Holiday over. Restored to health. Deo gratias!

I am now ready to back to school on Monday, but with a staggered return for the next four weeks. The last three months have seen some hair-raising moments for me with administration of extreme unction in a most extreme moment, a dose of double pneumonia and two cracked ribs following a fall. My biggest fear was the onset of a fit a depression which I experienced after having acute kidney failure and blood poisoning about 9 years ago, brought on by a scratch I received in Rome. So far so good.

Apologies for a degree of laxity in posting and general activity over recent weeks as my recovery and building up my confidence has been my priority and I have been able to spend extended periods of silence before the Blessed Sacrament and literally passing the strains of life over to Him. A trip to Turin and other sites of pilgrimage in Europe held special significance for me over the last month. This said the chapel at Harrogate hospital,by no means a Catholic one, has an atmosphere which was incredibly conducive to prayer and a deeper understanding for God's will for us. The omnipresence of God is never stifling.

There is quite a bit of activity planned over the next few weeks, irons are in the fire for several projects for which I shall provide notice on this blog.

Masses this weekend

Sun 4 TWELTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST II Cl G

Gl Cr Pr of the Holy Trinity

Saturday 6.00 p.m. St. Mary's Halifax.

Sunday Missa Cantata 11.30 a.m. Sacred Heart Broughton Hall, near Skipton.

Sunday Low Mass, 3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Ponterfract Road, Castleford.

NB. No Mass at Heckmondwike - as Father is in Rome.

The Assumption - Masses

Holy Mass for the Feast of the Assumption was offered by Mgr. Smith tonight at St. Mary's in Halifax. Over forty people attended.

Masses tomorrow (Sunday), both at 3.00p.m. are at St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford, this will be a Missa Cantata and at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

On Monday (sadly no longer a day of obligation) there will be Mass at Broughton Hall at 9.30 a.m. and in the evening at 7.30 p.m. at the Wakefield Chantry Chapel in Wakefield there will be a Missa Cantata. Due to health and safety regulations this is a ticket only event. Please let me know if you would like a ticket as I still have some left.

Happy feastday!

Masses on Sunday 7th. August. Pentecost VIII.

Thanks to Fr. Parfitt for covering for Mgr. Smith at Halifax this evening. Monsignor will be back next week. In your prayers I would ask you to remember Tony, the bell-ringer and caretaker at St. Mary's who is gravely ill.
Tomorrow there are three Masses in the EF;

11.30 a.m. Broughton Hall, Skipton. Missa Cantata.
3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.
4.00 p.m. Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike.

There is no EF Mass in York tomorrow.

Please do not contact me by telephone until next Saturday as I shall be away - I should be able to access my e-mail however.

Sunday 31 July Mass and news

Mass for the seventh Sunday of Pentecost will be at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford at 3.00 p.m.

The Vigil Mass at Halifax last evening was well attended and Fr. Hall's sermon on Hell following his sermon last week on Heaven was again very well received. Thanks to Fr. Hall who has covered for Mgr. Smith. Next week we look forward to welcoming Fr. Parfitt at Halifax before Mgr Smith returns from his holiday.

I was delighted to see that my predecessor as rep, Damian Mc Caughan, was recently ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in his native Northern Ireland and is looking very well on it! Ad multos annos, Fr. McCaughan!

Belated congratulations also to Fr. Matthew McCarthy FSSP who was also ordained earlier this summer. I first met (Fr.) Matthew when I went to Manchester University and we were in the same hall of residence. I was delighted when he was accepted by the FSSP as a candidate for the Priesthood and moreso when I learned of his ordination.
Both newly ordained priests have offered Mass at St. Catherine's near Wigan and due to my ill-health I have been extremely sorry to miss both events. A recent fall left me with bruised ribs and has reduced my capacity to walk at a reasonable speed once again.

Preparations are well under way for our Mass at Wakefield chantry chapel on the feast of the Assumption at 7.30p.m. Please ask/contact me for a ticket. I have been given 20 to distribute. Our last Mass there, which was also sung by St. Austin's choir and the Leeds "schola greg", in December was very well attended and that was at the end of December - when the clergy had to vest in the flickering flame of two tiny votive candles in the tiny underground vestry. Parking is free, safe and plentiful. Fr. Hall, a native of Wakefield, is looking forward to offering the Mass.

Missa Cantata

I was fortunate enough to be taken to Barnard Castle for the annual Founders Day Requiem and Absolutions at St. Mary's (pictured left). Fr. Elkin, the PP, who never seems to age (he's always looked like a senior to me) was the celebrant. At the garden party afterwards I was delighted to make the acquaintance of a lovely young couple who are to marry there in a few weeks and another chap who attended the LMS server training day at English Martyrs in York. The Mass was sung to a very soothing polyphonic setting with plainchant Dies Irae. I was very grateful to be taken to Barnard Castle and back in time for Mass at Halifax, by Mr. Burton who is one of our regular singers.

The Mass at Halifax was offered by Fr. Hall, who will be our celebrant again next week. Fr. Parfitt is to offer the Vigil Mass there on the first Saturday of August.

Mass on this Sunday will be a sung Mass (Pentecost VI) and is at 3.00 p.m. at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

Next Saturday there are to be two Vigil Masses; 4.00 p.m. Notre Dame Chapel, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds and 6.00 p.m. at St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax.

No morning Masses at Batley until Monday 5th. September (6.45 a.m.)

MASS ON SUNDAY 17th JULY

PLEASE NOTE that the only Extraordinary Form Mass on Sunday will be at Castleford St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road at 3.00p.m. (No Masses at Heckmondwike or Leeds St. Augustine's.)
Due to clergy holidays there will be no Mass at St. Augustine's in August or September.

MASS AT MARKENFIELD HALL

Missa cantata at Markenfield Hall, a remarkably well preserved medieval moated manor house between Ripon and Harrogate on Tuesday 12th. July at 7.00 p.m.

Thanks to Lady Curteis, Fr. Parfitt and the Leeds Schola Gregoriana for making this possible.

Congratulations and thanks

I was recently delighted to learn that Father David Smith, Parish Priest of St. Mary's, Halifax was made a prelate of honour of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul - the 60th anniversary of Priesthood of the supreme Pontiff and who henceforth will be referred to as Monsignor Smith. Monsignor has been a very good friend to the LMS for as long as I care to remember and is a regular weekly celebrant.

On the ecumenical front I was able to enjoy a very pleasant evening with a good friend of mine last week when I was introduced to a (non German speaking !) Lutheran Pastor who had come by a red cope from a Catholic monastery and because we didn't possess one was happy to donate it to us. At the same time I was able to visit St. Luke's Lutheran Cathedral in Headingley, Leeds - the smallest cathedral in England- a place where our own Bishop Roche has also prayed. Thanks to Pastor Mark for his kindness and generosity of spirit.

