Girl Altar Servers for EF Masses in Cambridge

The Catholic Herald reports (Charterhouse 27/5) that Fr Alban McCoy - the Catholic Chaplain at Cambridge - has allowed young women to serve at EF Masses. It is reported that he has come under "a lot of stick in the past fortnight"!  And rightly so!

Whilst the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae does not mention that female servers are forbidden, it does (in my opinion) clearly state that the rubrics in place in 1962 must be adhered to.  In 1962 female servers were not allowed.  Bishop John Arnold, Chairman of Oxford & Cambridge Catholic Education Board, supports him.  Is that surprising?

Whilst some traditionalists do seek the capitulation of the Ordinary Form, most do not & simply look for those attached to that form of Mass to grant us the same consideration as most of us are prepared to grant them.  I am firmly of the opinion that the Mass is the Mass is the Mass & I do, happily, attend properly celebrated OF Masses.  What I do object to (strongly) are those OF Masses celebrated according to the whims of the celebrant, whether it be changing the words or otherwise defiling the Mass. 

Methodist Ordinations in Liverpool Cathedral cancelled

It seems that Archbishop Kelly has had sense put to him by higher authorities and has withdrawn his permission for ordinations to the Methodist ministry to be carried out in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool.

Many people - including some ecumenists - were shocked that a Catholic cathedral of such standing and importance could conceivably have been put to such use.  While unwilling to use such words as "profanation" it certainly is hardly acceptable that non-Catholic rites should be permitted in the House of God wherein is revered the Body of Christ.  Perhaps if Methodists believed as we do in the Real Presence it might have made sense but surely it cannot be acceptable for their bizarre 'communion' services to be even considered.

ICKSP takes over church in North West

Great news that Bishop Davies of Shrewsbury has given over an unused church to ab Ecclesia Dei religious institution.

The church is that of SS Peter & Paul in New Brighton.  In addition to this the FSSP has 2 houses in the UK, perhaps they too might be given an unused church somewhere.

Traditional values guarantee Catholics at Mass

In his blog 'Let the Welkin ring' Fr Elkin quotes statistics which are both worrying & hopeful.

In this diocese (Hexham & Newcastle) we are to have a 'Welcome Back Sunday' at Pentecost. Father's figures claim that we have just over 20% of Catholics attending Mass in this diocese. That is worrying.

Bishop Bruskewitz in Nebraska has around 60% of Catholics attending. That is hopeful.

To contrast the two dioceses perhaps the fact that the American bishop insists that his priests follow the rubrics of the Roman Missal (I presume in both OF & EF) results in both the proper celebration of the Mass as well as the authentic teaching of Holy Mother Church.

The question to ponder, it seems to me, is whether our bishop should go back to basics & instruct (order?) his priests to celebrate Mass properly or whether he should be inviting non practising Catholics to return to Mass where, at least in some cases, they will see a Mass celebrated by a priest using words other than those prescibed in the rubrics of the Roman Missal.

Please ask yourself the question.

Vitriol in Northern Cross

In the February issue of the Hexham & Newcastle monthly newspaper - Northern Cross - I wrote bewailing the imminent closure of Ushaw College. I admit to being rather sarcastic in describing our Youth Village (I called it our 'Yoof' Village) and suggesting that, instead of building it from scratch it could have been sited on the Ushaw College campus.  The comment re the village was 1 very short paragraph in my letter which dealt with other aspects of diocesan finance viz centralised buying of fuels (gas & electricity) and other items common to most parishes.

The response was 2 pages of what can only be called invective &, it seemed to me, an orchestrated response. Perhaps I touched a nerve?  I am a member of the News Panel of Northern Cross & was offered the opportunity of response but decided not to dignify such letters with a response. I will instead pray that, supposedly, educated people will be granted the wisdom to put their opinions in a more Christian context.

Overture

This is to introduce myself on this new blog. It is totally separate from my LMS blog & all comments in this blog are my own personal thoughts.

I am a traditional Roman Catholic man born in 1938 in Newcastle upon Tyne in NE England. I am fortunate to be able to attend the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite every Sunday although I do attend Ordinary Form Masses regularly. Sadly, I must say that I select such Masses very carefully as too many priests 'do their own thing' instead of following the rubrics of the Mass as laid down in the Roman Missal.

I am a trained altar server up to & including Master of Ceremonies at Solemn High Mass & am happy to train others in these skills.

I do not suffer fools gladly & do not 'do' quiet. I am very upfront with my opinions but will hear other opinions without necessarily agreeing with them. Anyone who holds an opinion without expressing those opinions does not deserve to enter a discussion.

This blog will cover a very catholic range including religion, politics & indeed anything which takes my eye.