Tuesday 8 May 2012

New Auxiliary Bishop for Edinburgh


Pope Benedict XVI has today appointed the Very Reverend Monsignor Stephen Robson as the new Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh. The new Bishop will assist Cardinal Keith O’Brien in the administration of the diocese. The diocese last had an Auxiliary Bishop in 1996 and the appointment reflects Cardinal O’Brien’s national responsibilities and his international role as a member of a number of Pontifical Councils in Rome.

Commenting on the appointment Cardinal O’Brien said:
“I have known the new Auxiliary Bishop, Mgr Stephen Robson for well over 35 years. He has been involved with me in pastoral work and school work, seminary apostolate and during his further studies, literally everything a priest should be involved in. I am happy once again to have an Auxiliary Bishop to help in pastoral work and administration following on from my previous Auxiliaries; Bishop Monaghan (1985 – 1989) and Bishop Rafferty (1990 – 1996).  
Cardinal O’Brien added:
“Mgr Stephen combines two great qualities in a very special way: He is highly respected by his brother priests and also by the Deacons, religious and people of this Archdiocese and beyond because of his open, friendly and pastoral zeal; Also, he combines his very personal manner with his own deep spirituality and academic learning, so that he can bring to bear on a variety of problems an incisive knowledge and an ability at decision making.”
Cardinal O’Brien concluded:
“I have every hope that he will continue to work well with me and everyone in our Archdiocese in the years which lie ahead as I become ever more aware of my national responsibilities in our country and my responsibilities to Pope Benedict XVI as a Cardinal of our Church.”
Reacting to the appointment Mgr. Robson said:
“Although I have experienced great peace and joy on receiving the Appointment by the Holy Father as Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal O'Brien there has also been a great sense of unworthiness and at the same time, trust. As a deeply committed Roman Catholic I love the Church deeply, seeing her, not as so many do as simply an Institution but as the Community of the Risen Lord on Pilgrimage through life.” 
Mgr Robson added:
“My first duty as Auxiliary is to my Archbishop, Cardinal O'Brien and he is no stranger to me. I have known him over 35 years and served him as my Bishop for twenty-seven years. As he reminds me I am his Auxiliary, first and foremost!  My second duty is to serve the Priests and then the Faithful and Religious of our Archdiocese in the best way I can. And this is impossible without the help of the Good Shepherd who is the model, inspiration and more important the grace and strength working through all Bishops.”  
Mgr Robson concluded:
“I have had many interesting and fruitful jobs in our Archdiocese in the past thirty three years - in parishes, seminaries in Aberdeen and Rome, in the Archdiocesan Education Service, the Chancery the National Tribunal, the Education Commission. I have been fortunate to work as assistant priest in a parish to Secretary to the Archbishop, from Parish priest to Chancellor. And none of it has been possible with out the constant help of the Good Lord and the encouragement of my Superiors - wherever I have been.  I have been an academic and, though I also love academia, gladly lay all this aside so that I can be of use to those I am called to serve in the bigger picture. Please pray for me.”
~~*~~
(image: daylife.com)

Friday 27 April 2012

Canonical Visitation of Papa Stronsay

Official statement from Fr. Michael Mary



From 23rd to 26th April, 2012 a Canonical Visitation of the community at Papa Stronsay was undertaken by the local Ordinary, the Rt. Rev. Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B. accompanied by the Very Rev. Benedict Hardy, O.S.B.

The Visitation was positively received by the community. Its outcome will be formally announced in due course, pending canonically required consultations.

fr.michael at the-sons.org
Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer
Golgotha Monastery Island
Papa Stronsay, KW17 2AR
Orkney (Scotland, U.K.)

Saturday 7 April 2012

Pontifical High Mass in Edinburgh

Una Voce Scotland's diary for 2012 is beginning to fill up, including a number of pilgrimages to pre-reformation sites, plus, we have the additional joy in welcoming H.E. Bishop Rifan back to Scotland during his busy trip to the UK.

Bishop Rifan is Apostolic Administrator of the Personal Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney.

His Eminence Cardinal O'Brien has graciously given permission for a Pontifical High Mass to be offered by Bishop Rifan on the Monday 2 July at 7:00 p.m (venue to be confirmed).

For more details, keep an eye on this blog, or unavocescotland.org.uk.

Your unique opportunity to visit the inside of the largest Charterhouse in the world!

Day excursion for men and young men (ladies are not admitted in the monastery, apologies) to West Sussex on Saturday 24 March 2012: 

Please kindly let us know if you would like to come along, that we may plan the transportation: any men and boys welcome (we will have CRB checked adults), whether or not they attend Mass in Reading, and wherever they travel from. 

