Meeting in Amsterdam

The Grand Priory of the Netherlands held a Vigil and Investiture ceremonies this weekend in Amsterdam, whilst also hosting the international meeting of the Governing Council of the Order.

The Vigil Service was held in the charming surroundings of the Church of Our Dear Lord in the Attic

(Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder), a 17th-century canal house, now a museum but with a still functioning chapel in the attic. The chapel was built on the top three floors of the canal house during the 1660s; an important example of a "schuilkerk", or "clandestine church," in which Catholics from the seventeenth century, unable to worship in public, held secret services. 

 The Grand Master and members gathering for the Vigil.

 Leaving the canal house for dinner at the Grand Hotel.

 Visiting members of the Order from the Grand Priory of Great Britain.

Members of the Grand Council spent the following day in meetings until the evening when we gathered for the Investiture of new members for the Grand Priory of the Netherlands at the English Reformed Church. 

 The Grand Master addresses the congregation.

Afterwards we went by canal boat to the Gala Dinner at the Hotel L'Europe

 

The Grand Master and some of the Heads of Jurisdiction at the Dinner.

 Members enjoying the excellent dinner!

Limbless Veterans Donation

Representing the Grand Prior and the Grand Priory of Great Britain, the Chaplin General, Fr Simon Henry, presented a cheque for £1,000 to the Elizabeth Frankland Moore Home in Blackpool. It is run by BLESMA - the British Limbless Veterans Association. The Home in Blackpool is comfortable and spacious, with expert care for 20 residents and space for another 20 visitors. Blesma bought the large house in 1949, and ever since it has provided exciting adventure breaks, quiet holidays, and first-class residential care,

 The Chaplain General presents a cheque for £1,000 to Jacqui Longden, the Manager of the Home.

Being able to support the work of BLESMA, with its association of veterans from the forces and care for their needs seemed particularly appropriate for the Order's military and hospitaller tradition.

Some of the residents in the bar - Note their own chosen name for the  bar!

BLESMA supports limbless veterans and their families up and down the country, with support, counselling, grants, employment and prosthetics.

Cardinal Paskai's Funeral

 

 

Some photographs of Cardinal Paskai's funeral on 22nd August at the Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert, Esztergom, Hungary.  It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest.  

Requiescat in pace.

Atavis et Armis!

 

 

The altarpiece (13.5 × 6.6 metres) depicting the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Girolamo Michelangelo Grigoletti, is the largest painting in the world painted on a single piece of canvas.

Cardinal Paskai, RIP



 

 

 

László Cardinal Paskai

celebrating the Requiem Mass for the Hungarian martyrs

(killed by the Soviets in 1956.)

 

It is with a heavy heart that we lament that His Eminence László Cardinal Paskai O.F.M. was called back to the Lord at the age of 88 after a long battle with cancer.  In 2005 he became the Spiritual Protector of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, a role he faithfully fulfilled until he retired in 2010.

 

Requiescat in Pace.

 

We will be praying for him most particularly when we offer our annual Requiem Mass for deceased members and friends with Pontifical Requiem Mass at St Catherine's Church, Leyland, on the evening of Friday 6th November.

 

 

The retired primate of Hungary, Cardinal Laszlo Paskai, died on August 17 at the age of 88. He led the Catholic Church in Hungary as the country moved from communism to democracy at the end of the 1980s.

 

Born in Szeged, Hungary, in 1927, as a young man he experienced first the Nazi, then the Soviet occupations of his homeland.

 

He entered the Franciscan order in 1945 and studied theology in Gyongyos. Although the communist government banned most religious orders and severely limited the number of members and ministries of the remaining orders in 1950, the future cardinal was ordained to the priesthood for the Franciscans in 1951.

 

After earning a doctorate in theology in Budapest, he returned to Szeged, where he first became secretary to the bishop, then a philosophy professor at the local seminary. Later, he taught philosophy and served as spiritual director at Budapest’s central seminary and was appointed rector in 1973.

Blessed Paul VI made him a bishop in 1978, naming him apostolic administrator of Veszprem. A year later he became bishop of the diocese. In 1982, St John Paul II named him coadjutor of the Archdiocese of Kalocsa.

 

The Pope named him archbishop of the primatial see of Esztergom-Budapest in 1987 and made in a cardinal the following year. He retired in 2002.

 

In a statement posted on the archdiocesan website, his successor, Cardinal Peter Erdo, recalled how Cardinal Paskai led the Church through a period of difficult, but exciting changes, and he was the one who arranged for the body of Cardinal Jozef Mindszenty to be returned to Hungary and buried in Esztergom in 1991.

 

In 1971, Cardinal Mindszenty, then 79, was forced into exile after suffering torture and imprisonment under the communists and spending 16 years as a refugee in the US Embassy in Budapest.

 

He left Hungary pledging he would not set foot again in his homeland until the demise of communism. At ceremonies marking the return of his body, Cardinal Paskai told the crowds,
“In these moments, his wish is coming true after 20 years.”

 

Cardinal Paskai’s death leaves the College of Cardinals with 219 members, 120 of whom are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave.



 

 

The Cardinal in 2005 in the Square of St Mark's, Venice

with HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d’Orléans.

 

 

Chaplain General in Great Britain, Fr Simon Henry

and  Chancellor in Great Britain, Fr Mark Lawler

with the Cardinal in 2005 in St Mark's Square, Venice.

Investiture Mass with Bishop Robert Byrne

 The High Altar awaiting Mass.

The Priory of Great Britain had the great pleasure of welcoming new members into the Order at the Oratorian Community's Church of St Chad in Manchester, following Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Byrne. The Investiture welcomed new members from London, Scotland, Cheshire and Derbyshire.

 Conf. Andrew McDermott leads the procession with the ceremonial sword.

 Thanks to those who served from the parish of St Chad, as well as from St Catherine's and friends of the Order.

Since moving to St Chad's the Oratorian Community have been working tirelessly to build up the parish, including a present large scale renovation with £250,000 from the English Heritage Lottery Fund. (Although they still have to raise £60,000 to complete this first stage of the work.) Hence the scaffolding down the south aisle of the church. 

 The Grand Master and members process in for Mass.

 The 50th Grand Master

HE Jan Count Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz.

 Bishop Robert Byrne celebrated the Mass of St James the Great in the splendid vestments belonging to the Oratorian Community.

 Fr Ray Matus chants the Epistle.

 Fr Richard Bailey chants the Gospel.

 At the conclusion of Mass the Investiture was proclaimed.

 Bishop Robert blesses the insignia.

 

 Mrs Patricia McGrath is received as Conseur.

 Mr Damien McGrath is received as Confrere.

 

Mr Michael Sterland is received as Confrere.

 The Baron of Craigmillar, Brian Williamson, is received as Confrere.

 

 The new members are addressed by the Chaplain General for Great Britain, Fr Simon Henry.

 Cons. Elizabeth Douglas is created Dame for supporting the work of the Order.

 Conf. William Douglas is created Chevalier for supporting the work of the Order.

 

 Chev. Nigel Sterland is promoted to Commander of Merit for his work as Treasurer in Great Britain and on the international Grand Council.

 Our thanks to the Grand Master for once again travelling to be with us.

 

Following the Mass and Investiture, the Grand Prior of Great Britain, the Much Honoured Baron of Fetternear, Martin Thacker, hosted a Luncheon at the Midland Hotel. A few pictures follow...

  

Thanks to Mr John Robinson for the splendid photographs.

Thanks also to Fr Richard Bailey and Chev. Anthony Dickinson for arranging the music, 

which was excellent and included Mozart's Mass in C.