St George's Day

St George the Dragon Slayer by nun Agathe at the Benaki Museum, Athens

There will be a Missa Cantata at the Birmingham Oratory for St George's Day, 23rd April at 6pm.

Please note there is no Halesowen Mass tomorrow, and the last monthly last Friday Mass at Solihull is this week - details and directions are in the sidebar.

The Feast of the Annunciation, Passion Week, Holy Week and Easter

There will be no Mass at Halesowen for the next two weeks. However, there will be a 7pm High Mass on Wednesday at the Birmingham Oratory for the Feast of the Annunciation, with First Vespers in Latin on the 24th at 6pm.

The Last Friday Solihull Mass also takes place this week.

There will obviously be no Friday or Saturday Masses the week after next because this falls during the Triduum; however, there will be an additional Mass at Wolverhampton on Monday 30th March at 6.30pm.

There are two Masses, on Easter Sunday in the area, the 10.30am High Mass at the Birmingham Oratory and the 8am Low Mass at Wolverhampton - see sidebar for directions. There will also be a 3pm Mass at St Ambrose, Kidderminster in neighbouring Worcestershire, which will probably be Sung.

High Mass for the Solemnity of St Joseph

St Joseph's Altar, Birmingham Oratory (source)

There will be a High Mass at 7pm on Thursday 19th March at the Birmingham Oratory for the Solemnity of St Joseph. The Oratorian community invites you to their celebration of Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, particularly if you are a father, to honour the Patron of the Universal Church and implore his intercession for the Church today.

Changes to First Monday Mass in Redditch

Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Redditch (source: parish website)

It has been decided that the monthly Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Redditch will move from its current time to 6pm in future. The times on the calendar in the sidebar have been amended to reflect this.

The next first Monday Redditch Mass coincides with the Feast of St Chad on Monday 2nd March.

The next two coincide with the Easter Monday and May Day Bank Holidays; therefore, it has been decided to move these two Masses to the second Monday of the Month, i.e. Monday 13th April and Monday 11th May.

Please pass this information on to anyone who may be interested in attending - the times and dates published in the new issue of Mass of Ages are incorrect.

Ash Wednesday High Mass

The imposition of Ashes at a Latin Mass in West Bromwich, 2011

The Birmingham Oratory will be celebrating High Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite on Ash Wednesday (18th February 2015) at 7pm. According to the Latin Mass Society Ash Wednesday Mass listings, this will be the only EF High Mass on Ash Wednesday in the country - all the more reason to go!

The Halesowen Mass this week is cancelled.

Perhaps as our minds turn towards Lent suggestions for appropriate seasonal reading could be added as a comment to this blogpost?

Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Next Monday is the traditional end of Christmastide with the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is also the anniversary of the founding of the Oratorian family in England. The Oratory will celebrate a High Mass in the Extraordinary Form at 7pm. There will also a first Monday Mass in Redditch at 6.30pm.

This Friday 30th January, the regular Friday Mass at the Oratory will be a Missa Cantata in honour of Blessed Sebastian Valfre C.O. of the Turin Oratory. It is also the last Friday of the month, so the monthly Solihull Mass will also be taking place at 6.30pm.

Please also note there will be no Halesowen Mass for the next two weeks.

First Monday Redditch Mass Reminder

Just a reminder that the first Monday Mass in Redditch is this coming Monday. Numbers at this Mass are down partly due to the two servers leaving to become seminarians and another young member leaving for university, so your attendance would be appreciated if you have ever thought of attending. Directions are available on the parish website here.

The picture above comes from the parish Twitter feed, and was the sight that met our eyes after the consecration of the church by Archbishop Bernard Longley on 16th July last year. The caption on the image on Twitter quoted a very relevant piece of scripture: God said to Noah "I set my rainbow in the clouds, it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth" Gen 9:13. The Church was opened in 1848 and was originally served by the Benedictine monks of Downside and then Belmont before being taken over by the Archdiocese. The consecration of the church in this case means that the Archdiocese has officially taken charge of the church and the monks are not going to be returning.

LMS Calendar 2015 available from Local Reps

The LMS Office may be closed for the Christmas period, but if you would like an LMS Calendar in time for the New Year there are a limited number available from your Latin Mass Society local representatives. You can find the contact details for your local representative here.

The LMS Calendar has proved very popular in previous years and has sold out. Unfortunately this year we received the calendars rather late which would have caused a problem for those who prefer to purchase one early. Both Benadette and I have a number of calendars and if you can meet us you will not have to pay the postage and packing. I will have a number available to buy at the Oratory High Mass on New Year's day if you are able to make it.

I wish all readers a restful remainder of the Octave of Christmas and all the best for 2015.

Christmas Mass Schedule 2015

There are five High Masses and several amendments and additions to the Low Mass schedule over the Christmas period. These are outlined below and in the calendar in the sidebar. Directions to the churches are available in the sidebar.

