LMS campaigning results in two new Sunday EF Masses in Westminster Archdiocese

We are delighted to announce that there will be weekly Sunday Masses in the Extraordinary Form at two new venues in the Archdiocese of Westminster in the near future. The Masses will take place in St Albans in the parish of St Bartholomew's, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE, and in Willesden, north-west London, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicoll Road, London NW10 9AX. In both cases the parish priests have been asked by the archdioces to learn and celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form. Neither Fr Tim Edgar of St Albans nor Fr Stephen Willis of Willesden has previously celebrated the Extraordinary Form, but both are approaching the opportunity of offering the ancient form of Mass with a very positive and pastoral attitude. It will obviously take some time for them to reach the necessary level of proficiency to start offering Masses publicly. Nevertheless, training has begun and regular weekly Masses on Sundays will start later this year on dates and at times yet to be announced. Their parishioners have already been consulted and informed about the introduction of the Extraordinary Form in their parishes and the reaction has been positive. This very good news follows meetings between the LMS and the archdiocese over a period of a year or more, in which the LMS Chairman, Dr Joseph Shaw, Local Representative for Hertfordshire, Mike Mason, and the LMS General Manager, Mike Lord, met with Bishop Alan Hopes and Bishop John Sherrington a number of times to discuss wider provision of the Extraordinary Form. The LMS would like to thank Bishop Hopes, Bishop Sherrington and Archbishop Vincent Nichols for their work in helping to make the Traditional Mass available in these areas of the Archdiocese of Westminster. LMS General Manager Mike Lord commented: "We are very pleased at this positive response from the archdiocese to what has been something of a pastoral crisis in Hertfordshire and north-west London in recent years for Catholics attached to the Extraordinary Form of Mass." "It is doubly pleasing that the parish priest in each case has been asked to be the principal celebrant. The Traditional Mass needs to become a full and accepted part of parish life in dioceses across the country with an important role in drawing the faithful closer to Christ, especially in this Year of Faith. In the cases of St Albans and Willesden, The Extraordinary Form is set to do just that."

Mass for the election of a Pope

Today at St Mary's, Forest Hall, Newcastle our Saturday morning EF Mass was 'For the election of a Pope'. We all prayed that our new pontiff would carry on the traditional mindset of Benedict XVI. I was concerned to read in our diocesan newspaper - Northern Cross - the report that "Parishioners call for a new vision". Why I was surprised I don't know as the article read "The Northern Cross, acting also for The Tablet, sought the opinion of three parishioners as they left morning Mass on Sunday, February 17." It is always concerning to right minded Catholics that anyone even reads "The Tablet" but more concerning that our own diocesan newspaper seems to align with it. Perhaps we should not be surprised that they took such a 'sweeping' poll of THREE parishioners. The fact that comments such as "will it be a good thing to bring in married priests?", "I would have liked him to have proposed a new vision for the Church", "the Church needs to engage with social, political and religious leaders", "we need to see power come down to the lowest level" were the level of comments made makes one worry about the level of Catholicity. We must remember that the Church is not a democracy, that the last time we had a 'new vision of the Church' was Vatican II with all the sorrow, upheaval & general malaise it left behind and we need to realise that the Church is there to GUIDE social, political and religious leaders, not come to a lowest common denominator agreement with them.

Missa Cantata Laetare Sunday

You are asked to note that the monthly Missa Cantata celebrated at St Joseph's, Gateshead on the 3rd Sunday of the month will, for March only, be celebrated on 2nd Sunday (10th March 2013) to coincide with the 4th Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday.

