"gaudia Paschalia" winging it way!

For Rev. Fr John and Mrs. Hunwicke.

Photos of our Christchurch chapel.

Oratory of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour,
141 Rutland Street,
St Alban's, Christchurch,
as it had been.

Brother Nicodemus Mary,F.SS.R.
moved into action last week.

 

Brother enjoys decorating the sanctuary.
The chapel had been a hall belonging to the Closed Brethren.
Over the years many generous friends
have worked to make it suitable for the Holy Sacrifice.

Soon after we arrived, friends made this opening in the hall's ceiling
and found a suitable window to give added emphasis and light
to the altar which is directly below.

The image of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour
was carefully protected during operations.

 The work is not finished.
 But last Saturday night the altar was replaced for the
Mass of Low Sunday.

 

 More coats of paint are needed and
further developments will be reported.

Our tabernacle was brought to Christchurch
as part of our luggage last month.
It is French and quite old.

 Its doors are beautifully carved.

 This is how things stood for Low Sunday.
May God bless the devoted monk and his holy work.

Easter Morning, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Easter Sunday Mass 

Christchurch, New Zealand

Easter Morning.

After the Vigil the night before, there is a special atmosphere 

when returning to the same sacred space on Easter morning.

 Holy Mass of Easter Sunday, Resurrexi...

I arose, and am still with Thee, alleluia...

Announcing the Resurrection.

Rev. Brother Magdala Maria, F.SS.R.

Et resurrecxit tertia die secundum Scripturas...

Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. 

 Devout faithful.

 The altar and decorations were beautiful.

Easter Vigil, Christchurch, New Zealand

The Easter Vigil

The Blessing of the Baptismal Font

Behold the Lamb of God.

Good Friday, Christchurch, New Zealand

Moments during the Solemn Afternoon Liturgy.

 

 The Prostration

 Chanting the Passion of Our Lord

 The Solemn Intercessions

 Adoration of the Cross

Behold the wood of the Cross, 

on which hung the Saviour of the world.

Veneration of the Cross

Graces Almost Beyond Belief

As many of you surely know, this Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday.  The promises made to St Faustina concerning this devotion are truly amazing.

The Graces available on this day are simply stupendous; it’s like a plenary indulgence, without the requirement of complete detachment from all sin.  This opportunity given to us by Christ Himself should not be missed.

Listen to this in order to prepare yourself and to take full advantage of what our Good Lord offers to you:

Maundy Thursday. Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus...

The Mass of Maundy Thursday

Christchurch, New Zealand.

 Epistle: 

Fratres, convenientibus vobis in unum...

Brethren, when you come together therefore into one place...

 Mandatum novum do vobis...

A new commandment I give unto you...

 ...alter alterius lavare pedes...

...to wash one another's feet...

 Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est...

Where are charity and love, God is there...

Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum...

Let us fear and love the living God... 

Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

And let us love one another with sincere hearts.

 ... et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus.

..and may Christ, our God, be in the midst of us.

Domine, exaudi orationem meam.

Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

O Lord hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee.

Ubi est refectio mea

Christchurch, New Zealand

Holy Thursday

Ubi est refectio mea

Say to the master of the house:

The Master saith:

Where is My refectory where I may eat the Pasch

with my disciples.

Et invererunt...

And they found as He had told them:

and they prepared the pasch.

The example of religious life.

Christchurch, New Zealand. 

The Sacred Triduum this year is taking place

in the small chapel of a University Hall of residence.

It is a difficult location.

This causes us to pull out all stops to try to make it a success.

The Monastery Garage

Preparations for the Sacred Triduum. 

The Brothers are renovating an old altar

which they will transport by trailer to the little chapel 

tomorrow morning, Holy Thursday. 

Brother Clemens painting the old altar.

 There are also matching altar rails thanks to white paint.

 Brother has prepared the mensa or altar-top 

and is about to lower the altar stone into its place. 

 Brother Nicodemus Mary is painting with gold obtained

for him by our friend, 

the local artist and statue repairer, 

Mr. Damian Walker. 

 Deacon Brother Magdala Maria is 

directing Brother Xavier Maria who is inside the altar

lining up the new wooden support.

One of the great consolations of the religious life

is to see Brethren who pray together and

also work together in great peace and mutual co-operation;

"just getting the job done"

working to late at night

to do something worthwhile for Our Lord and for souls.

May God bless their work

and the Holy Triduum.

We adore Thee, O Christ!

I thought that perhaps some of our readers might like to hear this recording of our singing here at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary.  This rendition of Adoramus Te Christe, by G. P. da Palestrina, was sung during Mass this Palm Sunday, 24th March.

Adoramus te, Christe,
et benedicimus tibi,
quia per sanctam crucem tuam
redemisti mundum.

We adore Thee, O Christ,
And we bless Thee,
Who by Thy Holy Cross
hath redeemed the world.

The English-speaking seminary of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP).

Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, Denton, NE, USA

Palm Sunday in Christchurch, New Zealand

Today, 

Palm Sunday,

we officially began our apostolate in

the Diocese of  Christchurch, New Zealand.

Palm Sunday

Church of St Therese

Riccarton, Christchurch.

click on photos to see them in larger format! :)

The Blessing of Palms in front of the church. 

Hosanna filio David.

Hosanna to the Son of David. 

Hosanna in excelsis.

Hosanna in the highest. 

 Procession with Palms.

 Brother Clemens strikes the Church doors, 

the gates of the city of Jerusalem,

that they be opened to receive the King of Glory.

 Attollite, portae, capita vestra,

et attollite vos, fores antiquae,*

ut ingrediatur Rex gloriae!

Lift up O gates, your lintels,

and be ye lifted up, O ancient double doors:

and the King of Glory shall enter in! 

Ingrediente Domino in sanctam civitatem,

Hebraeorum pueri 

resurrectionem Vitae pronuntiantes,*

cum ramis palmarum:

"Hosanna in excelsis."

 As our Lord entered the holy city,

the Hebrew children,

heralding the resurrection of Life,

with palm branches cried out:

"Hosanna in the highest!" 

Jesus autem iterum clamans voce magna,

emisit spiritum.

And Jesus again crying with a loud voice,

yielded up the spirit.