Latin Mass in the Pro Cathedral, Dublin

With the permission of His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin and the Very Reverend Canon O'Reilly, Adm., St. Laurence's Catholic Heritage Association organised a pilgrimage to the Pro Cathedral, Dublin, today, to honour the feast of St. Laurence O'Toole, Patron of the Archdiocese, and to venerate his relics enshrined there.

The sacristy staff honoured us by laying out for use at the Mass the vestments made for the High Mass in the Phoenix Park at the 1932 Eucharistic Congress in Dublin and the chalice given as a gift by the People of Ireland to St. John XXIII, gifted by him back to the Pro-Cathedral, and used by St. John Paul II at the Mass that he celebrated in the Phoenix Park when he visited Ireland in 1979.

From Dublin: The City Within the Grand and Royal Canals and the Circular Road by Christine Casey, p. 126 ff:

ST. MARY'S PRO-CATHEDRAL

Marlborough Street

Of 1814-25.  A large and remarkably ambitious metropolitan chapel whose style and scale provided an exemplar for Catholic church building in the city for over half a century.  In all but name, this is the Roman Catholic cathedral of Dublin.  It is the parish church of the archbishop and since its dedication in 1825 it has played a central role in national religious ceremony.  The remains of Daniel O'Connell, Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera lay here in state; John Henry Newman was inaugurated here as the Rector of the Catholic University; and in 1903 John McCormack began his career here with the renowned Palestrina Choir, founded in the previous year.  At 4,734 square ft (1,320 square metres), it was the largest church built in Dublin since the Middle Ages.  The model was French, in particular the basilican church of St Philippe du Roule in Paris (1764-84), a Neoclassical design with a nave, apse and ambulatory... The Pro-Cathedral design is more fastidiously primitif in its employment of Greek Doric throughout, modulated to Tuscan in the tripartite windows of the s elevation.  'Sublimely Greek by any standards' concluded J.M. Crook, 'pedantic' and 'dogmatic' counters Michael McCarthy, both seeing through the many accretions to the original heroic concept.  While substantial C19 and C20 alterations have considerably reduced the potency of the original design, the Pro-Cathedral still ranks among the most powerful Greek Revival church interiors in these islands...

Annual Retreat 2013

Father Gregory Winterton RIP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Gregory Winterton, Cong. Orat., of the Birmingham Oratory, who died on Wednesday 18th January 2012 and whose funeral took place today, 24th January. An account of the reception of his body into the Oratory can be found here. The funeral itself was very well attended, not a single seat remained in the church and in excess of a hundred people were also gathered around its edges during the Mass. There were also in excess of 50 priests including representatives from other Oratories.

Father Gregory was the Provost of the Birmingham Oratory from 1971 until 1992 except for six months in 1977. He is well remembered for the work he did in the pursuit of the Canonisation of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman, being the Actor for the cause for some years.

The Oratory website has a lovely tribute to Father Gregory which provides many further details of his life and it is not my plan to reproduce those here. From it though most poignant for me is the following quote:

"The moment when Fr Gregory was presented to Pope Benedict XVI and, later that same day, when they met at the Oratory House, provided unforgettable pictures: two men in their eighties—one (the Pope) a devoted student of Newman, the other (Fr Gregory) the tireless advocate of Newman’s holiness. It was the culmination of half a life-time’s hard work for Fr Gregory."

I vividly remember that moment at Cofton Park, pictured above. In the months that followed I heard so many others who knew Father Gregory comment on it, recalling it with pleasure. At the time I knew relatively little of Father Gregory's role in the work that lead to us all being there that day for the beatification. When he later visited Ireland and we spent some time talking together I began to understand a little more of the efforts that he personally made but his modesty obscured just how much he had done. Friday when I opened The Times I must admit I was surprised to discover that they had run a full page obituary for Father Gregory instead of the usual few short paragraphs that I had expected. It was only on reading this piece, much of the content of which is also covered in the Oratory's own piece, that I learnt just how significant a role he had played

