Removing a bishop

The Catholic News Agency has an interesting article on the removal of bishop Morris of Toowoomba, Australia, (announced on May 2nd). Rather than an out of the blue decision the new information reveals how the Vatican was engaged in a long process to try to get bishop Morris to correct abuses in theology and liturgy before finally resorting to removing him as bishop. Here is the process as outlined on the CNA site:

Feb. 1993: On Feb. 10, Bishop Morris is installed at Toowoomba’s St. Patrick's Cathedral. He immediately introduced dramatic changes in the liturgy and government of the Church. According to the consultors’ document, he also “broke with tradition and wore a tie, embroidered with his coat of arms, rather than the Roman Collar.” The consultors added: “The Bishop offered each priest a black tie with the Diocesan Arms and indicated that the wearing of the tie was to be considered clerical dress, along with the collar and the white shirt with crosses, the choice being left to the individual cleric.”

1993-2005: A group of concerned Catholics, described in the report as “a small but vocal minority,” launched “a growing campaign of letters of complaint” to Vatican offices in Rome. The complaints centered on Bishop Morris’ promotion of “general absolution” as an alternative to personal confession of sins. His promotion of this practice continued, despite several calls from the Vatican to stop it. According to the consultors: “The issue of the use of general absolution led to a dispute between the bishop and Cardinal (Francis) Arinze, prefect of the (Vatican’s) Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship. Some of this dispute took on a personal aspect.”

Nov. 2006: Bishop Morris releases his now infamous Advent pastoral letter. In it, he proposes the need to explore the ordination of married men, women and the recognition of the ordained ministries of other Christian churches. His letter was widely perceived in Church circles as a flagrant rejection of Pope John Paul II’s 1994 official declaration (“Ordinatio Sacerdotalis”) that the Church cannot ordain women and his 1998 decree (“Ad Tuendam Fidem”) that discussion of ordaining women can be punished under canon law.

Dec. 2006: Bishop Morris receives a fax requesting that he come to Rome by Feb. 2007 for meetings with Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, then head of the Vatican’s Congregation of Bishops, William Levada, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Arinze. Bishop Morris rejected the meeting, citing “pastoral reasons” that he declined to specify. He said he had plans to come to Rome in May 2007 and expressed his willingness to meet with the cardinals at that time.

Jan. 2007: Cardinal Arinze sends a letter insisting that the matter is urgent and that Bishop Morris should present himself in Rome in February. Bishop Morris again dismissed the request, insisting he would be available in May but not before.

March 2007: Bishop Morris receives notification that the Congregation of Bishops had begun an investigation, known as an “apostolic visitation.” The apostolic visitator is said to be American Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap, of Denver.

April 2007: Archbishop Chaput arrives in Toowoomba for the apostolic visitation on April 23. The consultors’ report states: “The Visitor arrived in Toowoomba, met informally with Bishop Morris, then met with the Council of Priests. He then began a series of meetings with various diocesan bodies, officials, priests, directors of agencies and people of the diocese. ... There was a cross-section of people and clergy of the diocese representing all levels of support and opposition to the Bishop. On Wed. and Thurs. (April 25-26) he traveled around the diocese and conducted interviews. The interviews resumed in Toowoomba on Fri. and Sat. morning (April 27-28). After a final interview with the Bishop on Saturday midday, the Visitor departed and prepared his report.”

May 2007: Diocesan leaders meet to discuss the Visitation and how they should respond. According to the report, “the clergy and pastoral leaders of the diocese” decided to send a letter to the Vatican in support of Bishop Morris. Three priests refused to sign the letter. Meanwhile Bishop Morris in Rome as he had previously announced. The report states: “No meeting with the cardinals took place.”

Sept. 2007: The Vatican’s Congregation of Bishops sends Bishop Morris a memo dated June 28 requesting him to resign. The bishop responds by indicating he will reply after his October holiday.

Oct. 2007: The bishops’ congregation sends another letter, this time informing Bishop Morris that the request for his resignation is being made in the name of Pope Benedict XVI.

Nov. 2007: Bishop Morris sends a letter to Cardinal Re, head of the bishops’ congregation, offering “collaboration and dialogue.” He requested a meeting in Rome in Jan. 2008. Cardinal Re responds by setting Jan. 19, 2008 as the date for the meeting.

Dec. 2007: Bishop Morris convenes an advisory group to collect suggestions on how to deal with the Vatican. According to the consultors’ report: “The advisory group consulted international canonists.”

Jan. 2008: On Jan. 19, as scheduled Bishop Morris meets in Rome with the three cardinals, representing the Vatican’s offices for bishops, doctrine, and worship. They stress that the Pope himself has requested that Bishop Morris resign. On Jan. 24, Bishop Morris writes to the cardinals, telling them that he feels he is unable to resign.

Feb. 2008: Cardinal Re replies to Bishop Morris’ Jan. 24 letter. He again calls on Bishop Morris to resign. Bishop Morris responds by convening his advisory group. They help the bishop to prepare a "Statement of Position" to respond to the Vatican’s criticisms and request for his resignation.

March 2008: Bishop Morris forwards his "Statement of Position" to the Cardinals Re, Arinze and Levada. He sends a letter to the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s highest judicial authority apart from the Pope. Bishop Morris requests that the Apostolic Signature give him the right to defend himself on the charges against him. He writes a further letter to the Pontifical Council of Legislative Texts asking for a definition of what constitutes "grave cause" for removing a bishop under Church law (Canon 401, sec. 2).

April 2008: The Apostolic Signatura replies, informing Bishop Morris that his case is not of its competence because no Church legal proceedings had taken place.

Sept. 2008: The Pontifical Council of Legislative Texts replies saying that the interpretation of "grave cause" is left to the determination of the Congregation of Bishops.

Oct. 2008: Cardinal Re sends a letter demanding that Bishop Morris resign by Nov. 2008 or face being removed.

Dec. 2008-March 2009: On Dec. 19, Bishop Morris writes to Cardinal Re stating he will not resign. On Dec. 24, he writes separately to Pope Benedict XVI requesting an audience. The bishop later receives confirmation that he will be received by the Pope on June 4, 2009.

June 2009: On June 4, Bishop Morris meets the Pope. He is accompanied by Archbishop Phillip Wilson, head of the Australian bishops’ conference. The Pope reiterates his demand that the Bishop resign. The Bishop does not respond. According to the consultors’ report: “The bishop left the meeting saying to Archbishop Wilson that he had no intention of resigning as Bishop of Toowoomba.”

July 2009: Cardinal Re sends another letter requesting that the Bishop submit his resignation.

Nov. 2009: Bishop Morris writes to the Pope saying that, as a matter of conscience, he will not resign.

Dec. 2009: In a letter dated Dec. 22, Pope Benedict replies to Bishop Morris. He reminds the bishop that there is no appealing of papal decisions. The consultors’ report: “The Pope repeated the serious concerns he had with Bishop Morris’ position on the ordination of women and recognition of the orders (clergy) of Anglicans and other churches.”

Jan. 2010: Archbishop Wilson brings to Rome a proposal from Morris to retire when he turns 70, in October 2013.

Feb. 2010: Cardinal Re writes Bishop Morris saying the Pope has accepted to wait until May 2011 for his resignation.

Dec. 2010: Bishop Morris writes to the Pope. He requests to remain in office beyond the agreed upon May 2011 date in order to deal with a case of alleged sexual abuse by a former teacher at a Catholic school in Toowoomba.

