ORDINATION TO THE SACRED PRIESTHOOD OF

SEAN GOUGH &

BENEDICT SKIPPER

BY

THE MOST REVEREND BERNARD LONGLEY ARCHBISHOP OF BIRMINGHAM AND

METROPOLITAN

SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2020

Introit (sung by the Cathedral Singers)

Ant O sing a new song to the lord, sing to the Lord all earth. in his presence are majesty and splendour.

O sing to the Lord, bless his name. Proclaim his

salvation day by day. Tell among the nations his glory, and his wonders among all the peoples. For the Lord is great and highly to be praised, to be feared above all gods. let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad; let the sea and all within it thunder praise. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant O sing a new song to the lord, sing to the Lord all earth. in his

presence are majesty and splendour.

Greeting

Archbishop In the name of the Father ✠, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All Amen.

Archbishop Peace be with you. All And with your spirit.

Penitential Act

Archbishop Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate

the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession:

All I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I

have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Archbishop May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

All Amen.

Kyrie & Gloria Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott)

Opening Prayer

Archbishop Lord our God, who in governing your people make use of the ministry of Priests, grant a persevering obedience to your will to these Deacons of your Church, whom you graciously choose today for the office of the priesthood, so that by their ministry and life they may gain glory for you in Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. All Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

Please be seated

A reading from the prophet Isaiah 6: 1-3

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison; to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord, a day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all those who mourn and to give them for ashes a garland; for mourning robe the oil of gladness, for despondency, praise.

Reader The Word of the Lord. All Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88:21-22. 25. 27. ℟ cf. v.2

℟ I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

1 I have found David my servant

and with my holy oil anointed him. My hand shall always be with him

and my arm shall make him strong. ℟

2 My truth and my love shall be with him; by my name his might shall be exalted. He will say to me: ‘You are my father,

my God, the rock who saves me.’ ℟

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews 5: 1-10

Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relations with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself, but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest, but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father; and in another text: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever. During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek.

Reader The Word of the Lord. All Thanks be to God

Please stand

Gospel Acclamation Mt 28: 19-20 Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

“Go, make disciples of all nations: I am with you always; yes to the end of time.”

Gospel Jn 20: 19-23

Deacon The Lord be with you. All And with your spirit.

Deacon A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.

All Glory to you, O Lord.

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for the fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain,

they are retained.’

Deacon The Gospel of the Lord. All Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Please remain standing

ORDINATION RITE

Calling of the Candidates

Deacon Let those to be ordained priests please come forward.

Sean Gough Benedict Skipper

The candidates answer: PRESENT, and go to the Archbishop, before whom they bow.

Presentation of the Candidates

Canon Giles Goward, Rector of St Mary’s College, Oscott, presents Sean and Benedict to the Archbishop, and, on behalf of the Church, formally requests that they be ordained.

Rector Most Reverend Father, holy mother Church asks you to ordain these men, our brothers, for service as priests.

Archbishop Do you judge them to be worthy?

Rector After inquiry among the people of Christ and upon recommendation of those concerned with their training, I testify that they have been found worthy.

Election by the Bishop and the Consent of the People

The Archbishop confirms the Rector’s request and we all give our consent to this confirmation.

Archbishop We rely on the help of the Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, and we choose these men, our brothers, for priesthood in the presbyteral order.

All Thanks be to God. All be seated

Homily

Examination of the Candidates The candidates stand before the Archbishop, who questions them.

Archbishop My sons, before you proceed to the order of the presbyterate, declare before the people your intention to undertake this priestly office.

Are you resolved, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the office of priesthood in the presbyteral order as a conscientious fellow worker with the bishops in caring for the Lord’s flock?

Candidates I am.

Archbishop Are you resolved to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously as the Church has handed them down to us for the glory of God and the sanctification of Christ’s people?

Candidates I am.

Archbishop Are you resolved to exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and explaining the Catholic faith?

Candidates I am.

Archbishop Are you resolved to consecrate your life to God for the salvation of his people, and to unite yourself more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?