Please remember that the Mass at Bradford at St. Peter's has been cancelled.
Mass at Castleford, St. Joseph's at 3.00p.m. and at Holy Name, Manchester at 4.00p.m. In York at 6.00p.m. there will be Mass at 6.00p.m.

Jesus, Hope of all who trust in Thee, have mercy on us!
Mary, Immaculate Queen and Mother, Pray for us!
St. Joseph, Pray for us!

PLEASE NOTE

There will be no traditional Mass at St. Peter's, Bradford on Sunday (July 10th) as this would clash with the annual parish Garden Party. Normal routine resumes next month. Let us hope they have good weather. Reminder that there is a Vigil Mass at St. Mary's, Halifax on Saturday at 6.00 p.m. and on Sunday at St. Joseph's, Castleford at 3.00p.m.

On the first and third Sundays of the month Mass will now be offered at Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike at 4.00p.m. and as such the vigil Masses at St. Mary of the Angels, Batley on third Saturdays will now cease, as will the Friday Masses at Holy Spirit. Thanks to Fr. Abberton for the extra Sunday Masses.

A trio of wonderful feasts

Monday is the feast of our Lady of Perpetual Succour - the patroness of the the Diocese of Leeds:

Masses at Batley 6.45 a.m. and at Broughton at 9.30 a.m.

Wednesday is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION for the Feast of Sts. Peter & Paul.

Masses at Batley at 6.45 a.m. and at Broughton at 11.30 a.m.

Friday - the First Friday of the month is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Mass at Broughton at 10.00 a.m.

REMINDER

High Mass and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Benediction.
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH, HARROGATE ROAD, MOORTOWN, LEEDS at 2.00p.m. SATURDAY 25th. JUNE.
Confessions available.

The Rudgate Singers are 15 years old

Saturday 18th. June sees a sung Mass in Middlesbrough Diocese at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Green Lane, Newby, Scarborough at 3.00p.m. In addition to the Gregorian propers the ordinary will be Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli with motets by Aichinger and Tallis.

This Mass is in celebration of the fifteen years the group has been in existence. I well remember the first Mass they sang at Scarthingwell and they have always delighted me since on the many occasions I have heard them.

I am fortunate to be able to attend tomorrow's Mass as one of the singers has offered me and my eldest son a lift to Scarborough for the occasion.

Apologies for tardiness advertising this Mass.

37 years ago

Today is the 37th. anniversary of my own First Holy Communion at St. John the Evangelist Church, Bradford. The Parish Priest was Fr. Reginald Bessler who is still alive and is a retired priest of the Hallam Diocese and in his 62nd. year of Priesthood. Father's preparation for First Confession and his analogy of a dirty white T-shirt has remained with me all these years and one which I used when preparing my own children for the Sacrament.

Corpus Christi - A first for Leeds in many years

Saturday June 25th. 2.00p.m. SOLEMN HIGH MASS followed by procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Harrogate Rd. Moortown, Leeds.

Confessions available.

The Leeds Schola Gregoriana and the choir of St. Austin's, Wakefield, will sing at the Mass.

Thanks to Frs. D. Smith, M. Hall and T. Wiley (PP) for their readiness to be sacred ministers at the Mass.

Please do all you can to support this event.

First Holy Communion Mass in Bradford

On Sunday - Pentecost - the Birthday of the Church a little girl will receive our Blessed Lord for the first time as she makes her first Holy Communion. This will be at a Missa Cantata at St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke at 3.00p.m.

It would be lovely to see a good turnout to celebrate this very special occasion.

Other Masses this weekend:

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

Low Mass - Sunday 3.00p.m. St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

Thanks again for all the good wishes and prayers I have received since my second spell in hospital. My tests earlier this week showed no evidence of cancer, thanks be to God, but I am still feeling very weak and breathless.

More prayers please

Having proudly announced I'd be getting back to normal in my last posting I found myself being taken to hospital again the very next day after visiting my GP who immediately rang 999 suspecting I had a clot on my left lung. After six days in hospital I have now been released with pneumonia and a bag of antibiotics and painkilling tablets.

I do feel lousy and would be glad of any prayers.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us.

PLEASE NOTE

Due to reasons beyond anybody's control, including my own temporary infirmity there will be no Saturday Masses at Batley either this Saturday or next month.

I am feeling a little stronger now and hope to resume more regular posting in a day or two.

Thanks again for cards and prayers received.

Back in the land of the living

I have just returned from Mass at St. Joseph's, Castleford, which was a sung Mass. I had been looking forward to this like I look forward to my summer holidays! I was not disappointed. To witness the action of the Mass unfolding again before my eyes was as exciting as it was moving. I felt ten years younger by the end of Mass as I laid my fears, anxieties, sorrows and joys at the feet of the Lord and thanked Him from the depth of my nothingness for my deliverence and strength in the face of the recent crosses I had been given to carry.

Hair raising days

Following my last posting I went to a hotel in central Harrogate on Wednesday morning for an examiners' moderation meeting where upon arrival I promptly collapsed in the underground carpark with the most excruciating abdominal pain. After an operation to remove various bits and pieces, including the remainder of my appendix and eight nights in Harrogate hospital I was released this afternoon.
I should like to thank Fr. Wiley for administering Extreme Unction and for bringing the Blessed Sacrament to me and to the many other good people who have prayed for me and had Masses offered.
Mass will be offered for your intentions.
Glad to be home, I am still very weak and now have to work on building up my strength and confidence.

Prayer please

Please say a little prayer for me as I have been suffering with a terrible stomach cramp since Thursday and I am now beginning to feel frustrated and more worryingly thoroughly dejected and dare I say tearful.

Splendid occasion

Mass at St. Peter's, Bradford, yesterday was a splendid occasion. The Missa cantata was followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and the Litany of Loreto. To say that there were nearly a dozen children present, one could have heard a pin drop from the Vidi aquam to the final hymn.

Fr. Parfitt has asked me to remind readers that there will be a Missa cantata at Bewerley Grange chapel, Pateley Bridge on Tuesday 31st. May at 11.30p.m. for the Queenship of of our Blessed Lady.
If you are in the vicinity or are free that day, please do all you can to join us.

Weekend Masses

Saturday Vigil, St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00p.m.
Sunday - Missa Cantata, St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford. 3.00p.m.
Sunday, St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford. 3.00p.m.