Father Gregory's trip to Ireland in May 2011 was to deliver a series of conferences during the Sodality of Our Lady Retreat in Mount Melleray Abbey, O.C.S.O., Cappoquin, Co. Waterford. The theme of these was Newman and Our Lady, a subject close to the hearts of the Sodality, a group not only dedicated to Our Lady but one which meets regularly in Newman's University Church in Dublin. Those who attended found much interest in and benefit from his talks and we all felt privileged at Father Gregory's presence, appreciating the tremendous effort he, then 88 and frail, had made to be with us. Subsequently his talks were published in the Sodality Journal and a copy has been placed here for free download so that others have the opportunity to benefit from his wisdom.

There are so many people who knew Father Gregory far better than I did but I hope readers will understand that it seems strange to me to write a piece like this without sharing some of my own personal recollections. In particular I remember sitting with him at breakfast in the dining room at Mount Melleray whilst we ate porridge, a favourite of his, and he told me about how he came to join the Oratory and how he used to cycle from there right across the city to attend lectures at Oscott College. However, most of all I think I will remember his joy, how at the simplest things a smile would come across his face and it would light up, as he would start to chuckle at some piece of humour which caught his fancy.

Father Gregory, rest in peace, you will be missed by so many.

The launch of Pushkin the Pontifical Puss: Tails of an Oratory Cat

Real honours are rare and few and so I was most delighted to receive an invitation from Pushkin, the cat in residence at the Birmingham Oratory,  to the launch of his first book.  'Pushkin the Pontifical Puss: Tails of an Oratory Cat', chronicles his life and gives an insight into the hidden private thoughts of this famous feline.  Prominent amongst this is an account of his meeting with the Pope or in cat, 'He-who-wears-white', which so captured the world's press.

Readers may remember that earlier this year I was privileged to be granted an exclusive interview with Pushkin for CHRISTVS REGNAT.  Our encounter was an experience I enjoyed immensely and so I have been eagerly awaiting the chance to read his new work since a few months ago he confided in me about his intentions to write a book.

The exclusive launch took place this evening at the Birmingham Oratory for a select group of around a hundred guests.  Guest of honour was Pushkin's close friend 'she-who-wears-diamonds', better known to the rest of us as HRH Princess Michael of Kent, who wrote the foreward.  Other guests included close friends from both the clergy and laity, some local and others who had travelled some considerable distance to attend this very special event.

Under the watchful eyes of his human, Father Anton Guziel, who was always ready to leap into action to respond to his needs, Pushkin surveyed the guests, amber eyes taking in everything.  Like any gracious host he found the time to bestow a few moments attention here and there, offering the opportunity to briefly pay homage with a stroke of his sleek black form for the most worthy.

   

Guests were entertained by the Children from the Oratory School who sang numbers specially prepared for the evening, "Oh I want to sing about Pushkin" and "Pontifical Puss" and members of St Paul's Girls' School who performed Rossini's "Buffo per due Gatti".  We heard an extract read by Peter, one of the co-stars of the book and speeches from Her Royal Highness and Father Anton.  We also had a delicious buffet the star of which was a wonderful Pushkin cake.

The launch proved to be a most enjoyable evening and the book is already flying off the shelves.  A special copy is even on its way to the Holy Father tied up in a piece of the ribbon that Pushkin was wearing at their meeting.  I think there is a strong possibility that Pushkin may soon add 'best selling author' to his list of accolades.  But despite all the attention of the launch and indeed as a result of his rise to fame as a result of his meeting with the Holy Father last year this stylish black Persian maintains a quiet dignity appropriate to his status as cat in residence at the Birmingham Oratory.



Proceeds from the book will go to fund much needed restoration work at the Oratory and to the  Carmelite Nuns in Wolverhampton, who have beautifully illustrated it.  It will make a lovely Christmas present and I snapped up a number of the first copies this evening so if you are on my Christmas gift list you may be lucky enough to get one!  If not copies are available from St Paul's Publishing priced £6.50.