Candidates I am, with the help of God.

Promise of Obedience The candidates in turn go to the Archbishop and, kneeling before him, place their hands between his.

Archbishop Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors?

Candidates I do.

Archbishop May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfilment.

Deacon Let us stand.

The Litany of the Saints As the central and most solemn part of the ordination rite approaches, we recognise our dependence on God and join in prayer with the whole Church. The candidates prostrate themselves as a sign of their total dependence upon Almighty God.

The Archbishop invites the people to join him in prayer for the candidates. Meanwhile the Church, in communion with the Saints, prays for them.

Archbishop My dear people, let us pray, that the all-powerful Father may pour out the gifts of heaven on these servants of his, whom he has chosen to be priests.

Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Holy Mary, Mother of God Pray for us Our Lady of Vulnerata Pray for us Our Lady of Czestochowa Pray for us Our Lady of Walsingham Pray for us Saint Michael Pray for us Holy angels of God Pray for us

Saint John the Baptist Pray for us Saint Joseph Pray for us

Saint Peter and Saint Paul Pray for us Saint Andrew Pray for us Saint John Pray for us Saint Mary Magdalene Pray for us Saint Stephen Pray for us Saint Ignatius (of Antioch), Pray for us Saint Lawrence Pray for us Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity Pray for us Saint Agnes Pray for us Saint Alban Pray for us Saint Maximillian Kolbe Pray for us All holy Martyrs of England Pray for us and Wales

Saint Gregory (the Great) Pray for us Saint Augustine (of Hippo) Pray for us Saint Athanasius Pray for us Saint Basil Pray for us Saint Martin Pray for us Saint Chad Pray for us Saint Catherine Pray for us Saint Thérèse (of the Child Jesus) Pray for us Saint Benedict Pray for us Saint Francis and Saint Dominic Pray for us Saint Francis Xavier Pray for us Saint John Vianney Pray for us Saint John Bosco Pray for us St Martin de Porres Pray for us Saint John Paul II Pray for us Saint John Henry Newman Pray for us St Louis Marie de Monfort Pray for us St Damien of Molokai Pray for us St Faustina Kowalska Pray for us St Teresa of Calcutta Pray for us

Blessed Dominic Barberi Pray for us All holy men and women Pray for us

Lord, be merciful Lord, deliver us, we pray From all evil Lord, deliver us, we pray From every sin Lord, deliver us, we pray From everlasting death Lord, deliver us, we pray By your coming as man Lord, deliver us, we pray By your death and rising Lord, deliver us, we pray to new life By your gift of the Holy Spirit Lord, deliver us, we pray

Be merciful to us sinners Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer

Guide and protect your Lord, we ask you, holy Church hear our prayer

Keep the pope and all the Lord, we ask you, clergy in faithful service to hear our prayer your holy Church

Watch over Bernard our Bishop Lord, we ask you, and his assistant bishops hear our prayer

Increase vocations to the Lord, we ask you, priesthood and hear our prayer religious life

Bring all peoples together Lord, we ask you, in trust and peace hear our prayer

Strengthen us in your service Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer

Bless these chosen men Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer

Bless these chosen men Lord, we ask you, and make them holy hear our prayer

Bless these chosen men Lord, we ask you, make them holy hear our prayer and consecrate them for their sacred duties,

Jesus, Son of the Living God Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer

Christ, hear us Christ, hear us Lord Jesus, hear our prayer Lord Jesus,

hear our prayer

Archbishop Hear us, Lord our God, and pour out upon these servants of yours the blessing of the Holy Spirit and the grace and power of the priesthood. In your sight we offer these men for ordination: support them with your unfailing love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

The Laying on of Hands The laying on of hands by the Archbishop and the prayer of consecration are the central actions by which the candidates are ordained to the priesthood. Within these actions the grace of Holy Order is both requested, and conferred through an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Archbishop lays his hands on the candidate’s head in silence, calling down the Holy Spirit. Then from their places, all of the other priests do likewise, to express the unity of the priesthood.

The Prayer of Consecration With the candidates kneeling before him, the Archbishop prays the Prayer of Consecration.