3 years of blogging

This week sees the third year of this blog's existence. I just reread my original post back on May 6th. 2008. At that time there were 18 monthly Masses advertised as regular. Today there are at least 50 regular Masses per month and this blog now receives over a thousand visits per month.
Progress?

May - month of our Blessed Lady

At Broughton Hall this morning we had it all ; Missa cantata, beautifully sung by the schola, a sermon which mentioned Faith (the Epistle and Gospel), the Divine Mercy, the Beatification of Blessed John Paul II and the month of May and Paschaltide.

The triumphant hymns of the glory and joy of the Resurrection gave way at the end to the joyful strains of Regina Caeli followed by Caswell's This is the Image of the Queen.

I mention this now as the month traditionally set aside in honour of our Blessed Lady will conclude with Missa cantata at Bewerley Grange chapel, Pateley Bridge on Tuesday 31st. May at 11.30a.m. The Feast being the Queenship of Mary.

After Mass we had a refreshing glass of champagne to celebrate the beatification of Pope JP2 at our Polish friends' before going over to Castleford for the 3.00p.m. Mass where I got an easter egg. My first in absolute ages.

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!

Blessed John Henry Newman, pray for us!

Our Lady, Queen of heaven, pray for us!

Walk for LIFE

The wonderful people at Leeds People for Life are holding a pro-life walk next Sunday in York, following a path we followed in our recent pilgrimage. The Mass advertised below is in the Ordinary Form. Mass in the EF will be at 6.30p.m. at English Martyrs. "...a great prayer for Life is urgently needed..." is a quote from the newly beatified Blessed John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae in which he coined the term "the culture of death". Seven million abortions is a lot of innocent blood. Of all the many people I know, those who at some point have deliberately ended their pregnancies, have lost something so profound that they have never been the same again and regardless of their creed or colour, background or status they have been deeply affected by it if not traumatised.

My own pro-life prayers invariably include any woman who wants to keep her baby but is under pressure to get rid of it and for those suffering from the after effects of an abortion and that we as a nation will open our eyes to what our society permits....and possibly more sinisterly forbids under the dubious term 'human rights'.

Of all the Bishops' mottos I have seen, my favourite one was that of Bishop John Crowley the former Bishop of Middlesbrough. It was "Choose Life", from St. John's Gospel.

Leeds People For Life
An Apostolate of prayer and reparation for the growth of a ‘Civilization of love’,
“...a great prayer for Life is urgently needed..” Evangelium Vitae.

YORK
SUNDAY MAY 8TH 2011

100 CROSSES FOR LIFE WALK

With Our Lady of Guadalupe and the English Martyrs, praying to end the ‘culture of death’ and reclaiming England as ‘Mary’s Dowry’ (over 7 million babies have been killed in 43 years of abortion in England, Scotland and Wales.)

Assemble at West door precinct of York Minster 1.15p.m. for 1.30p.m.,
(Eucharistic Adoration 12-15a.m. to 1-15p.m. in St Wilfrid’s)

Procession and prayers at Margaret Clitherow Plaque, Ousebridge, veneration of her relic at the Bar Convent, prayers at the Knavesmire, Holy Mass at English Martyrs’ Church, Dalton Terrace.YO24 4DA
Total distance approx.2 miles.

Both St Wilfrid’s, Petersgate (near the Minster) and English Martyrs are open for prayer all day.
Coach from Leeds
St Mary’s, Horsforth, 10.00a.m. Leeds Playhouse 10-15a.m.

St Augustine’s, Harehills 10.25 a.m., and St Theresa’s, Crossgates 10.35a.m. Cost £8.


Further details Pat. 0113 2582745. Mob 07747698553
Email patriciamarysammon@btinternet.com

Totus tuus

Blessed John Paul II. Pray for us!

Juventutem Retreat at Douai Abbey in September Announced - Bookings Being Taken - Limited Places

I have been requested to announce the following - which I am happy to do. Pity I'm too old to attend even with my youthful good looks!

During the weekend of the 9-11 September 2011, Young Catholic Adults (YCA), the national affiliate organisation for England and Wales of the international Juventutem movement, will be running a retreat at Douai Abbey near Reading in Berkshire. It will be led by Juventutem Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr de Malleray . The weekend will be full-board.

* YCA will have half of the retreat centre to itself
* There will be a Marian Procession, Rosaries, Sung Mass, Low Mass, Confession and socials
* Fr. de Malleray FSSP head of Juventutem will preach the retreat, Masses will be in the Extraordinary Form

Prices range from £5 to £51 per person per night . There are 3 options:

THE MAIN GUEST HOUSE

Friday, 9 September, registration from 4pm, to Sunday, 11 September (full board)* or Arrive Saturday morning till Sunday or day only

£51 full-board PER PERSON PER NIGHT
£25 for students/low waged/unwaged (or whatever you can afford) PER PERSON PER NIGHT

THE COTTAGES

£35 PER PERSON PER NIGHT (full board).
Self catering £25 per person per night (reductions for students:- or whatever you can afford).

SELF CATERING CAMPING

£5 PER PERSON PER NIGHT (or whatever you can afford - please bring your own tent and food ).

If you would like lunch on Sunday, 11 September, then it will be an extra £7 each.

HOW TO BOOK - limited places so please reserve your place early!

To reserve your place FOR THE WEEKEND (no deposit needed if you are coming for the day on Saturday), please contact the Guestmaster direct and send a £20 deposit (NON RETURNABLE) to:

Brother Christopher Greener OSB,
Douai Abbey,
Upper Woolhampton,
Reading,
Berks RG7 5TQ

(please make any cheques payable to 'Douai Abbey'). Please also mention how long you wish to stay and any special dietary requirements.

For general enquiries about the weekend, or any queries about the accommodation/location/lifts required, please ring Damian Barker on 07908 105787 or 01452 539503.

Back to normal

I went to Notre Dame chapel this afternoon to tidy everything up and retrieve the vestments and paraphernalia which we had left there on Saturday. The Chaplain Fr. Kravos had already done everything leaving our things neatly packed to take away and made me feel quite guilty. Today the water blessed there on Saturday was used for a Baptism.

One of the many positive outcomes of our Triduum was that I was able to organise another Traditional Mass at Wakefield's ancient chantry chapel, where Fr. Smith sang a Mass of Requiem to mark the Battle of Wakefield back in December. This time Fr. Hall will sing Mass for the Feast of the Assumption at 7.30p.m. on Monday 15th. August.

Missa in albis, Quasimodo, Low Sunday

Saturday

Vigils

Mass at Notre Dame Chapel again on Saturday at 4.00p.m.

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

Sunday;

Missa Cantata, Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, near Skipton at 11.30a.m.