We don't know much about Blessed John Henry Newman's relationship with Pushkin's ancestors.  However, I like to think that he would approve of this new author who stalks with such style in his footsteps through his elegant and hallowed halls and who, in his own inimitable way, is trying both to spread the word and to preserve Newman's legacy of the Oratory.

On that note I must end but to slightly misquote the last line of the book 'Pushkin', she said, I'll be back.'

Pushkin, the Oratory Cat who met the Pope

Download Pushkin's Exclusive Interview here.

Fame can change a cat as much as it can a human, but Pushkin, the cat who met the Pope remains remarkably unchanged by his experience and the resulting media attention. However, perhaps remaining the same is easy for cat in residence at the Birmingham Oratory, who according to those with whom he has a longer acquaintance, has always known his worth.

As a great admirer of felines I was delighted and immensely flattered that Pushkin granted me an exclusive for the June edition of CHRISTVS REGNAT, his first interview since that meeting. This piece features just a few highlights from our discussion. Pushkin as I am sure readers will recall from the media coverage met the Holy Father in September last year when following the beatification of Cardinal Newman when he became to first person to pray at the newly instituted Shrine at the Birmingham Oratory.

An obviously stylish black Persian, Pushkin wanders leisurely through the elegant halls of the Birmingham Oratory taking in the classically proportioned surroundings and beautiful paintings with little more than a passing glance. Pushkin, I am convinced, sees these merely as minor earthly things and nothing more than his due being a cat of obvious quality. Indeed when I asked him about his move to the Oratory he told me that he found it, “much more suited to a cat of my calibre than my former residence, an ordinary house in Stoke on Trent.”

I was delighted that Pushkin shared with me his impression of encountering the Holy Father. He told me that he remembered, “with a particular fondness the greeting and the special exchange we had.” The Pope is of course well known as a cat lover and is credited with having spent time feeding many of Rome’s stray cats in his time as a Cardinal.


Pushkin’s daring evasion of the security surrounding the Pope and subsequent meeting with him has won him much acclaim in the cat world. He confided, “I received several letters of congratulations and have been credited with establishing the rights of all cats, at all times, in all places to be first and foremost. Just as it should be.”

He went on to tell me of the media coverage that resulted with television and radio interviews conducted with the humans of his house about his meeting. It seems it not just the English that have a fascination with animals as requests were received from media around the world to feature Pushkin and his staff.

Despite all the fame and attention Pushkin still does, as he assured me, take seriously his duties at the cat in residence at the Oratory. This includes rigorously inspecting visitors and ensuring the house is in good order and duties are properly carried out.
"If they [the guests] are visiting any of the special rooms in the building, such as Cardinal Newman’s room or the library, then I will often accompany them to supervise and ensure that the Priest who is giving the guided tour is doing so correctly.” In an era of transitory things such attention to detail and commitment to the development of one’s staff can only be considered admirable.

Speaking frankly to me about his daily life in the Oratory Pushkin described the routine of the house and his own personal daily routine. He emphasised the need for substantial amounts of rest and grooming with regular exercise up and down the stairs being highlighted as key parts of maintaining the stamina required for his critical role.

Whilst Pushkin spoke openly on many subjects ranging there was one on which this interviewer was regrettably unable to draw him; the rumours that he was invited to become Pontifical Cat-in-Ordinary at the Vatican. However, one feels his dignified refusal to comment must only add fuel to these...

Emphasising his approval of the traditional Latin Mass Pushkin expressed his pleasure that since Summorum Pontificum cats everywhere have had a greater opportunity to attend this. He was also keen to give advice to other Catholic cats,
“Always make sure you are treated as you deserve and never allow yourself to be put outside when guests are calling, who knows, one day it could be the Pope.”

My time sadly was up all too quickly and I was dismissed with a narrowing of Pushkin’s stunning eyes as the appeal of a well earned snooze clearly began to outweigh any attentions I might provide. He surveyed my exit from the gallery of the stairs with his usual attention to detail before turning on heels and departing with a swish of his long tail. I was left with the impression that Pushkin remembers when cats were regarded as Gods in Egypt and does not appear to have taken on board what, if anything, has changed.

