I would say a deliberate lie, and made the Pope out to be homophobic and terribly negative, when his words were about something else. He hadn't said what was reported. Misinformation is rife. Jesus came to bring us peace and to lead us to the truth.

The stable shows us that poverty is important - a poverty that places God first and everybody else second. The stable also shows us that there is a poverty which as a Church and as a society we need to work against - those who struggle to survive need to be helped.

The stable, the crib, is a wonderful place for us to stop and to look.

God becomes one of us, He takes on our weakness and vulnerability, so that we have strength and support. At the same time God does not pat us on the back and say that it will be OK and that we don't need to worry, no, He takes those burdens on His own back - He will carry them for us. God freely bestows His grace by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, people may say I can do it myself, I don't need God's grace but the fact is we cannot. If we delude ourselves into thinking that it is possible we not only fool ourselves but place our salvation in great jeopardy.

God comes to us to help us, to save us, to redeem us. He gives us strength and courage. Mary, the Blessed Mother herself wondered how this could happen. She herself marvelled at these events.

The Magi - those wise men, may have had ideas of who they were looking for, but they didn't give in when there was no child at the Palace. They were searching for the answers but not an answer they had thought of but an answer given to us all by God.

We can search and enquire and can come to believe in a god, but it is only by God's free choice to reveal Himself to us that we can find the right answer. He is the way, he teaches us the truth and through Him we find life. In all our daily toils, in our struggles in life, when we are searching, God is the answer. Everything else will fall into place, but we must let God in. With our Faith comes Hope and all we need. We are loved by God no matter what. We can turn to Him at any time. His Grace is there for us.

We need to be open to God's work, to be like those wise men and Our Lady, kneeling before Him and letting Him rule our lives and hearts. We can kneel before Him in wonder, in awe and in adoration and giving thanks at every Mass and every time we come before him in the tabernacle - our modern day crib.

Sermon (slightly adapted) given by Rev. Fr. T. Wiley, co-ordinator for the Extraordinary form of the Extraordinary Form of Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany at St. Joseph's, Castleford. January 4th. 2009.

Happy Epiphanytide

Mass this evening at Halifax was for the Epiphany. Fr. Smith, who was full of cold, spoke on the similarities between the gentiles (us) and the three Wise Men.
Father Smith will be away next week and I'm delighted to say that our old friend Fr. Richard Aladics, who is on holiday here from Australia, will offer the Mass next Saturday at St. Marie's.

Tomorrow there will be Mass at Broughton at 11.30a.m. followed by Benediction.
Mass at 2.30p.m. at Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike.
Mass at 3.00p.m. at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

As for me....back to school on Monday!

Come Holy Ghost, Creator come

My friend and rep for Middlesbrough was at our Mass at Batley today, having recently returned from holidaying abroad. We were able to pass our time after Mass by discussing further arrangements for the Low Week Priest Training Conference planned for 2009 and discussing positive developments in Middlesbrough, Salford and Leeds Dioceses.
Priests in Salford and Liverpool should expect a mailing in the next week or two inviting them to the First Northern LMS Conference to be held at Ushaw Seminary from April 20th. -23rd. 2009.

Mass at Batley which saw a dozen in attendance, was offered at the Lady Chapel. The Veni Creator was recited after Mass for the indulgence and we then sang the Alma Redemptoris Mater.
Mass had been offered at Broughton earlier today at 11.30a.m.

God Bless the Pope!

Happy New Year!

Masses tomorrow, for the Feast formerly known as the Circumcision are at Broughton Hall at 11.30a.m. and at St. Mary of the Angels, Batley at 3.00p.m.

Mass at Broughton on Friday at 9.30a.m. BUT NOT AT BATLEY. Apologies for the short notice.

It is now 12 minutes to midnight. The academic /work year began in September, the Church year began on the First Sunday of Advent and now it's nearly 2009.

Let us continue to pray for peace, a sound appointment in Westminster, continued health of our Holy Father Pope Benedict and increased positive interest and participation in the 1962 Rite of Mass and Sacraments.

With every good wish to all of you who take the time to check out this blog and appreciate its content and intention.

Back to normal

I heard a delightful quote recently on Radio 4. A fellow announced that his new year's resolution was to live each day henceforth as if it were his last, his pal was quick to point out that this would be a lot like his present existence where he already spent most of the time in bed slipping in and out of consciousness.
I have had that sort of Christmas and I feel fully refreshed, just about. I have a lot to squeeze in over the next few days, but it is mainly things I enjoy doing anyway.
Back to normal.

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Christmas greetings to everyone. It was lovely to hear the Gloria sung at our Mass at Batley, the First Mass of Christmas, a Missa cantata. Nearly 90 parishioners and members turned out for the Mass which was sung by Fr. Wiley. The Epistle and Gospel were chanted in English, as provided for in Summorum Pontificum. It detracts not one iota from the solemnity of the Mass.

Thank you to everybody for your cards and gifts. I shall get round to writing this year's cards before the Epiphany! Seriously, I have never been so behind. God bless us all at this time of the year and give us more time to get ready next year!