Wednesday 24th December 2014  
No Halesowen Mass

Thursday 25th December 2014  
Christmas Day
Wolverhampton 8 a.m. Low Mass of Dawn
Oratory 10.30 a.m. High Mass of the Day

Friday 26th December 2014
St Stephen Oratory 9 a.m. Low Mass with Carols


Saturday 27th December 2014
St John the Evangelist Oratory 9.30a.m. Low Mass

Sunday 28th December 2014
Sunday of the Octave of the Nativity Oratory 10.30 a.m. High Mass

Monday 29th December & Tuesday 30th December - No EF Masses

Wednesday 31st December Halesowen 12 noon Low Mass

Thursday 1st January 2015 
Octave Day of Christmas Oratory 12 noon High Mass

Friday 2nd January 2015
Oratory 6 p.m. Low Mass
Wolverhampton 6.30 p.m. Low Mass
Solihull 6.30 p.m. Low Mass

Saturday 3rd January 2015 Oratory 9.30a.m. Low Mass

Sunday 4th January 2015 External Solemnity of the Epiphany
Oratory  10.30 a.m. High Mass

Monday 5th January 2015 Redditch 6 p.m. Low Mass
Tuesday 6th January 2015 Epiphany Oratory 7 p.m. High Mass

Blessed Anthony Grassi and Rorate Masses

Rorate Mass, Novena of the Immaculate Conception 2013 (Birmingham Oratory Gallery)

Following on from the last post, the 6.00pm Friday Mass at the Oratory will be a Rorate Mass, as will the Saturday morning Mass which will be moved from its normal time of 9.30am to 7.30am. There will also be an additional Mass tomorrow at 6.00pm for the Feast of Oratorian Blessed Anthony Grassi, with Bp Robert Byrne preaching.

Immaculate Conception High Mass and Rorate Masses

Immaculate Conception High Mass 2013 (Birmingham Oratory Gallery)

It's been a blessed few days at the Birmingham Oratory; it started with Fr Francis Gavin's ordination at 6pm on Friday evening by fellow Oratorian Bishop Robert Byrne - I think we can forgive them cancelling the regular Friday evening EF Mass for this! His first Mass in the Ordinary Form followed at 11am on Saturday morning and earlier today he celebrated his first High Mass in the Extraordinary Form, complete with coped Assistant priest. Each of the three events was followed by the opportunity to receive first blessings, which obtains a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions. Fr Francis may take a well earned rest now, but the events continue apace at the Birmingham Oratory, with an Extraordinary Form High Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception tomorrow at 7pm. The Friday evening Mass will return at its usual time of 6pm this week, but it will be a candlelit Rorate Mass and so will the Saturday morning Mass which moves from its regular time of 9.30am to 7.30am. Last year Rorate Masses at 6pm on Friday evening and 7.30am on Saturday morning were a regular feature of the Oratory's Advent celebrations, so check back here or the Oratory website for further events.

Fr Francis will also be giving his final talk of an excellent autumn series on Thursday evening at 8pm. Having attended many of the previous talks, I can highly recommend it if you are available. The topic of Thursday's talk will be on Euthanasia and Assisted Dying.

Rorate Masses of Novena of the Immaculate Conception

Rorate Mass, Novena of the Immaculate Conception 2013 (Birmingham Oratory Gallery)

As part of the Novena for the Immaculate Conception, there will be a 6pm Rorate Mass at the Birmingham Oratory this week from Monday to Thursday. The usual Friday Mass will not take place because Br Francis is being ordained to the priesthood by fellow Oratorian Bp Robert Byrne. You would be very welcome to attend the Ordination Mass. Please keep Br Francis in your prayers.

Also, the 6.30pm First Monday Mass at Redditch returns tomorrow after a break for a couple of months.

November Monday Evening Requiem Masses at the Birmingham Oratory

Just like last year, a Requiem Mass will be held at 6pm on Monday evenings at the Birmingham Oratory followed by Sung Vespers for the Dead: the picture on the left is one of these Masses celebrated last year.

You may also be interested in attending the ordination of Br Francis of the Oratory by former Birmingham Oratorian Bishop Robert Byrne, which will take place on Friday 5th December 2014, probably in the evening with first Masses on Saturday and Sunday. I will update this post when I have further information.

Oratory All Saints and All Souls Masses

Picture courtesy of the Birmingham Oratory Gallery

Birmingham Oratory Masses

Sat 1st November (All Saints) - 9.30am Sung Mass

Sun 2nd November (External Solemnity of All Saints) 10.30am High Mass

Mon 3rd November (All Souls) 7pm High Mass

There may be some more Masses available on All Souls - please contact the Birmingham Oratory for further details.

Please note that the regular monthly first Monday Mass at Redditch has been cancelled this week (3rd November).

