Thanks be to God, the latest restrictions announced by the government do not affect public worship in England. Therefore, our Mass schedule continues as advertised.
To read our latest bulletin, go here.
Fri 29 Jan 2021 at 17:00 – Sun 31 Jan 2021 at 14:00
St Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, Warrington WA1 2NS, England
[Obviously subject to Covid regulations in January: check our website for updates.]
Is God calling ME?
Matrimony, celibacy, monastery, seminary, Fraternity?
If you are a single Catholic man between 18 and 29 years of age, come and discern with us at St Mary’s Priory & Church.
Shrine Rector Fr de Malleray, FSSP will lead the Weekend, assisted by Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP and Fr Alex Stewart, FSSP.
There will be talks, prayers (Divine Office in our beautiful church), Holy Mass and informal chatting with fellow guests. Possibility of private meetings with a priest, and of confession.
[No sign up sheet for the FSSP at the end of the Weekend!]
Feel welcome confidentially to call, email or write for any questions.
Residential, at St Mary’s Priory: 2 nights and 2 days.
FREE for unwaged and students. Others: £60 per person in total.
COME & SEE.
Please share the information with your friends!
BOOKINGS & CONTACT: [not via Facebook] malleray@fssp.org (read by Fr de Malleray only); 01925 635664 (Priory’s Landline).
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VOCATION RESOURCES:
General page: https://fssp.co.uk/vocations-to-the-priesthood/
Audio conferences on the priest 1) and Our Lady; 2) and Martyrdom : http://www.radioimmaculata.org/audio-on-demands/various-audio-on-demand/various-homilies/father-armand-de-malleray
Latest book on the Sacred Priesthood by Fr de Malleray: https://www.amazon.co.uk/X-Ray-Priest-Field-Hospital-Reflections/dp/1989905013
Book on the holy Eucharist here: https://www.lumenfidei.ie/product/ego-eimi-it-is-i/
Seminary blog: http://fsspwigratzbad.blogspot.com/
Know us better through browsing online our quarterly magazine Dowry here: https://fssp.co.uk/category/dowry/
International Vocation Prayer Network: www.fssp.org/en/help-us/confraternity-of-saint-peter/
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VOCATION NEWS: 12 FSSP UK (& Ireland) PRIESTS IN 18 YEARS
We have currently six young men from England & Wales in formation at our two international seminaries. Three of our deacons from England were ordained priests at St Mary’s Warrington in the past few years by Archbishop McMahon, OP of Liverpool. Those were the first EF priestly ordinations by a diocesan bishop in England in fifty years.
Please pray for them (www.fssp.org/en/help-us/confraternity-of-saint-peter/) and for many more to enter the lists!
In total, 43 young men were admitted into our two seminaries this past autumn including 1 from England.
We give thanks for 12 priests from the UK & Ireland over the past 18 years: Fr Konrad Loewenstein in 2002; Fr Brendan Gerard in 2006; Frs Matthew Goddard and William Barker in 2009; Fr Simon Harkins in 2010; Fr Matthew McCarthy in 2011; Fr Ian Verrier in 2015; Fr James Mawdsley in 2016; Frs Alex Stewart and Krzysztof Sanetra in 2017; Fr Seth Phipps and Fr Patrick O’Donohue (incorporated) in 2018.
Please pray for us. We assure you of our prayer.
O Lord, grant us many holy priests!
Our latest newsletter, with Mass times and activities is here
Please note especially the times for Masses at Christmas:
Bedford: Midnight Mass, and 8.30am (Dawn Mass of Christmas)
Reading: Midnight Mass (Sung), and 11am (Day Mass of Christmas)
Chesham Bois: 8am (Dawn Mass of Christmas – Sung)
There will also be a Holy Hour followed by a Sung Mass at Midnight on New Year’s Day in Reading.
Click here to open the 20-page pdf.
In this issue:
Editorial: Gloom versus Glow
I Go To The King!
