First Mass of Fr Marek Grabowski FSSP

Fr Marek Grabowski FSSP made news with his ordination in Poland, this being the first traditional ordination since 1970. He is well known to the English Traditional Catholic community, as he has often visited Reading and was a member of staff at the St Catherine's Trust Summer School in 2007. It was wonderful to see him back here again as a priest. He celebrated Mass with the assistance of Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP as deacon, and Fr Simon Leeworthy FSSP as subdeacon.

I have never seen St William of York so full. There were people crowded at the back, the extension had about 30 people in it, and of course there was the choir in the choir loft. In all about 120 people. (No, Paul Inwood, not the 'same 30 people' in Portsmouth diocese going to more Masses than before, but four times that number at St William of York alone.)

Afterwards Fr Grabowski gave 'first blessings'.

More photos here.

Fr McCarthy celebrates Solemn Mass in Reading

This took place on Sunday (29th May). The Deacon at Mass was Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP and subdeacon was Zachary Akers, a Seminarian of the Fraternity.





















After Mass Fr McCarthy gave 'first blessings'.


More photos: slideshow, set.

Easter Vigil with the FSSP

Af St William of York, Reading. Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP was celebrant, Fr Simon Leworthy FSSP deacon and the Rev James Mawdsley subdeacon.











See the full set here.

Good Friday at St William of York, Reading, with the FSSP

The Good Friday liturgy was again with priest, deacon and subdeacon; Fr Simon Leworthy FSSP was celebrant, Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP deacon and the Rev James Mawdsley subdeacon.

Maundy Thursday at St William of York

We had a very splendid Mass for Maundy Thursday in Reading with the Fraternity of St Peter, with a Fraternity seminarian, James Mawdsly, joining us, making Solemn Mass possible.

Fr Armand de Malleray was celebrant, Fr Simon Leworthy deacon, and the Rev James Mawdsly subdeacon. It was very well attended; numbers have clearly increased over the years.

The reading of the Passion.




Taking the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose.


The Altar of Repose.


The Stripping of the Altars.


Compline after Mass

Full set here.

Palm Sunday at St William of York, Reading

My photographs are uploading here. Here are some.

Fr de Malleray FSSP blessing the palms.

There were about a hundred people present. Are you reading this, Paul Inwood? Not just 'the same thirty people' as before the Motu Proprio.

Solemn Mass in Reading with the FSSP

Last Sunday there was a visiting priest in Reading, Fr Angel Alfaro, FSSP, who is the superior of the FSSP mission in Colombia, based in Anolaima and Bogota. He was celebrant at a Solemn Mass, with Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP as deacon and Fr Simon Leworthy FSSP subdeacon.

Coincidentally the Oxford-based Schola Abelis was giving the local singers a break (no break for me: I sing in both!). So here are some videos of the singing. Here is the Offertory. There are more videos here.

If Paul Inwood, Portsmouth Diocese's Director of Liturgy, still needs convincing that there are more than 30 people attending the Traditional Mass in his diocese here's a view of the nave. There are nine people in the choir loft, of course, and more in the annex off to the right.


After Mass Fr Alfaro gave a very interesting talk about the Fraternity's mission in Colombia. It is important to remember, and support, the work of traditional groups in places of great material deprivation. The liturgy and spirituality of the Fraternity can do great things in places like Colombia, rather as the High Anglicans of the late 19th and early 20th Century worked in the slums of England.

Please say a prayer for Fr Alfaro's apostolate.

Altar Servers' Master Class in Reading, 27th Novemeber

The Society of St Tarcisius is pleased to announce

a Servers' Master Class in Reading, 27th November,

at the official residence of the Fraternity of St Peter:

St John Fisher House

17 Eastern Avenue

Reading

RG1 5RU

Programme:

9am Low Mass (for those who can make it)

10am - 12noon: Morning training session

12noon to 1pm: Break for lunch (please bring your own)

pm to 3pm: Afternoon training session.

There is no fee but places are limited so please email

secretary@saint-tarcisius.org.uk

Blessing of the new FSSP house in Reading

St John Fisher House

After the Mass celebrated by the Very Rev Fr John Berg, Superior General of the Fraternity of St Peter, which was the subject of my last post, all the faithful were invited to the house which now belongs to the FSSP's English apostolate round the corner from the church. Fr Berg blessed the house, and we all enjoyed a buffet lunch and explored it: it is surprisingly large, with nine bedrooms, several reception rooms and a large garden.

It is habitable, but far from finished, as these photographs testify; what remains is decoration, however, and shouldn't take very long. Apart from its size, what is remarkable about this house is that it is an official residence of the Fraternity of St Peter: it has been canonically erected by the local bishop, Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth. This is the first time such a thing has happened in England and Wales, and it means that the FSSP not only has an apostolate in Reading, but are an official and permanent part of the diocese. It really cannot be overstated what a big step forward this is.

It should be noted that the FSSP has acheived this simply by working steadily at the pastoral coalface in Reading (as elsewhere); they have been saying the Mass regularly in Reading for about five years, and living in a rented house for about two. Their quiet hard work has earned them a place in what might not be thought to be the most auspicious diocese in the country. Floreat!

The chapel has not yet been consecrated - or even set up fully - but it is in the centre of the house.

Among others on this occasion was Leo Darroch, the President of the Una Voce Federation.


This is the house's address:
St John Fisher House, 17, Eastern Avenue,
Reading, RG1 5RU, England
Tel: 0118 966 5284; Email: malleray@fssp.org
Web: www.fssp.co.uk/england

St John Fisher House is the residence of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in England, a Catholic international priestly society canonically established in the diocese of Portsmouth, and a registered charity: number 1129964.


There are more photos of the house, inside and out, in this Flickr set.

Mass with Fr John Berg, Superior General of the FSSP, in Reading, England

On Sunday the Very Rev Fr John Berg celebrated a Solemn Mass at St William of York, Reading. A short time ago the house recently purchased by the FSSP in Reading was given official canonical status by Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth, and Fr Berg was here to bless it and invite the faithful to its official opening.

But first, the Mass. As the first Sunday of October, we celebrated the Feast of Holy Rosary, on which Fr Berg preached very movingly. Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP was deacon, and Fr Simon Leworthy FSSP subdeacon.


























The church of St William, though long denuded of its ornaments, looks really rather splendid thanks to the tireless efforts of Fr de Malleray and the faithful to create the necessary steps, provide a carpet for them, to make a gradine for the candles and so on. It is a great tribute to the hard work for the restoration of Tradition going on in this community.

See a slideshow of more pictures.