Come to our help, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God; you are the source of every honour and dignity, of all progress and stability. You watch over the growing family of man by your gift of wisdom and your pattern of order. When you had appointed high priests to rule your people, you chose other men next to them in rank and dignity to be with them and to help them in their task;

and so there grew up the ranks of priests and the offices of levites, established by sacred rites.

In the desert you extended the spirit of Moses to seventy wise men who helped him to rule the great company of his people.

You shared among the sons of Aaron the fullness of their father’s power, to provide worthy priests in sufficient number for the increasing rites of sacrifice and worship. With the same loving care you gave companions to your Son’s apostles to help in teaching the faith: they preached the Gospel to the whole world.

Lord, grant also to us such fellow workers,

for we are weak and our need is greater.

Almighty Father, grant to these servant of yours the dignity of the priesthood. Renew within them the Spirit of holiness. As co-workers with the order of bishops may they be faithful to the ministry that they receive from you, Lord God, and be to others a model of right conduct.

May they be faithful in working with the order of bishops, so that the words of the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth, and the family of nations, made one in Christ,

may become God’s one, holy people.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Please be seated The four actions that follow express clearly the reality of the Sacrament that has just been conferred.

Investiture with Stole and Chasuble Fr Sean and Fr Benedict are clothed with the signs of the office of priests, vestments worn for the celebration of Mass, during which the Choir sings the first three verses of the Veni Creator Spiritus.

Anointing of Hands Then the Archbishop anoints the palms of Fr Sean and Fr Benedict with the oil of Chrism.

Archbishop The Father anointed our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus preserve you to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice to God.

After their hands have been anointed, the Choir continues with the last four verses of the Veni Creator Spiritus.

Presentation of the Gifts A Paten and Chalice is presented to the new priests with the words:

Archbishop Accept from the holy people of God the gifts to be offered to him. Know what you are doing, and imitate the mystery you celebrate: model your life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross.

Kiss of Peace The Archbishop greets the newly ordained priests with the kiss of peace. The newly ordained priests then bow to the clergy in choir, who do likewise, as a sign of welcome and acceptance into the sacred priesthood.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Preparation of Gifts Magnificat by Mariano Garau (b. 1952)

Prayer over the Gifts

Archbishop O God, who have willed that your Priests should minister at your holy altar and serve your

people, grant by the power of this sacrifice, we pray, that the labours of your servants may constantly please you and in your Church bear that fruit which lasts for ever.

All Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Archbishop leads us in the Church’s greatest prayer of thanksgiving, the Eucharistic Prayer. The Eucharist is the source and summit of all Christian life; it is the sacrament of unity of the community with God and with one another. The Preface of the Priesthood is followed by the Roman Canon.

Archbishop The Lord be with you. All And with your spirit.

Archbishop Lift up your hearts. All We lift them up to the Lord.

Archbishop Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All It is right and just. Archbishop It is truly right and just, our duty and our

salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For by the anointing of the Holy Spirit you made your Only Begotten Son High Priest of the new and eternal covenant, and by your wondrous design were pleased to decree that his one Priesthood should continue in the Church.

For Christ not only adorns with a royal Priesthood the people he has made his own, but with a brother’s kindness he also chooses men to become sharers in his sacred ministry through the laying on of hands.

They are to renew in his name the sacrifice of human redemption, to set before your children the paschal banquet, to lead your holy people in charity, to nourish them with your word and strengthen them with the Sacraments.

As they give up their lives for you and for the salvation of their brothers and sisters, they strive to be conformed to the image of Christ himself and offer you a constant witness of faith and love.

And so, Lord, with all the Angels and Saints, we, too, give you thanks, as in exultation we acclaim:

Sanctus Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott)

Please kneel if you are able

Eucharistic Prayer I The Roman Canon

Archbishop To you, therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and petition through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord:

that you accept and bless ✠ these gifts, these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices,

which we offer you firstly for your holy catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard, unite and govern her throughout the whole world, together with your servant Francis our Pope and me, your unworthy servant, the assistant bishops, and all those who, holding to the truth, hand on the catholic and apostolic faith.

