From the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales

Family Residential Lenten Retreat a Great Success

Gregorian Chant Network Course also a Success

Saint Catherine’s Trust for Traditional Family Education (SCT), sponsored by the Latin Mass Society (LMS), held its fifth annual family retreat for Lent from Friday 8^th to Sunday 10^th April (Passion Sunday). The retreat was held at the Oratory School, Reading, Oxfordshire and over 150 parents and children attended.

Running alongside the SCT retreat, the Gregorian Chant Network (GCN), also sponsored by the LMS, held its own residential course to study Gregorian Chant in the context of parish liturgy. 20 singers attended and were tutored by Colin Mawby, composer and ex-Director of Music at Westminster Cathedral.

The SCT retreat was led by Fr Andrew Southwell, LMS National Chaplain, who gave catechesis for both adults and children and also celebrated all the liturgies and devotions. The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite was used throughout.

The weather was glorious and facilitated the SCT’s traditional procession through the Oratory School grounds; the younger children made special banners for the procession which were blessed by Fr Southwell. The youngsters also received their own special talks on the Faith from three volunteers while Fr Southwell was giving spiritual conferences for the adults.

During the weekend, the singers on the GCN course sang at all the liturgies, which included three Sung Masses, Compline twice, Vespers and Benediction, and a Marian procession. During the procession they sang the Litany of the Saints, the Litany of Loreto, and the Stabat Mater.

Doctor Joseph Shaw, LMS Chairman, said: “The LMS is happy to sponsor its affiliated organisations, the SCT and GCN, as a way of increasing exposure to the Extraordinary Form for families and musicians. We find that participants at these residential courses go back to their parishes enthused by the beauty and profundity of the Traditional Latin Rite and become active in reintroducing it into their local church life. We are already planning a full range of SCT and GCN events for 2012”.

For pictures of the St Catherine’s Trust and Gregorian Chant Network Lenten residential weekend at the Oratory School see here.

For more pictures see here

For information on St Catherine’s trust see St Catherine's Trust