Principal Mass provision continues as previously, with Lent seeing a strong start, having Low Masses for Ash Wednesday at Gateshead ( Fr Michael Brown), Thornley (Fr Paul Tully) and Coxhoe (Fr Shaun Swales). Following the retirement of Bishop Cunningham, we welcomed the installation of Bishop Robert Byrne, 14th prelate of Hexham & Newcastle, at St Mary’s Cathedral on March 25, the great feast of the solemnity of the Annunciation. The major Latin component of the installation ceremony was indeed uplifting, with Ecce Sacerdos Magnus (Elgar), Gloria & Credo sung in Latin by the excellent Cathedral choir. This, followed by the Dixit Maria at Angelum for the offertory (H.L Hassler) and then Agnus Dei - Ave Verum (Byrd).
Strong adhesion to tradition was highlighted with Bishop Robert wearing the C13th ring of St Cuthbert, recovered from the Saint’s incorrupt corpse and also his vesting with an early C15 cope, most appropriately carrying an image of the Annunciation. We can have great confidence in our new bishop’s approach to this fresh apostolate, given his broad experience and solid formation within the Oratorian community in the Midland counties. The diocesan summary highlights the scale of our new Shepherd’s task, noting a population of 2.32m souls in 3195 sq miles, embracing c.167000 Catholics within 146 parishes! Ad Multos Annos! We were privileged to have a patronal High Mass at Gateshead on the feast of St Joseph, March 19, thanks to Fr Michael Brown with Fr David Phillips as Deacon and Fr Martin Wheaton, Subdeacon. The Westland Singers directed by Paul Dewhirst performed a Mass setting by Henri Nibelle, plus Vivaldi’s Gloria.
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