Final reminder of Silver Jubilee High Mass

Solemn High Mass will be celebrated at 7pm on Tuesday 19th November 2013 at St Joseph's Church, High West Street, Gateshead NE8 1LX to mark the 25th Anniversary of Fr Michael Brown's ordination to the Holy Priesthood. Clergy are invited to be present in the Sanctuary 'in choro' for the Mass. Fr Brown is Northern Chaplain of the Latin Mass Society and has worked tirelessly for the preservation of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite both nationally and locally.

Bishop Philip Egan presides from the throne at High Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Portsmouth Cathedral

Rt Rev Philip Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth, presided from the throne at a High Mass in the Extraordinary Form, organised by the Latin Mass Society, at Portsmouth Cathedral on Sunday 27th October. The Traditional High Mass was the first at the cathedral for four years and joins the weekly Sunday morning Low Mass that has begun at Portsmouth's mother church in recent weeks. Despite warnings of dire weather conditions, the Mass was well attended. The celebrant was Fr Philip Pennington Harris, and the deacon was Rev Stephen Morgan, both of Portsmouth Diocese. The sub-deacon was Fr John Maunder of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, based at St Agatha's, Portsmouth. Music was provided by the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, directed by Christopher Hodkinson. During his homily, Bishop Egan said that the Extraordinary Form of the Mass was welcome in Portsmouth Diocese where people wished it to be celebrated, and should have a place amongst the liturgical diversity of the diocese. He also highlighted the importance of the Church's liturgy in both forms of the Roman Rite of Gregorian Chant and the Latin language. The bishop then spoke on the subject of the Feast of Christ the King, celebrated on that Sunday in the 1962 Calendar. When Pope Pius XI had instituted it, it had been as a corrective to the rampant nationalism seen in inter-war Italy. Today, said the bishop, it still has great relevance as a corrective to the rise of secularism in our society. After Mass, tea had been arranged by the LMS in the cathedral centre and Bishop Egan stayed to talk with very many members of the congregation. LMS General Manager, Mike Lord, said: "We were delighted that Bishop Egan was able to join us on this great occasion and were heartened by his words of welcome to those of us attached to the Traditional Latin liturgy and by the bishop's affirmation of its legitimate place within the life of the Catholic Church. The annual High Mass at Portsmouth Cathedral has been revived after several years and today's event has proved a great success and a very joyful occasion for all who attended.

Papal Cassock recovered

A cassock once worn by Pope St Pius X was donated to Ushaw College (once the seminary in Hexham & Newcastle diocese) by Cardinal Merry del Val. For many years it was a treasured relic of the great anti-Modernist pope & revered by the students for the priesthood. Prior to our recent small exhibition and servers training day in Darlington we approached the Ushaw authorities for permission to display it. It had, unfortunately, been 'lost' and subsequent enquiries elicited the fact that it had probably been unlawfully removed. This information came via a former Ushaw student and the information was passed on to the diocesan authorities. Nothing more was heard until a further telephone call to the college revealed that the cassock had been 're-discovered' and was now in a lengthy process of conservation. We thank the gentleman who passed on the information. No doubt he will reveal his identity through this blog should he wish it to be known.

Update re Ryhope Mass

With the transfer of Fr David Phillips to Berwick the future of the monthly Mass at St Patrick's, Ryhope seemed very much in mid-air. Thanks to Fr Michael Brown & Fr Shaun Swales it was deemed possible that it would continue on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Fr Swales finds that his parish commitments and poorer health make it impossible for him to honour that commitment and Fr Paul Tully has kindly said that he will replace Fr Swales alternating with Fr Brown. There is no Mass in October as Fr Brown is in Rome but the normal monthly cycle will recommence with Fr Brown celebrating on November 20th and Fr Tully celebrating on December 18th.

Silver Jubilee

Very Rev Fr Michael Brown will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Holy Priesthood on Tuesday 19th November 2013 with a celebration of Missa Solemnis in the Extraordinary Form at 7pm at St Joseph's Church, High West Street, Gateshead NE8 1LX. Everyone will be made most welcome & is invited to the social event afterwards. 'Ad Multos Annos'

Servers' Training Day at Darlington

A training day for servers in both Low Mass & Missa Cantata was held today at St Augustine's Church in Darlington. 6 servers took part before the celebration of Missa Cantata by V Rev Fr Michael Brown the LMS Northern Chaplain. All servers took part in a very beautiful Mass with the Rudgate Singers of York singing the Proper from the Liber Usualis and the Ordinary to Victoria's 'Missa O Quam Gloriosum'. In addition to parishioners we were delighted to welcome members of the Ordinariate who now have their own parish in Gainford just outside of Darlington. One diocesan priest was in the congregation.

Change to Darlington Mass arrangements

Fr Paul Tully advises that the only EF Masses celebrated by him at St Augustine's, Darlington will be on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7pm. It may be that there may be more frequent Masses if possible but only the 2nd Wednesday Mass is assured.

Funeral of Frank Erskine

Today saw the Sung Requiem of Frank Erskine stalwart & long time member of the Latin Mass Society here in the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle in NE England. Frank began when the first Tridentine Rite Mass was celebrated quarterly at St Michael's Church, Esh Laude, Durham the parish of Rev Fr Godfrey Bryce RIP. Our then Ordinary, Rt Rev Hugh Lindsay, allowed no more than this in an area of the diocese largely populated by sheep although close to Ushaw College. As things improved Frank was a regular server at St Dominic's Priory in Newcastle when Bishop Ambrose Griffiths OSB, RIP allowed our first Sunday Masses in the diocese. As Masses spread to Ryhope (celebrated by PP Rev Fr Elkin) so Frank's serving spread. When Fr Elkin was moved to Barnard Castle so Frank moved too but continued his attendance at Ryhope. He was always available when Fr Brown became PP at St Wilfred's in Gateshead & too when Fr Brown also took on St Joseph's in Gateshead. He also served Masses when Bishop Rifan celebrated Masses at St Joseph's & in Leeds. Frank became a regular attendee at St Mary's, Forest Hall when Fr Brown moved there & introduced a regular Saturday morning Mass. Perhaps Frank's greatest strength was his willingness to help anyone at any time. He had been regular in his attendance at Sunday Mass at Thornley & at the weekly Thursday noon Mass at Coxhoe. When Sheila Webster lost her husband, Walter, & later suffered a stroke, Frank was her lifeline taking her weekly to Thornley & Coxhoe & even taking her by train with her wheelchair to the Masses in York (& pushing her in procession to English Martyrs Church there). Frank's worth was recognised by the large congregation present today for Frank's Requiem at St Patrick's, Ryhope. The celebrant was Very Rev Fr Michael Brown (Northern Chaplain of the LMS) who stood in for Fr Gary Dickson of Thornley who was not well enough to celebrate the Mass but who was in choir with Fr Shaun Swales. There was a plethora of servers on the sanctuary led by George Wilson as MC. The music was provided by St Patrick's Choir. After his cremation a wake was held in the church hall where Frank's many friends related their favourite tales of a real gentle man. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his sister Bernadette & his family. Rest in Peace Frank & possess ye the place prepared for you.