Friday 29 May 2015

Corpus Christi

I`m delighted to say we will be celebrating a Solemn High Mass on Thursday June 4th at 7pm for the feast of Corpus Christi. There will be a short processsion afterwards around the outside of the church. Music by Mozart, Elgar and Franck by the Westland Singers. I`ll be joined by Frs David Phillips (deacon) and Bede Rowe (celebrant). Refreshments afterwards in the Ingram Hall. It will be the first use of the new High Mass set if the chasuble arrives from Madrid in time. All welcome. 

Corpus Christi 2014

Thursday 28 May 2015

The Treasures of Ushaw

A few weeks ago I received my copy of the new book `Treasures of Ushaw College`. (Available for £20 from Durham University or from £11.43 via Amazon). Last year we had a preview of the contents in a talk at the North East Catholic History Society which whetted my appetite. While I can`t say I flourished during my time at Ushaw I was interested in what was there and always thought there must be more than was immediately apparent. The fifteenth century Westminiser vestment which made the news recently being worn by cardinal Nichols at his Mass for the repose of Richard III)
Cardinal Nichols wearing the Westminister vestment
appeared at Mass for Douai Martyrs. At the gallery on the first floor the items relating to the Earl of Derwentwater were on display. The Big Library we knew contained ancient tomes and `St Cuthbert`s Ring` was used by ordaining bishops but what else could there be? I was always keen to know and enjoyed showing what was visible to visitors as a college guide. But there was a lot more and this reveals much of it. I remember the seventeenth century Antwerp monstrance whcih was discovered in a jewellers in the 1830s being sold as a watch stand and the multi-coloured all-purpose recusant chasuble but knew nothing of the eighteenth century Sloane cope or the Augsburg chalice of c.1700.
The Sloane Chalice, commissioned for Pope Paul V, 1605-1621
The paintings of Rohden  which seemed just part of the fixtures acquire a new attractiveness when presented in this book.

Ushaw seems to be more at ease with its history now the seminary has closed. In my day we were only allowed to look forward as we sat at our coffee table Masses and were led to believe that we had outgrown our past.

This book will be of interest to any past student of Ushaw with an interest in its history. One item I thought to see in the book which doesn`t make it is the cassock of St Pius X sent by ex-Ushawman Cardinal Merry del Val and housed in its tiny purpose built chapel for most of its time there. However that may be one for the next volume!

Thursday 7 May 2015

Fr Lawrence Jones` Requiem


As expected the Requiem Mass for Fr Lawrence Jones at St Mary`s Cathedral Newcastle was moving and uplifting. Fr Michael McCoy preached a wonderful homily which you can hear here. It helps if you knew Lawrence but if not it is still well worth a listen. Requiescat in pace.