Summorum Pontificum

The internet is abuzz with rumours regarding the long awaited letter from the Holy Father explaining his 'motu proprio'. Included in the rumour is the idea that restrictions might be imposed on the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. I stress that these are rumours! However, to reinforce our love and desire for the continuation and expansion of these celebrations of Holy Mass we are encouraged to sign an online petition. The website is http://www.motuproprioappeal.com. Please sign as individuals not as 'Mr & Mrs' and include your diocese and country. Please ignore the 'Payments' page. Please ask all Catholics who revere the pope to sign this without delay.

St Margaret Clitherow

The Latin Mass Society is organising a Missa Cantata in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in honour of St Margaret Clitherow in York Minster on Saturday 26th March 2011. The Mass begins at 1.30pm. This Mass begins the National Pilgrimage in honour of St Margaret, who is the Patron of the Catholic Womens League, and following Mass the procession will visit both St Margaret's home in The Shambles as well as her place of martyrdom. The pilgrimage will end at English Martyrs Church, Dalton Terrace, York with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Veneration of the Relic of St Margaret and refreshments. The Mass will be celebrated by Fr Stephen Maugham of English Martyrs and the music will be provided by The Rudgate Singers of York. The music for the Mass will be Byrd's 'Mass for 5 voices', 'Justorum Animae', 'Ave Verum' and 'Ave Regina Coelorum'. The Proper will be sung in Gregorian Chant. The Mass in the Minster is by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter. St Margaret is one of our most important lay martyrs and we sincerely hope that pilgrims from across the country will take part.

Servers' Training Day

I am just back from English Martyrs Church in York where was held a training day for servers of Mass in the Extraordinary Form. The day was arranged by Paul Waddington on behalf of the Society of St Tarcisius. We were warmly welcomed by Fr Stephen Maugham from the parish and the training was divided into 3 classes. That for servers wishing to learn more about Missa Cantata was led by Neil Walker (DR Leeds diocese) & David O'Neill (joint DR Hexham & Newcastle diocese). The more advanced Low Mass class was led by Paul Waddington (LMS Treasurer) whilst the beginners class was led by Steve Crookall. . There were 4 students in the Missa Cantata class & they were the servers at the Missa Cantata celebrated by Fr Maugham. Both Neil & David were also on the sanctuary to give guidance during the Mass. Considering that this was the first attempt the outcome was quite astounding. The music for the Mass was provided by The Rudgate Singers of York. There is a further opportunity to sample this most wonderful form of the Roman Rite when Missa Cantata is celebrated in York Minster on Saturday 26th March 2011 at 1.30pm. This Mass will be followed by a procession in honour of St Margaret Clitheroe who was martyred in York. The procession will take in the house where she lived as well as her place of martyrdom. The day will end with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the Bar Convent in York where a relic of St Margaret is venerated.

Strong Nuncio

Great to hear that the Apostolic Nuncio to the Antilles Islands - HE Most Rev Thos E Gullickson (Titulat Archbishop of Bomarzo) - has spoken out very strongly against bishops who are resisting the implementation of the Motu Proprio 'Summorum Pontificum'. Some don't ACTIVELY resist the implementation but, by not being openly obedient to the Holy Father, encourage some of our more liberal Catholics to assume that there is still something not quite right & proper about the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Our Holy Father has made it abundantly clear that he expects the 2 forms of the Roman Rite to be equally valid. Only when our bishops fully respect this wish will the Pope's wishes come to fruition. I recall attending a Requiem Mass for a priest friend when I had to even request Holy Communion on the tongue - which the Pope insists on for those receiving from him - and that 'permission' was granted reluctantly and with bad grace and inappropriate comments. We need more bishops like Bishop Schneider & Archbishop Gullickson.

2011 Priests Training Conference

"The Latin Mass Society has announced its seventh residential course for priests who wish to learn the Extraordinary Form of Mass. The conference will take place at Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh, Devon from Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th May. Tuition will be given in small groups selected according to ability, and will cover Low Mass, Missa Cantata and Missa Solemnis. It is also hoped to provide tuition in the sacraments of baptism and marriage. Only rudimentary Latin is required. There will also be a residential course for laymen wishing to learn to serve the Extraordinary Form. The conference will begin late morning on the Tuesday, although there will be an opportunity for those travelling long distances to stay at Buckfast Abbey on the Monday night. The conference will end after lunch on the Friday. There will be sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form each day: parts of the Office will also be sung. The inclusive fee is £85 which covers all tuition, accommodation and board. Application forms for both priests and servers training are available from the LMS office (020 7404 7284) or the LMS website (www.lms.org.uk). LMS Chairman, Dr Joseph Shaw, said 'The LMS's training conferences are now well established in the Church's calendar of activities. We have already trained over a hundred priests and many more Extraordinary Form Masses are being offered around the country due to our training activities.'" For downloadable pictures go to www.lms.org.uk/news and events/picture gallery/priests training conference at Downside Abbey August 2010. It is hoped that some of our more forward-looking bishops might be encouraged to send priests to this and future conferences.

Confirmations in the Extraordinary Form

As many of you know we approached Bishop Cunningham some time ago with the request for Confirmations in the EF here in the diocese of Hexham & Newcastle. The bishop's first response was that he would consider it. With no further response forthcoming we again wrote to the bishop in January asking for the fruits of his consideration. His response was that he would not confer the sacrament himself but would delegate one of the diocesan priests to do so in his stead. At present that response is being considered with LMS members in the diocese being asked for their thoughts.

Latest on Ushaw

We are told that the Trustees were to meet yesterday (21st Jan 2011) when, no doubt, the main topic will have been (should have been?) the closure of Ushaw College. It is common knowledge that a proposal was put forward regarding the taking on of the college by an outside (Catholic) consortium. Supposedly that proposal was not acknowleged. Let us hope that following this meeting it will be. 'Scuttlebutt' has it that the 'YOOF' village is now also suffering financially. Which will be closed first? My money says that, regardless, the village will not be first!!