Feb. 2011: Archbishop Guiseppe Lazzarotto, the Apostolic Nuncio or papal representative to Australia, writes Bishop Morris requesting his immediate resignation. The nuncio informs Bishop Morris that the Vatican will announce his resignation May 2.

March 2011: Bishop Morris writes to the Apostolic Nuncio. He insists that he will not resign, but that he will accept the Vatican announcing on May 2 his "early retirement."

April 2011: Bishop Morris convenes his college of consultors. The group unanimously supports his decision to issue a pastoral letter so that “the diocese would first hear the news from the bishop and not from the media,” according to the report. Claiming his innocence and decrying the Vatican for denying him "natural justice." On April 27 Bishop Morris sends his announcement to the priests of the diocese. He includes a pastoral letter to be read at all Masses on the weekend of April 30-May 1.

May 2011: The Vatican announces the removal of Bishop Morris from his office. According to a statement issued May 2 through the Vatican Information Service: “The Holy Father removed Bishop William M. Morris from the pastoral care of the diocese of Toowoomba, Australia.”

On May 5, priests and pastoral leaders are summoned to an invitation-only meeting at St. Patrick's Cathedral to decide how to express further support to Bishop Morris. It is decided that parishes will count attendees at all Masses to register any possible decline. Also, books will be placed for people to write messages of support to Bishop Morris.

In addition, "professional care and support" is offered "for priests and people who may be deeply troubled by these developments and may be deeply grieving Bishop Morris' removal."

Pictures of Catholic Poland

Today I came across the Te igitur blog which does for Poland and Krakow what John Sonnen does for Rome. I particularly enjoyed the post on altar transformation.

From this
To this!

Paul Inwood`s list

On June 4th our diocese is having a day to look at music for the texts of the new translation. I was glad when I heard this. There are some very encouraging new settings available on the internet. Our day is going to be led by Paul Inwood, music director for Portsmouth diocese and well-known for his music already used in the OF Mass in this country.

On the Pray Tell blog, Paul has recently been outlining some of the abuses which currently occur in this country which may become accepted practices. Here is his list:

(1) Ministers of Communion receiving at the end of the distribution, not at the beginning of it.
(2) More controversially, and perhaps further down the line, the presiding priest receiving last of all.
(3) Rites of Gathering in which, following the implications of paragraph 44 of Music in Catholic Worship (1972), only an opening song and an opening prayer are used, all else being omitted.
(4) Simplification/elimination of the prayers following the presentation of the gifts.
(5) Receiving Communion on Good Friday being made optional or discontinued altogether (and cf. Kenneth Stevenson, Jerusalem Revisited, p. 66ff).
(6) An Easter Vigil where the fire is blessed, readings are read by firelight, and the service of light is associated with the Resurrection Gospel, the Gloria being omitted altogether (and cf. Stevenson, p. 89).
(7) The Penitential Rite at Mass moved so as to follow the Liturgy of the Word (as on Ash Wednesday, for example).

(8) The Sign of Peace moved to before the presentation of the gifts, preferably following a Penitential Rite which has also moved there.

(9) Use of semi-leavened bread (e.g. pitta bread) instead of unleavened bread.
(10) Use of totally gluten-free altar breads as well as low-gluten.
(11) Anyone who wishes having their feet washed and washing others’ feet on Holy Thursday evening.
(12) Deacons remaining standing throughout the Eucharistic Prayer.
(13) Deacons extending hands to the assembly at the greeting “The Lord be with you” instead of keeping their hands joined.
(14) Priests (!) extending hands to the assembly at the greeting “The Lord be with you” instead of keeping their hands joined.

Well, I`m happy with no 14 ( I thought that was meant to happen already) but the rest seem to me to make the Roman rite almost unrecognisable. This is in the context of a discussion of how liturgical abuses have become accepted practice and later legitimised (e.g. Communion in the hand, altar girls etc). Given the way these practices which started as abuses have become recognised I can see why it might be thought this is the way to make further changes for those who think they are desirable.

However it does strike me as rather out of keeping with the spirit of the new translation! Redemptionis Sacramentum has already reprobated many of these customs. Paul tells us that he is only talking about things that are already happening and does not say whether he himself approves of these them, which makes it seem that RS is not being applied as carefully as might be hoped.

The new Missal

Thanks to the NLM for drawing attention to this CTS video about the new missal. While I`m not expecting the introduction of the new translation of the OF to bring about instant liturgical bliss I certainly warm to features of this missal. The colour illustrations are a welcome change and it is interesting to hear that they were added at the request of the bishops` conferences. Clearly the effort has been made to ensure that this missal is a thing of beauty. This in itself runs against the grain of much that we have been given over the last few decades (my 1962 altar missal is a rather disappointing affair compared to the 1959 one I have: I suppose they thought in 1962 that it might only be a temporary edition) and I hope will change the atmosphere surrounding the Mass. I got my order form yesterday from the CTS and will be sending it off today.

Forthcoming FSSP events

The FSSP has a couple of events coming up which may be of interest to blog readers:

5^th Vocation discernment weekend, at St John Fisher House in Reading on 22-23-24 July 2011:

For Catholic men between 18 and 35 years of age (under 18 please contact us).

Starts on Friday 22^nd July 2011 at 6pm – ends on Sunday 24^th July 2011 mid-afternoon. Led by Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP.

Location: St John Fisher House is the residence of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in England & Wales. Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth has allowed for its canonical establishment in Reading on 1^st August 2010.

Address: 17, Eastern Avenue, Reading, RG1 5RU, England.

Access: 27mn from London Paddington by direct trains up to every 10mn, and from London Waterloo. Direct trains from Oxford, Bournemouth, Bristol, Newcastle, York, Birmingham, Gatwick Airport, Southampton Airport, etc. Direct ‘RailAir’ buses from Heathrow to Reading train station every 20mn. Motorway: M4.

Limited overnight accommodation: please book now.

Locate us on a map here.

Programme: Spiritual conferences, socials, Holy Mass each of the three days (Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite), silent prayer, private talk with Fr de Malleray, FSSP. Fr de Malleray will explain what a vocation is in general and to the priesthood in particular. Read here the Holy Father’s recent Letter to seminarians. Extract: “The proper celebration of the Eucharist involves knowing, understanding and loving the Church’s liturgy in its concrete form. In the liturgy we pray with the faithful of every age – the past, the present and the future are joined in one great chorus of prayer. As I can state from personal experience, it is inspiring to learn how it all developed, what a great experience of faith is reflected in the structure of the Mass, and how it has been shaped by the prayer of many generations.”

Cost: no set price for students or unemployed – any donation welcome; others: £50 suggested.

New: our special Vocations flyer and videos on www.fssp.org.uk/england/pages/vocations.

Vocation Discernment day for young ladies: at St John Fisher House in Reading on Saturday 16^th July 2011, from 10am to 4pm (includes Low Mass at 11am):

For Catholic young ladies from 12 to 30 years of age. Fr de Malleray will explain what is a religious vocation and how to follow it. Please bring packed lunch. Booking required.

Krahgate

Ignis Ardens is a British forum for those interested in the work of the SSPX. I regularly look in to see what is going on. Normally the topic which by far excites the most comments is the issue of whether it is ever legitimate for women to wear trousers. I wonder whether women wearing trousers was discussed at the talks between the SSPX and the Vatican? It is clearly a topic never far from the minds of those involved with the SSPX. A recent close second has been whether it is OK for men to push prams? You could even debate over whether Jesus was a Jew!

