Mass times Jhb

Please check the updates to the calendar in the sidebar.

The 21st December is Fr. Shaun von Lillienfeld's birthday so please try and attend the mass if you can.

Catching up: Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

On the 16th July 2009, in the prescence of this statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel nearly forty faithful from the Cathedral had the Brown Scapular imposed and were duly enrolled in the Confraternity of the Scapular.

The ceremony followed after the Traditonal Latin Mass.

“There is no-one who is not aware how greatly love for the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God, contributes towards the reanimation of the faith and the reformation of morals, especially by its exterior forms of devotion … [W]e must place the Scapular of Mount Carmel in the first rank of these Marian devotions; by its simplicity, which is adapted to the minds of all, it has achieved the greatest diffusion amongst the faithful, producing great fruits of salvation … Given that this pious and noble project [of celebrating solemnly the Centenary] concerns our faithful love of the Holy Mother of God, as well as our own membership of the Confraternity of the Scapular, to which we have belonged since childhood, we can only recommend it warmly, and wish it the riches of the most abundant Divine blessings. For not with a light or passing matter are we here concerned, but with the obtaining of eternal life itself, which is the substance of that promise of the Most Blessed Virgin that has been handed down to us. We are concerned, namely, with that which is of supreme importance to all and with the manner of achieving it safely. For the Holy Scapular, which may be called the Habit or Garment of Mary, is a Sign and a Pledge of the protection of the Mother of God.”

Pope Pius XII, Letter "Neminem profecto" of 11 February 1950 to mark the 7th centenary of the scapular in 1951.

All Her feasts, her actions worship ....

On the 27th June 2009 we had a procession in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. A small icon of Our Lady was carried around the Cathedral to give public witness to our love for the Blessed Mother and to thank Her for accepting our petitions.


"Lost in wond'ring contemplation be her majesty confessed, call her Mother, Call her Virgin, happy Mother, Virgin blest."


"She is mighty to deliver; call her, trust her lovingly. When the tempest rages round thee she will calm the troubled sea"
A box for petitions was provided and many eager petitioners approached their heavenly Mother and Queen.

We look forward to many more opportunities to honour Our Lady asd beg her intercession.

30 days hath .....

Yep, it is one of those months were we have a first and a fifth Sunday. That means that we will be having a TLM on the fifth Sunday in August. Mass will be at 11:30am as usual on the 30th.

One of the restrictions on having a regular Sunday Mass at the Cathedral is that Mass is held for the different communities at 11:30 on the second, third and fourth Sundays. That means we only have the first Sunday available for the TLM. So when we have a fifth Sunday we are able to fit in an extra TLM. Deo Gratias.

Christ The King Mass Schedule - August

The Traditional Latin Mass will take place as usual at 11:30am on 2nd August 2009.

On the Feast of the Assumption (Saturday, August 15th) there will be no Traditional Latin Mass at 7:30am. The Traditional Latin Mass will be at 10:00. The Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation in SA.

There are no other changes of schedule.

Two other important feasts fall on Saturdays in August. St Jean Vianney's feastday is on August 8th and The Immaculate Heart of Mary on August 22nd. The Traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated at the usual Saturday time(7:30am) on both these days.

As there is a fifth Sunday in August it is possible that we will have a second Traditional Latin Mass in the month. I will keep you posted.

JHB Mass Schedule: No TLM Mass on Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th

Fr. Shaun will be out of town next week and therefore the TLM Masses on:

Tuesday 9th

and

Thursday 11th

are cancelled.

This also means our small Corpus Christi procession (on the 11th)will not take place this year.

Christ the King Mass Schedule

Please note the following changes to the schedule of TL masses.

Friday: May 1st: Mass of St Joseph the Worker 10:00am
Sunday: May 3rd: Mass at 12:00 (note later start time due to vocations day at Christ the King)

No mass on Saturday 2nd due to Archdiocesan picnic.

PE Mass schedule notice

Please note that Fr Gregory Mitchell will be out of town for several days and there will therefore not be Traditional Masses at St Bernadette's on Thursday 23 April, or Thursday 30 April, as would normally have been the case. The Thursday lunch hour Mass should resume the first week in May.

Progress in PE

Port Elizabeth has been blessed with a second Priest offering the Traditional Latin Mass, in Father Gregory Mitchell, CO, of the recently canonically established Port Elizabeth Oratory of St Phillip Neri, at St Bernadette's Church, Walmer.

