Archbishop Malcolm McMahon ordains FSSP priests

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the ordination of two priests for the FSSP on Saturday.

A wonderful occasion! 

Our Archbishop here in the Liverpool Diocese 

celebrated the Ordination Mass 

in the FSSP church of St Mary in Warrington town centre.

A quiet moment of reflection in the sacristy beforehand.

There were thirty of forty priests and Religious in attendance from all over the country and beyond.

John Aron, who took all these excellent photographs, spotted yours truly in the crowd.

All photographs used with John's kind permission.

John Aron Photography.

Archbishop Malcolm prays at the Lady Altar at the start of Mass.

A lovely depiction of the English Martyrs is part of the reredos.

Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury was also in attendance.

One of the ordinands, Alex Stewart, is from his diocese.

Deacon (as he still was here) Alex Stewart, 

who I know from my home parish of 

Ss Peter and Paul in New Brighton.

Deacon 

 Krzysztof Sanetra, 

originally from Poland before coming to England.

The Litany.

A group of priests, Religious and seminarians sang some of the chant

while St Mary's is blessed with a fabulous choir, led by Michael Wynne,

who rose tot he occasion with their usual aplomb.

 

All the priests present share in the laying on of hands.

There was a good sprinkling of priests from the Archdiocese present.

Members of the Institute of Christ the Institute of Christ the King, now with churches in New Brighton and Preston, were also present.

Very Rev. Fr Michael Mary Sim C.SS.R, 

Rector of the Redepmtorists at Papa Stronsay in the Orkney Islands.

Fr James Mawdsley, FSSP from the Shrine at Warrington.

All teh priests extend their right hands during the prayer of consecration.

Pictured centre here, Fr deMallery, Rector of the Shrine, who kept a calm surface during the day, which must have been some organisational feat. 

Actually, everything seemed to go off without a hitch.

It was particularly moving to see the bound hands of the ordinands.

 

The newly ordained preparing to concelebrate withthe Archbishop.

Mysterium fidei!

Great to see St Mary's packed for the occasion. It is quite a revelation to those of us ordained during the wilderness years when the Traditional form of the Mass, and indeed anything traditional, was frowned on in the seminary. Now, here we are and the riches of liturgy, music and architecture that have inspired Catholics for centuries are once again beginning to flourish. Laus Deo!

Thank to Archbishop Malcolm for making all parts of the Church feel at home in his diocese.

Mass was followed by a much appreciated drinks reception in the garden -

it was a beautiful sunny day.