In the last few months there was also a special thread devoted to something called Krahgate. This seemed to arouse quite a lot of comments too. I could never be bothered to read through it all to find out what it was all about. From what I can understand a man called Krah has been employed by bishop Fellay as a legal and financial advisor and a number of SSPXers weren`t happy about this. From what I can glean Mr Krah enjoys the music of the American singer Madonna who was rumoured to have recently fallen out with the Kaballah group she was involved with and has been talking to Opus Dei priests in London with a view to finding out more: Dan Brown has if nothing else raised the profile of Opus Dei! (H/T The Eponymous Flower) UPDATE 10.40pm: Tancred in the combox says this is not true

However the SSPX HQ has taken exception to the unfavourable comments about Krah and has threatened Ignis Ardens with legal action. Fr Paul Morgan the UK superior wrote:

IGNIS ARDENS

The Ignis Ardens website states that 'it is a Traditionalist Catholic forum with a pro-SSPX bias... but that 'this forum's support for SSPX is not to be taken as evidence of the SSPX's support for this forum.'

The latter part of this statement is certainly true with regard to Ignis Ardens' involvement to date in a campaign which undermines the authority of the Society's General House.

I refer to the section entitled 'Krahgate,' which, under the cover of anonymity, raises serious allegations against Menzingen's lawyer, Maximilian Krah, and, by extension, against the Superior General himself.

Whilst this file, which apparently originated elsewhere, was recently removed at the initiative of the Ignis Ardens moderator, the damage caused will be much more difficult to repair given the public nature of the internet and the propensity for calumny and detraction to spread.

In this regard Bishop Fellay does not exclude having recourse to judicial process, and this should serve a warning to those who think they can commit public slander via the internet with impunity.

Father Paul Morgan.

All by way of saying that while it is hard being on the EF side of things in the mainstream Catholic church, it`s not all plain sailing in the SSPX either....

Off to the mosque?

The May Northern Cross has not yet arrived in these parts. I saw the copies of the May edition at St Robert`s, Morpeth last Thursday but when our parishioner went to St Dominic`s, Newcastle to pick up our consignment on Saturday there was nothing there. So in the meantime I had said I thought there were a few things worthy of comment so here is a comment. Without getting into the big controversy over whether the diocesan Youth Village is worth the money (and I see that correspondence is now closed although I thought Mr Rainbow`s letter in the April edition was very well argued) I just thought I`d pick up on the short letter from Gerry Loughran of Jesmond who says regarding the new translation of the Ordinary Form of the Mass:

I promise that I will approach it with all goodwill but I have to say this: if the word CONSUBSTANTIAL is there, I`m off to the mosque.

Well the bad news for Mr Loughran as I`m sure he has by now discovered is that the word consubstantial is indeed part of the new translation. However here is more bad news. If he goes to the mosque he may find he has a few more problems than trying to wrestle with consubstantial. I wonder how his Arabic is? When I was at St Andrews university in our second year we had to take one first year course and I opted for Arabic language. It was absolutely fascinating and I`d wished I`d taken it in my first year so I could have continued with it in third and fourth year. We were mainly taught by the memorable Dr Jackson, except on Fridays when the professor would come and test us on our verb tables. Sadly all I can remember of it now is the alphabet. However I also remember being told that we had to learn Arabic because if we didn`t we would have a difficult time in heaven as that was the only language spoken there. I still have my text books so if Mr Loughran is determined that he can`t cope with consubstantial I am willing to lend them to him so he can enjoy full and active participation on his Fridays at the mosque.

Back to Blogging

Sorry for the absence of posts. I had quite a lot to say about the Northern Cross debates (local diocesan paper) and there was a lot going on I could have said something about but somehow I couldn`t get around to sitting at the keyboard. Still waiting for the SP instruction and any news about the future of Ushaw. I was told today that there was another Middlesborough priest present at the York Mass but in the congregation. That was a pity as his choir dress would have added something special to the occasion. Maybe next year!

Holy Week was OK. The transfer for the paschal candle wasn`t in the box for Forest Hall so the candle looked rather bare until today when it arrived. I did my best to carve the required symbols but they were not visible from any distance. I hope it is ok to put the transfer with the date etc on a week later! The vigil began at 8. Even at 8.30 it was still light. However the light was fading and by the time we had the Gloria the switching on of the lights certainly made a difference. Numbers were down for the Vigil but Sunday morning was standing-room only. A parishioner who had been elsewhere in the diocese asked me to guess what time her vigil had started. I dared to suggest 6pm but she told me it was 12 noon! I don`t suspect this was from any dislike of the Bugnini reform! I asked what happened with the Exsultet and `this is the night`. Simple: the words were changed to `this is the day`! Will the new translation make any difference to this kind of abuse? I suspect not. However recently our bishop has sent out Pastoral Guidelines` to priests about a number of sacramental matters. I never understand why they have to be called `guidelines` and can`t be called instructions or a decree but one of the points included is that a vigil Mass of any kind cannot substitute for a Sunday Mass if it is said before 4pm on a Saturday. Not far from here there has long been a Saturday noon Mass which was taken to fulfil the Sunday obligation and I hear that that has now stopped so things can be put right with a bit of effort.

This year I didn`t celebrate a EF Good Friday service. Last year the attendance was very poor. As it was the only EF Good Friday in the diocese I thought there might have beeen more interest. As it is quite a thing to finish the 3pm service and then start the EF one at 5pm (which coming from the same stable is not that different) I decided to give it a miss. No complaints so far from the EF faithful.

So that`s all that has been happening recently. For the beatification of Pope John Paul II suggest readers ( if I still have any!) may like to look at the Sensible Bond where I think Ches puts the whole matter very well.

Spartacus and the Extraordinary Form!

Visitors to the MiL site may have noticed this video. Everytime I watch it it makes me smile.

The Roman official reads the messsage from Marcus Crassus to Spartacus and his companions thus:

`Your life is saved: slaves you have been and slaves you will remain, but you will be spared the terrible pains of crucifixion only if you will never more say the Mass of Saint Pius V'

Instruction on Summorum Pontificum not yet sent to bishops?

MiL reports today that the long awaited instruction on the implementation of Summorum Pontificum has been sent to the worlds bishops. I`ve not said anything about the instruction so far. I signed the petition protesting against proposed restrictions but I had been told before Christmas by Someone Who Ought to Know that there was nothing to worry about. This proved not to be quite true. Rorate Caeli reported a few days ago that severe restrictions had been included during the document`s passage through the CDF but these had been removed by the Pope at the final stage.

According to MiL the earlier reported ban on ordinations in the EF outside of Ecclesia Dei institutes (unless permission is granted by Rome) unfortunately has been retained. The teaching of the EF in seminaries is recommended but there appears to be nothing on whether SP applies to other Western rites such as the Ambrosian rite. Oh well I`m sure we`ll see the full text soon.

UPDATE.04.04.11 The news today appears to be that it will not now be available until next month.
UPDATE 05.04.11 MiL today is saying that Tornelli has got it wrong but agrees it will bear the publication date of April 30th. Well it is coming soon whoever is right.

Aid to the Church in Need UK – Annual Walsingham Pilgrimage of Hope

I have recieved the following which I am happy to mention.

Aid to the Church in Need UK – Annual Walsingham Pilgrimage of Hope – Saturday, 30^th April 2010

Please join us as Aid to the Church in Need remembers suffering Christians around the world with our 2011 Pilgrimage to the Roman Catholic National Shrine in Walsingham.

