Great Sadness

It is with a sense of great sadness that the death on Monday/Tuesday of Moira Brown - mother of Fr Michael Brown - was made known. The exact cause is not yet known only that Mrs Brown died in her sleep. She had not been unwell & on Sunday Fr Brown had spent the day at the family home in Low Fell, returning to his church on Monday.

As you might expect Fr Brown is devastated as he & his mother were very close. She had been expected to accompany Father & parishioners & friends to Palazzola in July.

Moira was a lovely lady who was very proud of her priest son & who was liked & respected by all who met her.

Father Brown's 2 brothers were on their way north having heard the sad news.

Details of the funeral will be announced when known but, in the meanwhile, we will all wish to pray for the repose of Moira's soul & for a merciful judgement. Please also remember Fr Brown & his brothers in your prayers.

Requiescat in pace.

'Father Z' heads impressive line-up of speakers at LMS's first One-Day Conference on 9th June

Father John Zuhlsdorf, best known as the blogger 'Father Z', will be one of the speakers at the Latin Mass Society's Conference on Saturday 9th June in central London. This is the first time that the LMS has organised such an event and we are very excited to have such a strong line-up. In addition to Fr Zuhlsdorf, Fr Tim Finigan (parish priest, blogger and newspaper columnist), Dr John Rao (of 'The Roman Forum'), John Hunwicke (blogger and well-known member of the Ordinariate) and Stuart McCullough (of the Good Counsel Network) will address the audience on the conference theme 'The Traditional Mass and The Catholic Life'. We hope that our guests' talks will demonstrate that there's more to Traditional Catholics than simply attending the Traditional Mass. Following the end of the talks, there will be a panel discussion to round off the day. The conference is aimed principally at ordinary LMS members, although non-members are very welcome to join us.

The Conference venue is: Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ (opposite BHS, less than 5 minutes' walk from Oxford Circus.)

Admission is by ticket only. Full price tickets are £20 each but there is a discounted price for paid-up LMS members of £15 each. In addition, we are supplying an optional buffet lunch for which there is a £9 supplement. So far, most people have booked in for the lunch (drinks are included). We are hoping that lunchtime will provide conference attendees with the chance to meet and chat with their fellow LMS members from up and down the country and to some of the speakers.

Tickets are available from the LMS office 0n 020 7404 7284 or online at:

www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/lms-one-day-conference

There is Low Mass before the Conference begins at St James', Spanish Place at 9am, for those who can attend. Doors open at Regent Hall from 10am and there will be a number of stalls for you to browse round (during which refreshments will be available - there will also be afternoon tea) before the first speaker begins at 11am. The Conference will close at 6pm.

Here is the full timetable and a summary of booking information:

9am Low Mass at St James', Spanish Place
10am Doors open
10am-11am Registration, stalls in the Conference Hall to browse
11am - 11.50am 1st Talk: Dr John Rao (Roman Forum)
12noon - 12,50pm 2nd Talk: Stuart McCullough (Good Counsel Network)
Lunch
2pm - 2.50pm 3rd Talk: Fr John Zuhlsdorf (Fr Z)
3pm - 3.50pm 4th Talk: Fr Tim Finigan (columnist and blogger)
4pm - 4.50pm 5th Talk: John Hunwicke (of the Ordinariate)
5pm - 6pm Panel discussion
6pm Close

BOOKING INFORMATION

Admission by ticket only.

Ticket Prices:
LMS Members £15
Non-LMS Members £20
(includes morning and afternoon refreshments)
Optional: Buffet Lunch including drinks £9 supplement.

You can buy your ticket by phoning the LMS office on 020 7404 7284, sending a cheque (payable to 'LMS') to LMS, 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH or online here: www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/lms-one-day-conference

Beware of Brazilian bishop

We, as traditionalist Catholics with a great love and respect for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, must be on our guard against the teachings of Bishop Sergio Machado of the Diocese of Sao Carlos in Brazil. He denigrates this official form of the Roman Rite in direct conflict with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, who has publicly ratified the celebrations of Mass in the form. Not only does Bishop Machado go against the words of papal authority but he classes those of us preferring this Mass as 'idiots'. He speaks against the Mass vestments. He even looks to science to discover "a device to open minds". I would have thought prayer to the Holy Ghost would have been more effective.

We see another concerning feature of our religious - whether secular or regular - when we hear of the appointment of Sister Nicoletta Victoria Spezzati being raised to Undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Sister NEVER wears a habit.

Sad to say we also see this throughout the Catholic world where priests and religious wear lay clothing. They postulate that this brings them closer to the people. RUBBISH! I, personally, wonder whether they are ashamed of their vocation. Surely those chosen by God to be he ministers and adorers should be proud to proclaim their position and, equally, let themselves be known by the laity who may need their assistance in spiritual matters.

Change to morning Masses at Forest Hall

It is announced with regret that until further notice the 7.30am Monday to Friday EF Masses at St Mary's, Great Lime Road, Forest Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne have been suspended. The reason is largely due to lack of attendance. As always we have to say that EF Masses are available only when wanted. The old adage of "use it or lose it applies".

Cardinal Ranjith lays down his rules

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo has again restated the obvious wishes of Pope Benedict by insisting that all faithful in his diocese must receive Holy Communion on the tongue and kneeling. Our Holy Father has already made his position on this subject patently obvious as all communicants at papal Masses receive in this most reverent way. Even now within the Extraordinary Form we see visitors to our Masses holding out their hands to receive the Body of Christ. Rather than embarrass them perhaps it is time for The Bishops' Conference to put out a paper to all parishes pointing out that the liturgical norms of 1962 must be adhered to at celebrations of the traditional Mass. This instruction is from Rome!

Cardinal Ranjith has also instructed his priests that they must be properly vested for the celebration of Holy Mass. That is in alb (with or without amice), cincture, stole and chasuble. Sadly we do occasionally still see celebrants who do not wear the chasuble.

Come on Right Reverend Bishops lay down some rules remembering that Communion in the hand was a short term permission which has not been renewed.