Schedule: 
  • 11am: Sung Mass at West Grinstead recusant Shrine, sung by Fr Simon Leworthy FSSP; confessions heard by Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP 
  • 12.30pm: Visit of Secret chapel and veneration of sacred items used by recusant priests, and prayer at Hilaire Belloc’s grave. 
  • 1pm: packed lunch in Parish Hall. 
  • 2pm: visit of Parkminster Charterhouse. Ending about 3.30pm. To be confirmed 
  • Around 4pm: depart to Reading; estimated time of arrival at St William of York in Reading: 6pm. 

Travel:

  • From Reading: 9am: departure from St. William of York Catholic Church, Upper Redlands Road, Reading, Berks. RG1 5JT (see map here), located next to St Joseph Convent School. Large free parish car park next to St William Church, where you can safely leave your vehicle until you return. 
  • Not from Reading? Tell us also if you intend to come and meet us directly at West Grinstead.

Monday 12 March 2012

Gregorian Chant in Edinburgh over Easter

The Office of Tenebræ will be chanted by the St Margaret Schola on the mornings of Maundy Thursday (5 April), Good Friday (6 April) and Holy Saturday (7 April). Exact location and timeto be confirmed. Tenebræ consists of the Offices of Matins (Vigils) and Lauds. Office booklets will be available that contain all the texts in both Latin and English.

Other Holy Week and Easter celebrations (in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass all in Latin with Gregorian Chant) will take place in St Andrew's Church, 77 Ravelston Road, Edinburgh EH4 3DS; the celebrant is Fr John Emerson FSSP.
  • Thursday 5 April, 7.30pm, Mass of the Last Supper
  • Friday 6 April, 3.00pm, Good Friday Liturgy and Veneration of the Cross
  • Saturday 7 April, 8.00pm, Paschal Vigil
  • Sunday 8 April, 11.30am, Solemn Mass of Easter Day
For more information, see the following links:

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Vocation discernment weekend

Vocation discernment weekend:
30 March - 1 April 2012
at St John Fisher House in Reading:

For Catholic men between 18 and 35 years of age (under 18 please contact us).

Starts on Friday 30th March 2012 at 6pm (arrivals from 5pm)– ends on Sunday 1st April 2012 at 3pm. Led by Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP, assisted by Fr Simon Leworthy, FSSP and Rev Ian Verrier, FSSP – one of our seminarians from Birmingham (read his interview in the Catholic Herald last month here).

(picture: Palm Sunday 2009 in Reading)

Location: St John Fisher House is the residence of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in England & Wales.

Address: 17, Eastern Avenue, Reading, RG1 5RU, England.

Access: 27mn from London Paddington by direct trains up to every 10mn, and from London Waterloo. Direct trains from Oxford, Bournemouth, Bristol, Newcastle, York, Birmingham, Gatwick Airport, Southampton Airport, etc. Direct 'RailAir' buses from Heathrow to Reading train station every 20mn. Motorway: M4. Trains: www.nationalrail.co.uk. Buses:www.nationalexpress.com
Limited overnight accommodation: please book now.

Programme: Spiritual conferences, socials, Holy Mass each of the three days (Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite) including Solemn High Mass on Palm Sunday, silent prayer, private talk with Fr de Malleray, FSSP. Fr de Malleray will explain what a vocation is in general and to the priesthood in particular. Read here the Holy Father's recent Letter to seminarians. Extract: "The proper celebration of the Eucharist involves knowing, understanding and loving the Church's liturgy in its concrete form. In the liturgy we pray with the faithful of every age – the past, the present and the future are joined in one great chorus of prayer. As I can state from personal experience, it is inspiring to learn how it all developed, what a great experience of faith is reflected in the structure of the Mass, and how it has been shaped by the prayer of many generations."

Cost: no set price for students or unemployed – any donation welcome; others: £50 suggested.

New: our special Vocations flyer and videos on www.fssp.org.uk/england/pages/vocations.

Contact: Tel: 0118 966 5284; Email: malleray at fssp.org

Web: www.fssp.co.uk/england; International: fssp.org; Youths: www.juventutem.org

St John Fisher House is the residence of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in Reading, a Catholic international priestly society canonically established in the dioceses of Portsmouth and of Northampton, and in the Archdiocese of St Andrew's & Edinburgh.

We had 11 men staying here at our last Vocation discernment weekend before Christmas. We hope you can be with us this next time. God bless you!

(Picture: coat of arms of the FSSP embroidered on vestments worn by Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts H. Exc. Juan Ignacio Arrieta at minor ordination in Germany of Rev James Mawdsley, FSSP (from Durham) on 11 February 2012. Read Liverpool diocesan priest Fr Henry's report on the event here.)