ACN is organising coaches from London Victoria, Bressenden Place, departing at 08:00. Should parishioners wish to join us at Walsingham, travelling independently or, perhaps, organising coaches from their locality they are very welcome to do so.

For those who would like to join us on this Pilgrimage and would like more information a brochure and booking form is downloadable from the ACN website at the following link www.acnuk.org/walsingham. You could also contact us on 020 8642 8668

EF Mass in York Minster

I have been thinking today about writing up an account of the Mass at York Minster on Saturday but the LMS have beaten me to it! It was a truly wonderful and uplifting occasion. It must have been the first time the Roman Missal of 1570 (with its subsequent minor changes) has been used in York Minster and as said elsewhere, probably the first Latin Mass said at the High Altar of the Minster since the time of Mary Tudor. Fr Maughan`s sermon was memorable and I hope we will see it made available somewhere. The procession to English Martyrs` church was almost as remarkable as the Mass. It was good to see old friends again including quite a number of people from the North West who went on the 2007 LMS pilgrimage to Lourdes: they are looking forward to the arrival of thhe Institute at SS Peter and Paul`s, New Brighton.Most of all it was fabulous to see so many Catholics coming together for this event and for a form of Mass the desire for which is normally ignored in diocesan life. I`m delighted to say there was even a small party from St Mary`s Forest Hall. The only blight on the day was the collapse of the rail system on the East Coast. In fact I met one person who had spent four hours trying to get to York from Newcastle and so missed the Mass only to spend a few more hours trying to get a train back from York.

While there were ten of us priests in choir it was a pity that the only Middlesborough priest was the celebrant. In fact looking around the parish newsletters of the York parishes on the internet none of them mentioned the event.(UPDATE 01.04.11 Thanks to Yorkmum for telling us that two York parishes did in fact advertise the Mass: their newsletters are not on the internet.)

The Catholic Shinobi has an interesting report here. Here is the LMS report:

Huge Success for the Latin Mass Society at York Minster

Over 700 Catholics committed to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) converged on York Minster on Saturday 26 March to attend the first celebration of a Catholic Mass in the Minster since the Reformation. Sung Mass in the ancient Latin Rite, complete with beautiful vestments, ceremonial and incense, was celebrated at the High Altar by Fr Stephen Maughan of the Catholic diocese of Middlesbrough. (The Mass was a Votive Mass of a Holy Woman Martyr Not a Virgin).

Afterwards, the huge congregation processed through the streets of York in public witness of the Catholic Faith to the Shrine of St Margaret Clitherow in York’s historic Shambles before completing a memorable day with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the Catholic Church of the English Martyrs.

The occasion was the Latin Mass Society’s first annual York pilgrimage in honour of St Margaret Clitherow, one of the LMS’s patron saints. The day was organised by Paul Waddington, National Treasurer and local Representative for the LMS who said: “I am overwhelmed by the response of so many hundreds of faithful Catholics. The number of young families with children in buggies was particularly encouraging”.

Permission for the Mass was given by the Dean, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, and Chapter of York Minster; the Dean and the Precentor, Canon Peter Moger, sat in choir during the Mass.

The Latin Mass Society had originally hoped to celebrate the Mass in the nearby Catholic parish Church of St Wilfrid’s, but unfortunately it was not available; however, the parish’s loss was York Minster’s gain.

The massive choir of York Minster was completely packed and over 150 people had to be accommodated in the nave with extra seating brought in. The music was provided by the Rudgate Singers, a local choir who specialise in the Latin Mass and who sang William Byrd’s polyphonic Mass for Five Voices.

Saint Margaret Clitherow, (1556-1586) who lived in York was an ordinary wife and mother who refused to renounce her Catholic faith and who was martyred by being pressed to death in the reign of Elizabeth I. She was executed on Good Friday 1586 and was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Following the Mass, there was a procession from York Minster through the city streets to St Margaret Clitherow’s shrine in the Shambles, and then across Ouse Bridge, the place of her execution. The sight of so many Catholic pilgrims publicly processing and praying the Rosary drew the notice of Saturday afternoon shoppers, and a respectful silence fell as the procession passed.

The procession finished at the Catholic Church of the English Martyrs where a relic of St Margaret Clitherow, on loan for the occasion from York’s Bar Convent, was venerated and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was conferred by Fr Michael Brown, the LMS’s Northern Chaplain.

The occasion was widely covered by TV, radio and local press.

Michael Lord, LMS General Manager, said: “Something special happened in York on Saturday. Hundreds of Catholics gathered in this historic centre of northern Christianity to honour one of England’s bravest women in a quite extraordinary way. Indeed, some people travelled from as far away as London, Oxford and Dublin.

“This Mass in the ancient Roman Rite demonstrates quite clearly the suppressed level of interest in the Latin Mass, particularly amongst the young. I’m afraid many English and Welsh bishops are still very grudging in helping to organise celebrations of the Latin Mass but our huge congregation today shows that hundreds of people want to stand alongside Pope Benedict in his efforts to restore beauty and dignity to Catholic worship and to restore Christianity in its ancient European heartland.

“The LMS is already making plans for an even bigger celebration in honour of St Margaret Clitherow next year”.

The LMS offers its grateful thanks to the Dean and Chapter of York Minster, the Bar Convent, the Church of the English Martyrs and all those volunteer members of the LMS who co-ordinated the day’s events, and without whom such a happy and successful occasion would not have been possible.

Photographs of the pilgrimage can be downloaded here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/latinmasssociety/galleries/72157626246685473/

. . . . ENDS . . . .

For further information, please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Mike Lord, LMS General Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585;

(E mail) info@lms.org.uk

Confraternity of Catholic Clergy

In January 2010 the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy of the USA and the Australian CCC held a conference in Rome for the Year of the Priesthood. There were about six of us from the UK who went along too and we talked about setting up the CCC in the UK. Nothing much happened after that and at the end of last year some of us in the North started talking about setting it up. We had a meeting in Bradford in January but while we were planning the next step we had no idea that work was progessing in the South and I was delighted to hear that those in the South had bitten the bullet and have now got things up and running. There is a website launched today.

The website says the CCC exists for fidelity, formation and fraternity. Fidelity to Scripture, the Magisterium, the Councils and Catechism of the Catholic Church and loyalty to the initiatives of the Holy Father. A membership application form can be found here.

Press Releases from the diocese of Shrewsbury and the LMS

Further to yesterday`s story about New Brighton I see there is a press release from the diocese of Shrewsbury (H/t to Joseph Shaw). I wonder what the brother northern Catholic bishops had to say? However it looks like it is a serious proposal. For those who commented on the last post about the amount of work that needs done on the church, repairing ailing churches has become a speciality of the Institute and I`m sure they will be prepared to put in whatever work is needed for its restoration.


Press Release from the Diocese of Shrewsbury


13th March 2011

For immediate release:

Order Considers Taking Over Landmark Wirral Church

The Rt. Rev Mark Davies, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury , has entered into exploratory negotiations with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest about the possibility of the religious order establishing a community of priests at the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, New Brighton .

The intention is to reopen the main body of the church, which was closed for worship in August 2008, by conferring on the Institute the specific mission of fostering Eucharistic adoration. It is hoped that the Institute will work with local Catholics for the restoration and reopening of the building.

