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In the difficulties of last spring, between COVID and the internal difficulties, I just saw that notice had not been given to the rest of the Society of the death of our first Provincial Master, Father Gus Franklin SSC, who died on 3 May 2020 - the Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross (old calendar) which was for many years the main feast day of the Society.

Father Franklin was the last Vicar Provincial, I believe, and also the first Provincial Master. He was admitted to the Society in 1983, was an almost constant fixture at Synod even well into his battle with lung cancer. He had been Chapter Vicar of Sacred Heart on and off for many years, and I believe appointed Vicar Provincial, and then elected Master, after the changes in the Statutes regarding the Province of the Americas. Father Franklin was also a full-time mathematics professor in university, as well as being at St Andrew’s, Peoria, Illinois, for some time. Though he was among the most personable of men with a winning and winsome personality, he was alas for a time the brunt of a great deal of opprobrium. The Master of the Society, Father Christopher Bedford (a friend of mine, so no offence is intended!), issued an edict which seemed to make sense to him, that all Masses of the Society be alike and take as their model the then Roman Sacramentary. As a result of the great diversity of liturgical use in this Province (the modern rites of the American 1979 Prayer Book, the traditional-based rites of the same, the 1928 Prayer Book as printed, and users of the Anglican and English (Knott) Missals - I think I am alone in that last category), this edict was reacted to with violent intensity, and the burden of this fell on Father Franklin, who had neither conceived of it nor argued for it. It was widely assumed by the detractors of the change that Father Franklin (who was known for being among the most advanced of the Vatican II set throughout the 1960s and 1970s), had brought this about, to suit his own preferences. Though that was incorrect, frequently, as we know, the facts of the matter often make little difference. Our Synod in Palm Beach, his first, in 1993, was therefore enormously divisive and at times personally abusive to him, and was followed by resignations and recrimination.  It is much to Father Franklin’s credit that he presented these difficulties to Father Bedford, and we arrived at a situation where the various liturgical usages were all in evidence depending on the circumstances. If a Synod or Chapter was taking place in a parish church, their rite was used exclusively, and if at a retreat house, then a service of each of these usages was normally prescribed. Father Franklin was given too little credit for his sensitivity to a problem, and the solution of it, for which he had been reviled and was in no way responsible. His lengthy personal “summit” with Father Bedford in early 1994 which sorted this out at St Matthew’s Vicarage in Bethnal Green, where I had often been a dinner guest, was undoubtedly accompanied by a great many cigarettes, quantities of spirits, and a great deal of good will and Christian charity.

Happily, in later years, his happy and sunny personality, even in much adversity and ill health, his Christian hope even in the most trying circumstances (he kept many brethren in the Society and the Church after both the Gene Robinson affair and the election of KJS as primate), erased all the earlier bitterness, and earned him the honour and respect that being a Provincial Master and his long service to the Society rightly brought him.

I am not acquainted with the Welsh or Australian Masters, but perhaps this might be shared with them for their prayers for Father Franklin, and because many of their brethren would have met him at the 1989 or 2005 International Synods, both of which he attended.  He was certainly a fixture of the pub at the hotel at the latter, standing rounds for all those present to toast the Pope’s health and then subsequently to toast his memory, a typically Franklinian response of drawing together in community in the face of whatever befell.  Requiescat in pace.
 
Fr B Swain SSC

In order to fulfil legal requirements there wil be a Provincial Synod on 25th November this will be live streamed so Brethren can attend virtually.  The Accounts can be seen please click below and any commentsor quires  please to Fr Robin before the Synod. 

The plan is to publish Acta in early October- as soon as all the Pusey Guild deacons have been priested. Nominations can be accepted before.
 
Please let have Fr Schaeffer know of nominations as soon as possible, 
 

This year’s silent retreat will be held at Ascot Priory 5pm Monday 16th- 10am Friday 20th November. The conductor will be Fr Martyn Jarrett SSC and there will be daily Mass, Offices, talks and Holy Hour. Numbers will have to be limited depending upon any restrictions in place.   The cost for full board is £220.
 
