Epiphany in Hexham & Newcastle

I addition to the Mass already advised at St Mary's, Forest Hall the following EF Masses are also planned:

Coxhoe. SS Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert
Low Mass at 12noon.

Barnard Castle. St Mary's
Low Mass at 7.30pm

Epiphany in Newcastle upon Tyne

An EF Low Mass will be celebrated at 7pm on Friday 6th January 2012 (the Feast of Epiphany) at St Mary's Church, Forest Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne. Following Mass wine & nibbles in the church hall.

Morpeth Masses cancelled

It is with deep regret that Fr Michael Brown has announced the cancellation of future EF Masses at St Robert of Newminster Church in Morpeth. This has been celebrated for many years & was, initially, a monthly Missa Cantata. Sadly the congregation has dropped until recently only Fr Brown & a server remained. One cannot but agree with the cancellation.

We should all, perhaps, learn from this experience that the EF of the Mass can only continue while we support it.

Our thanks to Fr Brown for his years of devoted service to this Mass.

EF Christmas Masses in Hexham & Newcastle Diocese.

Christmas Eve 24th December 2011
St Mary's, Forest Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne
11.30pm Carols followed by Missa Cantata
This is 1 of only 4 Christmas Midnight Masses in England & Wales

Christmas Day 25th December 2011
St Mary's, Barnard Castle
Low Mass at 9.00am
St Joseph's, Gateshead
Low Mass at 9.00am
Sacred Heart & English Martyrs, Thornley
Low Mass at 9.30am
St Dominic's Priory, Newcastle upon Tyne
Low Mass at 11.30am

Theresa & I take this opportunity of wishing all of our readers a Happy and Holy Christmas together with a Peaceful and Healthy New Year in 2012.

Disasters in the Church following Vatican II

Bishop Alexander Sample of Marquette, Michigan (USA) has spoken out about the fact that many Catholics - including bishops & clergy - took liberties with both our liturgy & catechesis in the period following VII. So much so that in many cases we now have Catholics teaching a watered down version of the Faith. They themselves were, largely, brought up in the post VII era & they themselves were taught this version. As Bishop Sample says "a little like the blind leading the blind."

Annibale Bugnini comes in for scathing comment with regard to the way in which he attempted (& largely succeeded) in 'protestantising' the Mass but others went even further in following his lead.

Let us pray for an increase in the celebrations of the Extraordinary Form of Mass which served our Church so well for so many generations & centuries.

Masses for the Immaculate Conception

Holy Mass will be celebrated at SS Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert on Thursday 8th December for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Low Mass will be at 12 noon and will be followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.