Choral Scholarships
The newly-formed York Oratory is seeking to appoint four choral scholars (SATB) from January 2020. This is an excellent opportunity for young singers looking to develop their experience and confidence with church music in a one-to-a-part choir. In the course of the scholarship, singers can expect to gain experience of a wide range of sacred music, including Gregorian chant, polyphony, classical mass settings and other repertoire up to the early twentieth century. Details of the Choral Scholarships can be found by clicking here.
Musical Oratory Pictures
We were honoured with the presence of Bishop Terence Patrick Drainey of Middlesbrough, Bishop Ralph Heskett C.Ss.R. of Hallam and our own Oratorian brother, Bishop Robert Byrne of Hexham and Newcastle at a Musical Oratory last Thursday to celebrate the canonisation of St John Henry Newman. The Anglican Bishop of Beverley, our friend Bishop Glyn Webster, was the ecumenical representative and read a reading from Newman's writings. Other passages were read by parishioners, interspersed with Newman's own hymns and choral pieces beautifully sung by our choir. The whole thing concluded with Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr Daniel led the service and Fr Richard preached a fervorino - or sermon in the Oratorian style. Here are some pictures from the evening.
Blessing of the Angelus Bell
Bishop Robert Byrne of the Oratory, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, blessed our new bell last Thursday when he came to the Musical Oratory in celebration of St John Henry's canonisation. The bell was given the name "John Henry".
This impressive blessing, full of scriptural references, is sometimes known as the "baptism of a bell". The bell is anointed with the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Chrism and washed with holy water.
The bell will be installed in the tower in the next few days and will start ringing the daily Angelus soon after. (The Angelus is a prayer commemorating the Incarnation of Our Lord and traditionally rung each day at 12 noon and 6pm.)
We are especially pleased that our new bell was formerly hung in a buoy in the English Channel as a warning to shipping in danger of running on to the rocks in darkness or fog. That seems a fitting metaphor for the bell's new and spiritual purpose, calling us to prayer....
St Wilfrid's Bell Ringers. Often heard, rarely seen!
Christmas Service Times at the York Oratory Parishes
MASSES AT ST WILFRID’S
Tuesday, 24 December, Christmas Eve
6.00pm Sung Mass with Carols followed by Blessing of the Crib. PLEASE NOTE EARLIER TIME THAN LAST YEAR
11.15pm Carols and Readings followed by Midnight Sung Latin High Mass
Wednesday, 25 December, Christmas Day
8.30am Mass with Carols
10.30am Sung Mass with Carols
4pm Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Prayers at the Crib
Thursday, 26 December, St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day)
Mass at 12.10pm
MASSES AT ST JOSEPH’S
Tuesday, 24 December, Christmas Eve
Mass at 5.00pm with Carols and Blessing of the Crib
Wednesday, 25 December, Christmas Day
Sung Mass at 9.30am with Carols
Thursday, 26 December, St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day)
No Mass
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CHANGES
Friday 27 to Tuesday 31 December Masses as usual in St Wilfrid’s but no Masses at St Joseph’s. There will be no Exposition or Confessions before Masses and no Vespers or Benediction on Sunday, 29 December.
Wednesday, 1 January, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
No Mass at St Joseph’s. Mass at 12.10pm in St Wilfrid’s
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
This year the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is kept on Sunday, 8 December in the Extraordinary Form. There will be a High Mass at 12:00 noon. In the Ordinary Form it is celebrated on Monday, 9 December. There will be hymns at the 12:10pm Mass. The Novena in preparation for the Solemnity will be after every 12:10pm Mass and at Benediction on Sunday.
Canonical Independence of the York Oratory
It was announced today in Rome that our Holy Father Pope Francis has erected the Oratory-in-Formation in York as an independent Oratory of St Philip Neri. The decree of foundation is dated 9th November 2019, the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica.
The York Oratory is the second Oratory to be founded in England in the last month with news of the Manchester Oratory coming at the beginning of November. There are now five Oratories in England, at Birmingham, London, Oxford, Manchester and York. There are Oratories-in-Formation in Cardiff and Bournemouth.
This news comes only a little more than a month since Pope Francis canonised St John Henry Newman who brought the Oratory of St Philip from Rome to Birmingham and London in 1848.
The Oratory was founded by St Philip Neri in Rome in the sixteenth century. The main work of the Oratory is prayer (both personal prayer and public worship), daily popular preaching and the administration of the sacraments especially the sacrament of confession and the spiritual direction of individuals.
Oratories are typically small communities of priests and brothers who look after churches in towns and cities closely supported by committed laity who share a love of St Philip and his vision. There is a special concern for popular devotions and – especially in the English Oratories – a great care for music, art and architecture.
The York Oratory began on the initiative of the Bishop of Middlesbrough, Rt Rev Terence Drainey, who invited the Oxford Oratory to make a foundation in his diocese shortly after the beatification of St John Henry Newman by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Community life began at St Wilfrid’s Church in York on 28thOctober 2013 and the new community now has six members, Fr Richard Duffield, Fr Daniel Seward, Br Adam Fairbairn, Br Henry O’Connell, Fr Stephen Brown and Br David Chadwick.
In addition to St Wilfrid’s the Fathers of the York Oratory have care of the parish of St Joseph’s in Clifton and the Shrine of St Margaret Clitherow the well-known York martyr.
There will be a Musical Oratory of prayers, choral music, hymns and readings on Thursday, 28th November at 6pm in the York Oratory Church of St Wilfrid, Duncombe Place, York. This is in celebration of the Canonisation of St John Henry Newman and will now have something of the character of a celebration of the new foundation. There will be a Mass of Celebration with the presentation of the Papal Brief on a date to be confirmed next year.
Here is a link to the announcement (in Italian) on the website of the Oratorian Confederation.
A new documentary about St John Henry
There will be some familiar places and faces in this documentary about St John Henry from ShalomTV.
A new Oratory in Manchester
The Fathers and Brothers of the York Oratory-in-Formation are delighted to congratulate our brothers in Manchester on today's announcement from Rome. (Website in Italian. Fr Richard's translation follows.)
The Procurator of the Oratorian Confederation is delighted to announce that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has established the Oratory-in-Formation in Manchester as an independent Oratory by a decree dated 1 November, 2019, the Solemnity of All Saints.
The Manchester Oratory is the fourth independent community in the United Kingdom and began life at the Church of the Holy Name in Manchester in 1992.
Successive procurators have guided the community from its beginnings, helping it and supporting it in the spirit of St Philip Neri, so as to achieve the canonical approval of the Holy See. Particular mention must be made of our dear brother in St Philip, Fr Jerome Bertram of the Oxford Oratory who died only a few weeks ago. For many years he was the Procurator's Delegate for the community in formation in Manchester.
The apostolate of the new Congregation is the Church of St Chad (7th Century Apostle of Mercia) and chaplaincy work in a hospital, a prison and a school.
The brethren of the Manchester Oratory at its foundation are Fr Raymond Matus (moderator), Fr Christopher Hilton, Fr Richard Bailey, Br Gerard Connett and Br Fabian Trevithick.
Your prayers are asked, through St Philip Neri and St John Henry for our Holy Father Pope Francis, for the Confederation of the Oratory and for the new Congregation of Manchester.
Readers may be interested in this link to information about Oratories elsewhere in the world.