Father Gregory, who was ordained in January, has offered private Traditional Masses on most Thursdays at 1:10pm, and occasional private Masses on Sunday. However, the Thursday Masses seem now to have become regular, and all are welcome!

It is hoped that other public Masses will be added, and that this will become a regular and stable feature of the life of this active and devoted parish. The Oratorians have been particularly supportive and sympathetic, and we hope the Traditional Mass will find a permanent home in their lovely Church, in addition to St Vincent's.

A regular Sunday Mass though does depend on response, as the Fathers are anxious to comply with the wishes of the bishop. The good response to unadvertised Masses, however, bodes well for this intention in the future.

Please say a prayer for this fine young Priest!

Introibo ad altare Dei, Two new TLM servers go to the Altar

The 19th March was a special day at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Two boys from the parish community of the Cathderal served the Traditional Latin Mass for the first time. The boys only saw the TLM for the first time on the 2nd of December. But from that time Jonathan and Jordan Kayombo have been very eager to learn to serve the "old" Mass. Their mother, Constance, made sure that the boys practiced their Latin at home and very soon they were word perfect.





With the help of volunteers from Una Voce SA, Mr.Peter Jackson (Head of TLM servers at the Cathedral)gave lessons to the boys three times a week from January. Peter had served the TLM as a boy over forty years ago. When he heard that the Mass was returning to the cathedral he quickly got his old missal out and was soon serving again.


(from left, Christopher Cordeiro - Una Voce, Fr. Shaun Mary von Lillienfeld, Peter Jackson - Head Server, Jonathan Kayombo, Jordan Kayombo.

The boys will continue their altar server training as well as learn some Latin.


The proud Kayombo family, Jonathan and Jordan are two of seven siblings and from the look on their younger brother's faces they are also eager to serve. Although I think they will have to wait just a few years.

Thanks to the Mattiuzzo family who provided the cassocks and surplices.

Easter break for the TLM at the Cathedral

Easter is playing havoc with our Traditional Latin Mass schedule at the Cathedral. Sunday the 5th April (Palm Sunday)would normally be a TLM Sunday, but because the Cathedral only has one Mass on that day the TLM is falling away.

Unfortunately in April we can't find another Sunday to celebrate the TLM on. In April therefore there will be no Sunday TLM at the Cathedral.

Please remember that we still have a number of week-day masses and make a special effort to come to one of those.

We can use this short break to put an extra effort into building up the TLM in Johannesburg. We have a number of projects that we will be launching in April and your help is needed. So please visit the blog and keep an eye on your e-mail.

God Bless

Requiem Mass for Fr. Lionel Sham.

A Requiem Mass in the Traditional Rite will be offered for the repose of the soul of Fr. Lionel John Sham on Tuesday 24th March at 17:30 at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

"O God, who didst raise Thy servant to the dignity of priest in the apostolic priesthood; grant, we beseech Thee, that he msy be joined in fellowship with Thine apostles for evermore. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is God, and lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen"

Collect for a priest from the Requiem Mass (1962 Missal).

Promising first Sunday Mass in PE

The first Traditional Latin Mass in a diocesan parish to be offered on a Sunday in PE, took place on 22 February 2009 (Quinquagesima Sunday in the 1962 Calendar), at St Vincent's Parish, Algoa Park, Port Elizabeth. Mgr John Clarke offered the Mass.

Approximately 30 people were in attendance, and many were delighted by the opportunity of assisting at such a Mass on a Sunday.

Mgr Clarke preached a short sermon on the importance of carrying ones cross in daily life. All present were visibly edified by the simple beauty of the Mass.

Organisers managed to publicise the Mass in two parish newsletters - though in parishes in other parts of the city - and it is hoped that even wider publicity will be affored to future Masses. News of the Friday Masses is slowly filtering down to people - some of whom have expressed surprise, and pleasure at the progress made so far.

There is every hope that future Sunday Masses will take place, and our goal of a regular, Sunday Mass will become a reality.

Spot-a-poster Competition

In association with the cathedral, Una Voce SA has started a poster campaign aimed at informing everyone in the Archdiocese that the TLM is being celebrated at the cathedral. At yesterday's clergy meeting a number of priests took posters to put up in their parishes.

