Conferring the Diaconate at the Oxford Oratory

Last Saturday, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Br Oliver Craddock, Cong.Orat. received the diaconate at the Oxford Oratory by Bishop Robert Byrne, Cong. Orat.

Bishop Robert's Sermon can be read here

Here are pictures of the liturgy and celebrations from the Oxford Oratory website:

The candidate is called forward:

The Litany of the Saints:

The promise of obedience:

The Laying on of Hands:

The Presentation with the Book of the Gospels:

The new deacon assists the bishop to incense the altar:

 

The Sign of Peace:

The new deacon performs the ablutions after Holy Communion:

Br Oliver sings the dismissal at the end of Mass:

All the members of the Oxford Oratory together:

The cake being cut at the party after Mass:

Images: © The Oxford Oratory

A new Acolyte at the Oxford Oratory

At the High Mass last Sunday, the Solemnity of All Saints, Br Oliver Craddock was instituted as an Acolyte at the Oxford Oratory by the Provost, Fr Daniel Seward.

The acolytate is one of the 'ministries', formerly called 'minor orders', on the way to the priesthood. Anciently, the acolyte carried candles and tapers for the liturgy, and took a fragment of the Pope's Host to Masses elsewhere in the City of Rome. This state is one that reminds us of the holiness of the liturgy therefore.

The candidate is called forward:

He is blessed:

He is handed the ciborium, containing the bread which will be offered at the Mass, as a sign of his service of the altar:

He assists the Deacon in preparing the altar:

He washes the Celebrant's hands:

The elevation of the Chalice:

The Ecce Agnus Dei:

Holy Communion:

The recessional of the Mass:

Photographs by Hannah Chegwyn.

Images and text(adapted) : Oxford Oratory website 

Admitting a new Lector at the Oxford Oratory

This morning during the Mass at the Oxford Oratory the youngest member of the community, Br. Oliver Craddock, was admitted to the ministry of Lector by the Provost, Fr Daniel. This marks another step in his progression towards Ordination, and along with the rest of the Oratory congregation I would wish to record my prayers and good wishes for him, and appreciation of what he has already brought to the life of St Aloysius.