MORE FROM USHAW

Here is a pic of me celebrating Low Mass at the High Altar of Ushaw College seminary chapel. Below is a press relase from Dr Joseph Shaw, chairman of the LMS. I am grateful to Fr. Ray Blake at www.marymagdalen.blogspot.com for the photo and the press release. Fr. Blake is a fine priest. Do have a look at his blog when you have a moment.

Between Monday 12 and Friday 16 April the Latin Mass Society (LMS) hosted its fifth national residential conference in four years to train priests in the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The conference was held in Ushaw College, Durham, and twenty priests were trained.

This year, for the first time, the conference included separate tuition for laymen to become proficient MCs for the ceremonies of the Extraordinary Form. Ten laymen attended the course.

Among the clergy present were two young priests from the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka, who had been sent by Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, ex-Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome. Archbishop Ranjith is actively reintroducing the Extraordinary Form into his diocese.

Apart from the expert small group tuition given by experienced priests, there were Latin classes and lectures, daily Lauds, Compline, Vespers, Rosary and Benediction. Each morning the college’s numerous side chapels were used by the priests to say their private Masses. Traditional Rite liturgies were offered each day in the seminary’s magnificent St Cuthbert’s chapel and there were impressive opening and closing High Masses at which the Church’s treasury of plainchant and polyphony was heard.

At the conference dinner on the Thursday evening, a letter of support from Archbishop Ranjith was read out. The archbishop encouraged the LMS in its work of implementing the Motu Proprio and helping priests learn the Extraordinary Form of Mass and he congratulated the Society ‘in this beautiful undertaking in the name of the Church’s Tradition and orthodoxy which is our need and the need of the time’.

The LMS has already announced its next residential training conference to be held at Downside Abbey from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 August. Full details are available from the LMS.

BENEDICTION AT USHAW

A couple of weeks ago I attended a conference organised by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales for those who wished to learn more about the Church's Liturgical Patrmony. I have attended a number of these training conferences over the years and learned how to celebrate Low Mass, Missa Cantata and Missa Solemnis. This year I was asked to lend a hand training altar servers and Masters of Ceremonies.

Below is a picture of me (courtesy of Joseph Shaw at www.lmschairman.org) presiding at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the beautiful chapel of Ushaw College, the seminary for the Northern Province.

EASTER DAY

Just a couple of pics taken on Easter Day.

EASTER GARDEN

The Altar of Repose is now transformed into the Garden of the Resurrection.

EASTER VIGIL

On this most holy night the Church invites her members to come together in vigil and prayer. Below are a few pics taken at our Easter Vigil.

HOLY THURSDAY/ GOOD FRIDAY

On Holy Thursday the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper was celebrated at St Joseph's Church. At St Marie's we decided to make the Cross the focus of our thoughts and meditations. In this post we see the Cross drapped with the red material and adorned with five red roses to symbolise the Blood and Wounds of Our Saviour.

Bleow this picture is the simple altar of repose with the tomb.

PALM SUNDAY

It seems that the problems of uploading pics to the blog are over. I am happy to share with you some photos from our Easter Triduum celebrations between the two parishes. The ones below are of the blessing of Palms at St Marie's.

PROBLEMS

Sorry for not updating the blog before now. I have been experiencing some technical problems. Hopefully they will be sorted out soon.