Pentecost IX

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

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

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

Pentecost VIII

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

Sunday              St. Anne’s Cathedral, Great George Street, Leeds. 8.00 a.m.

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

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

Back on line

July - the month of the Precious Blood

Apologies for not advertising the Masses last weekend for Pentecost VI, the internet connection has been disconnected but was repaired today. Despite the lack of advertising there was a very pleasing congregation at Broughton with lots of young families with children and babies.

Masses this coming weekend for the seventh Sunday after Pentecost are as follows:

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

                        (Vigil) Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardigan Road, Leeds. 5.30 p.m.          

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

                        (Sung)  St. Peter’s, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford. 3.00 p.m.

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

On this anniversary of the release of Pope Benedict's Summorum Pontificum please remember to pray for our Pope Emeritus. 

Ss Peter & Paul

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

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

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

Pentecost III

After the fiery red of Pentecost and white for the Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi this weekend sees a return to the post Pentecost cycle and green vestments which symbolise the life of the Church. In the Eastern Church green is the colour used at Pentecost.

Masses this weekend:

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

                        (Vigil) Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardigan Road, Leeds. 5.30 p.m.          

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

                           (Sung)  St. Peter’s, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford. 3.00 p.m.

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

Corpus Christi Sunday

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

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

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

                           Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike. 4.00 p.m. 

There will be a procession of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass at Broughton.

Corpus Christi - Thursday

There will be Mass at Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, near Skipton on Thursday at 9.30 a.m. for the Feast of Corpus Christi as it appears in the calendar of the Roman Missal. Thanks to Fr. Parfitt for this. 

Trinity Sunday

This weekend sees the Feast of the Blessed Trinity which ranks as one of my personal favourites. We had planned to have a Solemn high Mass but due to circumstances beyond my control this has had to be postponed. There will be a high Mass at the Cathedral in November.

Masses this weekend:

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

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

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

Pentecost - birthday of the Church

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

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

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

Next week

Next week is half term and again we are to have Mass at Bewerley Grange chapel near Pateley Bridfe in Upper Nidderdale. This will be on Tuesday 26th May at 11.30 a.m. It will be a sung Mass. Reminder to follow. Thanks to Fr. Parfitt for this Mass.

Ascension Sunday

This Sunday is the external solemnity of the Ascension - reminder that we have our second Mass at the cathedral on Sunday morning.

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

Sunday              St. Anne’s Cathedral, Great George Street, Leeds. 8.00 a.m.

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

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

                           Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike. 4.00 p.m.

Ascension Thursday

Mass on Thursday for the feast as it appears in the Missal and its scriptural day is at 9.30 a.m. at Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton.

Easter IV

This weekend marks the fourth Sunday after Easter and the month of May, traditionally devoted to our Blessed Mother.

Let us remember our suffering fellow Christians in the Middle East at this time.

Masses in the EF form:

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

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

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

                4.00 p.m. Holy Spirit, Bath Road, Heckmondwike

Commentary for the Readings in the Extraordinary Form:
Fourth Sunday after Easter
"If I do not go, the Advocate will not come;. . .but if I go, I will send Him to you. . .He will (convince) the world. . .of justice" (Gospel).

The Sunday of Justice, interior and social! The Holy Spirit descends upon us with His seven Gifts at our Confirmation (symbolized by the Dove). He puts before us the imitation of Christ's sinless example, since "the prince of this world" had tried to confuse and even destroy the correct ideas of right and wrong. Hence we may now sing "a new canticle," because God "hath revealed His justice" (Introit).

The Epistle and Offertory extol the gifts of interior "justice;" the Prayer, evidently referring to social "justice," makes us realize that only God can "make (all) of one will."

How do we react in thought and action to this twofold standard of "justice" revealed in the Life of Christ and taught us by the "Spirit of truth"

— Excerpted from My Sunday Missal, Confraternity of the Precious Blood and found on the "biformal" website  http://www.catholicculture.org/ 

Newly spotted resource: I found this very impressive online missal the other day   http://media.musicasacra.com/sjfm/   I shall add it to the others in the sidebar. 