See the poster here

I would love to know where the posters have popped up. So if you see one please let me know. Perhaps it would be fun if you would comment here, but feel free to e-mail, call etc. What is the prize you cry! Well, how about unlimited bragging rights as premier poster spotter in Johannesburg? Your very own poster? ......

If your parish doesn't have a poster why not get one or two from me and ask to put them up in your parish?

Also feel free to ask for posters to put up anywhere that you can i.e. Catholic schools, Universities, Shopping centres, in your business, wherever you can.

Please help us to get the word about the TLM out to every Catholic in the Archdiocese.

Remember that many people left the Church when the Mass changed and so spreading the news about the Mass is a valuable apostolic work. One of the seven spiritual works of mercy i.e. instructing the ignorant. These people will not see a poster in a Catholic venue so be creative and see where you can get these posters displayed.

May God Bless you and The Blessed Virgin and all the Saints pray that you will be rewarded for your efforts.

TLM at Cathedral featured in Archdiocesan News

The Johannesburg Archdiocesan news carried a short report on the TLM at the Cathedral in its February edition.

You can help promote the TLM by getting a few copies (they are free after all) and spreading this information to friends and family.

One regular TL Mass attendee told me that a friend would not believe that the TLM was being said again unless she saw it in print. So here it is!

Una Voce SA is grateful to Judy Stockill of the Archdiocesan News for placing the article.

Space constraints meant that the full article wasn't placed. You can read it below.

TLM at the Cathedral
Ever since Pope Benedict XVI promulgated the Motu Proprio ‘Summorum Pontificum’ South African Catholics have been asking, ‘when will the traditional Latin Mass (TLM) be celebrated; when will the Motu Proprio come into effect? When will we see the TLM officially celebrated?’

That question was answered on the 2nd December 2008 at the Cathedral of Christ the King when Fr Shaun Mary von Lillienfeld (Cathedral administrator) celebrated the ancient Roman liturgy.

This was the first time in over forty years that the TLM had been celebrated at the Cathedral. The Lady Chapel of the Cathedral was filled to overflowing as a large number of the faithful gathered to celebrate this historic event.

Ever since the Motu Proprio made it clear that the TLM had never been abrogated, Fr Shaun has wanted to say the traditional Mass. The challenge of a very busy parish, however, left little time to study the complex rubrics of the traditional rite. However, with the assistance of a small group of faithful dedicated to the older form of the Mass, these challenges were overcome. This provides a good example of how the laity can become involved in preparing for the celebration of the TLM. Parish liturgy committees would find this a worthwhile and rewarding challenge.

The TLM has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Cathedral faithful who enthusiastically participate in the celebration of the mass and eagerly say the Latin responses. The use of Latin/English missallettes makes it possible for the faithful to prayerfully follow the age-old prayers and rubrics.

A number of men and boys are keen to act as altar servers in the traditional liturgy. Training for this demanding but beautiful task has begun.

In addition to the Cathedral faithful, Catholics are coming to the Cathedral from every part of the archdiocese, and even beyond, to attend the Mass. Visitors regularly come from as far afield as Roodepoort and Boksburg. A few of the faithful come from Pretoria and Fr Shaun reports that he has even had one query from Durban!

This underscores the importance of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg within the country as a whole. To date, the Johannesburg Cathedral is the only Cathedral in South Africa where the TLM has been celebrated under the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.

News of the TLM at the Cathedral has appeared on a number of leading international Catholic websites and messages of support have been received from Catholics across the world. One Kenyan lady, writing from America, sent this message;
“Praised be Jesus Christ! This is excellent news indeed. I am originally from Kenya and I certainly hope this is the beginning of similar news throughout the continent particularly in my beloved homeland. Our Lady mother of the Church, pray for us”.
Close ties are being forged with international organizations dedicated to supporting the traditional liturgy. In particular, a local chapter of the international federation, Una Voce, has been re-founded in South Africa.

Una Voce is a lay-led association that works for the restoration of traditional Catholic practice through traditional liturgy, music and architecture.

For those interested in attending, the TLM is celebrated three times a week:
On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 17h30 and on Saturdays at 07h30. On the first and fifth Sundays of each month Mass is celebrated at 11h30.

Further information can be obtained at the Cathedral (011-402-6342) or from Una Voce SA (074-730-6935) or via the Una Voce SA webblog www.unavocesa.blogspot.com

Info box:
The TLM is the form of the Mass celebrated in accordance with the 1962 Missal promulgated by Blessed John XXIII.

