Gregorius Magnus - Summer 2023 - Edition no. 15

The End of a Mass in Leeds Diocese, England

by Rosalind Crow

The Mass at St Ignatius' Church in Leeds Diocese was relatively new but grew quickly. While the Novus Ordo parishioners stayed at home after the lockdowns, we grew in strength, an unwelcome surprise to be discovered at their hesitant return. ‘Who do these people think they are?’ an elderly parishioner loudly whispered as we left the parish centre one Sunday. It was very much them against us. As a congregation, we worked hard to improve relations with the existing parish, removing the fear of the unknown, replacing it with mutual respect and understanding.

Located in the south of the diocese, we attracted many escaping the liturgical wasteland of Hallam Diocese and others from even further afield. St Ignatius was regularly used as a safe haven for travellers, stopping in for a singular Mass at the convenient crossroad of the M1 and M62. We introduced a sung Mass once a month, taught two boys to serve, helped in the discernment of a parishioner now at the Wigratzbad seminary of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, and reached fifty in the congregation, which was no mean feat for a small suburban church. The community spirit was thriving in the parish centre afterwards; the children formed friendships, bringing games to sit and play while the adults discussed theology and family life.

Sunday, 26th February, witnessed the last Mass as decreed by the Bishop of Leeds, Cardinal Roche’s successor.

The Mass provided familiar, unwavering stability to calm us. Following Mass, groups discussed their next move with a mixture of sobriety and zeal. We have all experienced the Novus Ordo Mass and sought the Traditional Latin Mass for a reason, leaving behind previous parishes, friendships, and routines, and embarking on a new chapter for the good of our souls. As a community we are always on the move, like refugees forced to flee our spiritual home, so this is nothing new to us. All were determined to continue attending the Traditional Mass wherever possible, and many were willing to travel great distances to do so. When the time came to leave for home, there was a common understanding that our small parish would simply pick up and move elsewhere.

We stayed behind to say farewell to the Novus Ordo parishioners who, embracing us as friends, expressed their shock and upset along with statements of ‘it’s as though you’re being persecuted’.

Taking inspiration from our nation’s history of religious oppression and the great English Martyrs, we must not fall into the sin of despair, but remain faithful that God will see us through these times of hardship.