Mass on Friday at Broughton at 9.30a.m.
Mass on Saturday at Broughton at 9.30a.m., at Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike at 11.30a.m., at St. Mary's, Batley (Vigil) at 3.00p.m. and at St. Marie's, Halifax, (Vigil) at 6.00p.m.

On Sunday Mass will be offered at Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardigan Road, Leeds at 3.00p.m. and at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Rd., Castleford also at 3.00p.m.

Mass on Monday and Wednesday at Broughton at 9.30a.m.

Fr Abberton at full force

Today at Mass at Castleford, Father Abberton gave an absolutely astonishing and beautiful sermon on our Blessed Lady, the Arc of the Covenant and the link with the unborn John the Baptist, who began his vocation by leaping in his mother's womb when Our Lady carrying Jesus in her womb visited St. Elizabeth. Mary carried in her virginal womb the Word of God, the Priesthood , and the Blessed Eucharist.

The richness and sumptuousness of Fr. Abberton's sermon made it more enjoyable than the finest Christmas pudding I could ever wish to eat.

Penance

When we got to St. Marie's in Halifax tonight the Blessed Sacrament was exposed and there was a lot of activity near the confessional. Fr. Lister and Fr. Smith and possibly other clergy had heard hundreds of confessions during the day between them. A good crowd at Mass and the opportunity to go to confession as well as receiving Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, made it a personally very special start to the drama and joy and sorrow and glory of the Christmas Season, when I can drop the purple background to this blogsite and brighten it up. The colours have to be a bit insipid so that the text is legible.

Today on Radio 4 I listened to a very interesting account of the story of the Magi by Ian Hislop; having been only 10 feet away from the reliquary of the Magi in Cologne Cathedral just a week ago, and as a former citizen of Cologne, I was fascinated to hear Ian describing a special inspection he was allowed to make of the huge reliquary. He saw three skulls.
The reliquary is believed to be the finest example of the talents of medieval goldsmiths in existence.
My class could not believe how precious and fine it was, in the same way they couldn't fathom how the three gift bearers could all be together again.
But their example of offering gifts at Christmastide has become embodied in the Christmas tradition. The gifts they offered were deeply symbolic, as a foretaste of what was to come for their Divine recipient. These men were gentiles, how special then, that sacrifice and offering from non-Jews was one of the first recorded acts associated with the birth of Christ.

I now have time to see if I can download an i-podcast of Ian Hislop's programme!

Please pray for an old Priest friend to the Latin Mass Society, who before retiring never refused to let his church be used for celebrations of the Old Mass - moreso when attitudes were far less positive to those with those rightful aspirations referred to by Pope John Paul II. Father's only ever request, which was to complete the traditional 40 hours devotion celebrations with Low Mass was, in my opinion, shamefully refused by Bishop Konstant.
Father has been in hospital, but as far as I can understand is now at home, but I've been unable to speak to him. Father wouldn't thank me for mentioning his name. So I won't.

Holidays at last

A hectic and quite troubling week is over. The internal workings and decisions of the Committee got onto some of the blogs this week following a leak to the journalist Damian Thompson. I have been inundated with calls about this and it has been really interesting to hear so many ideas and opinions about the direction the Society should now take in these post Summorum Pontificum days.

I have also spoken to Walter Atkinson, our former long time MC who is very well but quite frail these days. He is looking forward the the next Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, Leeds on the last Sunday of the month.

I have also recieved calls and letters from people saying that they had been too ill to get to the Masses at Bradford and Castleford last Sunday. Attendance at St. Peter's was dismal with only a quarter of the congregation of the time before when we had our sung Requiem.

One person who was at St. Peter's was an excellent new blogger JT of the my heart was restless blogsite http://myheartwasrestless.blogspot.com/. I am delighted to be able to permanently link her blog from this blogsite. This was her first Mass in the 1962 Rite and it had a deep effect on her, which she recounts on her blog. Please take a look.

Mass tomorrow at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford at 3.00p.m. for the Fourth Sunday in Advent.
Mass on Monday at Broughton at 9.30a.m.
Mass on Wednesday at Broughton at 9.30a.m.
and First Mass of Christmas at St. Mary of the Angels, Cross Bank Road, Batley at 3.00p.m.
Mass on Friday at Broughton at 9.30a.m.

For those in the western extremeties there will be a traditional Midnight Mass at St. Osmund's, Long Lane, Bolton, preceded by carols from 11.15p.m.

On New Year's day there will be Mass in the morning at Broughton, at 11.30a.m. and in the afternoon at St. Mary of the Angels, Batley at 3.00p.m.

Isn't God good to us?!

After gale force 9 at sea

Back home.

Tired. Still bunged up with an unshakable cold but delighted that our pupils' behaviour was excellent on the recent trip to Cologne.



Had things gone to plan I ought to have gone over to Stydd Chapel, Ribchester for Mass this afternoon. After force 9 gales for six hours over the North Sea last night (which does not bother me in the least) but with 8 hours of consoling any number of over 30 worried 11 year olds, wiping up vomit and avoiding the T word (which on an aeroplane is the B word, where B=bomb and T= Titanic) and 2hrs waiting to disembark left me with 20 minutes to drive over 60 miles.
I was there in spirit.