The Mass is more commonly called the Tridentine Mass because it was codified by Pope St Pius V following the Council of Trent. This form of the Roman rite, however, took shape in the period between the 2nd and 6th centuries.

During that time, the Greek style liturgy that was initially used in Rome was replaced by a distinctively Roman Rite. In the 6th century, Pope St Gregory the Great gave the TLM the basic form that it still retains today.

For this reason Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos, Head of the Pontifical Commission, Ecclesia Dei, has said that it is more appropriate that this form of the Roman Rite be called the Gregorian Rite.

It has often been said that someone familiar with the traditional Latin rite would not find themselves out of place if they were taken back to 6th century Rome.

Sunday Mass scheduled for Port Elizabeth

Mgr John Clark will offer a Traditional Latin Mass at 11am on Sunday, 22 February 2009, at St Vincent's Catholic Church, Dennehout Street, Algoa Park, Port Elizabeth.

This will be the first occasion in Port Elizabeth on which the Traditional Mass is offered in a diocesan parish on a Sunday, since the issue of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. Mgr Clark continues to say the Traditional Mass every Friday at 5:30pm and all are most welcome.

We hope and pray that, if the attendance is good, further Sunday Masses may be scheduled, and (hopefully) a regular Sunday Mass instituted. The excellent response to the New Year's Day Mass at Corpus Christi gives us hope that this is quite possible. Deo volente!

A Two-month Anniversary!! The next step?

On the 2nd of February (Feast of the Purification) we passed the important milestone of two months of TL Masses at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Co-incidently that milestone was marked by the first celebration of Candlemas in the "usus antiquor" (i.e. the ancient use -according to the 1962 Missale) in forty years. We had a procession around the Cathedral and said the Antiphons for the Purification. The goal for next year - singing.

The Mass on Sunday was also a first as it was our first sung Mass. Many thanks to the choir members who attended and the organist/choir director Michael Burrell.

God willing, from now on all our Sunday Masses will be sung. We will also be adding to the solemnity of the masses by including more servers as soon as they are all trained.

With these developments I think that it is fair to say that we have established the TL Mass at the Cathedral.

Now I need the readers of this blog to help us meet the challenge of expansion.

First and foremost that challenge is one of educating the existing Cathedral faithful about the TLM and traditional Catholicism in general. As support for the TLM grows more Masses can be added to the schedule.

The next challenge is increasing the number of people who come to the TLM from outside the Cathedral parish. There is a faithful group who come every Sunday that we have Mass but that group needs to increase. Once again we need to inform and then educate.

Finally, those who already support the TLM need to get directly involved in making this expansion possible. There are a number of ways you can support the Mass, by direct evangelisation, singing in the choir, serving, etc.

Because of the "Rite of Election" (RCIA candidates from throughout the Diocese attend a function with the Archbishop) taking place at 11:00 on the first Sunday in March the TLM has had to be moved to the Third Sunday. We do however have the compensation of another Sunday Mass in the month on the fifth Sunday (see the side-bar for details).

This means that we have six weeks to make a big effort to promote the Mass. Please keep an eye on this blog and your e-mail as I will be asking for your help.

Also feel free to comment and make suggestions.

God Bless and remember to pray for the Pope and show your support for him by signing this petition http://www.soutienabenoitxvi.org/index.php?lang=uk

Support Benedict XVI

The Holy Father has been under constant attack since he lifted the excommunications of the SSPX's bishops.

Catholics who are friends of tradition and who wish to show support for the Holy Father are encouraged to join an e-petition that will be presented to the Holy Father.

Please consider signing it http://www.soutienabenoitxvi.org/index.php?lang=uk

The original is in French so ignore the few mistakes.

Report on PE TLM on New Year's Day

A rather belated report on the Traditional Mass offered in PE recently -

On 1 January - in the old Calendar, the Octave Day of Christmas, or the Feast of the Circumcision - Port Elizabeth Catholics had the privilege of assisting at the first, fully public, Traditional Latin Mass offered in a diocesan parish, since the issue of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. This was probably the first such Mass publicly offered in a diocesan parish in 40 years.

Monsignor John Clark, of St Vincent's Parish, Algoa Park, Port Elizabeth, had been approached by Bishop Michael Coleman to "re-learn" this form of the Mass - he has courageously done so, and has, on a semi-private basis, offered the Mass for the last couple of months at his home parish.