Easter III

This weekend is the third Sunday after Easter.

Mass in the Extraordinary Form:

Saturday ; 6.00 p.m. (vigil) St. Mary's, Halifax.
Sunday;    11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton
                  3.00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Castleford

Thank you to all who attended the first Mass at the Cathedral last week. It was good to see so many people at such an early hour. I have written to Mgr Moger to thank him for his hospitality and am delighted to say that he is to offer the next Mass there.

Commentary for the Readings in the Extraordinary Form:
Third Sunday After Easter
"A little while and you shall see Me no longer. . .because I go to the Father. . .And you therefore have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one shall take from you" (Gospel).

Christianity is a religion of joy! (Introit). May "those. . .in error" receive this "light" (Prayer). Jesus predicts, however, that our joy can never be perfect here. The "cross before the crown" (Alleluia Verse) would indeed be a mystery had no Jesus lived it out for us.

An unbelieving "world shall rejoice" because it regards Him as dead and gone. But Christ departs only for a "little while" (Gospel) to test our love and loyalty. He shall return (as indicated by little figure of Christ in the clouds).

Prepare for His coming "in the day of visitation" by good example. "Behave yourselves honorably among pagans; that they ... observing your good works" for God and country (described in the Epistle) may recognize that Christianity is a religion of joy, now and forever!

Excerpted from My Sunday Missal, Confraternity of the Precious Blood and found on the "biformal" website  http://www.catholicculture.org/

Easter II

This weekend sees our first regular monthly Sunday Mass at the Cathedral. Please do all you can to attend this (or indeed any of the others).

Saturday - Vigil, St. Mary's. Gibbet Street, Halifax - 6.00 p.m.
Sunday - St. Anne's Cathedral, Great George Street, Leeds - 8.00 a.m.
              Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, Skipton - 11.00 a.m.
              St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford - 3.00 p.m.

              NO MASS AT HECKMONDWIKE UNTIL MAY 3rd

New Schedule

This weekend sees the first of our additional Masses in Leeds. It is a vigil Mass and will be held in the oratory at Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardigan Road, Leeds at 5.30 p.m. Word has not yet been fully circulated about this Mass which will be held each second Saturday at this time. Next Sunday (19th April) sees our first Mass at Leeds Cathedral at 8.00 a.m. Please spread the word about these latest Masses. We must show that there is a demand for our Masses and the only way to do this is to attend them.

Masses this weekend for Low Sunday

Saturday 5.30 p.m. Our Lady of Lourdes (oratory*), Cardigan Road, Leeds
              6.00 p.m. St. Mary's, Gibbet Street, Halifax

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

NEXT SUNDAY - 8.00 a.m. St. Anne's Cathedral, Great George Street, Leeds.

* the oratory at Our Lady of Lourdes is beside the presbytery.
   

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Happy Easter!

Our Vigil concluded earlier this evening with Battle is o'er and the Regina Caeli. Many thanks, as always, to Fr. Michael Hall our celebrant who  just keeps coming back for more, thank goodness.
This afternoon we learned about Christ as the anointed King and how we share in the Royal Priesthood.

Thanks also to Fr. Kravos for so kindly allowing us to use the chapel again and our cantor and servers who carried out their duties with the usual gravitas. This year we managed to use a dozen charcoals and wood from the paschal fire - we shall probably still be able to smell the incense at Christmas.

Masses tomorrow for Easter Sunday:

Missa cantata at Broughton Hall at 11.00 a.m. and Low Mass at St. Joseph's, Pontefract Road, Castleford at 3.00 p.m.

Et inclinato capite tradidit spiritum.

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

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

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

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

Consummatum est

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

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

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

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

Sacred Liturgy at 3.00 p.m.

Holy Week

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

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

Palm Sunday

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

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

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

                           UPDATE Correction - no Mass at Heckmondwike

Holy Monday, Tuesday & Spy Wednesday,    

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

Maundy Thursday    

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

Good Friday             

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

Holy Saturday Vigil        

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

Easter Sunday     

                          11.00 a.m. Sacred Heart, Broughton  

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

                            (No Mass at Heckmondwike)

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