Mass at Halifax tonight saw familiar and welcome faces from Middlesbrough diocese with a decent spread of parishioners and members who turned out for the first Gaudete Sunday Mass.

Fr. Smith, in his sermon, eloquently likened the end of the world to the end of our own personal world - i.e. at the moment of our death. The message that the act of rejoicing should be active and not simply passive acceptance was a common thread through Fr. Smith's sermon.

St. Marie's Halifax, is one of the increasing number of parishes in this Diocese where the Extraordinary Form of Mass, according to the Liturgical books of 1962 is a regular part of parish life. This parish is vibrant. As well as the 1962 Mass, Mass is offered in the OF in English, Polish and Italian with confessions in Spanish at call.

Mass tomorrow at ST.PETER'S, LEEDS ROAD, LAISTERDYKE, BRADFORD AT 3.00p.m. This will be a Missa cantata. This is one of our latest regular venues with a Mass every second Sunday at 3.00p.m.

Low Mass will be offered at the same time of 3.00p.m. at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Rd., Castleford .


Thinking about the meaning of storm when at sea, Saints Peter and Paul , the Papacy and the Blessed English Martyrs spring instantly to mind.


Pax vobis .

God bless Pope Benedict XVI.

Good news from Rome...less so from Bradford

This week has been very unpleasant so far. I have spent two days in bed suffering the effects of the the latest bug to be doing the rounds. Tomorrow I have to take 43 children and four staff to Cologne, via Hull and Rotterdam. The idea does not fill me with joy at the moment!

However 2 very interesting pieces of news from Rome have cheered me up today.

Firstly the Pope has elected Cardinal Canizares aka "Little Ratzinger" to replace Cardinal Arinze at the Congregation for Divine Worship. As some wag commented.....tick, tick, tick.
Secondly the Holy Father has invited all the Benedictine Abbots and Abbesses of the world to join him for Mass and Prayer of the Church on Ascension Thursday, 24th. May 2009 at Montecassino.

No posts until Saturday.

Auf Wiedersehen.

December 8th. Feast of the Immaculate Conception

HOLY MASS AT SACRED HEART, BROUGHTON HALL. 9.30a.m.

Maria, conceived without stain of original sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Pathetic

I am the LMS rep for two dioceses. Leeds and Salford. My telephone number is no secret.
Usually those people who telephone me are totally courteous and patient when it is not me, but one of any of our five children or their grandparents, aunties, uncles or even friends who pick up the telephone. In the last few days and weeks members of my family have been subjected to rudeness and being hung up upon.
This seems to have mainly been because those answering the 'phone didn't know if I knew this or that or who was speaking or who was celebrant at such and such a Mass, but far worse because the person in question was asked to leave their name und contact details.

This is for me a cross. I am happy to carry this cross for myself.

My family is something else.

Priest Training Conference

Plans are well under way for the Priest Training Conference to be held at Ushaw Seminary in Low Week 2009 and already several priests have registered to attend. I received a call from a Priest in the South of England this evening requesting further information.
Such a conference would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, as would have been the two Oxford Conferences held over the last two summers.
A glance at blogs like the New Liturgical Movement, Rorate Caeli and the LMS website paint a very positive picture, locally, nationally and internationally.
The genie is out of the bottle.

God bless Pope Benedict XVI!

First Friday Masses

Mass at Broughton on Friday at 9.30a.m. with confessions at call.
In the evening Mass at St. Mary of the Angels, Batley at 7.30p.m. Preceded by confessions.

SOMETHING EXTRA FOR ADVENT?

Lift up your heads because your redemption is at hand

Tomorrow there will be two Masses for the First Sunday of Advent, a time when we are encouraged to wake up, to smell the coffee and start thinking about the last things and doing something about it. We sometimes get into the Advent is preparation for Christmas mentality, spiritually I think this is only a very small part of it. The light at the end of the tunnel sometimes prematurely obscures the solid glow of the advent crown candles as they grow in number for this glorious season.

Mass at Batley, St Mary of the Angels, Cross Bank Road. 3.00p.m.

Mass at Halifax, St. Marie's, Gibbet Street, 6.00p.m.

(Saturday Masses at Broughton at 9.30a.m. and Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike at 11.30a.m.)

On Sunday there is Mass at St. Joseph's, Castleford at 3.00p.m. the celebrant will be Mgr. Steele, whose gift of preaching, few could or would deny, is an occasion in itself. His sermons are manifest examples of Faith, Hope and Charity rolled into one, invariably thought-provoking, inspiring and always spiritually gratifying. Mgr. Steele brings Scripture to life in a way which makes your mouth water because you can almost taste the air Our Lord breathed 2000 years ago. Mgr. Steele who never obscurs the Truth invariably gives those who hear him a sense of real hope.

Also, Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardigan Road, Leeds at 3.00p.m.

I hope to be able to announce further positive developments in the provision of Mass over the next couple of weeks, for this reason I am delaying sending out the latest issue of the newsletter Facing Forward. Rather more a case of looking forward!

