Mass for the Sacred Heart at Devizes, June 15th 2012

A Solemn High Mass was celebrated at the church of the Immaculate Conception, Devizes, 

on Friday 15^th June for the feast of the Sacred Heart.

Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon was the celebrant, Fr Alexander Redman was deacon and David Aron was sub-deacon.

The choir of nine, led by David Bates, sang Victoria’s Mass setting ‘Trahe me post te’. They also sang two motets: ‘Ave, Jesu Christe’ by the late 16^th century English Recusant priest and composer Peter Philips, and ‘O Quam amabilis es’ by Pierre Villette, a French composer who died in 1998.

l-r: David Aron, Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon and Fr Alexander Redman

In his homily, Fr Coulon gave an overview of the history of devotion to the Sacred Heart, from the 11^th century to the time of the great revelations to St Margaret Mary Alacoque in the late 17^th century. He ended by reading a beautiful meditation on the divine heart of Our Lord by St Francis de Sales.

Fr Coulon gave the homily. Note the stained glass windows 

depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Most of the congregation stayed to enjoy the refreshments kindly provided after the Mass.

Sincere thanks go to all involved in the celebration of this beautiful Mass, particularly the priests, the servers and the choir.

Mass of Corpus Christi, Weston-super-Mare, 7th June 2012.

A Solemn High Mass for the the Feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated at the church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Weston-super-Mare, on Thursday 7^th June at 7.30pm.

The celebrant was Fr Martin Queenan. Fr Philip Thomas was Deacon and Fr Peter Clarke was Sub-deacon. Fr Andrew Goodman was also present.

The seven-strong choir, the Rupert Bevan singers, sang the ‘Missa Pontificalis’ by Don Lorenzo Perosi (1872-1956), a beautiful and rare setting which was last published in 1895. Perosi was a priest and friend of Puccini. His music was perfectly complemented by two motets from an earlier era, ‘Gloria tibi Domine’ by William Byrd and ‘Ego Sum Panis Vivus’ by Antonio Caldara.

Fr Philip Thomas delivered the homily, reflecting upon the fact that when we receive Our Lord at Communion, we become what we eat – a part of the mystical body of Christ – and we must manifest this when we leave the church and go out into the world.

Sincere thanks go to the four priests, the servers, the choir and organist, and all involved in the organization of this beautiful and uplifting Mass.

Missa Cantata at Cricklade, 29th May

On 29^th May, a perfect early summer’s evening, a Missa Cantata was celebrated  at the beautiful Norman church of St Mary’s in Cricklade, North Wilts, with the kind permission of Fr Philip Beisly the parish priest. The celebrant was Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon MSFS, who travelled from his parish in Devizes. Many thanks are due to Ailsa Burois and her choir for their lovely singing, and to all those who assisted in so many ways.