Change to EF Mass at St Joseph's on 24th May

As the bishop is celebrating Mass at St Joseph's for Womens' League at 11.30am on Saturday 24th May, Fr Brown will celebrate the weekly EF Mass on that day at 10am. Please pass on the details to all attendees you can contact.

Upcoming Masses at St Joseph's in Gateshead

In addition to the Solemn High Mass on the execution date of Bl John Ingram a Solemn High Mass is planned for Corpus Christi on 19th June 2014. Full details are yet to be announced so watch this blog or Fr Brown's bog www.gatesheadrevisited.blogspot.co.uk for details as they are released. The date of the Solemn Mass at Brinkburn Priory has been fixed as Saturday 6th September 2014 at 12 noon.

High Mass at St Joseph's, Gateshead

A Solemn High Mass is planned for Saturday 26th July 2014 to celebrate the martyrdom of John Ingram in Gateshead on that date in 1594. The Mass will be preceded by a procession from close to the site of martyrdom. John Ingram was born in Stoke Edith (Herts) in 1565 & was reconciled or converted to the Church whilst a student at Oxford University. From there he travelled to France & studied for the priesthood under Cardinal William Allen and was ordained in Rome. His first priestly ministry was in mainland Europe but he asked to serve the persecuted Catholics in England. His ship was blown off course & he landed in Dunbar & began serving the Scottish Catholics. As persecution in Scotland grew he escaped to England but was captured at Norham (near Berwick on Tweed). From there he was sent first to Newcastle upon Tyne then to York & finally to the Tower of London where he was 'examined' and tortured by Richard Topcliffe. From there he was sent to York in the company of John Boste & George Swallowell to be tried for treason. They were all, of course, found guilty & John Ingram was sent to Gateshead for execution which took place on 26th July 1594. He was aged 29 years. The site of his martyrdom is close to the present day Holy Trinity Church.

New Archbishop of Liverpool

We were happy & privileged to attend the enthronement of Malcolm Patrick McMahon OP as the 9th Archbishop of Liverpool on Thursday 1st May. It was especially pleasurable as both Theresa & I have known Archbishop Malcolm from his time as Bishop of Nottingham & Spiritual Adviser to the Knights of St Columba. When I served as a Director of the KSC I was able to get to know Archbishop Malcolm when we both served on the Action & Youth Committee which met at his home in Nottingham. Apart from anything else Archbishop Malcolm is one of a very small band of bishops who are prepared to celebrate the liturgy according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite which, together with the appointments of other bishops to the Bishops Conference who are equally accommodating, gives hope for the future of the EF Mass & Sacraments. We say to Archbishop Malcolm 'Ad Multos Annos'

Help the Little Sisters of the Poor

Many will already be aware through our diocesan LMS newsletter that Theresa & I are quite involved in fundraising for St Joseph's Home in Newcastle. We collect many items which we can turn into cash to help provide funds for the elderly who are looked after by the sisters. We collect old military medals (any conflict, any country), gold & silver (broken chains, earring backs etc) & used postage stamps (including old albums or just the stamps off letters). Over the years we have managed to raise over £3500.00 in this way & even tiny amounts can, when put with other tiny amounts, result in worthwhile funds. Please help us & be remembered in the prayers & Masses of the sisters.

Latest from Hexham & Newcastle

Apologies are due for the lack of input to the blog but it has been impossible to put anything on for weeks. Easter went by with Sung Masses at St Joseph's in Gateshead on Palm Sunday with an excellent small choir from Sunderland. Easter Sunday was Plainchant. Sadly we had no EF Masses over the period throughout Holy Week although we had been used to them when Fr Brown was at Forest Hall. It is still the hope that a polyphonic choir can be formed as St Joseph's although prospective members are very slow coming forward. If anyone is interested please contact Fr Brown directly at St Joseph's, Gateshead

Where have we been?

With apologies for lack of postings for the past 3 months. Our blog would not allow us to access & publish new posts. The main changes are that the Saturday Mass at St Mary's, Forest Hall has been discontinued due to Fr Brown's transfer to St Joseph's, Gateshead where the Saturday morning Mass is now at 11am Due to changes at St Joseph's the Schola Sancti Baedae will no longer be singing at the sung Masses and we would like to record our thanks to them for their long & faithful service to the EF Mass. Perhaps in the fullness of time they will return. Fr Brown is still keen to have a polyphonic choir at St Joseph's & anyone wishing to join should in the first instance approach Fr Brown. It is expected that the director will be Peter Lock.