Acolytate

June is proving to be a very busy month.

It is topped and tailed with Quarantore, and next week, we conclude the month of the Sacred Heart with ordinations to the diaconate.

Today, however, has been an important event for year three, including our very own Henry, who received the Ministry of Acolyte at Mass this morning. Two students from the archdiocese of Birmingham, and one student from the diocese of Nottingham received the ministry, and a Birmingham student received the Ministry of Lector. Both of these, formerly minor orders, are conferred upon men, who, usually in preparation for priestly ordination, become related to Mother Church's ministry in a particular way. As the bishop said to Henry and the others during the rite, "it is your responsibility to assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry, and as special ministers to give holy communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick."

Pretty self-explanatory, really! Oscotian tradition dictates that those receiving this ministry 'take-over' the serving of those acting as their 'vicars' for the Liturgy of the Word. Needless to say, perhaps unintentionally, Henry took over my role; so we kept it East Anglian.

Congratulations to all those who received their ministries today.

New Looks

There have been a few changes afoot down ol' eastangliaseminarians.blogspot.com.

Along with a new experimental look, we have also installed a hit-counter, which allows us to see how many people are visiting our site, and various demographics. Also, to protect security, after a recent wave of spam, you will notice, hopefully, more control over comment moderation.

Do give your opinion, if you have one!

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In other news, Michael's reign as Dean of Seminarians came to an end just before half-term. However, the college swiftly elected a successor, a certain Pádraig, who, in what can now be called a tradition, will ensure East Anglia remains at the very pinnacle of the collegiate crème. Best of luck for your term in office!

Who lives and rains

We emerged from half-term last week, and, in preparation for the celebration of Corpus et Sanguis Christi on Sunday, the whole house entered into a period of forty hours Eucharistic exposition, which, in an original Italian manner, is styled Quarantore. It was a great privilege to know that the Blessed Sacrament was exposed and being adored almost next door to my bedroom all weekend!

As you can see from this picture of the chapel, we made sure that the Blessed Sacrament was suitably framed with a medley of beautiful flowers and candles.

After an early Mass on Sunday morning, Archbishop Longley visited the college, and presided over a Eucharistic Procession, in typical Corpus Christi style. The chapel was full of guests from far and wide who came to join us for the celebration, and, in spite of the rain, spirits were high throughout, and the sense of devotion and reverence was awesome. From our vantage-point from our seminary-on-the-hill, the Archbishop raised the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament over Birmingham, and the city was blessed; the heavens, too, provided its own, unique, sign of approval. Fortunately, Our Lord was protected by a canopy throughout, and stayed nice and dry.

Though we are away for Corpus Christi next year, we hope to continue the tradition of public processions. This was my first Quarantore experience. Maybe some of our readers would like to share anything similar from their own parishes from this last week.