The Philosophy of Christendom
Sharing our Roman Traditions
A Very Priestly Fraternity
Schools of Prayer
The Privilege of Motherhood
Good Books For All As Christmas Presents
Three Books On Priestly Spirituality
Catholic Novels: When Fiction Illustrates Faith
History And Spirituality Books For All
Support Our Apostolate
Reminder: the restrictions imposed by the Government prevent many faithful from meeting the usual conditions to gain the plenary indulgences on behalf of the Holy Souls in Purgatory during this month of November. Thankfully the Holy See has granted more flexible conditions, allowing nearly every one to help one or several holy souls enter heaven this month.
In particular, entering a church or a cemetery is now dispensed with. One can gain the indulgence from home if unable to travel to a church or cemetery. Anyone able to travel is of course expected to make use of the provision for private visit and private prayer to one’s local church, which can include on individual request Confession and private Holy Communion.
Please read here the Vatican decree.
Fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace!
As you will be aware, the Government’s new lockdown legislation calls for the cessation of public worship. Please sign this petition and write to your local MP to challenge this blatant and unnecessary violation of liberty. You will be pleased to note that the Bishops Conference has challenged the Government on this point, as have several bishops including Bishop Egan. Please pray that these restrictions are lifted quickly.
During the lockdown, we will strive to keep the founts of sacramental grace flowing. Please note that, commencing Friday 6th November, St William of York Church will be open for private prayer at the following times, during which a priest will be available for Confession. Furthermore, 20 minutes before the end of each period of opening, Holy Communion will be distributed at the altar rails.
Sun: 9am to 10.30am (with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
Mon: 12pm to 1.30pm
Tue: 7am to 8.30am
Wed: 12pm to 1.30pm
Thu: 10am to 11.30am
Fri: 7.30pm to 9pm
Sat: 8am to 9.30am
The Mass intentions noted in the previous bulletin (planned before the lockdown was called) will still be fulfilled, at the priests’ private Masses on the given days.
At Christ the King Church, Bedford: Confessions will be available on Sat 7th November from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
At Our Lady’s Church, Chesham Bois: We are planning to be available for confessions on a Saturday afternoon later in the month – to be announced on the next parish email on 13th November.
NB: The Mens Group is cancelled but the Ladies Group will go ahead as planned on Sat 7th. The Confirmations planned for 22 November are postponed again – they will be a priority once public worship resumes.
Please see the full bulletin here.
Secure now what no lockdown will ever take away from you: whether you are single or married, lay or consecrated, surrender to the Lord in loving trust. Start now.
https://www.facebook.com/londonjuventutem/videos/375918323442245
Juventutem London resumed its monthly Mass and Social in September after the lockdowns of the summer. In this video recording, Fr Armand de Malleray offers a homily to the faithful on the theme of betrothal to Christ. Fr reflects that “betrothal […] is to give ourselves completely body and soul to somebody else. For human couples in holy matrimony, this is being married and starting a family. For the individual soul, it is to surrender all that we are to the Lord, in trust that He will make use of what we are, who we are, better than if we were making the decisions.”
To see the latest newsletter, go here
[Updated on 16th October 2020]
THANK YOU!
Priory Campaign Completed with £1m Raised
Dear Friends,
Our conveyancer emailed us today: “I am pleased to confirm that completion has taken place today.” The purchase of Priory Court Unit 1, 2 and 3 is now completed and our charity legally owns the entire building.
Our heartfelt thanks go to God and all our benefactors for the success of the Priory Campaign. The Trustees of FSSP England are delighted to announce that the remaining funds needed to complete the purchase of Priory Court (Unit 1) and to undertake the necessary conversion work have now been raised and we have ceased fundraising.
Fr Goddard, our charity’s Bursar, has written as follows: “This much needed addition to St Mary’s Shrine facilities involves significant funding, and it would not have been possible without your financial support. At the time of writing, with a few final administrative checks still to be undertaken, we are fairly certain that the Priory Campaign final total stands at £957,917.48. This includes a legacy of £139,800.00 which the executor was happy to put towards Campaign funds. When we add the expected Gift Aid rebates on some of your donations, along with other funds received towards hall facilities, this raises the total to about £1,019,300.00. With last year’s purchase of Units 2 and 3, and some remedial works completed in recent months, roughly half of this figure has been spent. However, the remaining funds will allow us to comfortably buy Unit 1 and make all the necessary conversion work and adaptions for Shrine use.”ur heartfelt thanks go to God and all our benefactors for the success of the Priory Campaign. The Trustees of FSSP England are delighted to announce that the remaining funds needed to complete the purchase of Priory Court (Unit 1) and to undertake the necessary conversion work have now been raised and we have ceased fundraising.