C1 Remember, Lord, your servants N. and N. and all gathered here,

whose faith and devotion are known to you. For them, we offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offer it for themselves and all who are dear to them: for the redemption of their souls, in hope of health and well-being, and paying their homage to you, the eternal God, living and true.

C2 In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian and all your Saints; we ask that through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be defended by your protecting help.

Archbishop Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service, that of your whole family, which we make to you also for these your

servants, whom you have been pleased to raise to the Order of Priesthood;

and in your mercy, keep safe your gifts in them, so that what they have received by divine

commission they may fulfil by divine assistance.

Archbishop Be pleased, O God, we pray, and priests to bless, acknowledge,

and approve this offering in every respect; make it spiritual and acceptable, so that it may become for us the Body and Blood of your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY

BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and once more giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS

THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW

AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT

FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

Archbishop The mystery of faith.

All We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again.

Archbishop Therefore, O Lord, and priests as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed

Passion, the Resurrection from the dead, and the glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ, your Son, our Lord, we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.

Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim. In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing.

C3 Remember also, Lord, your servants N. and N., who have gone before us with the sign of faith

and rest in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and peace.

C4 To us, also, your servants, who, though sinners, hope in your abundant mercies, graciously grant some share and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs: with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia and all your Saints; admit us, we beseech you, into their company, not weighing our merits, but granting us your pardon, through Christ our Lord.

Archbishop Through whom you continue to make all these good things, O Lord; you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.

Archbishop Through him, and with him, and in him, and priests O God, almighty Father,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.

All Amen.

COMMUNION RITE

The Archbishop invites us to join our prayers with Christians throughout the world.

Archbishop At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Archbishop Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

All For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever.

Archbishop Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever. All Amen.

Archbishop The peace of the Lord be with you always. All And with your spirit.

Agnus Dei Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott)

Archbishop Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

All Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Communion

Ave Verum – Byrd (1543-1623)

Hymn Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore, masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, see, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.

Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived; how says trusty hearing? that shall be believed; what God’s Son hath told me, take for truth I do: truth himself speaks truly, or there’s nothing true.

On the cross thy Godhead made no sign to men; here thy very manhood steals from human ken; both are my confession, both are my belief; and I pray the prayer of the dying thief. I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see, but can plainly call thee Lord and God as he; this faith each day deeper be my holding of, daily make me harder hope and dearer love. O thou our memorial of Christ crucified, living Bread, the life of us for whom he died, lend this life to me then: feed and feast my mind, there be thou the sweetness man was meant to find. Jesu, whom I look at shrouded here below, I beseech thee send me what I long for so, some day to gaze on thee face to face in light and be blest for ever with thy glory’s sight.

Thomas Aquinas (1227-74) tr Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-89)

Prayer after Communion Please stand

Archbishop Let us pray. May the divine sacrifice we have offered and received, O Lord, give new life to your Priests and to all your servants, that, united to you in unfailing love, they may receive the grace of giving worthy service to your majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

CONCLUDING RITES

Solemn Blessing

Archbishop The Lord be with you. All And with your spirit.

Archbishop May God, who founded the Church and guides her still, protect you constantly with his grace, that you may faithfully discharge the duties of the Priesthood.

All Amen.

Archbishop May he make you servants and witnesses in the world to divine charity and truth

and faithful ministers of reconciliation. All Amen.

Archbishop And may he make you true shepherds to provide the living Bread and word of life to the faithful, that they may continue to grow in the unity

of the Body of Christ. All Amen. Archbishop And may almighty God bless all of you,

who are gathered here, the Father, ✠ and the Son, ✠ and the Holy ✠ Spirit.

All Amen.

Dismissal

Archbishop Go forth, the Mass is ended. All Thanks be to God.

Organ Voluntary

The English translation and Chants taken from The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) Corporation. The English translation of the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1980, 1981 ICEL. Calamus Licence 1365. All rights reserved.