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

I now have to prepare and deliver two revision sessions for my year 9 GCSE classes and year 11 high flyers this week.

Time for a pint

Our sung Mass at Castleford this afternoon was sung beautifully by Mike Murphy, John Burton and a woman student from Leeds University.

Our celebrant, Fr. Wiley and servers were all in great mood and Canon Durcan was even more cheerful than usual, possibly because he is front page news in the latest edition of the Catholic Post.

After a large family dinner a few of us went to the pub (almost unheard of in this house) and had a few pints of excellent beers from all over Europe.

Happy Easter!

Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia

Jesus Christ the Lord is Risen! Alleluia

Happy Easter and may I wish you and yours true peace and joy at this glorious time.

Our Sacred Triduum at Notre Dame chapel is now over.

Tonight was a spectacular denouement to the divine tragedy we witnessed yesterday and on Holy Thursday.

For utterly practical reasons the liturgy began just after 7.30p.m. Instead of the fire being on a stand or in a brazier it was lit in the road before the chapel door and was so hot that the five pieces of charcoal put on the edge were already crumbling ash by the time it came to put them into the empty thurible. Hence the thurible being filled with coals and red hot kindling wood. Given this and the stunning boldness of the Paschal Candle and the very dark chapel illuminated initially by only the flame of that candle made for a dramatic and striking entry from the fading light of the evening and into the darkness of the chapel to light. The Light.

Lumen Christi!

Deo gratias!

The end of the third reading of the Vigil refers to protection from the rain and again protected we were because not a drop fell on us.

Thanks to our energetic and devoted celebrant, Fr. Hall, our choir, Messrs Forbester and Burton, our servers, Messrs O'Dowd (who carried out his role as MC at Mass for the first time), Janko and the Walker brothers who between them have acted in a variety of roles ranging from thurifers to book boys.

Please remember that there will be a Missa cantata on Easter Sunday at 3.00p.m. at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford.

Consummatum est. Et inclinato capite tradidit spiritum

Once again we recalled the disgraceful horrors of the Passion and death of our Blessed Lord at the Sacred Liturgy according to St. John the Evangelist this afternoon on what was a gloriously sunny day, enabling us to hold our very dignified service in natural light, fittingly subdued in the sanctuary by the blue of the stunning windows. The contrast between the altar of repose last night and its appearance today was stark and dramatic.

There were many new faces today and I hope that even more people will join us for the Vigil tomorrow where the death and shocking events we recalled today will become instantly less painful as we celebrate creation, new life and the Resurrection of Christ, which takes us out of eternal darkness and illuminates us with His light, giving us the chance to win eternal happiness with Him. If this were guaranteed He would not have spent years in His public ministry teaching us the Way to to the Father and issuing stark warnings at times about the consequences of our actions. Consummatum est.

Vigil at 7.30p.m. Notre Dame Chapel, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds. which I look forward to writing about tomorrow with some pictures.

Easter Sunday; St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford. Missa Cantata.

Good Friday

About thirty five people came to the Mass of the Lord's Supper this evening and I hope that for the Good Friday Liturgy there will be even more people present. Fr. Kravos was present in choro this evening and two singers and five servers managed to make the celebration a dignified occasion. Fr. Hall, the celebrant, preached a very well constructed and thought provoking sermon.

Good Friday Liturgy at 3.00p.m. Notre Dame chapel, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds. As tomorrow the weather promises to be good it will be an opportunity to look at the incredibly impressive windows by Harry Clarke which depict the Litany of Loreto (pictured in the sidebar of this blogsite).

Holy Thursday... faciamus musicam

It is now Holy Thursday and as such sees the start of the Sacred Triduum this evening at Notre Dame Chapel, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds at 7.30p.m. There is plenty of free parking around the chapel, but please do not park at the very top of the Avenue as 24 hour access is required.

This evening I was delighted to have received an invitation from friends to attend the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral in Leeds, where Bishop Roche blessed the holy oils and preached a sermon which touched the heart even though it was directed at the Priests and Deacons of his Diocese. He recalled a recent conversation in Rome with the Bishop of Kazakhstan who as a young boy had witnessed the execution in the street of the Priest who had just given him his First Communion (and one presumes Confession) as well as confirming him and his siblings before giving the Holy Viaticum to his dying grandmother. This lad and future Bishop realised his vocation at that moment. Years later he learned that this dead Priest had also witnessed the martyrdom of a Priest in his formative years for similar "crimes".

Martyrdom and Priesthood are linked.

As we approach Easter Sunday and the glory of the Resurrection of the Lord we have to undergo witnessing the ignominy to which Christ was subjected, by the words of the sacred texts and the divine tragedy of the liturgical action. The two words out of the entire Film "The Passion of the Christ" which I shall always remember above anything else were those spoken by the Roman henchman before scourging Christ. He gleefully said, "Faciamus musicam".

Christ is the Priest and Victim, the oblation - indeed the sinless lamb who died for the sinful sheep a Martyr for us and for our salvation. Unique and mind bending.

At the Cathedral I was able to meet a lot of friends and acquaintances, before and after the Mass, some who said they were looking forward to attending our Triduum.

Please do join us tomorrow and or on Good Friday and Easter Saturday if you are visiting, a regular or simply inquisitive.

Ad multos annos!

Happy Birthday, Holy Father!

V. Oremus pro Pontifice nostro.

R. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius. [Ps 40:3]

This weekend and HOLY WEEK Times

Hebdomada Sancta

Sun 17 PALM SUNDAY (SECOND SUNDAY of PASSIONTIDE) I Cl R & V
No Gl. Cr Pr of the Holy Cross. Procession (R) Mass (V).
Omit Asperges. Blessing of Palms and Procession before principal Mass.
No Preparatory Prayers. Passion according to S Matthew 26, 36-75;
27, 1-60. No Last Gospel. At other Masses No Judica No Gloria Patri at
the Introit & Lavabo. Last Gospel from the Blessing of Palms. If a Priest
says more than one Mass, the Gospel of S Matthew 27, 45-52 may
replace the Passion.

Vigil Saturday 16th. April. Low Mass, St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax. 6.00p.m.

Low Mass Sunday 17th. April, St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford. 3.00pm.

Low Mass Sunday 17th. April, St. Augustine's, Harehills Road, Leeds. 5.00p.m.

Holy Monday - Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton. 9.30a.m.

Spy Wednesday- Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton. 9.30a.m.

HOLY THURSDAY - MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

Thursday 21st. April

Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds University R.C. Chaplaincy, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds. 7.30p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY

Friday 22nd. April.

Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds University R.C. Chaplaincy, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds. 3.00p.m.

EASTER SATURDAY

(Vigil) Saturday 23rd. April

Notre Dame Chapel, Leeds University R.C. Chaplaincy, St. Mark's Avenue, Leeds. 7.30p.m.

EASTER SUNDAY

Sunday 24th. April

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

Many thanks to Fr. P. Kravos (who will join us in choro on Holy Thursday) for giving such prominence to the Triduum on the Leeds University RC Chaplaincy website. http://www.uilcc.org/?p=1954. The 15 visitors from that website to this blogsite caught my eye when I checked my stats this evening. I hope they join us. Thanks again to Mike Forbester and his team the Triduum will be sung. And thanks to Mike Murphy and his team, who will sing at Castleford on Easter Sunday

I shall continue to regularly update this week's events as way of a reminder in this holiest time of the year.

Masses tomorrow. Passiontide is upon us

PASSIONTIDE Tempus Quadragesimale: Passionis
All crucifixes and sacred images are veiled in violet.

Sun 10 PASSION SUNDAY (FIRST SUNDAY in PASSIONTIDE) I Cl V
No Gl Cr Pr of the Holy Cross
No Judica No Gloria Patri at the Introit & Lavabo

Sung Mass at St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford. 3.00p.m.

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

Even busier

Tonight I had a long meeting with Fr. Wiley and we reviewed where we are regarding provision of the Mass and what more can be done to promote and advertise the EF Masses and increase provision of same.

After the Triduum and Holy Week schedule our next big event will be the Solemn High Mass and procession of the Blessed Sacrament at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Moortown, Leeds for Corpus Christi. Members of the Leeds Schola Gregoriana and St. Austin's choir will sing at the Mass.

Clergy have been invited and accepted the invitation to be Sacred Ministers.

Fr. Kravos will be attending our Maundy Mass in choro and we have clergy speakers and celebrants lined up for the October day of recollection.

Busy busy

I have been reading up on the ceremony and rubrics of the Sacred Triduum. Times of Mass will be displayed shortly for Holy Week in the sidebar.

I have sorted the paschal fire, Holy Thursday vestments, the clappers, and the "umbella" as Fortescue calls it.

Tomorrow I have a co-ordination meeting with Fr. Wiley in Leeds after parents' evening. Under discussion will be our solemn High Mass and Procession for Corpus Christi and our October day of recollection on the Mass and Rosary.

I also have to contact our cantor about Sunday's Missa cantata at St. Peter's Bradford and hope to be making arrangements soon for a celebration of the First Sacraments.

Thanks to the Catholic Post...and Laetare!

I got my copy of the Leeds Diocesan "Catholic Post" tonight and was most gratified and grateful to see that the editor had inserted the correct and up to date advert including the times of the Sacred Triduum this year along with details of this blog. My sincere thanks to Mr. Grady.

Our regular Sunday/Vigil Masses attract well over a hundred "regular" people nowadays and there are always visitors and new faces; some of these are simply glad of the timing, others attend with family or friends and some are simply and rightfully inquisitive but nobody questions the fact that they are fulfilling the Sunday obligation, as was sometimes the case not so long ago.

Already this year another Priest of the Diocese has expressed his desire to learn to offer the EF Rite of Mass.

Wakefield St. Austin's choir is to join our Latin Mass schola again and sing at our Corpus Christi Solemn High Mass, Procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at Immaculate Heart, Leeds in June.

The last time they joined forces was at Wakefield Chantry chapel's sung Requiem Mass at the end of December 2010. And splendid it was too.

Work on painting the Paschal candle is now starting so as to be ready for the Vigil and news on parking around the University chaplaincy is good as there is no danger of fines and there is a lot of space. If you plan on coming, please also consider bringing friends, a family member or members and ensure your car, coach or taxi is full!

Extra servers have been recruited for the Triduum and today I selected the vestments for the Vigil Mass of Easter and for the Blessed Sacrament procession to the altar of repose after the Maundy Thursday Mass.

God bless the Pope!

From the Oxford Oratory

I do hope the Oratorians at Oxford do not mind me sharing this good news with you from earlier today.

It was announced in Rome this morning that our own Fr Anton Webb has been selected to represent the Vatican City at the London 2012 Olympics at the Pentathlon.

At a press conference in the Vatican, Archbishop Capriccio Pesce d'Aprile, Prefect of the Congregation for Sport and Physical Fitness, said, "It is true that with a population of about 800, many of whom are elderly prelates, the Vatican City is never going to win as many medals as the USA or China. But we consider it very important to show the Church's engagement with the modern world, so for the first time the Vatican has entered every Olympic event. We have had to co-opt some clergy and religious from around the world to do this, and they will be brought to Rome to train in the Vatican gardens. The self-discipline and asceticism of the religious life will certainly give them the edge over other competitors."

THe Archbishop was hopeful that the Marche Pontificale might be heard for the first time at an Olympic medal ceremony for some events: "The Swiss Guards have put together a formidable archery team, and of course the Church's expertise in the field of liturgical ceremonies will mean that our synchronised swimming team will have a grace and precision that are second to none."

The full list of Vatican competitors will be published on the Holy See's website at midday today.

This weekend

Tomorrow is the First Friday of the month.

Masses at 9.30a.m at Broughton and 7.30p.m. at Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike.

Saturday:

9.30a.m. Broughton

Sun 3 FOURTH SUNDAY in LENT (Laetare Sunday) I Cl V/ROSE
No Gl Cr Pr of Lent

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

Sunday:

Missa cantata at 11.30a.m. Broughton Hall, near Skipton.

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

Holy Week - Triduum preparations

The end of term and Holy week are fast approaching. A generous Priest has donated the paschal candle for us to use this year - I am loathe to get a transfer to put on it, so this year our candle will be hand painted. I am inspired by the Paschal Candle 2010 at St. Peter's, Bradford which was a beautiful labour of love in vivid colours. As well as the Cross and the Alpha and the Omega, I have opted to have the Lamb of God bearing the triumphant banner of the Victory of Life over death and hence our possibility of redemption. Another Priest has given us the brass grains of incense, another has agreed to offer the entire Triduum and another has welcomed us to his chapel. I have managed to assemble a small schola and at least three other servers.

Another Priest long since gave us exclusive space to store vestments and other large amounts of liturgical paraphernalia. Over the next few weeks I shall be making visits to get things ready and probably to the dry cleaners.

I am grateful to all these good people who give so generously of their time and resources. Our patience does now and again seem to be rewarded. Nobody could but doubt what a morale booster Saturday's Pilgrimage was for those who attended in body or in spirit.