Priests of the Institute of Christ the King celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (sometimes known as the Tridentine rite, the Traditional Latin Mass or Old Latin Mass) according to the liturgical books promulgated in 1962 by Blessed Pope John XXIII. Bishop Davies will also be considering pastoral provision for the ordinary form of the Mass in English.
After Easter, Monsignor Gilles Wach, the French founder and superior general of the Institute, will visit the church for the first time and will hold direct talks with the bishop. If negotiations are fruitful Ss Peter and Paul will be the first Catholic church in Britain to be run by the Institute.

Since Bishop Davies was first approached by the Institute last year, he has been consulting with the Holy See, his brother northern Catholic bishops, the Patrimony Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales , and English Heritage about the future of the Church of Ss Peter and Paul.

Bishop Davies said: “I welcome the interest shown by the Institute of Christ the King in establishing a new foundation in the Diocese and working for the restoration of the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, New Brighton . I look forward to exploring the practicalities of such a foundation providing Mass for the faithful attached to the Extraordinary Form and the possibility of the church becoming a centre for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in which all can share. ”

Canon William Hudson, a spokesman for the Institute of Christ the King, said: “We are in the process of discussing this with Bishop Davies. It is a very serious proposition and while there are a number of issues that need to be addressed - notably financial - we are sure that the faithful will be just as generous as when the church was built. Our order has considerable experience in re-opening churches in very similar circumstances to Ss Peter and Paul. I am confident that with the guidance of the bishop, a solution can be found to the benefit of the Catholic community at large.”

For further information:

Please contact Simon Caldwell, communications officer for the Diocese of Shrewsbury, on 07708 119554 or at gabrielnews@btinternet.com.
Photos of Bishop Davies are available at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/catholicism/sets/72157623368061861/

Please credit Mazur/www.catholicchurch.org.uk

There is also today a press release from the LMS

15 March 2011

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

For Immediate Release

Latin Mass Society's Response to the Announcement of Negotiations Between Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury has announced that he is negotiating with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, an international order of priests who solely celebrated the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, for them to take control of the landmark Church of SS Peter and Paul, New Brighton, on the Wirral. The church is commonly known as ‘the Dome of Home’ for its prominence and visibility, even from sea.

In response, the Latin Mass Society has announced that it warmly welcomes the news that Bishop Mark Davies is negotiating with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) to enable the ICKSP to assume responsibility for the much-loved Church of SS Peter and Paul on the Wirral and for it to become a centre for Eucharistic devotion. The local membership of the LMS has been campaigning for the church to be reopened and for the Traditional Latin Mass to be regularly celebrated there.

This initiative is sure to promote Church renewal in Shrewsbury diocese to the great benefit of all Catholics regardless of which Form of the Rite they are attached to. The LMS will offer every help and assistance to Bp Davies and the Institute to bring their plans to fruition and invites all those attached to the Extraordinary Form to pray for Bishop Davies’ intentions.
Doctor Joseph Shaw, LMS Chairman, said: ‘This initiative is a clear expression of the harmonious reintegration of the Extraordinary Form into the life of the Church which Pope Benedict XVI so patently desires. It is a wonderful idea to have a centre for Eucharistic devotion in Shrewsbury diocese and the ICKSP are second to none in their devotion to Our Blessed Lord in the Sacrament of the Altar’.
The LMS provides regular financial support both to the Institute of Christ the King (ICKSP) and the Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) for their missions in England and Wales to reintroduce use of the Extraordinary Form; further financial support is given to English and Welsh seminarians at ICKSP and FSSP seminaries.”
--

This link goes to the LMS’s press release on its website:
http://www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/news-blog#press-release-icksp-bp-davies


. . . . ENDS . . . .

For further information, please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Michael Lord, General Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585; (E mail) info@lms.org.uk

Institute of Christ the King to New Brighton?

Fr Z has pointed out that the BBC are reporting that the Institute of Christ the King could be given the church of SS Peter and Paul at New Brighton. This would be a fantastic breakthrough for the Church in England as it would be the first time an Ecclesia Dei institute would be given its own church in the UK. Bishop Mark Davies, the new bishop of Shrewsbury, is in talks with the Institute. Let`s hope there is some good news soon.

Mass in York Minster: March 26th

I know this has been widely announced but I held back as I thought an announcement nearer the date might be useful. There will be a sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form in York Minster at 1.30pm on Saturday March 26th. This will be in honour of St Margaret Clitherow. I`m sure she`ll be rejoicing in heaven to see this. Fr Stephen Maughan will be the celebrant. Music sung by the Rudgate Singers will include Byrd's Mass for Five Voices, Iustorum Animæ, Ave Verum Corpus, and Ave Regina Cælorum. There will then be a procession taking in her shrine in the Shambles and ending at English Martyrs` church where there will be Benediction and veneration of the relic of St Margaret. I will be the celebrant for that. This should be a great day for Catholics to honour the witness of St Margaret. Here is the official LMS statement:

PILGRIMAGE IN HONOUR OF ST MARGARET CLITHEROW

SATURDAY 26th MARCH 2011

YORK

The Latin Mass Society is organising a pilgrimage in honour of St Margaret Clitherow, one of its patron saints. It will be held in York on Saturday 26th March 2011.

The pilgrimage will begin at 1.30pm with a Missa Cantata at the High Altar of York Minster. This will be followed by a procession from the minster, via The Shambles and Ouse Bridge to the Church of the English Martyrs in Dalton Terrace, where Benediction and veneration of the relic of St Margaret Clitherow will take place at 4pm.

Use of York Minster is by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter.

It was originally intended that Benediction would be at the Bar Convent, but because of the nunbers that are expected to attend, this has been transferred to the English Martyrs’ Church.

Because of the parking restrictions in force in York, visitors travelling by car are advised to use the Park and Ride facilities. The Askham Bar car park, on the Tadcaster Road near to the A64 to the south-west of York, will be the most convenient as the buses from there pass near to both the Minster and English Martyrs’ Church. It would be wise to allow half an hour to get from the car park to the Minster by bus.

Extraordinary Form Mass for primary school children

What an interesting idea! You can read about this Mass at West Heath, Birmingham on the Hermeneutic. I thought this was a useful thing to say:

It is important that all Catholics (and especially children) are aware of their heritage and the diversity which exists in the Church. All are welcome. Later in the year they will be visiting places associated with other Christian groups and other religions. These experiences help to promote understanding and prevent prejudice and bigotry, which can exist even among people who think of themselves as liberal or progressive in their thought

I have been celebrating school Masses for St Stephen`s school, Longbenton using the ad orientem position for the offertory, Eucharistic prayer and up to Communion time. It is a pity the school seems to have stopped using the plainchant they learnt. I was hoping to build on it not drop it. However this is an idea that has got me thinking but will need a lot of preparation.

UPDATE 7th March. I`ve loooked at Matthew Doyle`s site (picture above copied from his Flickr album) and see how the preparationwas done. It must help to have a teacher who attends the Extraordinary Form and a pupil who knows how to serve. The feedback from Melanie Bullivant, teacher at the Primary School and a regular at Fr George's Friday Evening Low Mass was interesting:

I was so pleased with the children's behaviour - they really seemed to enter into the spirit of the liturgy, so to speak! I have asked lots of the children what they thought of the Mass and there has been 90% positive feedback! A few said things like it was a bit loo long or they didn't like all the kneeling. But a hugh majority say they really liked it. I asked why and they said things like, they enjoyed listening to the Latin and they liked joining in with some of the reponses. Some said they liked the quiet because they felt close to Jesus and one girl said she really liked kneeling for Holy Communion because it was more special! One of the children said she wants to learn more Latin! Staff feedback has also been positive, they seemed to enjoy the Mass and were pleased with the children's behaviour.

