Friday 31 August 2012

Mass at Glastonbury Abbey for Our Lady's Birthday, Saturday 8th September


A Low Mass will be celebrated at 11am on Saturday 8th September for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the crypt chapel of the ruined Abbey of St Mary at Glastonbury.

Arrangements have been made with the Abbey authorities to admit anyone attending this Mass into the Abbey grounds free of charge. There is a car park next to the Abbey.

This year the LMS is not organising a full pilgrimage to Glastonbury, so do please come and support this Mass instead. The Abbey is a wonderful place to celebrate the feast of Our Blessed Lady's Birthday.




Thursday 16 August 2012

Feast of the Assumption – Mass at St Michael the Archangel, Shepton Mallet


The great feast of the Assumption was celebrated with dignity and beauty at a Solemn High Mass at the church of St Michael the Archangel, Shepton Mallet on the evening of
Wednesday 15th August.


Fr Philip Thomas was the Celebrant, Fr Andrew Goodman was Deacon and Fr Alexander Redman Sub-deacon. Fr Bede Rowe acted as Master of Ceremonies.



Rupert Bevan led a choir of 18 singers, including several ex-Wells and ex-Exeter Cathedral choir members, and three former Westminster Cathedral choristers. The Mass setting was Palestrina’s Missa Assumpta est Maria, based on the motet of the same name, which was also sung at the Mass. The Communion motet was Lobo’s Ave Maria.



Fr Andrew Goodman preached the homily, and spoke about the striking parallels between Our Blessed Lady, Elizabeth her cousin, and Hannah the mother of Samuel. All three were ‘women of faith’, handmaids of the Lord, who put their lives into God’s hands and were richly rewarded. We too, said Fr Goodman, are called to be humble, faithful, trusting servants of God.



The small church was almost full, and there were well over 60 communicants. Grateful thanks to Fr Thomas for organising the Mass, and to Fr Goodman, Fr Redman and Fr Rowe. Sincere thanks too, to all the servers who took part in the Mass, and to Rupert Bevan and his splendid choir.

Mary Assumed into Heaven, pray for us.






Friday 3 August 2012

The Feast of the Assumption, 15th August


The great feast of the Assumption of Our Lady is nearly upon us.

Here are details of all the Assumption Masses taking place in the diocese of Clifton on Wednesday 15th August:


St Dominic’s, Jubilee Road, DURSLEY, Gloucestershire GL11 4ES - 8.00am - Low Mass


Prinknash Abbey, CRANHAM, Gloucestershire GL4 8EX - 8.15am - Low Mass


Our Lady of Glastonbury, Magdalene Street, GLASTONBURY BA6 9EJ - 12.15pm - Low Mass


Holy Cross Church, Dean Lane, Bedminster, BRISTOL BS3 1DB - 12.45pm - Low Mass


St Michael's Church, SHEPTON MALLET, Somerset BA4 5HP - 7.30pm - Solemn High Mass