Sour grapes award must go to Patricius who comments in the first posting about the Minster Mass on the Rorate blog. http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2011/03/report-tlm-at-york-minster.html - please judge for yourself.

Working on the premise that a Pilgrimage is good for the soul I hope that readers of this blog (which saw a hundred visits yesterday) will do everything possible to alert others to the availability of the Holy Week Triduum and of course attend some or all of it.

York photos

There are many sites offering pictures of Saturday's historic Mass. I offer two below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/latinmasssociety/galleries/72157626246685473/

and

http://latinmassmiddlesbrough.blogspot.com/

A memorable and solemn occasion

Between six and seven hundred souls attended the Missa Cantata this afternoon, hundreds of which then walked in procession to English Martyrs church via the Shambles, Lower Ousegate and the Bar Convent.

During the procession one of the street buskers who plays an old piano started to play The Lord is my Shepherd to Crimmond and some other young lads who were making a real old noise with battery powered amplification fell silent as the crucifer approached and passed by until the leaders of the procession were out of earshot. Some people were less respectful as we passed by - they were clearly very unnerved by the sight.

The Minster had placed at our disposal a superb group of professionals. These people were a delight to work with.

My own personal thanks go to the lad in the yellow jacket who went ahead of the crucifer to show him the way from the Minster to English Martyrs.

Having been asked to be the MC at the Mass I remembered most things including the timings of the Gloria, tract and Sanctus but I did manage to forget my camera, so I shall post some copied pictures as they become available.

Please remember that our last Sunday of the month Mass at Castleford is now a Missa Cantata, as are the 1st Sunday of the month Masses at Broughton and the 2nd Sunday of the month Masses at Bradford.

Leeds was represented by four Priests in choro.

There were three priests from Birmingham including the PP of the Oratory, the Prior of the Leicester Dominicans and a Parish Priest from Nottingham Diocese. Fr. Maughan, the celebrant is of course a Priest of the Middlesbrough diocese.

It was great to see friends old and new and I don't think I'm speaking out of turn to say that plans are already under way for next year's Northern Pilgrimage to York.

God bless the Pope!

This weekend

Saturday's pilgrimage to York Minster is of course the big "event" this weekend and tomorrow will see the first Tridentine Missa Cantata in the Minster's history.

As our regular celebrants and servers will be at York tomorrow there will be no regular 4th. Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Mary of the Angels, Batley.

Please remember that Mass is offered every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in term time at 6.45a.m. at St. Mary's, Crossbank Rd. Batley.

Sun 27 THIRD SUNDAY in LENT I Cl V
No Gl Cr Pr of Lent

Vigil Mass - St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax at 6.00p.m.

Sunday - Missa Cantata, St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford at 3.00p.m.

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

Sunday - Low Mass, English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, York at 6.30p.m.

St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!

Heart of Jesus crucified, have mercy on us!

FINAL CALL

Saturday 26th. March YORK MINSTER - Missa Cantata 1.30p.m.

Followed by a procession through the west doors of the Minster via the Shambles (location of the Shrine and near to her home), Ouse Bridge, location of her martyrdom and on to the church of the English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed by the veneration of the relic, which has been very kindly loaned to us by the Bar Convent. Similarly we must give thanks to the Dean and Chapter of the Minster who have been truly gracious in every aspect of the arrangements for what promises to be an outstanding occasion.

I attended a co-ordination meeting after Mass on Sunday in York to clear up any final details and was touched by people's generosity of spirit at all levels.

Pro-life groups, Catholic Mother and Ladies groups, home-schoolers, recent converts, young families, interested non-traditionally minded individuals, people from Knaresborough, Shipley, Bradford, Haxby, Leeds, Heckmondwike, Portsmouth, Oxford, Halifax, Selby, Leicester, London, Greater London, Manchester, Liverpool, Harrogate, Sale, York, Gateshead, Newcastle, Scunthorpe, Hull, Wakefield, Keighley, Birkenhead and Sheffield have approached me personally or by e-mail about the event.

Please do everything you can to attend this historic (first Traditional Latin Mass at the high altar since the reformation) in honour of the Pearl of York, the patroness of the Latin Mass Society and moreover an inspirational saint for our times.

Bring a banner for the procession!

I cannot help but think of St. Margaret Clitherow Girls' Grammar School in Bradford which was always headed by a Sister of the Cross and Passion and was the school directly opposite and attached to Cardinal Hinsley Boys' Grammar School, headed by the only headmaster in its two decade history, Walter Earnshaw.

I attended Cardinal Hinsley in the early eighties. During my time there the school became Yorkshire Martyrs Collegiate School - which has now also sadly closed down.

Let us pray for a regeneration of orthodox Catholic devotion and pray that our pilgrimage to York be an occasion of true joy in its Catholic, historic, liturgical, ecumenical, musical and papally approved nature on account of Summorum Pontificum.

God bless the Pope!

This weekend

Saturday is the Feast of St. Joseph. Low Mass at Sacred Heart, Broughton, near Skipton. 9.30a.m.

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

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

Sunday. Low Mass, St. Augustine's, Harehills Road, Leeds. 5.00p.m.

Sunday, Missa cantata, English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace York. 6.30p.m.

St. Patrick's day

Always a poignant occasion for me since our late son's birth and death on this day in 2001.

He only opened his eyes once in his short life when I poured the water on his head to baptise him - a minute after his birth and a moment before he died.

Ten years ago seems like ten minutes. Compared to infinity it's not even the blinking of an eye.

A spring Mass

The sung Mass at Bradford this afternoon was a spiritually rewarding experience. Beautiful spring weather, a good turnout with lots of children and a solemn liturgy including the singing of Adoro te devote and the Attende Domine.

Preparations are well under way for the Mass at York Minster which has now even appeared on several of the American blogsites including the New Liturgical Movement. I am presently finalising details for the serving of the Mass and an excellent booklet has been produced for the day. The relic (the saint's hand) will be transported from the Bar Convent for veneration after Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at English Martyrs church. Rehearsals for the singing are being planned and I think it will be a wonderful occasion.

One Parish Priest has requested supply so he can attend.

Other clergy wishing to attend in choro should bring choir dress and a red stole.

Three baptisms

The church of the Immaculate Heart resembled a nursery this afternoon as three little children received the Sacrament of Baptism in the presence of their siblings, cousins, friends and relatives.

Father Wiley took it all in his stride and remarked on how well the children behaved.

I really enjoyed the occasion, the last baptism I went to was our 8 year old son's.

Quadragesima

Masses this weekend:

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

Missa Cantata, Sunday, 3,00p.m. St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Bradford.

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

Cancellation

I regret having to announce that the St. Joseph Day of Recollection at Ladyewell near Preston has now been cancelled because of the serious fire there last month. It is hoped to reschedule for later in the year.

Ash Wednesday

After a long wait Lent is finally here.

Masses tomorrow;

6.45a.m. St. Mary of the Angels, Cross Bank Road, Batley

11.30a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, near Skipton

Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence.

Qinquagesima

Masses this weekend for Quinquagesima;

QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY II Cl V
No Gl Cr Pr of the Holy Trinity

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

Sunday Missa Cantata, Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, near Skipton at 11.30a.m.

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

Training Conference in May

PRIESTS’ TRAINING CONFERENCE

BUCKFAST ABBEY

3rd to 6th May 2011

The Latin Mass Society will be holding its seventh residential Priests’ Training Conference at Buckfast Abbey from 3rd to 6th May. The Abbot and community have extended a particularly warm welcome, and this new venue promises to be a great success.

Tuition will be provided by priests well experienced in the traditional rites and will be in small groups selected to suit the experience of each participant. Thus it is expected that there will be groups studying Low Mass, Missa Cantata and Solemn Mass.

There will also be tuition for servers who wish to improve their skills. Again tuition will be in groups according to ability and experience.

The conference will start with Mass at 11am on the Tuesday morning and will end after lunch on the Friday. For those travelling long distances, it will be possible to book a room for the Monday night. Accommodation will be provided in the guest houses of the Abbey and the Abbot has kindly allowed the conference to have extensive use of the Abbey Church both for tuition and for our liturgies.

If you would like to attend this conference, please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from the Latin Mass Society website. It should be returned to the address given with an appropriate cheque. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Latin Mass Society on 020 7404 7284.

Castleford Missa Cantata

The Mass tomorrow at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road at 3.00p.m. will be a sung Mass.

Thanks to John Burton once again for agreeing to take on the musical aspect of this Mass every last Sunday of the month.

The next sung Mass at Castleford after tomorrow will be Sunday 27th. March.

This will follow our National Pilgrimage in honour of St. Margaret Clitherow which will take place the day before (Sat 26th. March) at York Minster. Missa cantata in the Minster at 1.30p.m. followed by procession via the Shambles (where she lived), onto the Ouse Bridge (near to where she met her excruciating death) to the church of the English Martyrs in Dalton Terrace, for veneration of the relic and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 4.00p.m. Already two Leeds Priests have said they will be attending in choro, with Middlesbrough and Hexham & Newcastle Priests also to be in attendance in choir.

Unless anybody knows better I understand that this will be the first ever public Missa Cantata in the Tridentine Rite.

God bless the Pope!

Ladyewell day of Recollection

I recently learned of a serious fire at the little Marian shrine of Ladyewell in the Diocese of Lancaster only a day after I corresponded with a chap in the Salford Diocese about pilgrimages for the North of England. I then picked up this which I hope will be of interest to some of you:

If you are within travelling distance of Preston in Lancashire, there will be a Lenten Day of Recollection led by Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP at Ladyewell Shrine, Broughton, Preston, Lancashire PR2 5ST on Saturday, 19th March 2011 (Feast of St Joseph).

Schedule:
11am - Morning conference: St Joseph, a model of obedience.
12pm - Confessions and Holy Mass (usus antiquior)
1pm - Time to eat packed lunches.
2pm - Afternoon conference: St Joseph, a model of hope.
3pm – Exposition, Confessions (during Adoration) and Benediction
4pm - Tea and coffee.

Free admission. All welcome.
Contact: Matthew McCusker – E-mail : mjp.mccusker@googlemail.com or mobile: 07929 786775

(By kind permission of Rev Fr Thomas Hoole, P.P.and Shrine Director)

Thanks to Matt McCusker for this.

Masses this weekend - Sexagesima

This evening (Friday), Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike at 7.30p.m.

also St. Maries's, Manchester Road, Bury at 7.30p.m.

Tomorrow morning, Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall at 9.30a.m.

also English Martyrs, Alexandra Rd. South, Manchester at 10.a.m.

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

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

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

Sunday, Low Mass, Holy Name, Oxford Road, Manchester at 4.00p.m.

Sunday, English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, York at 6.30p.m.

Very informative and interesting day

Today's visit to Whalley and Towneley Hall Museum in Burnley were thoroughly enjoyable. After Mass at Broughton we visited the C of E parish church in Whalley where we saw the misericords rescued from the neighbouring Abbey, now in ruins. For Cistercian fittings they seemed extremely ornate but very beautiful. The other parts are in Blackburn Cathedral, where the verger agreed they looked out of place.

We were able to chat with three very pleasant gentlemen after looking round the church in the parish office. One chap was the verger and he explained the problems the parish was experiencing as a result of plans to build houses galore in the district. Their views on clerical celibacy, women priests and Humanae Vitae were no surprise but they all had great integrity and were honest in their convictions - the man whose wife was a retired vicar said that ordaining women hadn't boosted numbers in church attendance.

The magnificent reredos installed in the early part of the last century by a generous four-barrel-named benefactor includes pictures of Saints James, Ethelreda, Francis of Assisi and Ursula. A small crucifix, slightly redolent of the one in Westminster Cathedral is centrally placed. I thought this to be a very eclectic little group of saints and apart from any personal family associations with the donor I am still pondering as to why these are together. Only afterwards it occurred to me that I ought to have asked about this.

A walk round the abbey ruins confirmed my belief that a Mass there would be very desirable, given that there is a magnificent stone altar reconstructed over the site of the original high altar.

A visit to the retreat and conference centre was very enlightening and I can think of no better place to organise a mid-week retreat with spiritual direction and Mass at very reasonable rates.

The last Abbot of Whalley was hanged at Lancaster for his involvement in the Pilgrimage of Grace and is sometimes referred to as a Martyr at the Scaffold.

Having witnessed the extravagant (by Cistercian standards) misericords at the Parish church in Whalley we went on to Towneley Hall museum to view the equally extravagant Whalley Vestments. We were instantly astonished at the size of them. They were either very big monks or the celebrating monks would be totally housed in them (hence the term chasuble - little house). The chasuble and dalmatic are works of art and are embroidered with what some say are strawberries, but to me resemble pomegranates.

The Towneleys who are direct descendants of the de Lacy family (and so linked with Bradford's Bolling Hall) still gather to attend Mass in the Hall at 7.00a.m. once a year on the Eve of All Saints we were told. We had a fascinating view of one of the original seven priest holes situated under a maid's bedroom and above a modern office. How must these trapped priests have lived out their stress and fear? The chapel is complete with an astonishing example of a Dutch carved

altar, Missal and altar cards. The low height altar and huge vestments were in great contrast to each other as they had been brought together by events in time, but by those who held and kept the Catholic Faith, which comes to us from the Apostles.