Corpus Christi Parish of Humewood, Port Elizabeth, kindly extended an invitation for this "first" public Mass to be offered in its lovely church, a stone's throw from the PE beachfront on New Year's Day.

Over 100 people - the majority from Corpus Christi, but many from further afield - attended the 9am Low Mass, which was offered at the High Altar (still intact!) of the Church. Several in the congregation brought their old Missals, which may well not have seen the light of the day for 40 or more years. The congregation enthusiastically joined in the singing of traditional hymns - such as "I'll Sing a Hymn to Mary" at the end of the Mass, and appreciated the short, yet thought provoking sermon delivered by Monsignor after the Gospel.

The organisers are very pleased with the response and are hopefull that, in the near future, similar public Masses will take place. Monsignor Clark continues, every Friday at 5:30pm, to offer the Traditional Mass at St Vincent's Church, Dennehout Street, Algoa Park, and all are most welcome.

Details of additional Masses, at St Vincent's and elsewhere, will be posted.

First Sunday Mass in Christ the King Cathedral - Photos

"and when I am lifted up I will draw all men to me" John 12:32

This short photo essay (much delayed) of the first Sunday TL Mass at Christ the King is focussed on some unique aspects of the TLM liturgy.

When you attend a TLM you will see a significant focus on the Cross of Our Lord. In its central position on the altar, in the instructions for the priest to raise his eyes to the crucifix and in the many bows and reverences directed to it. It always reminds me of this wonderful phrase from scripture.

"What shall I offer to the Lord for all He has given to me, I will take the chalice of salvation and I will call upon the name of the Lord" The prayer before the priest receives the Precious Blood.

This prayer reminds us that only when we unite ourselves to the sacrifice of Our Lord do our works have any value or merit.

The servers play a vital part in the Traditional Latin Mass adding to its sacredness and beauty. Historically servers were clerics in minor orders and therefore dress as clerics in cassock and surplice. Here Andrew Martin and Peter Jackson wait to bring the water and the wine while Father offers up the bread.

"mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa"

"Corpus Domini Jesu Christi Custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam"

May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ keep thy soul unto life everlasting. Amen.

"Et Verbum Caro Factum Est"

"And the Word was made Flesh", Two of the genuflections at the Mass mark the Incarnation, one during the Creed and the other here during the final Gospel. The fact of Our Lord's Incarnation is so startling that we fall to our knees in awe.

Photo Credits: Michael Poverello

Fr. Eldred Leslie R.I.P.

Please pray for the respose of the soul of Fr. Eldred Leslie (83).

Fr. Leslie was murdered in his home in Pietermaritizburg.

Despite having being robbed several times and having his house broken into at least 14 times in the last ten years he continued to assist all those who came to his door. The Natal Witness reports that he "gave street children and destitute people food and even paid school fees for some of the children."

It appears that he opened the door to someone and was murdered.

Fr. Leslie was well known for his support of the Traditional Latin Mass and pro-life causes.

He was pastor of the independent chapel of Our Lady and St. Michael.

(No comments please)

Change of e-mail

I have changed the e-mail for the blog to unavocesa@gmail.com.

January/February special events

While the Mass Schedule remains basically unchanged Fr. Shaun von Lillienfeld will be adding a few special events:

Tuesday, 20th January: Feast of Sts. Fabian & Sebastian, Following the 17:30pm TL Mass the faithful will be blessed with and have the opportunity to venerate a first class relic of St Sebastian.

Monday, 2nd February: Feast of the Purification (Candlemas). A Traditional Latin Mass will be said at 17:30pm. This will include the blessing of candles according to the 1962 Missale. If you use blessed candles in your home (and you should) this is the most suitable time to have them blessed.

Tuesday, 3rd February: Commemoration of St Blaise. The 17:30pm TL Mass will be followed by the traditonal Blessing of the Throats.

Wednesday, 25th February: Ash Wednesday. A Traditional Latin Mass will be said at 18:00pm, (this is to allow more people to attend) the ashes will be imposed.

Prayer Request

Please pray for a special intention related to an additional opportunity to celebrate the TLM in Johannesburg. God willing I will be able to make an annoucement in due course.

News Flash: PE Mass very successful

Best wishes for the New Year.

Nicholas Mitchell from PE reports that the TLM on Jan 1st was very successful with over 100 people attending.

Nicholas will post a report and hopefully some photos soon.