My dear brethren,
The historic papal state-visit to Britain took place as planned from
16-19th September and was generally regarded as a
success, with large numbers turning out to greet Benedict XVI in
Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Birmingham. The occasion is esteemed
to have raised the profile of the Catholic Church in this country,
with national newspapers acknowledging that the pope ‘emerged from
this trip looking statesman-like, looking successful and - most
unlikely of all - looking popular.’ [Independent on Sunday,
19/09/10] ‘It was clear yesterday that a huge number of Britons were
proud that the pope had bestowed such an honour upon the nation,’
wrote The Sunday Telegraph on the final day of the visit.
The editorial in
the same broadsheet stated that ‘His Holiness has shown a clarity of
thought to shame the woolly utterances of Britain’s politicians,
throwing down the gauntlet to our overly secularised society and
insisting that religion still has a role to play within our
culture.’ Indeed, the Pontiff insisted in his speech to Parliament
that political and economical policies need a moral underpinning if
they are to work. At the same occasion he also called for greater
tolerance for Christians in this country which pays lip-service to
tolerance and yet fails to tolerate Christianity.
When faced with
protests and critics, and indeed there were more of these than on
any other of the pope’s seventeen foreign trips, he ‘conducted
himself on tour with a measure of grace not visible in his
opponents.’
As one Catholic
parent rightly stated, who waited patiently at the gates of for the
pope’s arrival at the Apostolic Nunciature in Wimbledon with her six
children, the visit was not just about the pope, ‘but more than that
it’s about the papacy, about supporting it and what it stands for.’
In spite of the
positive reactions to the papal visit however, the media however was
not slow to point out that most Catholics in this country support
abortion and contraception, and that Benedict XVI is ‘seriously out
of step with his followers on key issues.’
Numbers of our own
faithful are to be commended for having made the most of the papal
events in Glasgow and London so as to distribute various leaflets
dealing with such topics as Fatima, media distortion and sexual
abuse figures, and the Society. Indeed some 10,000 flyers were given
out at Hyde Park following a generous response to the local appeals
for this intention. An interesting account of the event is to be
found at the
integrityandaction.blogspot.com
________________________
Whilst August is
generally the month for new assignments within the Society in the
Northern hemisphere, occasionally changes do occur at other times,
and so it was that September saw a number of developments which
affect the Society both in Great Britain and in Ireland.
The superior in
Ireland, Reverend Father Ramon Angles, who is an expert in Canon
Law, has just recently been appointed by Bishop Fellay to be the
Society’s official judicial counsellor. This means that whilst
continuing to reside at St Pius X House in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin,
he will now depend directly on the General House in Menzingen.
Please God this respite from the duties incumbent upon the superior
will also allow Father Angles to regain his health which has rather
suffered these past few years.
As a consequence of
the above, the Superior General has confided yours truly with the
responsibility for the Society’s work in Ireland, in addition to
that in Great Britain, but only on an interim basis. So it was that
I was able to make a short visit to Dublin and Athlone just recently
and there had the pleasure of experiencing a warm Irish welcome
from the faithful. As one individual remarked, Irish and British
Catholics have fought and suffered over the centuries for their
Faith, and in this common cause for the Faith and Catholic Tradition
we remain united. I much appreciated the kind hospitality of Father
Angles and the Fathers, and I look forward to another visit there in
due course. Our prayers and good wishes go to Father Angles in his
new appointment, with gratitude for his seven years of work as
superior in Ireland.
Given this new state
of affairs my letters will henceforth be destined for our faithful
in both countries, as well as those in Scandinavia, and, as is
proper, will endeavour to include news relevant to all concerned.
Hence the following details about the changes in Ireland and
Britain:
* Father David
Sherry has been appointed prior of the Athlone house in County
Roscommon after three fruitful years of apostolate in London and
Carluke respectively. He assumed his new position on 18th
September.
The new assistant
priest there is fellow Irishman Father Francis Gallagher, who has
spent the past nineteen years at St Mary’s, Kansas, and who replaces
Fr David Nichols. Fr Nichols has now been appointed to a new
foundation in Orlando, Florida and we trust he will continue to do
well back in his home country. We wish both Fathers in Athlone every
happiness and blessing as they settle into their new posts.
* Father Fabrice
Loschi, formerly prior in Athlone, will be sorely missed by the
faithful there, but has been named to the Society’s house in Rimini.
However, as he is to replace Fr Sherry in Carluke until the 11th
October, we shall be happy have him in Scotland for a few weeks.
* The permanent
replacement to Fr Sherry at Saint Andrew’s House, Carluke, is Father
Mauro Tranquillo from Italy, who has been stationed in Rimini on the
Adriatic coast since his ordination at Econe in 2002. We extend a
warm welcome to Father Tranquillo who will be joining us on October
18th.
Looking ahead to
later this year we are tentatively planning to have Confirmations in
Ireland in the month of December and further details should be
announced in the next newsletter. Meanwhile we offer prayers of
thanksgiving for the twenty-fifth anniversary of St John’s Church in
Dun Laoghaire which was acquired on 29th September
1985-Deo Gratias!
I am happy to say
that the Irish newsletter, St John’s Bulletin, will continue to
appear in its usual format, and that the Irish website is to be
found at:
www.ireland.sspx.net
__________________________
It is my pleasure to
announce that the Society has been able to acquire a property on the
Orcadian island of Stronsay which will allow Fr Nicholas Mary CSSR
to consolidate his apostolate to the local faithful. Saint Columba’s
House is dedicated to the great apostle of the Picts and the Scots,
whose influence dominated the Church in Scotland, Ireland, and
Northumbria, and whose monastic rule influenced western Europe for
long after his death, which took place in 597. Father Nicholas and
Brother Gerard Mary CSSR took up residence in the four-bedroom
stone-built property situated on the sea-front on 10th
September, and in due course it is hoped that the various
outbuildings and adjoining cottage will be renovated and put to good
use.
Please note that the
frequency of Masses in our Norwich Mass-centre will be changed to
one per month, with Holy Mass being offered on the fourth Sunday of
each month. This change takes effect following the clock-change at
the end of October. Meanwhile our prayers are with the local
coordinators, Mr and Mrs Robin Knowles, as the former undergoes
treatment for cancer.
Also, please note
that our regular visits to Scandinavia are now taking the form of a
longer monthly trip, of some ten days in duration, which will
replace the twice-monthly visits at least on an experimental basis.
The Fathers in London, but primarily Fr Lindstrom, will undertake
these visits, with occasional trips being made by Fr Sandmark from
Bristol.
In this month of the
Holy Rosary we should renew our resolutions to pray the Rosary daily
in our families, thereby heeding the request of Our Lady of Fatima,
and invoking the blessings of Almighty God on our undertakings.
With every good wish
and blessing,
Father Paul Morgan
Superior
