Wednesday 10 October 2012

New blog site for the Institute of Christ the King in England


With great joy and solemnity, the Shrine Church of Ss. Peter and Paul and Philomena officially opened on Saturday, March 24, the anticipated feast of the Annunciation. Holy Mass was celebrated at 10:30 AM by Monsignor Gilles Wach, Founder and Prior General of the Institute, in the presence of His Lordship, the Rt Reverend Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, who preached the homily. Located in seaside city of New Brighton, Wirral, this is the first shrine church in England entrusted to the care of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, and dedicated to the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, including all the sacraments.

For this special occasion, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI offered a papal blessing with an attached plenary indulgence to all who assist at this special opening Mass, as follows:

The Apostolic Penitentiary, empowered by a faculty granted to it in a special way by our Holy Father Benedict XVI, by Divine Providence Pope, happily grants his Lordship the Most Reverend Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, that, on the 24th March next, on which the pastoral care of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and St Philomena is solemnly entrusted to the members of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, after the offering of the Divine Sacrifice, he may impart to all the faithful present, who, their souls entirely separated from attachment to sin, take part in the sacred mysteries, a Papal Blessing with an attached Plenary Indulgence, which may be gained under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion and Prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff).

This papal decree was an added blessing to an event already overflowing with infinite graces, and the effect was keenly felt by the large crowd. Exceeding the original expectation of 400, approximately 1,100 souls came to the Mass which re-opened this beloved landmark.

Beautifully decorated with ivy and floral arrangements, the shrine church was the prefect setting for the majestic Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form which heralded its new mission.  A choir of the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus chanted the propers of the Mass for the feast of the Annunciation, honoring both the Incarnation and the fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Known as the "Dome of Home" because its large green dome was a visible sign of home to the sailors at sea, this landmark church had closed its doors in August 2008. Since its erection as a shrine church by Bishop Davies last October, it had taken many months of repair work to make it suitable for the celebration of Holy Mass at its High Altar.

The symbolism of a beacon—of hope and of home—had been repeatedly attached to the new Shrine Church of Ss. Peter and Paul and Philomena. Bishop Davies concluded in his homily: "We wish to recognise in this Shrine Church set high on the Wirral horizon not simply a landmark but a beacon announcing hope to passing generations. So above the mists of confusion which obscure our vision, the storms of controversy which unsettle us we may turn our gaze always towards Christ, loving and redeeming us, in the Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Altar."

It is the aim of this Shrine Church that progressively more Eucharistic Adorations will be offered, to eventually reach the goal of perpetual adoration. In only one week since the opening Mass, telephone inquiries have multiplied, with many requests for baptism, confirmation, and confessions. Please join the Institute as we joyfully serve Christ the King in this new venture, and in our prayers for the full restoration of the Shrine Church of Ss Peter and Paul and Philomena.