Ushaw in the news again

Readers may recall the photos of the state of the junior house at Ushaw that were posted here last July. They were featured on a site called 28 Day Later Urban Exploration Forum. Now it seems a similar group may have jumped the gun somewhat according to a report in the Sunderland Echo. H/t to Giorgio Roversi.

Priests’ college intruder warning

Published on Fri Mar 04 07:20:31 GMT 2011

A WARNING has been issued to trespassers to stay away from a priests’ training college after a spate of incidents.

Police have said those who enter Ushaw College in Durham face arrest as well as being at risk of injury.

The premises have been subjected to various thefts and incidents of criminal damage over the past 12 months.

On Thursday, February 24, officers were called to a report of suspicious activity at the college, after a member of the public reported three men had climbed through a ground-floor window.

When police arrived they discovered six men and women of various ages inside one of the unsecure buildings on the site.

When questioned, the group explained they were involved in a photography project after reading the college was closing in the near future.

Sergeant Keith Wardle, of Durham Constabulary, said: “Anyone entering the college is guilty of trespass and could be arrested. They are also placing themselves at risk because of the poor condition of some of the buildings. We would urge people to stay away from the college.”

It was announced in October that Ushaw College was to close after a large drop in priest numbers. The 200-year-old building is home to St Cuthbert’s Seminary, which has been training priests since its foundation in France more than 400 years ago.

Pictures from Thornley

Apologies once again for my lack of blogging. Here`s an easy post I could have done earlier. These are pictures from last week`s Mass at Thornley. Many thanks to Frank for the photos. This was Fr Dickson`s first time as celebrant at a Solemn Mass and although he was very nervous all went off well. The preacher was Fr Henry of the Offerimus tibi Domine blog. He has kindly posted his sermon there. We were also joined by Fr Aldo Tapparo from Oxford.

Solemn High Mass at Thornley

I have a lot of blogging to catch up on. The most pressing thing is to mention that there will be a Solemn High Mass at Sacred Heart & English Martyrs Church, Dunelm Road, Thornley, Co Durham DH6 3HA at 7.30pm on Tuesday 22nd February 2011 - the Feast of St Peter's Chair. The intention of the Mass will be "In thanksgiving for Pope Benedict XVI & Summorum Pontificum." In the light of what people are saying about the new document on Summorum Pontificum this will be a timely intention.

The Ordinary of the Mass will be 'Missa de Angelis' & the Proper will be from the Liber Usualis. The music will be provided by the Schola Sancti Baedae.

There will be a buffet after Mass to which all are invited.

The celebrant will be the Parish Priest, Fr Gary Dickson, whom readers may know from his occasional letters to the Catholic press. I think I am correct in saying that this will be the first time Fr Dickson will hacve been the celebrant at a Solemn Mass. The preacher will be Fr Simon Henry, the author of the Offerimus Tibi Domine blog. I remember Fr Henry at Ushaw many years ago when we were students. His blog is always interesting and I look forward to hearing him preach. I`m subdeacon and Fr Phillips of Stella is deacon.

Latin is good for you

Forget Mandarin. Latin is the key to success. This is the title of an article in the Spectator this month by Toby Young. The whole article is here.

For a while we ran the Minimus course in St Mary`s primary. I`d like to see it start up again. Here is an extract from the article:


...there is actually a substantial body of evidence that children who study Latin outperform their peers when it comes to reading, reading comprehension and vocabulary, as well as higher order thinking such as computation, concepts and problem solving.

For chapter and verse on this, I recommend a 1979 paper by an educationalist called Nancy Mavrogenes that appeared in the academic journal Phi Delta Kappan. Summarising one influential American study carried out in the state of Iowa, she writes:

“In 1971, more than 4,000 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade pupils of all backgrounds and abilities received 15 to 20 minutes of daily Latin instruction. The performance of the fifth-grade Latin pupils on the vocabulary test of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills was one full year higher than the performance of control pupils who had not studied Latin. Both the Latin group and the control group had been matched for similar backgrounds and abilities.”

Interestingly, Mavrogenes found that children from poor backgrounds particularly benefit from studying Latin. For a child with limited cultural reference points, becoming acquainted with Roman life and mythology opens up “new symbolic worlds”, enabling him or her “to grow as a personality, to live a richer life”. In addition, spoken Latin emphasises clear pronunciation, particularly of the endings of words, a useful corrective for many children born in inner cities. Finally, for children who have reading problems, Latin provides “experience in careful silent reading of the words that follow a consistent phonetic pattern.

Nuns Aloud

This is the rather inappropriate title of a programme to be shown on BBC at 11.20pm on Tuesday about the making of the the CD Chant from Avignon. Last year I bought a copy of this CD. Not because I really needed another disc of plainchant but because on my last trip to the monastery of Le Barroux back in the 1990`s with Fr Briggs we went to visit the convent of Notre Dame de L`Annonciation which at that time hadn`t built its church but was operating in what was to be the crypt. So I bought the CD to help these good nuns who follow the Extraordinary Form for Mass and Office. I enjoyed the CD too.

Some Definite Purpose

Every parish in England and Wales has received copies of a leaflet entitled `Some Definite Purpose` which outlines what we should be doing next after last year`s papal visit. I must sit down and read it and see what we can do. However I must admit that I was motivated to pick up a copy after receiving a text from the mother of one of our children telling me that the picture on the front and on page two from `The Big Assembly` featured her son and another pupil from our school as well as the head Mr Fallon! Good to see St Stephen`s school at the heart of the Church`s mission! They were fortunate to get front row seats.

As from Easter Mr Fallon takes over as head of our school at St Mary`s, Forest Hall too. He has done great things at St Stephen`s and so we look forward to the ideas he will bring to St Mary`s too.

UPDATE 15.02.11 More on St Stephen`s and Mr Fallon in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle tonight here.

Clergy Silent Summer Retreat

The Forest has been not been murmuring much of late. This was partly because of the death of my hard drive on my PC: I don`t find the lap top as easy to use. However there is a lot to catch up with. I have yet to comment on this month`s Northern Cross where there is plenty of material to talk about and there have been further deveoplments at Ushaw. Fr de Malleray has also sent me information about forthcoming events organised by the FSSP in England. So to start with I just wanted to mention this one. I have been on two of Fr de Malleray`s retreats and am happy to say each one has been very fruitful. here is the information about the next one.



Clergy Silent Summer retreat. Starts Monday 4th July 2011, 2pm – ends Friday 8th July 2011, 2pm (4 nights).

Theme: “Priestly meditations on the prayers of the Roman Missal”.

Schedule: Silent retreat; meals with table reading on the theme of the retreat; includes one conference in the morning and another one in the afternoon; possibility of private meeting with the Retreat Master and of confession; Possibility of attending Eucharistic Adoration with the local contemplative religious community. Common recitation of Compline (EF Breviary) and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will also take place.

Location: Cold Ash pastoral Centre, run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary: The Ridge, Thatcham, RG18 9HU, England.

We will have the guests’ wing available for us, with access to the 19th century chapel (with three eastward facing altars); there are also nice grounds and woodlands.

Cost per person: £220 (includes: £200 for Cold Ash Centre for single room full board, and £20 for FSSP).