Invitations have this week been sent out to clergy in several northern dioceses advertising the forthcoming Ushaw Seminary Training Conference to be held during Low week 2009. The original dates clashed with another booking which had already requested use of the magnificent chapel - this would, it was felt, have been too restrictive. Some clergy in this diocese are already involved. Others here and in Salford have already expressed interest.

As November comes to an end I feel slightly better than I did at the end of October having remembered to pray for the Dead far more than offering the Rosary. Advent means time for me to make another good Confession - more of a "big shop" than the "usual list". Penance is thankfully a very personal Sacrament - we have it to decide how we wish to conduct it and with which confessor we choose. It is under an amazing seal, a privilege, a humility, a cleanser deeper than any high cost lotions and potions, a direct line with God the Father and Redeemer. It can be anonymous or totally personal and face to face or behind the grill.

The new confessional in Leeds Cathedral is one of the most comfortable public confessional "cubes" I have been in - it is traditional and futuristic and everybody-friendly.

Confessions also at call at Broughton, Halifax, Bradford and Batley before or after Masses.

RIP

I was saddened to learn of the death of Middlesbrough Rep and Committee member's mother, Mrs. Waddington in Sussex. She died on Sunday at the age of 93. My daughter had the privilege to have lunch with her after the final Mass of the St. Catherine's Summer School at Ardingley College earlier this year. Please remember Mrs. Waddington and the family in your prayers. I shall request Mass be offered for the repose of her soul on the first Sunday of December at English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, York at 6.00p.m.

Green shoots

It is good to see that some other blogsites have picked up on the great news about the Trappists in Germany starting to use their traditional liturgy once again, as I posted about yesterday.

Upon reflection during the day I began to realise the significance of this "gamble", as one blogger referred to it. With about a baker's dozen (which is no bad number to start off with) monks, it will be very interesting to watch how the numbers change over the coming years. I am not a betting man, but.......

There seems to be so much happening in the Church, so much for Her good; increased acceptance of the TLM from priests and laity alike, strong parish bonds between devotees of both Rites, a re-introduction of Eucharistic adoration and Benediction in many parishes, more eastward facing Masses in the New Rite, big space in the Catholic media (see Latin Masses section in the latest Leeds freebie Catholic Post), chant workshops here, there and everwhere etc.

As the Church springs back into life let us see what Advent brings - the start of Her year.

Light in the dark

A bright light shone out to me tonight as I read that the Trappists of Mariawald in the Diocese of Aachen in Germany have received permission for a return to the liturgical books of 1962 , under the guidance of their young Consecrated Abbott, Josef.
Not only is this truly wonderful news for the future of the Church in Germany and monasticism in general but it sends out the signal that the older rites are prevailing and in the places that matter. Regular Sunday Masses in London, Cologne, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Duesseldorf, Edinburgh, Sydney, Manilla, Birmingham, New York, Rome, Amsterdam, Brussells....and on an on the list goes. Thanks be to God. But these, as great as they are, are not where it matters really.
Where it matters is in the hearts, minds and souls of all those people who in some small way help to continue the celebration of the Old Mass the world over. This is not just the clergy, some of whom still take risks to be seen publicly offering the Mass and the regular attenders, who sometimes go well out of their way to hear the Old Mass. I go to Mass in a lot of parishes.
I was recently thinking about how good so many parishioners have been and continue to be to us. It amounts to a lot of excellent genuine goodwill and of labour- the servers, the singers, the person responsible for opening the sacristy and safe, the person who has to move the flowers to accommodate the ad orientem celebration, the person charged with purifying the sacred linen, the person who advertises Masses on the parish bulletin / website, the person providing refreshments and hospitality, the person who rings the church bell , the person who stitches torn vestments and linen, the person who makes the vestments, the person who prints the propers, the person who takes the collection - all or none of whom may be devotees of the TLM. One might ask, so what?
What has happened gradually since Pope John Paul II's document Ecclesia Dei of 1988 and until only recently, is a gentle re-emergence and acceptance of the 1962 liturgical books. The Motu Proprio of Pope Benedict has since fuelled the fire of the Faith and the Holy Ghost appears to be breathing life into areas of the Church which would have been almost utterly unthinkable only a decade or two ago.
And so now here in Leeds there are no longer the hostile glares from those who happened to be around at the same time as a quiet Saturday afternoon Mass in an out of the way church or chapel, and usually offered by Frs. John Cooke OMI and Michael Cresswell or Mgr. Diarmuid Scannell (all now deceased. RIP). These were often Masses at which those involved in the teaching of Religion in Catholic schools met in almost subdued silence but always in the knowledge that despite the crisis - and it was a dreadful time, that often going miles out of their way to give witness to something which they saw as a focal point of the Faith and whilst often having to professionally endure the awful excesses school liturgies often spew forth, it was quite simply worth it - if not essental.
The LMS in Leeds seems to have gradually become a normal part and parcel of life in the Diocese, like the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal at St. Pio Friary situated on the edge of Bradford's nightlife. Another shining light in the darkness of increasingly dark days.