Brethren interested should contact Fr McClaren-Cook mclarencook@btinternet.comto make a booking.

http://ascotpriory.org
 

STOP PRESS : P+t
The date of the Interntional Synod has been postponed until 2021 because of the COVID19 Pandemic. 
The new dates are
Opening Mass Wednesday 13th October 2021 6.00pm followed by Synod Dinner
Synod Day Thursday 14th October 2021 all day 
Walsingham Pilgrimage Friday 15th October 2021
Visits Saturday 16th October 2021 
All venues remain the same. 
The Fees charged will be transferred - at this present time we do not anticipate further costs. A full refund will be given to those who cannot now attend. You will need to write to the Master General seeking dispensation. We have set up a hardship for any brother who has made a significant loss by this rearrangement. Details of this and refunds please email fr.robinjones@gmail.com
We haven’t been able to make this decision until now because we would have lost considerable deposit costs. Our venues have kindly agreed to transfer now. We acknowledge and thank you for your patience. 
Please disseminate this information through you chapters particularly to any brethren not online. 
Further details about the programme or questions please contact me fr.simon@btinternet.com

Calling young pilgrims! Join us for this year's 2020 Youth Pilgrimage @ Home from Monday 3rd to Friday 7th AugustThe 2020 Youth Pilgrimage is set to be an exciting departure from events in previous years.  With the lock-down restrictions still in place, we are launching a special virtual pilgrimage so that we can come together in worship and celebrate this fantastic event from our homes!
The inspiration behind this year's Youth Pilgrimage @ Home is the Shrine’s pilgrimage theme for the year: Mary, Queen of Creation. We will also be exploring how we can ‘stay connected’.
Each day there will be videos available and a resource booklet of things to do at home, linked to the videos. We will be streaming live from the Shrine and all our young people (and leaders!) will be encouraged to interact during the week and send us photos of the various challenges and activities that they take part in on our Youth Pilgrimage Facebookpage, Twitter and Instagram (using the hashtag #WYP2020). The programme is constantly being developed so keep an eye out for any changes here on our website and on our Youth Pilgrimage Facebook page. There will be music from the fabulous CJM and bible studies, a virtual Holy Mile Procession, Devotion, Benediction and much more!
T-Shirts with the Mary Queen of Creation logo will also be available from the Shrine Shop! Details on how to order will be provided soon.


2020 Youth Pilgrimage @ Home Programme*Monday 3rd August
7.00pm Welcome and First Visit with Fr Kevin Smith, Bishop Philip North and CJM


Tuesday 4th August
11.00am Bible Study with Fr Philip Barnes and Fr Paul Robinson
7.00pm Virtual Holy Mile Procession with Rosary


Wednesday 5th August
11.00am Bible Study with Caroline Ward (Schools and Young Pilgrims Officer)
7.00pm Devotion and Benediction with Fr Kevin and music from CJM


Thursday 6th August
11.00am Bible Study with Fr Philip Barnes and Fr Paul Robinson
7.00pm Bishop Philip North


Friday 7th August
11.00am Last Visit with Fr Kevin Smith and music from CJM
* N.B. programme subject to change

Be part of our virtual processionWe need your help! Today we are inviting young pilgrims to join our virtual processionby sending in a video of themselves saying the ‘Hail Mary’. This can be on your own or with other young people who live in your household (we need a mixture of the two!). Your video needs to in 'landscape' with a short pause between the two sections. We are hoping to then include all videos during our Virtual Procession on the Tuesday evening (4th August).
Emails must be sent from an adults email account and include a statement which gives permission that the video may be shown online. (This will include our website, Facebook Page, Vimeo and YouTube. No names or other details will be used).
When you have recorded your video please send it to Caroline Ward, our Schools and Young Pilgrims Officer at c.ward@olw-shrine.org.uk along with the permission statement from a parent or guardian
Videos will need to be in by Friday 26th June in order to be included. We are looking forward to hearing from you!


Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
(Pause here for 3-4 seconds)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now, and at the hour of our death.   Amen.



The videos will be released daily and will be available to watch again.
You can take part via our website: https://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/
Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3cPXl5e
Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/channels/youthpilgrimage
Visit our dedicated Youth Pilgrimage Facebook Page: @olwyp






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