Before I left the Oratory I was however allowed to have a few words with Puskin’s part time PR agent and general assistant Father Anton Guziel who assisted at our interview. Pushkin is clearly very fond of “his human” and indeed all the Fathers of the Oratory. Though as he made clear with some of the non verbal signals which added considerable depth to our meeting, he does find rather tiresome on occasion the demands of Father Anton’s other work which clearly can interfere with his primary role.

Father Anton outlined for me some of the changes that have taken place since the Newman’s beatification and the Papal visit. Clearly he has been delighted at the increasing devotion to Newman since the event. He that told me, “Life has never really been quite the same since the Papal visit and of course, the day was packed with excitement and all sorts of hopes and fears. One of the changes has been the institution of a Pilgrims Mass at 11am every Saturday at Newman’s Shrine.” Some pilgrims have even been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the cat who met the Pope... On occasion the really privileged, who display proper respect, have even been allowed to greet him in person.

If this taster has whet your appetite you can read the full interview published in the June, 2011, issue of CHRISTVS REGNAT, which can be downloaded HERE.

The interview covers a wide range of topics including Pushkin's kittenhood, hobbies, how he became the cat in residence at the Birmingham Oratory, the role and the daily routine of an Oratory Cat, memories of his audience with the Pope, his liturgical preferences and his assessment of the impact of Summorum Pontificum, the origin of his name, his literary tastes, his favourite Saint, Cardinal Newman on cats, and cats who have inspired him.

My thanks go to Father Anton Guziel and of course to Pushkin both for the interview and for permission to publish these extracts on this blog.

Beatification Report - Bl. John Henry Newman Shrine at Oxford Oratory

The Oxford Oratory is the third of the English Oratories and the only one not established within John Henry Newman's life though it is close to the heart of the city in which he spent a significant part of his life. During Newman's lifetime Bishop Ullathorne attempted three times to bring the Oratorians to Oxford but despite considerable efforts it was not be. It was not until 1990 when the Birmingham Oratory realised Newman's dream when it responded to an invitation to take over the running of The Church of St Aloysius, which in 1993 became an independent congregation.

Newman's Shrine at Oxford is temporary feature. It is made up of a painting by William Ouless, aedicule and altarino by Timothy Newbery and achievement of arms by Tom Meek. Located at the back of the right hand aisle it clearly lacks the impact of those at both Birmingham and London. However, the Oratory is in the process of a major building project which will see a permanent chapel to Newman, the descriptions of which are most impressive. A substantial fundraising appeal is in progress and I look forward to seeing the chapel once complete.


Founded in 1875, the Church of St Aloysius was originally served by Jesuit Fathers. It was designed by Joseph Aloysius Hansom (1802-1888), incidentally also designer of the Handom Cab and Birmingham Town Hall, and was inspired by French Gothic. Originally decorated in Italianate style in the fifties it then became two tone grey which has been superseded by more colourful refurbishment. Whilst impressive throughout the most striking feature is undoubtedly the 52 statues of saints and angels and two saints heads behind the altar which dominate the Church.




Newman spent a considerable portion of this life in Oxford, as student at Trinity College, a Fellow of Oriel College and an Anglican Minister. It was here he formed many of the ideas that he built on during his time in Dublin and in his 'Idea of a University' and indeed he is credited with establishing the tutorial system common throughout university education today.


Leaving Oxford soon after his conversion, Newman lived in effective exile from Oxford and its academic life until in 1878 he was made the first Honourary Fellow by Trinity College. I was struck by the words in Father Jerome Bertram's Book Newman's Oxford, "So it came about that it was the Observatory that he was to leave on the morning of the 23rd, not to see Oxford again for many years, save only its spires as they are seen from the railway." But to quote Newman's own words, "To live is to change, and to be perfect is to change often."

Blessed John Henry Newman pray for us!