What have we got if we do not live in hope?

A Salford week and a couple of fayres

This week I have been busy dealing with matters in the Salford Diocese, including mailing my first newsletter "Renaissance" and putting together one or two other letters. I have already had responses from people who have had the newsletter passed on to them .

ON SATURDAY 22nd. NOVEMBER THERE WILL BE NO MASS AS THIS CLASHES WITH THE PARISH FAYRE.

On the first Sunday of December NO MASS at Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike because it's the .......parish fayre.

I have almost finished compiling the items for Facing Forward which will be my weekend project and should be out next week. If you would like an e-copy please e-mail me lmsleeds@googlemail.com

Masses this weekend

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

Saturday 11.30a.m., Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike.

Vigil Mass Saturday at St. Marie's, Gibett Street, Halifax, 6.00p.m.

Mass on Sunday at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford at 3.00p.m.

Low Mass at Holy Name of Jesus, Oxford Rd., Manchester, Sunday at 4.00p.m.

Mass at English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, York, Sunday at 6.00p.m.

The things children think

I recently gave my pupils a quiz about Germany for homework. One of the 25 questions was, "Who or what is Joseph Ratzinger better known as?"
Most of them got the answer right. Some were rather off the mark, however with answers like; The Pied Piper of Hamlin, a very old man, the Foster-father of Jesus Christ, a famous chemist and one very sinister - the false prophet.

A response with a buzz

The blogs are buzzing with the news that the LMS has received a response to its dubium to the Ecclesia Dei Commission in Rome. This dubium requested clarification about the celebration of Mass on Holydays of obligation. This response merely ratified what Cardinal Hoyos stated during his visit earlier this year to Westminster Cathedral. I shall summarize Rome's response;

Mass may be offered as prescribed in the 1962 calendar but no obligation is attached to those feasts which the bishops have legitimately appointed to be now heard on the nearest Sunday.

Masses offered in the EF and OF should therefore coincide on those feastdays.

This is what has been happening here in Leeds anyway. I hope more people will continue to attend the Masses -on their original days - especially the biblically recorded feasts of the Ascension and the Epiphany. The latter feast is surely a beautiful example and attack on greed and power which continues to tear us apart - a true manifestation of humility and moreover of God Himself. Can we not put that day aside as a a Holy Day?

"t"raditional Catholics could yet "win the day" on this one however. The Document from Rome says that this decision is not to prejudice or override any future document or decision from Rome. This may have something to do with the eagerly awaited clarification of Summorum Pontificum. Many seem to bemoan this long awaiting, but whether the document is on the Holy Father's desk or still under Cardinal Hoyos' pillow, we can be sure that all reactions to the motu proprio will still be being monitored and considered as part of that clarification. This response may also conclude that the initial three year trial period be extended, reduced or negated or that altar girls be allowed. It could say anything, it is in the heart and mind of the Pope. Whatever it says will have no little impact on the life of the Church.

Let us wait and pray. Let us pray for the Holy Souls.

Our latest altar boy

Tonight at Halifax there were three servers. Me, my nine year old son Josef and making his debut at the altar, my five year old son Fabian. Fabian did very well and remembered to keep his hands joined and to stand, kneel and sit still - it was a promising start.

This morning at Heckmondwike Father Abberton pointed out how disobedience leads to more disobedience and cited some disturbing examples of this sort of thing in America in relation to the pro-life message being ignored by clergy. On this Our Lady's Saturday he asked us to redouble our efforts in submitting to the will of Almighty God. Father was sporting some new exquisite gold vestments with blue orphreys with matching maniple and burse and veil. Father has also been included on the Castleford rota of celebrants.

Reminder that Mass is offered every Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall near Skipton at 9.30a.m..

Tomorrow the Mass at St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Bradford at 3.00p.m. will be a sung Mass of Requiem for all those who lost their lives in the world wars. R.I.P.

Mass will be at 3.oop.m. at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

At Holy Name, Manchester, Oxford Rd., Manchester there will be Low Mass at 4.00p.m.

BRAND NEW TLM BLOG

Since being made rep for the Salford Diocese I have been busy preparing a new TLM blog for that diocese. The blog is now up, though not quite yet "running" having only a couple of postings. The Blog is under the patronage of Our Blessed Lord, Christ the King. My next task is to make contact with His Lordship the Bishop of Salford.

I shall link the blogsite http://lmssalford.blogspot.com/ to this one. Please browse from time to time - especially if you are able to attend any of the Masses in Salford.

The war to end all wars

I have a particular interest in family history. I have some very interesting ancestors, one of them was the last person in England to be publicly burned alive for heresy at Lichfield, another was involved at a highly technical level in making the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan, others (the Gornalls) all hail back to one particular family in the northwest of England.

One of my favourite ancestors, however, is my father's maternal grandfather who fell in October 1917 close to Ypres in Belgium. I have visited the Tyne Cot Cemetery many times, his name James Edward Cannon is inscribed on a slab, but he has no known grave. The devastation his death caused my great-grandmother and her three children (with two already in the grave), one of whom was my grandmother was indescribable. My great-grandmother had to rule the family with a rod of iron and in addition they ate, slept, rested, holidayed, lived and breathed the Faith.