Booking: please send a £50 cheque made payable to FSSP ENGLAND as a non refundable deposit – the remainder can be paid during the retreat or as one global payment with the deposit (in which case please send us a £220 cheque made payable to FSSP ENGLAND).

Specifications: please mention with your booking any special diet or mobility requirement.

N.B. Priests choosing to offer their private Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite should either bring with them all the items they need or contact Fr de Malleray well in advance

Ushaw College announces closure (again).

There is an article in the Catholic Herald today about the latest developments regarding Ushaw. I may be missing something but it doesn`t seem to add a great deal to what we already know: that the conference centre closed on December 31st and the seminary will close in June. There are new details about a steering group to be chaired by bishop Mark Davies who will consider what will happen to the buildings and their contents.

Here is the full statement from the college. I was interested to read the comments about the interest in the larger community.

FULL STATEMENT FROM USHAW COLLEGE

A spokesman for Ushaw College said: “We can confirm that the commercial activities of the Conference Centre have ceased, and the Centre closed, with effect from 31 December 2010. A number of teaching and non-teaching staff remain at Ushaw College, where the activities of St Cuthbert’s Seminary will continue until June 2011.

“The seminarians currently engaged in study at St Cuthbert’s Seminary will continue with their studies as planned. It is proposed that those with studies which are to continue after June 2011 will be transferred to another seminary although the future of their studies is a matter for their respective dioceses.

“The Trustees have established a Steering Group, chaired by Bishop Mark Davies, which includes Bishop Tom Williams along with members of teaching and non-teaching staff at Ushaw College. The Steering Group will also have a representative of the Patrimony Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, who have indicated that Sophie Andreae, Deputy Chair of the Patrimony Committee, will be asked to support the work of the group. There have also been several offers of assistance from eminent individuals and charities, and further formal announcements may be made in due course should the individuals or charity wish to make their support a matter for public knowledge. The remit of the group is to look strategically at the entire estate, including its buildings, land, libraries, archives and collections, and provide a report to the Trustees about options for its future.

“We are aware that Ushaw College has considerable support within the Roman Catholic community and are grateful for all of the offers to assist at this uncertain and distressing time. It should, however, be said that whilst there are proposals to be discussed, no firm solutions are available at this time. We will not engage in speculative conversations with any organisation or individuals not directly involved in those discussions until the appropriate time. Private meetings and conversations will remain confidential so as not to raise false hopes should discussions fall through and also to allow for full and frank discussions to take place away from the public eye.”

Archbishop Patrick Kelly, Chair of Trustees said: “The proposal to close Ushaw College was one of the most difficult the Trustees have had to contemplate but was one which was based on the inability to sustain Ushaw College’s future. We are working with potential partners to identify a viable solution for the future of Ushaw and are hopeful that a solution can still be found.”

Monsignor John Marsland, President of Ushaw College, added: “We are aware there has been some debate among the wider community about the future of the historic collections of Ushaw College and of the buildings. We are acutely aware of the historical importance and heritage value placed upon the buildings, collection of books, manuscripts, letters and other items we have within our various collections and we are committed to ensuring that they remain intact.

Nuncio lambasts bishops

This appeared on the NLM blog today. Unfortunately the Nuncio in question is not our new man in Wimbledon but the Nuncio to the Antilles Islands, H.E. Most Rev Thomas Gullickson.

Why, even three years after the issuance of Summorum Pontificum (just to name one example), are well-meaning lay folk still treated with such great disdain by no less than bishops, bishops in communion (of heart, soul, mind and strength?) with the Successor of St. Peter when they ask for Mass in Latin? Is this anything other than blind hypocrisy (the plank!)? You tolerate no small amount of bad taste, bad music and caprice, while begrudging some few a port in the storm of liturgical abuse which seems not to want to subside? Can we be after His own Heart and not just claim to be members of Christ’s Body while still acting so at odds with the example set by the Holy One of God, meek and humble of heart? Such prelates are at counter or cross purposes to the sense in which the Church wants to go; they are ignoring what the Spirit is saying to the Churches and doing so with a backhand to some who are branded common and contemptible, but certainly not in the eyes of Christ... Let me say it more clearly! My issue is with the contempt shown for an outstretched hand, contempt such as would not be shown toward someone asking for some other benefit.

When the Holy Father speaks of his will to see these two forms of the Roman Rite (ordinary and extraordinary) enrich each other, when he and others express eagerness for a recovery of the sense of the sacred in our churches and in how we worship, I am convinced that he has indicated the true nature of the rupture which has indeed occurred and needs to be mended or healed. You would think that those in communion with the Pope would seek to understand him and embrace his point of view. There is too much room for caprice and hence the need to reform contemporary Catholic worship. This is evidenced time and again, by way of one example, in the sense of helplessness many priests experience when confronted by musical groups moving into church with inappropriate repertoires, not to mention the dance and puppet troupes which should have been banished long ago. If a bishop does not want to discipline at least he can respect and foster those seeking good order.

Well said Archbishop Gullickson!!

The full text of this homily can be found here.

North East Catholic History Society

Lectures for 2011 start this Wednesday. The advertised talk by Peter Hills (`The Widdringtons - a Northumberland Family and the 1715 Jacobite Rising`) has had to be cancelled and instead there will be a talk by Fr Michael Sharratt on `John Barrow and the Jews`. Lecture starts at 2.15pm at St Andrews, Worswick Street.

LMS Training Conference at Buckfast

You probably have read about this elsewhere but I have been asked to advertise it. These events have been very fruitful in alll kinds of ways so far.

Latin Mass Society Announces 2011 Priests Training Conference

The Latin Mass Society has announced its seventh residential conference 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 the 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, Doctor 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

The Ordinariate and Hexham and Newcastle

During the week I was talking with two former Anglican clergy who now work as priests in this diocese and asked them whether through their contacts they knew of any Anglican clergy in the North East who were considering joining the Ordinariate. It seemed not. However today I noticed an article on Jeffrey Steel`s blog about the parish of St James the Great in Darlington. I`ve heard quite a bit in recent years about this parish and its worship. The vicar of 22 years standing is Fr Ian Grieves. In his newsletter he writes the following:

The Ordinariate provides us with an opportunity to stay together as priests and people, worshipping, loving and serving our Lord Jesus Christ through the Catholic tradition and our liturgical and musical heritage and enter into full communion with the See of Peter. We pray that the Church of England will be as generous as the Holy Father and allow us our buildings; buildings we have restored and refurbished at great cost to ourselves (we have raised over £150,000 to restore the church hall & almost £600,000 to restore the church). We have indeed come a long way in the last twenty odd years and we have much to give God thanks for - not least the renewal of our parish and congregation which now needs a secure future.

I hope you all will join me at Mass on Sunday 13th February 2011 at 10am, and afterwards in the Church Hall for a meeting to consider the Ordinariate. The principal speaker will be Father Keith Newton, formerly the Bishop of Richborough, who has given up everything to enter the Ordinariate, and who will give us: information, explanations, answer questions, and address concerns on the Holy Father's historic and generous offer to Anglicans.

So it seems there is some interest here and I`m very glad to hear it. Do go to De Cura animarum to read the whole story. Let`s pray that all goes well for the parish of St James and its exploration of the Ordinariate on 13th February.

