The well-known children’s story The Secret Garden lends itself to a religious and modern interpretation. Like orphaned children in desperate need of spiritual comfort, many Catholics discovered the traditional Latin Mass thanks to the Covid pandemic. Thirsting for Confession, for Eucharistic adoration, or for Holy Communion administered with reverence, they rejoiced when finding all this and more in traditional worship. This book offers an analogy between Frances Hodgson Burnett’s pre-WWI tale for children, and the revelation experienced in the 2020s by a growing number of adults stepping into the grace-filled haven of the traditional Roman liturgy.
Praise for The Sacred Liturgy as a Secret Garden
A very clever treatment of the novel The Secret Garden. That well-known children story should be read twice—firstly, as any reader would read it just for enjoyment, and then again after reading Fr de Malleray’s fascinating hermeneutic of tradition, because the enjoyment and appreciation would be much greater. —Leo Darroch, former President of the International Federation Una Voce
An imaginative essay, whose poetic nature is a timely invitation to rediscover the forgotten riches of the Church’s traditional liturgy. —Fr Simon Henry, BA MA, Director of St Peter’s International College
This essay is intriguing, creative and sufficiently provocative to maintain the reader’s interest. The variety of expression is refreshing. Readers of all ages will enjoy discovering the liturgical treasures that lie hidden in the Secret Garden. —Fr Neil Brett, former head teacher
Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP holds a Master’s Degree in Modern Literature from the University of The Sorbonne in Paris. Ordained a priest and first assigned in England in 2001, he has been the editor of the quarterly magazine Dowry since 2008 and is the author of theological essays, of fiction and of art commentaries. He regularly preaches retreats to the clergy and the laity, and to young members of the Juventutem youth movement of which he has been the general chaplain since 2004. Since 2015, he is rector of St Mary’s Shrine Church in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, England.
MASS INTENTIONS Sunday 31st July 8.30 am Marek Oledzki 12.30 pm Private intention
CONFESSIONS 3 pm—5 pm Saturdays
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION Monday 15th August, Holyday of Obligation, Mass 7.30 pm.h
ROSARY BOUQUET
When Fr Gwilym Evans joins Fr Goddard and Fr Phipps at Reading on 14 August, this will mark the last day the Warrington priests will be saying Mass at Bedford; they have been coming since December 2020. In thanksgiving for their ministry with us, we would like to offer them a Rosary Bouquet. Katherine is kindly organising this – we are aiming for 100 Rosaries! Please get in touch giving your name and the number of Rosaries you would like to offer. There is also a sign-up sheet available on the ‘sales table’ in the hall over coffee.
FSSP SUMMER CAMPS Please pray for the priests, seminarians, lay people and the children themselves as they take part in the Boys’ Camp (1st—6th August) and the Girls’ Camp (8th—13th August), both being held in the Peak District in Derbyshire.
MARCH FOR LIFE—SATURDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER See https://www.marchforlife.co.uk/2022-annual-event-page/ for ways to be involved.
YOUNG CATHOLIC ADULT WEEKEND Douai Abbey, Berkshire 7th—9th October 2022 Are you 18—40? YCA are organizing a weekend at Douai Abbey in Berkshire where you’ll be able to hear catechetical talks, learn how to sing Gregorian Chant, say the Rosary, socialise and have fun. Book soon as places are limited! Prices start from £12 (come for the day) and £55 per person per night (residential). All Masses are Old Rite. To book go to:- https://bookwhen.com/youngcatholicadults-douai2022.
ACCESS TO THE SACRAMENTS If there is the need for sacraments — baptism, confirmation, sick calls etc — please contact Fr Goddard as the priest in charge of the Chaplaincy Masses at Christ the King on telephone number 0118 966 5284 or by email: goddard AT fssp.org.
NEXT HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION Mass for the Feast of the Assumption, Monday 15th August, 7.30 pm.
FR GWILYM EVANS Fr Evans was ordained to the sacred priesthood in Bavaria on 18th June. We are delighted to announce that he has been assigned to St John Fisher Parish in Reading, to assist in our apostolates in the Portsmouth and Northampton Dioceses. Fr Evans begins his mission in this country as chaplain to our boys’ camp in August. He commences his assignment in Reading with Solemn Mass on 14th August. We are hoping to see him sometime in Bedford to give First Blessings!
REPOSITORY Rosie, who runs the parish repository, has kindly agreed to open it after the 8.30 am Mass once a month. The first such opening is today and the next one will be in September. You will find cards, rosaries etc for sale at reasonable prices, cash only please.
12TH ANNUAL G K CHESTERTON PILGRIMAGE SATURDAY 30TH JULY 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of Chesterton’s conversion to Catholicism at the age of 48. See https://ww.catholicgkchestertonsociety.co.uk/ for how to get involved through walking, prayer or sponsorship. The whole walk is 27 miles or you can join for part of it.
YOUNG CATHOLIC ADULT WEEKEND Douai Abbey, Berkshire 7th—9th October 2022 Are you 18—40? YCA are organizing a weekend at Douai Abbey in Berkshire where you’ll be able to hear catechetical talks, learn how to sing Gregorian Chant, say the Rosary, socialise and have fun. Book soon as places are limited! Prices start from £12 (come for the day) and £55 per person per night (residential). All Masses are Old Rite. To book go to:- https://bookwhen.com/youngcatholicadults-douai2022.
RENTAL PROPERTY REQUEST A Spanish family is looking to move to Britain. Alfonso Chicarro is looking for a standard rental property for his wife and 5 children, within a 30 minute drive of Meppershall, for any ideas or suggestions please get in touch.
ACCESS TO THE SACRAMENTS If there is the need for sacraments — baptism, confirmation, sick calls etc — please contact Fr Goddard as the priest in charge of the Chaplaincy Masses at Christ the King goddard AT fssp.org.
With Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP and Fr Gerard Quirke, and up to 40 young adults 18-35.
Sign up for our weekend away at Stonyhurst this July by emailing us at juventutemldn@gmail.com.
Hurry up: booking deadline Thur 14th July!
Spend the weekend with us in a beautiful setting, take the opportunity to get away from London and enjoy the stunning grounds, time with friends and Mass and devotions in the beautiful chapel.
Spaces are limited so email now to apply for a place!
A reminder that today members of the Confraternity of St Peter can gain a plenary indulgence (under the usual conditions). If you would like to join the Confraternity, please contact Fr Phipps.
Let us pray for our sovereign pontiff.
Here is a sermon Fr Phipps gave in 2018 for this feast:
Boys on the St Peter Summer Camp hike through the beautiful Peak District (2019)
UPDATE 1/7/22: Bookings are now closed.
NB Update 27/6/22.There are a few spaces remaining on these camps, but bookings MUST be received this week
We are delighted that after a two-year gap, it looks as though it will be possible this year to have our residential summer camps, for children aged 10-17.
St Peter Summer Camp for Boys runs 1-6 August
St Petronilla Summer Camp for Girls runs 8-13 August
Both camps take place at Savio House, Bollington (nr Macclesfield), in the gorgeous setting of the Peak District. There will be daily Mass, Compline, rosary, catechism & chant classes, sport, and various games. Very often the children put on a play for the parents at the end of the camp. Each camp is staffed by priests and seminarians of the FSSP, as well as a number of dedicated lay volunteers. Catering is provided by Savio House.
Please complete the booking form and return to Fr Phipps with deposit to book a place for your child. Please note, spaces are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.
NB Please make out cheques to “FSSP England”. If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, you will find our details here – please ensure you are using ‘FSSP England’ account, and mention ‘summer camps 2022’ (or similar) in the reference.
A seminarian teaches catechism on the summer camp (2018)
Girls on St Petronilla Summer Camp rehearse for a play (2019)
About 200 people attended the 11:00am solemn high Mass of the external solemnity of Corpus Christi at St Mary’s Shrine, Warrington, on Sunday 19th June 2022. At the same Mass, several of our children received First Holy Communion.
Most of the congregation followed in procession across town to St Alban’s, the mother-church of Warrington, where Canon Cunningham, PP welcomed us for Benediction. As every year, people came from far and wide to take part in this rare opportunity to bear witness to our Eucharistic faith. Many passers-by will have looked at the Lord in the monstrance, perhaps for the first time in their lives.
Thank you to all those who worked very hard to make this Corpus Christi a success.
8.30 am Karen Martin RIP 12.30 pm Private intention
Wednesday 29th June
7.30 pm Lubbock family
Confessions 3-5pm Saturday
FIRST SATURDAY ARTWORK Therese Withers will be bringing her beautiful Catholic cards, prints etc, after the 8.30 am Mass to the hall today. Please support her beautiful and unique artistic endeavours.
HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION Wednesday 29th June SS Peter and Paul—Mass at 7.30 pm. Plenary indulgence for Confraternity of St Peter members this day.
CONFRATERNITY OF ST PETER Please consider supporting our priests and vocations to the priesthood through joining the Confraternity. The commitment is to say a daily Decade of the Rosary and the Confraternity prayer, and to have a Mass offered once a year. Please see https://www.fssp.org/en/help-us/confraternity-of-saint-peter/ for more information.
PRAYERS PLEASE! Please continue to pray for our recent First Holy Communion children, Confirmation candidates and Fr Gwilym Evans, newly ordained to the Sacred Priesthood.
MASS INTENTIONS Sunday 19th June 8.30 pm Grarzyna Kurek RIP 12.30 pm Private intention
CONFESSIONS 3 pm—5 pm Saturdays
HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION: Wednesday 29th June SS Peter and Paul 7.30 pm
CONFIRMATION Please pray for the confirmandi from our community (Georgina, Tristan, Cecilia, Alwin, Teresa, Christian, Helena, Jerome, Ethan, Robert, Abiel, John and Raphael) and those from Chesham Bois (Raphael, Florence, Robert and Juliana) who will be confirmed by Bishop David Oakley at Christ the King at 4 pm today. All are welcome at the Confirmation, which will be followed by Benediction; please note that there is no Mass on this occasion.
DEACON GWILYM EVANS FSSP Please continue to pray for Deacon Evans who will be ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in Bavaria tomorrow. He hopes to be able to offer a First Mass in Bedford during the summer and we look forward to meeting him.
COFFEE ROTA The rota for July will be compiled this week. New volunteers would be welcome and would be paired with one of the ‘old hands’. Please contact Barbara on mbky3 AT outlook DOT com.
Deacon Evans (who was a parishioner at the Latin Mass in Bedford some years back) is being ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in Bavaria on Saturday 18th June. He has asked for a novena from 9th June, copies of which are available.
PARISH HEALTH & SAFETY OFFICER If anyone would be willing to help the parish with this role, please speak initially with Fr Nicholas (I can give his contact details). The key qualities needed are an attention to detail and an ability to put Diocesan policies into practice in the parish, for which good computer skills are needed. Help, support and online training will be given
VOLUNTEERS We need volunteers throughout the year to help with money counting, singing in the choir, church cleaning, gardening and driving the minibus. Please consider if you can help in any of these areas and contact Nigel Anstead on 07780 617057 or speak to Father Nicholas.
ACCESS TO THE SACRAMENTS
If there is the need for sacraments — baptism, confirmation, sick calls etc — please contact Fr Goddard on telephone number 0118 966 5284 or by email: goddard AT fssp.org.