For these reasons alone, without beginning to even contemplate the devastation of the millions of others who suffered loss in both world wars I have always been grateful to hear a Requiem Mass on Remembrance Sunday for the repose of the souls of those who gave their lives. We will shortly be remembering the 90th anniversary of the end of Great War.

Sung Mass of Requiem, St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Bradford, 3.00p.m. Sunday 9th. November.

All Saints & All Souls

November is already here. The Feast of All Saints has been celebrated this weekend. I have heard three sermons, all first rate, and witnessed a former Anglican being received into the Roman Catholic Church using the Rite of 1962. It was public, very solemn and yet very personal, between priest and convert.

At Broughton we were reminded of the indulgence attached to visiting a cemetery over the next few days.

At Castleford it was once again great to see Mgr. Steele whose sermon was as captivating as ever. Part of his sermon today related the fact that for practical and humble reasons Mother Teresa of Calcutta once sat on his knee on a trip to the English College in Rome where he was spiritual director. Given her tiny stature Mgr. was clearly impressed at the sheer strength of will this woman exuded.

I was unable to get to the Heckmondwike Mass as I was serving at Castleford but as I know Fr. Abberton reads this blog, I didn't want him to feel left out. Happy Feastday Fr.!

This evening my daughter who has been off-colour for a day or two (stress of a Saturday job and thought of school again) said she felt well enough to go over to York for the 6.00p.m. Mass at English Martyrs. This is where we saw the convert being received. I had never seen this (in either EF or Novus Ordo) and it made a big impression on me. Numbers seem well up in York at the moment.

Mass for All Souls will be at 11.30a.m. at Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton, and on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 9.30a.m.

NO FIRST FRIDAY MASS AT BATLEY this week.

but

THERE WILL BE MASS AT ST.CHAD'S, CHEETHAM HILL, MANCHESTER AT 7.30P.M.

This is half term. I have always said that the weather doesn't bother me but when it is beautiful, as it was this morning when I went up to Pateley Bridge for Mass for the Feast of Ss Simon and Jude, it gives cause to rejoice.
The Mass at Bewerley Grange Chapel was a Missa cantata and everybody seemed to be in fine voice. Celebrant was Father Parfitt, who gave a scholarly account of the roles of Ss Simon and Jude interwoven with the local role of the Cistercians of Fountains. Father Wiley, who came specially for the Mass sat in choir and the local PP Canon O'Hara, a recent Golden Jubilarian sat in the Congregation. Also present was Sister Mary, the resident Anglican sister.
Following Mass some of us went to lunch at a local pub. My toenail (or what's left of it) caused a bit of a stir - especially when Fr. Parfitt thought I'd had the whole toe removed!
I was also amused after the procedure at the clinic to see what I was offered by the nurse to cover my foot when showering. A "waterproof letter" might be a good name it.

I was unable to get over to Ashton-under-Lyne this evening. I hope Fr. Francis Wadsworth's Mass was as uplifting as this morning's Mass.

Masses in the EF form attracted well over 100 souls last weekend in the Leeds Diocese. Pre Summorum Pontificum my eyes would have boggled at the thought of 50. It has also been very nice recently to see people who would normally attend Masses offered by Priests of the Society of St. Pius X .

I have another co-ordination meeting next week with Fr. Wiley. Again we will have a big agenda.

Tomorrow I have lots of holiday desk work - assessment, marking, a professional translation, and two newsletters to finalise and print as well as picking up the paint for the decorator and a couple of little DIY jobs to keep everybody happy.

If not too careful I shall start wishing I'm back at school. Well, perhaps not!

The gentleman from London about whom I posted recently, requesting I take some photographs of Bewerley Grange, to help him as part of his doctorate actually e-mailed me on Sunday evening to say that he had already been there earlier that day. (Had he since learned of my previous misfortunes with photography?) It was strange to see his name as the last one in the ecclesiastical equivalent of a visitors' book at Bewerley.
At lunch Father Parfitt recalled that there were some ruins of another grange of Fountains in the vicinity now built into the fabric of a farmhouse but still showing distinct evidence of Huby in bits of the stonework.

God bless Pope Benedict and reward Keith, Cardinal, O'Brien of Edinburgh and St. Andrews for his courageous open letter to "Gordon" (the PM) about the monstrous HFE Bill.
Will Gordon take note? Please pray that his heart be touched.

CHRISTUS REX - Masses this weekend

Masses this weekend;

Saturday, 9.30a.m. Broughton Hall - Sacred Heart Chapel, near Skipton.

Saturday 11.30a.m. Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike.

Saturday 3.00p.m. St. Mary of the Angels, Cross Bank Rd. Batley.

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

Sunday 3.00p.m. Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardigan Road, Leeds.

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

Sunday 4.00p.m. Holy Name of Jesus, Oxford Road, Manchester.

Masses on Tuesday 28th. October. Feast of Ss. Simon & Jude. Apostles and Martyrs.

