Our Lady of York
Readers of our website might be interested to know that the website of the International Marian Research Institute of the University of Dayton, Ohio, has relaunched its pages on Marian Shrines throughout the world and includes an entry about Our Lady of York. It needs some updating now but is an interesting read.
Prayer for York Video
York TV came to film our Prayer for York event a few weeks ago and interviewed a number of participants. You can watch a Youtube clip of the recording here. It's quite inspiring.
Summer Visitors
As usual we have had a lot of visitors to St Wilfrid's and the York Oratory-in-Formation over the summer. Today we welcomed - once again- Fr Norbert Fernandes, Parish Priest of Welwyn Garden City with the Rector of the Seminary of the Archdiocese of Seville with four seminarians.
Over the weekend we had eighty students from the Scuola Media Malpighi in Bologna who came to the 10.30am Mass on Sunday. At the same time we had a chance to say farewell to Rev. Chris Humble the Minister of Central Methodist Church in York who is leaving to take up a new ministry in Weardale.
Last week members of the Oxford Oratory Wednesday Morning Group spent a few days at the Bar Convent and were shown the sights of York by Br Henry.
Br Henry and Mary Leather posed as Kate and Leonardo on the Grand Staircase at Carluccio's - formerly Terry's - said to have been designed by the same architect who did the Titanic's interiors!
In the middle of all this Fr Daniel, the Father of the Oxford Oratory, admitted Br Adam as a Triennial - that is to say a full member - of the Oratory now that he has, unbelievably, been here for three years and completed his noviciate.
We also said goodbye to Daniel Proks who has gone home to Slovakia.
Looking out and looking in!
Our guest, Daniel Proks, who spent three weeks with us learning English, also had a go at the very English art of bell-ringing. While he was up the tower he went a bit higher and got some splendid photographs of the city as seen from St Wilfrid's tower.
Meanwhile James Dhonau took his telephoto lens up the central tower of York Minster and got some interesting shots of the Rectory and the Garden. Clearly we will have to be on our best behaviour this summer!
The Oratorian Option!
A book published in the United States a few weeks ago called The Benedict Option presents an analysis of the present crisis of confidence in the Catholic Church and proposes some solutions. The thesis is interesting if somewhat pessimistic. The book has provoked a flurry of alternative responses under headings along the lines of the Dominican Option and the Jesuit Option. One blogger - also in America - posted a piece called the Oratorian Option. Fr Richard thought it was a good presentation of our Oratorian charism, particularly as it was written by someone not connected with the Oratory. He wrote to thank the author and asked permission to link to the post from our website. The author kindly agreed and the article can be read here.
Decorating in the house
Daniel Proks from Slovakia has been staying with us over the summer to learn English. His mother is a friend of Sr Patricia from the Bar Convent. When he is not riding one of our ancient bikes up to Durham (!) we have put him to some useful work including redecorating our refectory. He clearly has a sense of humour. This portrait of Tessa in the style of Picasso was not preserved!
For a small slideshow of the decorating in progress please click here.
Fr Richard's Silver Jubilee
Fr Richard would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make his Silver Jubilee of Ordination such a joyous occasion. On Saturday there was a beautiful Mass at St Joseph's with singing by the St Austin's Singers from Wakefield and St Wilfrid's School.
Fr Mark Drew preached an excellent homily - a task made especially difficult because Fr Richard chose the readings of the day. You can read it here - though the ad libbed jokes are not included!
Afterwards there was a great party in the St Joseph's Hall and Garden laid on by parishioners from both parishes and including Keralan, Filipino and Italian dishes. Ali Lawrence who busks in York provided the music with his piano and the weather was perfect. The cake, though, was the star attraction. It was made by Angela Stabler and covered with Oratorian symbols.
On Tuesday, 11 July (the actual anniversary) Fr Richard celebrated a rather more low key Mass in Oxford followed by another parish party and a community dinner. Pictures from that event can be seen here. Fr Richard thanks everyone, especially parishioners from York, Oxford and Birmingham for the many cards, letters, generous and thoughtful gifts, the large collection and above all for the Masses. The Jubilee Mass was celebrated for all your intentions.
A New Deacon for the Diocese of Middlesbrough
Rev. Richard Marsden was recently ordained to the diaconate for the diocese. Richard's uncle, Fr Michael Marsden, was Parish Priest here at St Wilfrid's for many years. We will ask Richard to exercise his diaconal ministry at a Mass here as soon as he is able. Meanwhile please keep him in your prayers as he continues his studies in Rome for the priesthood. Richard is pictured here in the chapel of the English College Villa at Palazzola where he was ordained. Parishioners of St Wilfrid's and St Joseph's will recognise Fr David Standen who went over for the ceremony.
If you are interested in pursuing a vocation to the diocesan priesthood please look at this link. If you are interested in a vocation to the York Oratory-in-Formation please email Fr Richard.
"Adoremus" - Eucharistic Congress 2018
The bishops of England and Wales will hold a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress in Liverpool next year from 7 - 9 September. Bishop Robert Byrne of the Oratory is the co-ordinator of this project. The Diocese and the Parish will be having preparatory events, so please keep it in your prayers and look out for further information on this website and in the Parish Bulletin. Read the full article from the website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
Prayer for York
Last Friday's Prayer for York on the Feast of the Sacred Heart was a beautiful occasion. Many thanks to all who contributed or who came to pray. Thanks also to Br Adam whose inspiration it was and to Br Henry who worked so hard on the church decor. Simon Crouch took some excellent photographs of the evening Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Procession. They really capture the prayerful atmosphere of the event. You can see them on flickr here.