For more than 50 years, the Latin Mass Society has hosted this annual sung Mass, dedicated to the repose of the souls of its deceased members and benefactors.

However, plans for the celebration on 4 November were abruptly cancelled after the Diocese of Westminster informed the Latin Mass Society of the restrictions imposed by Pope Francis' 2021 motu proprio, Traditionis Custodes.

In his motu proprio, Pope Francis directed bishops to designate specific locations for the Latin Mass, excluding parish churches. Any exceptions to this rule require a dispensation from the Holy See and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, presiding over the Diocese of Westminster, clarified that the annual Mass "is not part of the cathedral's pastoral provision for the Traditional Mass."

Nichols did not request a dispensation to continue the tradition at Westminster Cathedral.

Consequently, the Latin Mass Society relocated the Requiem Mass to Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Maiden Lane, designated as a diocesan shrine.

Despite the move, Nichols did request a dispensation for the cathedral to continue its low Mass on the first Saturday of each month.

Traditionis Custodes frustration

The Latin Mass Society spokesperson emphasised that "each Mass at the cathedral needs explicit permission under the terms of Traditionis Custodes." These monthly Masses continue pending consideration.

Traditionis Custodes however has caused frustration among faithful attendees of the Traditional Latin Mass. Roger Wemyss Brooks, a long-time Catholic who regularly attended the Traditional Latin Mass, expressed his distress stating, "Elderly Catholics like me depend upon the comfort of this annual Mass."

Edward Windsor, who had served at the annual Requiem Mass for the past five years, questioned the cardinal's decision noting that it seemed to prioritise modernism over the significance of the Mass.

Since the issuance of Traditionis Custodes, the Traditional Latin Mass has faced restrictions worldwide. Some dioceses secured temporary dispensations for certain Masses in parish churches, while others have moved Masses outside of parish churches, further highlighting the impact of the Vatican restrictions.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

A spokesperson for the Diocese confirmed that baby Wilfred was baptised in a small private service on 12 September by Father Daniel Humphreys.

Mr Johnson was himself baptised Catholic as a child, on the wishes of his mother Charlotte Fawcett who is Catholic - making him the first baptised Catholic to become prime minister. (His godmother was Lady Rachel Billington - daughter of Lord Longford.) He was later confirmed an Anglican, while studying at Eton. Read more

Led by two Catholic charities, CAFOD and Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), Share the Journey has resulted in hundreds of pairs of shoes being displayed outside the cathedral to highlight the plight of refugees.

Many of the shoes came in from refugees in Calais.

Others came from some of the 40,000 CAFOD and CSAN supporters who were inspired by Francis's message to welcome the stranger.

In a gesture of solidarity with refugees, the supporters have walked 100,000 miles between them: this is the equivalent of over four times the distance around the world.

Francis is aiming for world leaders to agree next month to two UN Global Compacts on how to assist migrants and refugees.

Share the Journey campaign focuses on five points for world leaders to include in the global compacts:

• To protect the dignity of people on the move because of war, persecution, human rights abuses, poverty and natural disaster
• Ensure special protection for the most vulnerable people
• Ensure sufficient support to countries hosting refugees
• Support family integrity through facilitating family reunification

"We are calling on the UK Government to demand that all world leaders place human dignity at the heart of the global compact agreement on refugees signed at next month's United Nations General Assembly," Daniel Hale, CAFOD's Head of Campaigns said.

"It is important to remember that most people on the move are from poor countries and most seek safety in nearby poor countries or within their own country's borders," Hale said.

The "tens of thousands who have taken part in the Share the Journey campaign illustrate an overwhelming response to Pope Francis's call for us to embrace those forced from their homes by persecution and poverty," Hale says.

Source

• The Tablet
• Independent Catholic News
• Daily Sabah
• Image: Colchester Gazette
  

The cross will stand at the Joshua Camp, an international Catholic Olympic gathering in East London, until August 13.

The camp provides hospitality and creates a Catholic presence to foster spiritual growth and evangelisation. Organisers have described it as "Olympic World Youth Day".

The Olympic Cross was specially commissioned for the Games. Artist Jon Cornwall used 12 different types of wood from around the world to represent the 12 disciples.

"We wanted to create a keepsake that symbolises everything the Games truly represent, something we could then pass on to future Olympic host nations," explained James Parker, Catholic executive co-ordinator for the Games.

"As Christians our lives mean nothing without the cross and so this seemed to be the most suitable object to commission for ourselves and as a future gift to others."

After the Games, the Olympic Cross could head to Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games or it could head to Brazil for the 2013 World Youth Day, the 2014 Football World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Twenty-four hour exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is being held in St Francis of Assisi's Church, at Stratford in east London, throughout the Games.

A special Mass for the 30th Olympiad was held in London's Westminster Cathedral.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster reminded attending Olympians that their bodies "are temples of the Holy Spirit".

"This does not detract from that physical achievement of sport, with its beauty, symmetry, harnessing of speed, finesse and power," he said. "Rather it enhances those achievements and gives them their deepest purpose — that of giving glory to their Maker."

Sources:

Catholic Herald

Catholic News Agency

Catholic News Agency

Image: The Catholic Church in England and Wales