The October Mass for the Brothers of the Little Oratory in San Diego was held on Saturday 9 October at St. Augustine's Monastery Chapel, in honor of Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman. The mass was celebrated in the Extradordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the form solely familiar to Bl. Newman, and to which he dedicated so much love and care. Music provided by the assembled Brothers included the hymn "Lead Kindly Light," harmonized for four male voices; the propers of the mass were Os justi" taken from the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop; and the ordinary was Mass VI from the Gregorian kyriale. Following the Last Gospel, Fr. Harry Neely O.S.A. intoned the Salve Regina, as is customary at masses in England, and pronounced the collect. Lastly, Bl. Cardinal Newman's great hymn "Praise to the Holiest" comprised the recessional, sung to the tune by Sir Richard Runciman Terry, first director of the Westminster Cathedral Choir in London.
This was the Brothers' first "Newman Mass" celebrated following the venerabile's Beatification, held at Birmingham during the recent visit of the Holy Father to Britain. Recently shrines to Bl. Newman have been formally erected at the Birmingham, London, and Oxford Oratories. The Brothers hope to make some contribution to the cost of the shrine at London, through fundraising to be undertaken during the coming year.
Assumption Vespers were sung in the historic Serra Chapel of the Mission San Juan Capistrano on the evening of 14 August, 2010, before an enthusiastic congregation numbering some sixty to seventy. The Brothers of the Little Oratory were joined by members of Una Voce Orange County, making up the number of the liturgical choir to an impressive eighteen. Fr. Victor Sczurek, O.Praem., served as Hebdomadarius and performed the Benediction. Also in choir was Br. Aiden of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem. The Vespers were accompanied from the loft-organ, and the singing from both liturgical choir and congregation was at once tuneful and assertive throughout. 
This occasion marked the second time that liturgical vespers have been sung before the beautiful gilt altar of the Serra Chapel, and it is hoped that another vespers occasion will be forthcoming in the near future. Afterwards a large impromptu gathering of the singers and congregants was held in a local restaurant, rounding out the beginning of Our Lady's great feast with splendid good-fellowship. More photos as they become available.
The Brothers of the Little Oratory in San Diego, in conjunction with members of Una Voce Orange County, will sing First Vespers of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Serra Chapel of the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Saturday evening 14 August, 2010, at 7:30pm. The celebrant for the Vespers will be one of the Norbertine (O.Praem) fathers of St. Michael's Abbey. The traditional Vespers will be sung in Latin with organ accompaniment, and translational booklets will be available. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will follow immediately after the conclusion of Vespers.
On Sunday, 11 July 2010, the Brothers of the Little Oratory sang Vespers in St. Augustine's Monastery Chapel, with Fr. Christopher Basden as Hebdomadary. Father Basden has for the past fifteen years been pastor of St. Bede's parish, Clapham Park, which is a suburb of London, England, and part of the Archdiocese of Southwark. St. Bede's is a vibrant South London parish, which includes the Traditional mass in its Sunday morning schedule, as well as weekly Vespers, and a daily Extraordinary Form mass in the Lady Chapel. Easily accessible from London's Victoria station, St. Bede's is a "must attend" for American Catholics in London. For more information see their impressive website at:
Fr. Basden came to the U.S. on his summer holiday, and made several stops on his tour, including the convent of the Handmaids of Mary at Camarillo, a group of Spanish nursing nuns who have a convent in St. Bede's parish. While there Fr. Basden was able to attend the solemn profession of one of the sisters.
Father then journeyed down from the Los Angeles area, stopping to see the missions at La Purissima, San Buenaventura, San Fernando Rey, San Gabriel, San Juan Capistrano, and San Louis Rey (though not all in one day!). While in San Diego he visited the mission San Diego de Alcala, and said mass at St. Augustine's and Our Lady of Refuge.