It seemed very fitting for us to try to buy back the old Priory and convent, both on Buttermarket Street, because they were part of St Mary’s Parish – originally owned and run by the Benedictine monks of Ampleforth Abbey. Similarly, Priory Court stands on the site of the old parish school of St Mary’s. But we started this Campaign two years ago in adverse circumstances. The owner – a large company letting office and industrial space nationwide – granted us three months, between 18th July and 18th October 2018 to raise the £1.5 million needed to make the purchases. However, with everyone going on holiday, including benefactors, this was the worst time in the year to launch a fundraising campaign. And yet, money started being sent to us.
Articles in national media such as The Catholic Herald and some international blogs draw attention to the project. The Priory Campaign received official support from The Latin Mass Society, pro-life organisations such as SPUC, 40 Days for Life, Good Counsel Network, and other prominent Catholics such as Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Viscountess Ashbrook.
The October 2018 deadline was extended over time and our scope had to be limited to the amount raised and to administrative constraints. After one year, in October 2019, we managed to buy two units of Priory Court, while allocating funds for the necessary conversion costs from office to our use. One year later, we are now completing the purchase of the final unit and can allocate space within the entire building for various needs.
Work should start shortly to make Priory Court a versatile venue for Catholic activities and events. We wish this venue to support Catholicism not only in Warrington but further afield through family activities and through liturgical, doctrinal, pro-life and artistic events. We thank wholeheartedly our benefactors, including those who offered sacrifices and prayers rather than or in addition to money, according to their means. From the start the Priory Campaign was entrusted to Our Blessed Lady. St Joseph was also regularly invoked, as well as the Servant of God Elizabeth Prout. The success of the Campaign demonstrates their blessing through the generosity of our benefactors and supporters. In happy contrast with the sad departure of the Benedictine monks from Downside Abbey in the news recently, the success of the Priory Campaign speaks of the reclamation of part of Warrington’s Benedictine patrimony. The Abbey of Ampleforth in Yorkshire used to run four parishes in Warrington. St Mary’s was the last one they had to relinquish, due to lack of vocations. There is something symbolic in the saving of St Mary’s Church from likely closure in 2015, followed by the reclaiming of the site of the old parish school next door. To English Catholics and to anyone in love with our Catholic heritage and faith, it speaks of hope, of ardour and of trust in the Lord and His saints, helping us rebuild Our Lady’s Dowry.
Special intercessor:
Born in Shrewsbury, the Servant of God Elizabeth Prout (1820-1864) founded the female branch of the Passionists with Bl. Dominic Barberi. Her congregation served deserving families in the North West. The Sisters of the Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ arrived in Warrington on 3 January 1899. Their convent, 80 Buttermarket Street, was beside St Mary’s Benedictine Priory. They came to teach, to visit sick and needy parishioners, to instruct converts and to help the poor. The Sisters taught in St Mary’s girls’ and infants’ schools from 1899 to 1967. Her congregation now asks to be informed of any favour granted specifically through her intercession. This could lead to her beatification. In anticipation of the 200th anniversary of her birth this September, less than a month before the fundraising deadline for our Campaign, the following petition was suggested: “Servant of God Elizabeth Prout, to further your work of Catholic education and assistance to Catholic families in our country so much in need of it, please obtain from God’s Providence the successful completion of the Priory Campaign in Warrington, on the very location where your Sisters served for seven decades.”
Dear benefactors, while the Priory Campaign is satisfactorily ended, please continue to pray and support us in our ongoing expenses. To give you a recent example, the cost of a necessary Visual Condition survey (N.B. not including yet any repair) of St Mary’s church roof, tower and external areas amounts to £12,447.30 incl. VAT. The body of Elizabeth Prout lies at the Sutton St Helens Passionist Shrine, fifteen minutes from St Mary’s, along the bodies of Bl. Dominic Barberi and Ven. Ignatius Spencer. What a grace if this saintly woman could be beatified soon and intercede even more powerfully for our service to souls at Priory Court and St Mary’s. God bless you! □