Poster

Mike Forbester has produced a posterfor the Margaret Clitherow Pilgrimage, something far too difficult for me.  I have managed to show it here, but I cannot make it full size.  Perhaps someone else can.

Visit of Pope Benedict XVI

In my parish, which is in the Diocese of Leeds, for several weeks there has been a list at the back of the church for people to add their names if they wanted to go the the beatification ceremony. Although many people were waiting for more information, it was looking as if there would be no difficulty making up a coach load.

Last Sunday, the list had been removed, and it was announced that the policy of the diocese was that there would be just one coach from each deanary. In our case it would depart from a neighbouring town. No system had been agreed for allocating tickets between the six parishes of the deanary, and the priest thought that anyone who wanted to join the coach would have to make their own way in the early hours of the morning to to the starting point of the coach, and that there could be no guarantee of a place. His conclusion was that this was not a practical proposition and so he doubted whether anything could be arranged in the parish.

I also attended the Latin Mass in York and the newsletter at the English Martyrs Church stated that arrangements were uncertain, but that there would be a coach starting from another parish in York. It seems that Middlesbrough has a similar policy to Leeds.

I have estimated that if one coach goes to Cofton from every deanary in the country, that will amount to about 15,000 people.

It seems that just about every aspect of the organisation of the papal visit is a monumental blunder. The organisers have performed incredibly badly in just about every respect, and for this the bishops of England and Wales must collectively be responsible.

Time is now very short and a radical rethink is URGENT.

More Training Conferences for Priests

The Latin Mass Society is to expand its programme of training conferences for priests wishing to learn to celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass in th usus antiquior. Whereas in 2007 and 2008, there was one conference in Oxford each year, this year there will be two. The first took place at Ushaw College in April, and the second is to be from 24th to 28th August at All Saints' Pastoral Centre in London Colney, Hertfordshire. Bookings are now being taken and application forms can be obtained from the Latin Mass Society's Head Office.

For 2010, three conferences are planned. It is proposed that Ushaw and London Colney will be retained and a third, Midland, location will be added. This will give good geographical coverage. At each conference, there are new faces, but many priests return to learn more. Those who have mastered the celebration of Low Mass go on to learn how to sing a Missa Cantata or to study the intricacies of the solemn form.

Any readers who know of priests who might be interested in learning the older form of the Mass are asked to tell them about the conferences laid on by the Latin Mass Society and encourage them to attend.

Priests Training Conference to be repeated

The Priests Training Conference held at Ushaw College in April is to be repeated in 2010. In view of the success of recent conference, the Latin Mass Society is already making plans for a similar one in 2010 which will again take place in Low Week, which is from 12th to 15th April. It will be run along similar lines, but improvements will be made to take into account the comments made this year. Besides intensive tuition, there will again be a range of liturgies, designed to demonstrate best practice, and spiritual talks.

The Latin Mass Society is strongly of the opinion that Ushaw College provides an excellent venue, particularly on account of the magnificent St Cuthbert's Chapel and the many side altars associated with it, and so are keen to return.

Any priest readers who are interested in attending are encouraged to make a note of the dates in their diaries. It would be helpful if other readers who know of priests who may be interested would bring the conference to their attention.

Mass at Scarborough

There is to be a Low Mass in the usus antiquior at St Peter's Church in Scarborough on Wednesday 23rd January at 7.00pm. Fr Charlton will be the celebrant.

This has been arranged at the invitation of Fr Loughlin, the parish priest.

Depending on how many attend this Mass, we will decide whether it will be possible to have regular Masses in the old rite at Scarborough.

Motu Proprio imminent

Reliable sources suggest that publication of the Motu Proprio liberalizing the Mass of Pope Pius V is imminent. Although this has been said many times before, this time there is a little more substance to the story. See Rorate Caeli website for details.

It is suggested that publication might be before Benedict XVI goes to his summer retreat on 9th July.

Keep an eye on the news.

Mass at Everingham

High Mass was celebrated at the Church of St Mary and St Everilda at Everingham, East Yorkshire on Sunday 13th May. The celebrant was Fr William Hudson of the Institute of Christ the King and the Choir was the Rudgate Singers . The music was Palistrina's Missa Brevis.