Monday, July 04, 2011

Mass of a newly ordained priest

I am delighted to offer hospitality to any priest. The strange thing is older priests visiting Brighton tend to sit in the congregation dressed as laymen, middle aged priests want to concelebrate but younger priests are quite different, often they want to celebrate their own Mass, and not unusually in the Extraordinary Form, or at least in Latin. It is a generational thing, it is also an illustration of a change in the Church.

This weekend we are entertaining a young German priest, Fr Frederic Kernbach, who was ordained on Pentecost Sunday for the diocese of Paderborn. He will celebrate a High Mass in the Extraordinary Form, this Saturday, here, at 11.00am, after the Te Deum he will give first blessing.
Fr Richard Biggerstaff who is part of our diocesan vocations team is preaching and Fr Sean Finneagan who has just written the history of diocesan seminary will be deacon, me, I'm subdeacon.
Come, if you are able, bring some friends, you can park in our school playground behind the church, all day if you want.



I am rather pleased it is the Feast of on of my Patrons St John Fisher and I know this is a bit silly but after my own Silver Jubilee in 2009 I was given a rather beautiful plain 1930's red High Mass, the whole thing hasn't been worn, so it will be good to see it in use.

10 comments:

Mulier Fortis said...

Sorry to have to miss this, but I'm singing at an Ordination in Folkestone that morning. Make sure you put up lots of photos of the red vestments for us all to admire!

vetusta ecclesia said...

Wonderful observation on the generational thing - most encouraging.

Anonymous said...

Always afraid to concelebrate. We never kno what to expect. I usually celebrate in the hotel. Hate concelebration!

motuproprio said...

The thing that really needs to be encouraged now is for priests to sit in choir!

Tom said...

Fr Kernbach gave his 'first blessing' after Masses at the Birmingham Oratory on Sunday. What a grace for those of us fortunate enough to receive this blessing. The diocese of Paderborn is truly blessed.

Unfortunately, I will be unable to visit Brighton for this wonderful High Mass, but look forward to reading your report and seeing photos.

Annie said...

If only I could be there!

Rosary said...

Priests tend to have their own set of traditions or choices on how to participate in the Church. It's quite amusing to see how age can really make a difference though they serve for one united purpose.

Col. Hugo Thrumpington-Mange said...

On a point of liturgical interest, one can see in the photograph that the Archbishop of Paderborn was wearing an ancient vestment, the rationale, under his pallium. He is one of only four bishops permitted the privilege of the use of the rationale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationale_(clothing)

pelerin said...

Fr Ray - have you seen Le blog de Christophe Saint-Placide today featuring 'l'Abbe Blake de Brigthon?' It can be found from the side bar on the Oasis. (Why do the French have so much trouble spelling Brighton I wonder!)

Anonymous said...

your comment is not at all silly, Father. They are beautiful vestments, and great to know they will be used.
Andrew

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