Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Dilston Mass

Tonight Fr Michael Brown, the Northern Chaplain of the LMS, celebrated Missa Cantata in the EF in the small chapel of Dilston Hall, nr Corbridge in Northumberland. The Mass is an annual event celebrated close to the Feast of St Mary Magdalene under whose title the chapel is dedicated. The Mass was offered for the repose of the souls of the Radcliffe family. The third Earl of Derwentwater (head of the family) was executed following the Jacobite Rebellion when he sided with Charles Stuart.

The music for the Mass was provided by the Schola Sancti Baedae who sang the Plainchant Mass 'Cum Jubilo'. Mass ended with the congregation singing the 'Salve Regina'.

Among the altar team was FSSP seminarian James Mawdesley and in the congregation - as always - was Fra Matthew Festing the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta who lives in Northumberland.

The next Mass will be the Solemn High Mass at Brinkburn Priory nr Rothbury in Northumberland at 12 noon on Saturday 10th September 2011.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Upcoming Special Masses

Please note the following EF Masses in the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle

Saturday 10th September 2011 12 noon

A Solemn High Mass will be celebrated at Brinkburn Priory nr Rothbury, Northumberland. The sacred ministers & music are yet to be agreed.

The Mass will be followed by a shared table to which all are invited. Whilst the after Mass celebrations will be held indoors attendees are strongly recommended to bring their own seats. There are, of course, an adequate number of seats within the church.

Saturday 5th November 2011 at 10am

A Solemn High Mass will be celebrated in St Mary's Cathedral, Clayton Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne. The sacred ministers & music are yet to be agreed.

The cathedral is very well situated in the centre of the city & is immediately opposite Newcastle Central Railway Station. It is well-served by public transport including Metro and buses. Car parking is always at a premium &, wherever possible, it is suggested that public transport be used. We hope to arrange the availabilty of self purchased refreshments in reasonable proximity to the cathedral.

More information on both Masses as it becomes available.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Reminder of Missa Cantata at Dilston Hall

Just a reminder that Missa Cantata will be celebrated by Fr Michael Brown in the chapel of Dilston Hall (nr Corbridge, Northumberland) on Wednesday 20th July 2011 at 7.30pm. The music will be provided by the Schola Sancti Baedae from Jarrow.

The chapel is set in the grounds of Dilston Hall, once the home of the Catholic Earls of Derwentwater, and is a very small chapel so please come prepared to be very cosy with the rest of the congregation.

Friday, July 8, 2011

LMS appoints new Editor for 'Mass of Ages'

The LMS has appointed Gregory Murphy as its next editor of 'Mass of Ages'. Based in Liverpool, where he works as a freelance editor and PR professional, Mr Murphy is a regular member of the congregation at the Traditional Latin Mass celebrated at St Anthony's, Scotland Road.

Gregory Murphy comes to his new role with over twenty years' experience behind him as a professional journalist, editor and PR consultant. He learned his trade on local newspapers and Catholic publications, such as the 'Catholic Pictorial' until, in the mid-1990s, he joined the staff of the 'Catholic Times' where he was News Editor and subsequently Editor. He spent five very valuable years as Corporate Communications and PR Manager for the Littlewoods Organisation, before deciding to go freelance. Mr Murphy now provides journalistic and editorial services to a range of commercial, public and voluntary sector clients around the UK.

Mike Lord, LMS General Manager, said: "We were fortunate to have several strong candidates at interview, but were particularly impressed by Gregory's professional experience, his grasp of what is required in revamping the magazine and by his personal commitment to the Traditional Mass and Faith. We are delighted to have Gregory on board and look forward to seeing the first issue of 'Mass of Ages' under his editorship in November.

Gregory Murphy will take over from John Medlin, who retires from the editor's post in August after eight years in the job. Next month's edition of the magazine will be John's last and his presence in the LMS will be much missed.

The appointment of a new editor and the forthcoming redesign and relaunch of 'Mass of Ages' is the last of major changes that have taken place at the LMS over the past two years. The move to new offices, the appointment of a new General Manager, the launch of a new and much-praised website, the use of social media such as Facebook, the adoption of a new constitution and other changes are part of a longer term strategy to enable the LMS to promote the Traditional Mass and the orthodox Faith that accompanies it more effectively following Pope Benedict's liberation of the traditional liturgy four years ago.

For further information please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Michael Lord, General Manager on (T)020 7404 7284; (F)020 7831 5585; (e)info@lms.org.uk

Thursday, July 7, 2011

LMS High Mass and AGM at St George's Cathedral Southwark 2nd July 2011

The Latin Mass Society was warmly welcomed at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, London on Saturday 2nd July by the Cathedral Dean, Canon John O'Toole, and the Administrator, Mr Alex Scott, for its Annual General Meeting and AGM Mass. The LMS is grateful to all the cathedral staff for their help and encouragement in making our AGM arrangements.

The day commenced at 11am with High Mass of the Visitation of Our Lady celebrated by Fr Andrew Southwell, LMS National Chaplain, assisted by Fr Michael Cullinan as Deacon and Fr Gregory Kilaja as Sub-deacon.

The men of the Cathedral Choir sang Victoria's Missa Quam Pulcri Sunt. The Gloria was from the Missa de Angelis, the Creed was Credo I and the Offertory motet was Victoria's Ave Maris Stella.

After lunch the LMS AGM convened in the cathedral's Amigo Hall to hear reports from the Secretary, Mr David Forster, the Treasurer, Mr Paul Waddington, and the Chairman, Dr the Hon Joseph Shaw. The LMS National Chaplain, Fr Andrew Southwell, had opened the proceedings with a prayer and after the reports gave an address in which he discussed Pope Benedict XVI's admirable work in the fields of doctrine and the liturgy. The meeting then sang 'God Bless Our Pope' to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Pope Benedict's ordination to the Sacred Priesthood and closed with the singing of the Credo.

This year's AGM was relatively low key and in a new venue. However, Dr Shaw, in particular, was able to update those present on the increasing level of work being carried out throughout England and Wales by the LMS and its local representatives. The LMS is now more focussed on providing support to those many priests and faithful throughout the country who are gradually reintroducing the Extraordinary Form into their parish life. Its aim is to publicise the liturgical initiatives of Pope Benedict and to support and encourage the growing number of young people and young families who are discovering the Old Rite.

For more information, please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Michael Lord, General Manager on (T) 020 7404 7284 (F)020 7831 5585 (e)info@lms.org.uk

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Requiem for a bishop

On Friday 1st October 2011 the diocese of Hexham & Newcastle celebrated a Requiem Mass for Bishop Emeritus Ambrose Griffiths OSB, KC*HS before his body was transported to Ampleforth for burial in his home monastery.

There was a goodly crowd there to bid him farewell including Archbishop Mennini the Apostolic Nuncio and Archbishop Vincent Nicholls of Westminster. About 9 other bishops and abbots together with a number of diocesan priests concelebrated.

The music in the Mass was not 'happy-clappy' and the Introit from the Missa pro Defunctis was sung in Latin as was a version of the In Paradisum. The strange thing was that a small schola was brought in at the last minute to sing this Plainchant as, it must be thought, it was beyond the capabilities of the Diocesan Choir.

Bishop Ambrose, whilst he was liberal in many ways, was the first bishop of our diocese to allow a regular Sunday Mass at a specific church and that Mass was arranged by former LMS Diocesan Representative Jack Harvey. Previously Sunday Masses were allowed only when they were moved weekly from parish to parish.

Requiescat in Pace.