Old Rite Mass still going strong!
A month certainly passes quickly! Mass in Bedford has continued to be very well attended – with plans for a Corpus Christi Mass and procession for 26th May. More details to follow!
Bedford
Latin Mass in the hall
With thanks to Barbara for the post!
An unusual set of circumstances led to the Latin Mass at Bedford being said in the church hall on Sunday 10 April. Our visiting celebrant, Fr Diaz, was delayed for an hour, which meant that the 8.30 am Latin Mass would have run into the 10 am Novus Ordo Mass in the church. So we moved to the church hall, bringing all the necessary Mass items possible from the church. It was not the first time the Latin Mass had been celebrated in the hall, as this had actually been the church up until 1960. However, we believe it was the first time the Latin Mass had been celebrated in the hall for nearly 56 years. As we knelt on the hard floor, used a hall table as an altar and improvised with crockery from the kitchen for the priest’s hand washing, it was a reminder of past, and perhaps future, times when the Mass would be said in difficult circumstances. We thank God for Fr Diaz and all the priests who persisted and gave us those Masses and this one.
Christus Resurrexit!
Notwisthstanding the early start (830 am Mass ‘became’ 730am Mass due to the clocks going back), 50 of us were blessed to hear Fr. Crean’s Mass in the Dominican rite, as well as a wonderful sermon. Thankfully Nicholas managed to battle through the flu to serve!
6th March – Laetare Sunday
The morning frost deterred a few people but 43 still made it to hear Fr. Diaz say Mass on the fourth Sunday of Advent – Laetare Sunday.
On another note, this was a very interesting article about education generally, and St. Joseph’s specifically: http://www.quadrapheme.com/st-josephs-the-answer-to-parents-prayers/
New Primary School – St. Joseph
Not quite the same as the Latin Mass, but certainly related:
A group of parents and educators, including some parishioners who attend the Latin Mass in Bedford, intend to set up a new primary school in Bedford,with the first classes in September 2016.
Here’s the website: http://stjosepheducation.co.uk/
If you know anyone who is interested, please direct them to this site where they can get in touch with the group.
28 February – Fr. Crean
Fr. Crean came down from Leicester to say Mass on 28th February, the third Sunday of Lent. Word continues to spread and we had 58 people attend Mass – not far off a record!
14th February: First Sunday in Lent
Fr.Diaz said Mass for the first Sunday of Lent, and delivered a sermon on the history of Lent. The full piece by Abbot Gueranger is here.
![Fasting#]](https://latinmassbedford.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/fasting.jpg)
Easter Sunday
Deo Gratias! There will be Easter Sunday Mass at 8:30am at Christ the King. We are also seeing whether we can arrange something on Good Friday – watch this space…….
31st January – Sexagesima Sunday
Sexagesima Sunday saw Fr. Law make the long trip up from London to say Mass and deliver a wonderful homily. We are very fortunate indeed – he is only in the UK until June, while he finishes his studies at Allen Hall.
Once more, 49 people came to hear Mass at Christ the King.
And here’s a good post about the Old Rite touching all five senses: http://www.catholicgentleman.net/2016/01/mass-appeal-how-the-traditional-mass-engages-all-five-senses/
24th January – Septuagesima
While the secular world talks about “dry January”, Catholics attending the Old Rite were reminded that an altogether more fulfilling period of fasting and abstinence is shortly upon us. Septuagesima Sunday called for violet vestments and no Gloria – as Fr.Alldrit reminded us, the Gloria will now not be heard until the Easter vigil. A very good blog about is is here; my photos of the 49 people at the 830 Mass are somewhat less good, but hopefully they give an idea of the stability (and growth!) of the Bedford Mass.