Bewerley Grange Chapel, Pateley Bridge, Missa cantata, 11.30a.m.

St. Anne's, Burlington Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Missa cantata, 7.30p.m.

October 2008 comes to its end shortly- month of the Holy Rosary. My October devotions this year have been quite dismal; I have become so pre-occupied with matters temporal that I feel devotionally crippled. November- month of the Holy Souls- will, I pray, give me a chance to "catch up". Meanwhile a good confession is the order of the day.

Shock...tempus fugit

I was horrified when checking out Father Brown of the Forest Murmurs blog to see that it is 5 days ago since my last posting. I don't know where this time has gone even though I am running on empty.

I realised then that for the last two evenings I have been busy preparing the newsletters for both Leeds and now, Salford dioceses. Newsletters seem so dated these days, but I always enjoyed receiving the quarterly newsletters from my predecessors, Kevin Cave, Agnes Rutherford (who always gave explicit public transport directions), Gerry Lyons, Damian McCaughan and more recently Beryl Hartley. I have several meetings planned later next week in Salford and I hope to report on these in due course.

Fr. Francis Wadsworth has e-mailed me to ask that I advertise his next Mass at St. Anne's, Burlington Street, Ashton-under-Lyne near Oldham which will be on the Feast of Ss Simon and Jude, on Tuesday 28th. October at 7.30p.m.. This will be a Missa Cantata. Normally I would have been able to attend this Mass, but having to endure having my toenail extraction the day before, I will be resting up until Wednesday. I hope to speak with Fr. Francis in the next couple of days. His restoration work at St. Anne's is most tasteful and easily accommodates both Rites of Mass. His re-positioning of the lectern is inspired.

The young lad I asked you to remember in your prayers seems a bit more back to his usual self, but please continue to remember him and his family in your prayers. Thank you.

I recently came across the postcard shown above on e-bay (I hope I'm not infringing any copyright) and was immediately struck by it. I have never been to Coventry, but would like to see this statue. St. Michael looks so untroubled by the whole business.

Nice e-mails

I have been fortunate enough to be the recipient of some really positive and cheering e-mails this week. One regarding the Ushaw Conference, one from a Priest looking forward to offering Mass for us, one from another priest requesting instruction in the rubrics and one from an ex-St. Michael's College Lad from these parts now living in London. He is researching Fountains Abbey and the Cistercians as part of his doctoral dissertation and asked me if I would be so kind as to photograph parts of Bewerley Grange chapel. I told him that I would be delighted to (God forbid my young sons getting their hands on the camera again. Closer inspection of their last photographic shoot revealed that they had actually also painted the dog's claws bright red).

With the impending removal of my own big toenail in little over a week from now nails and claws are starting to play on my already busy mind. The worst nightmare now is Santa Claus (sorry!) and the horrors that an utterly bastardized spin off of the Nativity will inevitably bring over the coming weeks, before which we will be pestered by kids dressed as demons threatening tricks, and then firework night, as I hear it increasingly called, which is at best the usual deplorable waste of money.

The Feast of All Saints this year will be celebrated on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd November. Check posting later in the week for details of Mass times.

There will be no First Friday Mass at Batley in November - the only First Friday Mass I know of will be at Broughton Hall at 9.30a.m.

Looking at the blogs recently there seems to be a lot of activity around the world at the moment, with the Traditional Mass springing up in more and more places. Even Ampleforth Abbey in the diocese of Middlesbrough hosted Mass last week according to the 1962 Missal, by one of the bretheren there.

I was extremely impressed by the quality of the content and delivery of Bishop Drainey of Middlesbrough's sermon at the recent Batley Torchlight Procession held earlier this month. The (new boy on the bench) Bishop preached on the famous and much loved traditional hymn Hail, Queen of Heaven by Fr. John Lingard. I hope to contact His Lordship shortly to request a copy of his sermon to meditate upon. Bishop Drainey was well at home with the people and did Lingard proud.

Rumours and counter rumours abound in Rome about forthcoming Papal appointments. Two new Bishops have been announced in our own Isles, one in Wales and one in Scotland. Neither struck me as being particularly remarkable, other than that an existing (Military) Bishop is to become the next Bishop of Menevia. Who has the Pope got in mind for the next Bishop of the Armed Forces? Of course the same could be asked of Hexham & Newcastle and Westminster which seems to be rather more a case of Guessminster for the moment.

Your prayers, please, for a very thoughtful and intelligent young lad in one of my classes who is having a lot of problems at home. I have rarely seen a child so paralysed with fear and anguish to the point of trembling constantly, whilst being able to maintain a great sense of humour.

Our Lady and St. Margaret Mary, pray for us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offences and negligences, have mercy on us.

Future events

Mass at Bewerley Grange Chapel on Tuesday 28th. October at 11.30a.m.

Sung Mass of Requiem at St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Bradford on Remembrance Sunday 9th. November at 3.00p.m. I have asked, at Fr. Wiley's request, the clergy in Bradford to advertise this regular Mass and the Requiem in particular.