New Last Friday Solihull Mass

St Augustine (source: Church website)

If you closely watch the calendar in the sidebar or follow the Facebook page of the local branch of the LMS, you will notice that there will be a new Extraordinary Form Mass in the area on the last Friday of the month at St Augustines in Solihull Town centre. The celebrant will be Fr Daniel Horgan, ably assisted by Kevin O'Connor who also serves the Maryvale Mass on 2nd Wednesdays. This is a most welcome development for two reasons, namely that we have lost the weekly Friday Mass at St John Fisher since the departure of Fr George, and that it is the first regular Mass in the East Birmingham Deanery. Please support this Mass if you are able to do so and publicise it to anyone who might be interested.

Details:

6.30pm Last Friday of the month (first Mass 31st October)

St Augustine's Catholic Church
1, Herbert Road
Solihull,
West Midlands,
B91 3QE

Last West Heath Mass this Friday

Fr George preaching at the High Mass for St John Fisher (2014)

Fr George Grynowski will be leaving St John Fisher in West Heath this weekend and celebrating his last Mass in the Extraordinary Form there this Friday and the regular time of 6.30pm. This will be the last Extraordinary Form Mass there for the time being: two priests from Cameroon will be taking over the running of the parish while studying at Maryvale, and closer links will be forged between St John Fisher, Our Lady and St Brigid in Northfield and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Rednal. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr George for his provision of the Extraordinary Form in this parish. In addition to the weekly Friday Mass, which started life as a monthly first Friday celebration at 7pm, the parish was also famed for the only regular (annual) Extraordinary Form High Mass to be held outside the Oratory in the region, which took place on the old date of the Feast of SS John Fisher and Thomas More. The picture in this post is of Fr George preaching at the most recent such  celebration earlier this year; more photos are available here. Even though he seems too young, Fr George will be retiring from active ministry but hopefully we will still see him celebrate the odd EF Mass, particularly at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Redditch which he will continue to celebrate on the first Monday of every month, with the exception of the coming Monday in October where the Mass has been cancelled.

Forty Hours' Devotion High Mass of Exposition

High Mass of Exposition, Forty Hours' Devotion 2013

The Birmingham Oratory will be holding its annual Forty Hours' Devotion starting on Tuesday 30th September with an EF High Mass of Exposition at 7pm. There will be a Holy Hour and Compline the next day at 8pm and 9pm respectively, and it will end with Solemn Vespers, Procession, Benediction and Reposition at 7pm on Thursday 2nd October 2014. The photo above is from the High Mass of Exposition in 2013.

Departures and the Future of the Maryvale Mass

Fr Paul Lester and server Kevin O'Connor

I am delighted to announce that, despite the departure of Fr Paul Lester to Hethe in Oxfordshire on 10th September, the parish priest of Christ the King in Kingstanding, Fr Eamonn Corduff, will be taking over the celebration of the 2nd Wednesday Maryvale Mass for the foreseeable future. His first Mass will be on the same day as Fr Paul's departure, this Wednesday 10th September at 7pm. This will be Fr Eamonn's first celebration of the Extraordinary Form and he will be ably assisted by veteran server Kevin O'Connor, so if you are able to support them this Wednesday please do your best to attend.

In other news, Fr George's departure from St John Fisher in West Heath has been confirmed: his final weekend will be on the 4/5 October. I will post on the future of the Friday Masses at West Heath and first Monday Masses at Redditch as soon as I have any further information - however I can confirm there will be no Mass in Redditch on the first Monday in October (the 6th). Please also pray for the two Redditch servers, Joshua Crunden and Mateusz Bugno, who both entered seminary this September at Oscott and in Poland respectively.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr Paul for bringing the Extraordinary Mass to Maryvale, Fr Eamonn for agreeing to take it over, and our servers Kevin, Joshua and Mateusz for their assistance in helping priests offer a worthy celebration of the Mass. I am sure they will all remain in your prayers.

High Mass Photos and Late August 2014 Mass News

Elevation at High Mass, St John Fisher 9th July 2014

If you keep up with the newsletter, you may have been aware that there was a Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the Birmingham Oratory at 9am on Bank Holiday Monday. However, there will be no Mass at Halesowen or West Heath this week. Normal service will resume at both next week.

I am pleased to announce there will be Mass at Maryvale on the 10th September and I am hopeful that the 2nd Wednesday Mass there will continue despite Fr Paul Lester's imminent departure to Heathe in Oxfordshire.

Finally, Matthew Doyle has uploaded the photos of the West Heath High Mass that took place on the Old Rite Feast of Ss John Fisher and Thomas More. They are available here.

Positio 4: Liturgical Orientation

If you have ever been asked why, in the Extraordinary Form, the priest celebrates Mass with his back to the people, perhaps you could forward the following video: