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?