Thank you Holy Father

Within the diocese of Hexham & Newcastle there is great love & thankfulness for the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. His 'Summorum Pontificum' freed our priests to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite without let or hindrance from diocesan bishops. Our own bishop, let me add, has never placed any difficulties in the way of our diocesan clergy & all of our Sunday Masses are celebrated by the relevant parish priests. Deo Gratias. In many other ways His Holiness has confirmed the legitimacy of the EF by his pronouncements &, given a longer reign, would probably have removed many of the bad practices introduced. We looked for a way to express our thanks to Pope Benedict &, it was suggested that, we looked for a way to email him with those expressions. However, a solution was suggested which would ensure that he was aware of our thanks in a tangible way. Emails can be deleted so it was suggested that we, individually, arrange Masses for his future health & wellbeing & send Mass cards to him with suitable messages of support & thanks. Such an action could result in an avalanche of mail descending on him to overwhelm him with our gratitude. Please send you cards to: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Pontificalis Domus Vatican City

Onward & Upward

The recent introduction of the EF Mass in Darlington is showing great promise with a wish now to mount an exhibition in the local boys' secondary school over 2 days. It is hoped that this will engender enthusiasm among the young men to come forward to learn how to serve the EF Mass &, we must never forget, hopefully to develop the beginnings of a vocation to the priesthood. Such an exhibition will of course be aimed at parents & female siblings who will also realise the beauty in the liturgy which is, largely, absent from the OF Masses. The dates are not set in stone but we are looking at dates probably in November. If anyone has items which we might consider for exhibition which they are willing to lend please contact us on david-oneill3@sky.com or by telephone at 0191 264 5771.

Short term changes at Darlington

The Mass for Ash Wednesday with imposition of ashes had been changed to 12.15pm to accommodate an OF parish Mass. The monthly Mass will be replaced by a WEEKLY Mass for the duration of Lent.

LMS launches Sodality of St Augustine of Hippo for the conversion of lapsed Catholics & others

The purpose of the Sodality is to unite the prayers of members for the conversion of those dear to them. There can be few Catholics today who do not have family members or close friends who have either lapsed from the practice of the Faith, or never had it; it is a particular source of grief when parents see children & grandchildren living without the support of the Sacraments. We take heart from the example of St Augustine, converted at last by the prayers & tears of his mother St Monica, & wish to demonstrate our fellowship with others in the same position, by praying not only for our own dear ones, but for those of others who will do the same for ours. Sodality members undertake to say every day the prayerPro devotis amicis, taken from the Roman Missal, for the Sodality's intention; members who are priests undertake to say 1 Mass a month for this intention. The intention is the conversion or return to the Faith of family & friends of Sodality members. The intended beneficiaries of our prayers are not listed, except in the hearts of Sodality members. The Latin Mass Society, to which the Sodality is affiliated, will arrange & announce at least 1 public, Traditional Sung(or Solemn) Mass for the Sodality's intentions a year. Sodality members, both lay & clerical, may add other Masses, prayers and devotions, for the Sodality's intentions, & are encouraged to do so. In particular, members will be asked annually if they wish to contribute to the costs of the Sodality's public Mass or Masses, & whether they would like to make a Mass offering for an additional Mass or Masses to be said for the Sodality's intentions, which the Latin Mass Society will arrange, to be celebrated according to the Extraordinary Form. (The customary Mass offering is £10). Membership of the Sodality is free & open to all; members sign up by email (info@lms.org.uk) The Sodality Prayer (which may be said in Latin or any other language): Deus, qui caritatis dona per gratiam Sancti Spiritus tuorum fidelium cordibus infudisti: da famulis et famulabus tuis, pro quibus tuam deprecamur clementiam, salutem mentis et corporis; ut te tota virtute diligent, et quae tibi placita sunt, tota dilectione perficiant. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate eiusdem Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen. O God, who, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, hast poured the gifts of charity in the hearts of thy faithful, grant to thy servants & handmaids, for whom we entreat thy mercy, health of mind & body; that they may love thee with all their strength and, by perfect love, may do what is pleasing to thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth & reigneth in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. Masses for the intention of the Sodality should include, when possible, the commemoration 'Pro Devotis Amicis' (Collect, Secret & Post communion) found in the Roman Missal. Adding such a commemoration is possible in the 1962 Missal on Fourth Class Feasts at Low Mass, where no more than 1 commemoration is demanded by the Ordo.