Recollection Day for Laity

Just a final reminder of our Recollection Day at St Joseph's, Gateshead on Saturday 30th October 2010. The recollection conferences will now be given by Fr Simon Lerworthy FSSP in place of Fr Armand de Malleray. The first conference begins at 10am & will conclude with Solemn High Mass at 12 noon. Confessions will be heard during the morning. Please remember to bring food for a shared table; tea, coffee etc will be provided. A retiring collection will be made to offset the costs. Please try to attend & let fellow Catholics know. The day is for ALL Catholics not simply those preferring the EF of Mass.

All Saints & All Souls

Please note that Low Mass will be celebrated at St Mary's, Forest Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 1st November 2010 for the Feast of All Saints. Missa Cantata will be celebrated at SS Peter & Paul, Longbenton at 7.30pm on Tuesday 2nd November 2010 for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls) The celebrant of both Masses will be Fr Michael Brown

My Opinion

I have been taken to task by 2/3 people regarding my comments regarding Bishop Cunningham's unavailability to attend the cathedral Mass & about the closure of Ushaw College. I wish to make it perfectly plain that whatever postings appear in this blog they represent my own PERSONAL opinions & feelings on the subjects & may in no way be attributed to the Latin Mass Society even though Theresa & I are Joint Diocesan Representatives. I accept that my postings may not sit comfortably with some readers but, as I accept other opinions, so must mine be accepted.

Cathedral Mass

Regretfully, due to costs & logistics, there will be NO BUFFET OR MEETING following the Mass at St Mary's Cathedral on 20th November. The costs were quite horrendous &, of course, we were unable to advise numbers. We looked at alternatives outside the city centre but again numbers presented a problem as did the logistics of transporting people to the venue. Sorry.

Cathedral Mass

The plans are ongoing for the Solemn High Mass at St Mary's Cathedral on SATURDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2010 at 11.30am. One great disappointment is that our diocesan bishop Rt Rev Seamus Cunningham will not attend since his "diary is extremely busy and unfortunately due to other engagements" he is unable to attend. Are we second class citizens in this diocese? Has Bishop Seamus attended ANY EF Masses? I recall him once sitting in choir during Sunday Low Mass at St Joseph's, Gateshead when carrying out a visitation as Vicar General.

Ushaw College to close

We have had information that Ushaw College is to be closed as a seminary. My blood boils when thinking how much was spent on the creation of the "Youth (or YOOF?) Village" in the diocese. So much was subscribed by honest Catholic laity to have this monstrosity of Modernity thrust upon us to train(?) our young people. Surely less money could have been expended in renovating & continuing the modernisation of the historic fabric of Ushaw College with all it has given to the diocese & Church. What can we do? I have heard that some are writing to Northern Cross (if they publish such letters) but this isn't something having an effect on those who love the EF of the Roman Rite it is important to ALL Catholics throughout the north whose diocesan priests were trained there - however badly some turned out rubrically! Archbishop Kelly tells us that it was "a difficult decision" to agree the closure but were the alumni consulted? Surely they are due some consideration. Perhaps we should consider a petition against the move. Please let me know what you think.

Mass in St Mary's Cathedral

We are delighted to announce that agreement has been reached with Fr Peter Leighton (Cathedral Dean) for an Extraordinary Form Solemn High Mass to be celebrated in St Mary's Cathedral on Saturday 20th November 2010 at 11.30am, the Feast of St Felix de Valois. We are hoping to follow the Mass with a social get together, probably in a local hotel. We aim to provide a buffet but regret that we will need to ask you to pay. The intention is to have the Proper of the Mass in Gregorian Chant and the Ordinary in polyphony. Our own diocesan priests will be the sacred ministers. Please encourage everyone to attend. Priests will be made most welcome and are invited to attend in choir. Bishop Seamus Cunningham has also been invited to attend in choir. More details will be given as we progress.