A very remarkable comment by Mgr Loftus

On page 17 of this month's edition of the Leeds Diocesan Leeds Catholic Post http://www.catholicpost.org.uk/latest/index.htm Leeds Priest Basil Loftus (retired) reviews a book which concerns the Church of the 1960s pastoral Council (Vat 2) some forty-five years on.

"Very wisely, not all the Conciliar documents are covered. Those, for instance, on Education and on the Communications Media are disappointing and inadequate, not to say , in some instances, harmful." writes Mgr Loftus.

As he raises this issue, the comment made me instantly ask myself two questions, firstly are we free to believe (by his example) that perhaps other Conciliar documents are more than disappointing and harmful and secondly what, for instance, makes him think the document on Education should be ranked in this potentially toxic group?

This said, I shall be sending for the book which Monsignor is reviewing and I look forward to reading it, if not to learn what was so "disgraceful" about the treatment of Lavinia Byrne.

I have just finished reading a very enjoyable collection of essays about the Bishops of Leeds put together in honour of Bishop emeritus David Konstant.

It is tragic to see what was built up, taken for granted and then lost over the last forty odd years.

In bookish holiday mood may I recommend The Heresy of Formlessness by Martin Mosebach which as the title suggests is a response to the ills we have suffered by self-styled liturgists and 1970s liberal revolutionaries who keep on running but haven't the foggiest idea where they're going.

Septuagesima

The green and the Gloria now give way to the purple and the tract this weekend as the season of Septuagesima begins.

The bulbs in the garden are looking healthy - the sword-like shoots of the daffodils are more than three inches out of the soil and the snowdrops are in bloom.

Snow is forecast.

Lent is on the horizon.

Masses this weekend

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

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

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

Sunday, St. Augustine's, Harehills Rd. Leeds. 5.oo.p.m.

Sunday, English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, York. 6.30p.m.

God bless the Pope!

Half term in sight

Our good friend Fr. Parfitt of Broughton will offer a sung Mass at Bewerley Grange chapel near Pateley Bridge, next Thursday, February 24th. for the Feast of St. Matthias.

I am also planning a trip to Whalley Abbey in Lancashire on Wednesday to assess its suitability as a place to hold a pilgrimage and sung Mass there in the summer holidays. This will also mean lots of paperwork and preparation if it proves viable, which I hope it will.

Mass in honour of St. Margaret Clitherow at York Minster

The Mass at York Minster to celebrate the National Pilgrimage in honour of St. Margaret Clitherow on 26th. March will be a sung Mass at the high altar at 1.30p.m.

We will process from the Minster at 3.00p.m. to the shrine of the saint in the Shambles and in a change of plan, onto the church of the English Martyrs in Dalton Terrace instead of the Bar Convent, because of ever increasing space limitation in the Convent chapel as more people register interest. Interestingly, English Martyrs has a very thought-provoking little collection of relics and objects associated with some of those very English Martyrs to whom the church is dedicated.

Pray for good weather and bring a packed lunch!

An excellent read

For a really good five minute read and lots of food for thought take a look at the following link

http://hughosb.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/facing-east-and-papal-fads/#comments

where Fr Hugh of Douai gives his thoughts on facing east.

The mustard seed

Father Hall's sermon at St. Peter's, Bradford, was a pearl today. So redolent of the Little Way of St. Therese in its humility and so powerful in its effect. Father cited examples from his life as Priest and teacher where green shoots, which he likened to the mustard seed of the Gospel, were springing up in his life. Full of hope and inspiration I was truly moved by what he said and much of it he said, he owed to having learned to offer the EF Rite of Mass.

The training day for servers went very well yesterday - please follow this link to see photos of the event

www.flickr.com/photos/24855617@N05/sets/72157625907456463/

Preparations for the National Pilgrimage in honour of our Patroness, St. Margaret Clitherow at York Minster are well underway. Another green shoot.

Busy weekend

Tomorrow - Saturday sees our joint Dioceses Servers' Training session, which involves Leeds, Salford, Middlesbrough and Hexham & Newcastle Reps. This will take place at English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace, York, concluding with a Missa Cantata at 3.00p.m. to which all are welcome. I hope our rookie servers will be ready to serve it!

Also on Saturday

Low Mass, Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall near Skipton at 9.30a.m.

SIXTH SUNDAY after EPIPHANY II Cl G
Gl Cr Pr of the Holy Trinity

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

Sunday

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

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

This weekend we see the last of the green vestments, as Epiphanytide which has run its full course, gives way to the liturgical season of Septuagesima which foreshadows Lent. It will set the scene, so enjoy the last of the freshness of the green, which has perhaps signified the growth of the Holy Child Jesus from his infancy to manhood and early ministry. It will not be seen again until after a temporally late Pentecost. Between the green of this weekend and the red of the Pentecost Mass we will see purple give way to the white of Holy Thursday to Good Friday black and then overnight give way to festal White and Gold. The colours are themselves are an aid to understanding at every level. As a change to the monotony the Church allows Rose coloured vestments in Lent, which is also a pleasant push to instil hope in to us to persevere with our Lenten sacrifices, fasts and alms giving.

Easter is very late this year, so too is February half term. The first of our Masses at Bewerley Grange chapel, Pateley Bridge, this year will be on Thursday 24th. February, a sung Mass for the feast of St. Matthias at 11.30a.m.

Finally - I am rarely, if ever, shocked by what I hear and see, occasionally though I see something which does sicken me. I offer the following link with a question. The question is quite simply, what have we done to deserve this? http://www.alma-de-cuba.com/history/

Regular sung Mass

Following the pleasant change of routine on Sunday at St. Joseph's Castleford, when we had a sung Mass, with epistle and Gospel chanted in the vernacular (Knox translation) instead of Low Mass, it was agreed afterwards by the singers, servers, rep and celebrant that each last Sunday of the month be henceforth a Missa cantata.
You would be most welcome to come along and join the singers - perhaps we can think of something to sing to raise the roof to end this month's Mass before the Marian Anthem is sung on February 27th. at 3.00p.m.

Suggestions I might suggest would include; Praise to the Holiest, Jesus my Lord my God, Faith of our Fathers, O Mother blest or Full in the panting heart of Rome.
Colours of day will not be considered.

Reminder that there is a regular sung Mass at Broughton Hall each first Sunday of the month at 11.30a.m and each second Sunday at St. Peter's, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford at 3.00p.m.