PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

For Immediate Release

7 March 2007

Historic First for Westminster bishop

At the request of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Bishop John Arnold, auxiliary bishop in Westminster, will be present in the sanctuary and will preach at the Latin Mass Society’s Annual High Mass of Requiem celebrated in the Traditional Latin Rite in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 17 November at 2.00 pm.

This will be the first time that a bishop of England and Wales has participated in an Old Rite Mass in the cathedral since the liturgical reforms of 1969.

Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow was present in the sanctuary at a Traditional Rite Mass in the Cathedral organised by the LMS in June 2004 and Bishop Fernando Rifan of Campos, Brazil, celebrated an Old Rite Mass in the Lady Chapel in October 2004.

In a further development the Latin Mass Society has announced that Bishop John Arnold will confer Confirmations in the Traditional Rite at St James’ Church, Spanish Place, London on Saturday 3 November at a ceremony organised by the LMS.

John Medlin, General Manager of the LMS said, “Westminster diocese is working hard at normalising the position of the Traditional Rite in the diocese. It is great news that a Westminster bishop will be present and preach at a major occasion in the Traditional year and we are pleased to have Bishop Arnold with us for Confirmations as well. Westminster is a model which other dioceses could usefully follow. We are most grateful to the Cardinal and his bishops for their pastoral care for Catholics attached to the Old Rite.”

Details of the Requiem Mass in Westminster Cathedral and the Confirmations are available from the LMS on 020 7404 7284.

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For further information, please contact John Medlin, General Manager, or Yvonne Windsor, LMS Office Administrator, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585;

E-mail: thelatinmasssociety@snmail.co.uk