It`s grim up North

Yesterday`s local morning paper, the Newcastle Journal carried an article featuring Fr Zielinski (pictured above), parish priest of Prudhoe, judicial vicar, and dean of the Tyne valley area regarding the bleak future for the Catholic Church in this part of the world. This comes in the week when the bishop and his episcopal council have been away from Monday to Friday mulling over the future too. The Journal article says the bishop`s meeting was beginning yesterday but it ended yesterday. However here is a quotation:

FEARS the Catholic church could diminish in the region over the next decade have emerged in a new study.

Leading North East priest Father Paul Zielinski, of the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, has warned of potential widespread closures and dwindling clergy cover at Mass attendances, if trends from the last 10 years continue.

The worrying scenario facing deaneries in Newcastle and Hexham were on the agenda at a crucial Bishop’s Council meeting which began last night.

Mass attendances in the diocese have continued to fall, dropping by 13,347 from 52,563 in 2001, to 39,216 in 2009.

Fr Zielinski, head of the deanery covering most of the Tyne Valley, has produced a list of concerning scenarios potentially faced by the church, alongside changes proposed for the other 17 deaneries also on the table at the debate.

The present number of active priests stands at 115 but is likely to fall to 73, warns Fr Zielinski.
He has also raised the prospect of many of the 181 parishes having to be cut back, with churches in the diocese covering Berwick to Teesside closing, priests’ houses being rented out and greater pressure put on retired priests, deacons and ministers to work again.

The consequences of falling Mass figures and the declining number of clergy were being debated at last night’s behind-closed-doors meeting, which is expected to last several days.

Fr Zielinski told The Journal last night: “We face a huge challenge in the future to maintain the current level of the Catholic church. My study appears gloomy but we must face the real problems head-on. The concept of Sunday worship is disappearing. People do not consider that day as a time for rest and reflection any more in our 24/7 culture.

“We are in danger of losing what makes the church a source of immense wellbeing.”

Personal Ordinariate established

The Personal Ordinariate was established today ( still not sure about the incardination of those deacons on the 13th then). I`m very pleased to see one of the three former bishops, Rev Keith Newton, is the Ordinary.

Here is the text of the Vatican announcement:

HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE STATEMENT ABOUT THE PERSONAL ORDINARIATE OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM IN ENGLAND AND WALES

In accordance with the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus of Pope Benedict XVI (November 4, 2009) and after careful consultation with the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has today erected a Personal Ordinariate within the territory of England and Wales for those groups of Anglican clergy and faithful who have expressed their desire to enter into full visible communion with the Catholic Church. The Decree of Erection specifies that the Ordinariate will be known as the Personal
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham and will be placed under the patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman.

A Personal Ordinariate is a canonical structure that provides for corporate reunion in such a way that allows former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of their distinctive Anglican patrimony. With this structure, the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus seeks to balance on the one hand the concern to preserve the worthy Anglican liturgical, spiritual and pastoral traditions and, on the other hand, the concern that these groups and their clergy will be fully integrated into the Catholic Church. For doctrinal reasons the Church does not, in any circumstances, allow the ordination of married men as Bishops. However, the Apostolic Constitution does provide, under certain conditions, for the ordination as Catholic priests of former Anglican married clergy.

Today at Westminster Cathedral in London, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, ordained to the Catholic priesthood three former Anglican Bishops: Reverend Andrew Burnham, Reverend Keith Newton, and Reverend John Broadhurst.

Also today Pope Benedict XVI has nominated Reverend Keith Newton as the first Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. Together with Reverend Burnham and Reverend Broadhurst, Reverend Newton will oversee the catechetical preparation of the first groups of Anglicans in England and Wales who will be received into the Catholic Church together with their pastors at Easter, and to accompany the clergy preparing for ordination to the Catholic priesthood around Pentecost.

The provision of this new structure is consistent with the commitment to ecumenical dialogue, which continues to be a priority for the Catholic Church. The initiative leading to the publication of the Apostolic Constitution and the erection of this Personal Ordinariate came from a number of different groups of Anglicans who have declared that they share the common Catholic faith as it is expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and accept the Petrine ministry as something Christ willed for the Church. For them, the time has now come to express this implicit unity in the visible form of full communion.
[00078-02.01] [Original text: English]

The Ordinariate and Incardination

Yesterday the three former Anglican bishops were ordained to the diaconate in the chapel of Allen Hall. This means they are now clerics and as such need to be incardinated (Cf canon 266.1). Yet the Ordinariate into which they are to be incardinated does at the time of writing still not exist. Very strange. So where have they been incardinated? Will the Ordinariate be established in time for their priestly ordinations tomorrow?

Also what ever happened to the long-awaited document clarifiying Summorum Pontificum? The last we heard it was almost imminent and would even be released before Christmas.

While I`m at it why are the Sons of the Holy Redeemer on Papa Stronsay still not full regularised years after their reconcilliation when other groups were sorted out very quickly?

All very odd.

And now Pope John Paul II`s beatification is announced. I still wish the normal procedure had been observed to give a longer perspective.

Ushaw update

Many thanks to Leo for this update from the local morning paper, The Journal. Unfortunately this story is not one of those on the paper`s website. I`d recommend clicking on the extract above to enlarge it.

Pope Benedict:`the George Orwell of our time`

My eye was caught by an article with this title on the second page of the Catholic Herald today. Theodore Dalrymple, a non-Catholic, has an article in the Salisbury Review entitled `The Pope strikes back`. You can read the whole thing here. It is well worth reading. Here is the passage about George Orwell:

A great deal of the hostility to the Pope’s visit was likewise caused by his having been right, at least in some things, such as the insufficiency of consumerist materialism as a basis for a satisfactory existence. There are few human types less attractive, surely, than failed materialists, which is what the British, or at least so many of them, now are. They consume without discrimination what they have not earned: which is why many of them are so grotesquely fat as well as so deeply indebted. Indeed, there is scarcely any kind of debt or deficit to which we as a nation have not resorted in order to continue (at least for a time) on our vulgar and degraded way. A nation that behaves thus is quite without honour or self-respect, collective or individual. All this Benedict XVI has seen with a perfectly clear eye; and if what George Orwell once wrote, that we have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men, we might even call the Pope the George Orwell of our time.

And another part of the article:

`In pointing out some of the fallacies, oversimplifications, dangers and empirically unfortunate results of contemporary rationalist utopianism, the Pope is potentially provocative of the kind of spiritual crisis that John Stuart Mill recounts in his Autobiography. When he was twenty, Mill, who had hitherto been trained as a kind of calculating machine for the felicific calculus, asked himself a question, with (for him) devastating results:

Suppose that all your objects in life were realized; that all the changes in institutions and opinions which you are looking forward to, could be erected this very instant: would this be a great joy and happiness to you?’ And an irrepressible self-consciousness answered ‘No!’At this my heart sank within me; the whole foundation on which my life was constructed fell down. All my happiness was to have been founded in the continued pursuit of this end. The end had ceased to charm, and how could there ever again be any interest in the means? I seemed to have nothing left to live for.

In other words, Benedict XVI presents not a challenge to this or that piece of social policy, but to a whole Weltanschauung. And hell hath no fury like a questionable Weltanschauung questioned.

Here it is necessary for me to declare an interest, or rather lack of one. Just as one cannot write of the question of tobacco-control without declaring that one owns no shares in a tobacco company, so I must declare that I am not a Catholic, that I am not religious, that I am not therefore an apologist for the curia or anyone else. I am, in fact, not a systematic thinker at all, lacking the capacity or patience for it. And I disagree with the Pope on many things, but I do not therefore hate him.`