Mass every Saturday at Halifax, St. Marie's, Gibbet Street at 6.00p.m.
Mass every Sunday at Castleford, St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road at 3.00p.m.

There will be NO First Friday Mass at Batley in November.


Mass every Sunday at Holy Name, Oxford Road, Manchester at 4.00p.m.
Mass every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, York at 6.00p.m.

Still here.....and alive and "kicking", for the time being

Another hectic and unpleasant week, made worse by the fact that I have to have my ingrowing toenail removed in a fortnight!

Mass this evening at Halifax was well attended and the Gospel prompted Fr. Smith to reflect, in these turbulent times, in his sermon, what the world actually has to offer us. Inevitably - not a lot. He pointed out that we are in pagan times and this is in direct conflict with traditional Christian life and culture. Our help is, in deed, in the Name of the Lord.

Masses tomorrow (Sunday) are at St. Peter's, Leeds Rd.. Laisterdyke, Bradford. It will be a Missa cantata.

Low Masses at St. Joseph , Pontefract Rd. Castleford at 3.00p.m. and at Holy Name, Oxford Rd. Manchester at 4.00p.m.

Fr. Lister was at Mass in Halifax tonight, having said three dry Masses this week, as he is to offer Mass here next Saturday as Fr. Smith will be in Rome. Fr. Lister said to me that he is looking forward to offering the Mass of his ordination and that he will be able to cover for Fr. Smith in the future.

I understand that Mass was offered at Ampleforth Abbey in the crypt this evening at 5.00p.m. by one of the community. This is another first and I'm only too pleased to flag this up to people.

My co-rep, committee member and friend Mr. Waddington was there and I look forward to hearing his account of the event.

The torchlight procession which again attracted 1500 faithful souls at Batley on Monday was an occasion to remember. Bishop Drainey of Middlesbrough gave a wonderful sermon on the famous Marian hymn by Fr. John Lingard, Hail Queen of Heaven, which was sung with no little gusto before the sermon, in this small former heavy woolen district town of the West Riding.

I recently e-mailed the editor of the Catholic Times to tell him why I could no longer take his paper. He very quickly and politely acknowledged my communication. So far I feel quite liberated having not to wade through the gloomy drivel I have been subjected to for quite some time. Basil Loftus is the straw that broke the camel's back. This said, the Cafod article leaves me cold and drab articles, with the only exception of Fr. Marsden, do nothing to inspire me.

Reminder that there will be Mass in half-term at Bewerley Grange chapel, Pateley Bridge on

Tuesday 28th. October at 11.30a.m. We expect this to be a Missa cantata. The co-ordinator for the TLM, Fr. Wiley, hopes to be able to attend this Mass, which will be offered by Fr. Parfitt, the diocesan trainer priest for those priests and deacons wishing to learn the rubrics of the 1962

Rite of Mass and Sacraments. Again I would appeal to any priest reading this, who is considering offering the TLM to contact Fr. Parfitt in confidence. (I have of course only ever reported that information which Fr. Parfitt and any named priest is happy to be divulged.)

There is however news in the making and I hope to be able to announce another regular venue very shortly, with others in the pipeline.

God bless Pope Benedict XVI!

Update

I have had one of those weeks. A busy and at times a very trying week. My e-mail inbox has had in it some vile correspondence which I have had to deal with and this has taken its emotional toll on me. It was lovely for me to be able to go go to Mass and Holy Communion last night for the First Friday Mass and again tonight at Halifax.

Torchlight Procession.

On Monday evening there will be the great opportunity to publicly profess our Faith and give witness to it at the Batley Torchlight procession. Starting at 7.30p.m. in the market place at Batley following a short service and sermon, this year to be preached by the Bishop of Middlesbrough the people then process reciting the Holy Rosary and singing Immaculate Mary with the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes held aloft to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Crossbank Road, where His Lordship Bishop Roche will give Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The P.P. Fr. Wiley (who is diocesan co-ordinator for the TLM) has arranged for a huge screen in the church grounds to relay the events in the church to those unable to squeeze into this large church which last year saw standing room only and many forced to remain outside.

Batley has a large population of non-Christians and such a witness is as extraordinary as it is touching. I hope to get a few pictures to put on this blog. If you are unable to attend please pray for the success of this occasion which takes a year to prepare and involves a lot of hard work. St. Mary's Batley is a beautiful church with fine mosaics showing pivotal occasions in the life of our Blessed Mother.

An extra Mass

Father Parfitt will offer Mass again, later this month at Bewerley Grange Chapel, Pateley Bridge on Tuesday 28th. October at 11.30a.m. We expect this to be a Missa Cantata. This is half-term week so if you are on holiday in the area make a detour. It will be well worth it.

Bewerley has strong links with Fountains Abbey and although no longer in Catholic hands lends itself perfectly to the celebration of the TLM.

Reminders

Mass tomorrow (Sunday) at Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall (Missa Cantata) at 11.30 a.m. and Low Mass at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Rd., Castleford at 3.00p.m.

Low Mass at Holy Name, Oxford Road, Manchester at 4.00p.m. and at English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, York at 6.00p.m.