Fr. Basden devoted his last afternoon and evening to the Brothers, singing Vespers and Benediction at St. Augustine's, then retiring to Pacific Beach where he led shortened Oratorian "garden" exercises (as is the custom of the Brothers in summer), joined tbe Brother for tea, offered spiritual counsel in the form of an impromptu "fervorino", and later led traditional Gregorian compline in the house chapel.
Following his visit to San Diego, Fr. Basden has travelled on to spend a much needed week in retreat with the Benedictines of Clear Creek Monastery in Eastern Oklahoma. The Brothers of the Little Oratory in San Diego hope that his visit to San Diego will be one that Fr. Basden will not soon forget, and one which he will perhaps repeat without extensive delay.
The Brothers of the Little Oratory were pleased to celebrate their Eighth Annual tide of St. Philip Neri in St. Joseph's Cathedral, this past 4 & 5 June, 2010. The services included Solemn 1st Vespers of St. Philip sung Friday evening, the psalms and canticle of which were sung using the setting of W. A. Mozart, the "Solemn Vespers of a Confessor" K 3.39. This is believed to be the first recorded local use of Mozart's famous Vespers in their liturgical setting. The Thomas Luis de Victoria choir featured Mary Anne Carr-Wilson as soprano soloist, Dr. Alison Luedecke accompanied on the Cathedral's 1931 Austin pipe organ, and John Polhamus conducted. Audio clips will be made available shortly.
The following day at 2:00pm Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite was sung in the Cathedral. Fr. Victor Sczurek, O.Praem. celebrated, assisted by Fr. Justin Ramos, O.Praem. as deacon, and Mr. James Crittenden, sub-deacon. The Brothers were indispensably assisted by one of their own in the role of MC, by Mr. Ashly Paver of Cincinnati, OH, who made the journey westward to once again join the chapter for the annual observances. The music for the mass was sung by a three-voice schola of the Victoria Choir, and included the Byrd "Mass for Three Voices" and the full Gregorian propers for the mass of St. Philip Neri. 
~ The 10th Consecutive Traditional Tenebrae, sung at St. John the Evangelist in University Heights, featuring choral contributions from the La Jolla Renaissance Singers. A promotional video featuring musical highlights of this year's particularly rich musical offerings is being prepared with the assistance of Mr. Steve Marshall, a graduate of John Paul the Great Catholic University. The video promises to offer some of the best representation to date of the Brother's liturgical activities
~ Gregorian contributions to the 1st Communion Mass for St. Joseph's Academy in Vista. This mass featured the 1st communion of the daughter of postulant Jon T. Velasco. The Brothers sang on behalf of a capacity congregation at St. Mark's Catholic Church in San Marcos, and were able to enhance the solemnity of the Ordinary Form mass for parents and communicants alike, offering many their first experience of liturgical chant. If actions follow initial reactions, we may hope to invited back next year, or even sooner. This was a fine example of the Brother's musico-liturgical apostolate in action.
~ And singing for the mass of Solemn Profession of Vows by Br. Ronald Custorio, O.S.A. at St. Augustine's Monastery Chapel. The Brothers sang Kyrie VI, and the Sanctus and Agnus of Mass VIII, along with Gregorian propers and a variety of Gregorian communion motets. At the generous barbecue buffet which followed, it was duly noted that the fine fare was provided by none other than "Phil's" Barbecue. The proprietor was duly provided with a Philiptide prayer-card, and introduced to the business' logical patron!
And with that, the Brothers come into the summer break, which gives us a chance to reflect on the exertions of the Fall and Spring, and to recharge our batteries for the coming season. We of course thank all those who have assisted us in our apostolate this past year, and hope that you will consider helping us again in the future. We offer prayers for all our benefactors, and request the same in return. We wish you a sun-burnished summer, leisure to enjoy it, the Blessings of our Lord and the intercessions of our Lady, St. Philip Neri, and all the saints. Summer is here: "Allegramente! Allegramente!"
