tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14011761.post8237152641432025302..comments2023-11-05T16:19:05.197+08:00Comments on Unam Sanctam: Easter Vigil 07Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09356738924839809045noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14011761.post-23934906417478390212007-04-10T21:21:00.000+08:002007-04-10T21:21:00.000+08:00Hi Andrew,The vast majority of the newly baptised,...Hi Andrew,<BR/><BR/>The vast majority of the newly baptised, as far as I know are locals, some Chinese, most Malays who belong to the indigenous tribes of Brunei such as Iban, Dusun, etc. Conversion of muslims is of course forbidden, but you might be aware that the indigenous tribes (in Brunei we call them anak bumi) have a strong heritage of Christianity. In fact, Bishop Sim has anak bumi roots, hence he spends the Triduum in the lone mission outpost in the Brunei interior (situated in a long house no less!). I am so happy to see so many locals being welcomed into the Faith, though there are new (illegal) Protestant sects that have recently started (in Brunei the only two Christian denominations allowed to practice publicly are the RCs and the Anglicans), that have made inroads into our local Chinese Catholic population, so that is something worrying.<BR/><BR/>When you say that the regional bishops have forbidden black cassocks, do you mean just the Malaysian bishops or the entire bishops conference? Did they give a reason? I ask because if it's the entire Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Bishop's Conference, than I find it very strange because one of the other parishes in Brunei have a set of black cassocks for altar servers used for ferial Masses, and this was purchased by the then Monsignor Sim, when he was parish priest of that church. Maybe they mean black cassocks for those in orders? Because, the priests here for benediction, etc, wear either an alb and stole, or a white cassock with cotta and stole, never a black cassock. P.S. The alb can always be...ehem..made to look more traddy. Throw in an amice, a little lace here and there - and there you go. <BR/><BR/>And yes, I love West Cath. Mgr Mark is so nice as well. The most fantastic homilist and so nice to everyone. He gave me his 39 buttons (!) cassock to use when I was a server there - I served there for a year, before medical school scheduling just messed everything up! And the choir - in my not so humble opinion - arguably the best cathedral/collegiate choir in the UK.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14011761.post-85262636739516407562007-04-10T15:27:00.000+08:002007-04-10T15:27:00.000+08:00I took most of the photographs except the ones on ...I took most of the photographs except the ones on the Easter Vigil. A friend took them using my camera as the RCIA facilitators requested it.<BR/><BR/>If you don't use a flash unless absolutely necessary, then it is less distracting. Also, if you just sit in front and don't move around so much, you minimize the distraction, for yourself and for others. I do get a little bit distracted, but just a bit. But hey, someone's gotta do it =)<BR/><BR/>The Litany of the Saints is prayed standing during Eastertide. And also at ordinations. But since we kneel so seldom, we might as well just do it. In the Orthodox Church, following a decree from the Council of Nicea (yeah, that one), kneeling, since in Orthodox theology it is a posture of penitence, is forbidden on Sundays which are a memorial of the Lord's Day and the Resurrection. If you see other Churches do it, then it is out of ignorance =) The ordo for the regions states it should be sung standing.<BR/><BR/>The Garden Altar of Our Lady's Shrine was just completed in time for Holy Thursday. I like it too. It is also functional as it is much cooler than in the Hall where the adoration is usually held. The symbolism is a major plus. Beautiful.<BR/><BR/>Bishop Sim seems nice. I spoke to him when he came to Penang with the entire regional episcopate for the Golden Jubilee celebrations 2 years ago. It was nice that he was upgraded from Apostolic Prefect to Vicar Apostolic and raised to the dignity of the episcopate.<BR/><BR/>The photos from Brunei look great. Are there local Christians? Malays I mean? Is it forbidden? To preach to them and baptize them?<BR/><BR/><BR/>The liturgy at Westminster Cathedral is indeed excellent, preserving the heritage of English choral music. They're the only Catholic ones to have regular sung Vespers you know. Our own Holy Spirit Cathedral has a good choir which sings in Latin for the solemn Masses as well. The Latin Choir director in my parish is sick, so Latin is on hiatus. Hopefully it will be back soon. Before a certain motu proprio is released? Wink..wink...<BR/><BR/>We only had 12 baptisms. The cathedral had 39 or something like that. Where do you get so many catechumens?<BR/><BR/>The shoulder capes that the servers wear is a derived from the mozzetta that comes with the choir dress of bishops and cardinals. Although unbuttoned, it looks more like the shoulder capes from the simar. It is not liturgically correct, but adds dignity to the celebration. The regional bishops have banned the black cassock, so the cotta or surplice can't be used with it. The plain alb, the mandated vestment, is too plain, so they improvise =)<BR/><BR/>The red cassocks are inappropriate for funeral Masses and we cant afford too many sets of cassocks. This discussion is still ongoing as we try to find an amicable solution for all. Here's <A HREF="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1659/2191/1600/06_57_EV0177.jpg" REL="nofollow">a photo of another parish where capes are used.</A>Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356738924839809045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14011761.post-44108304411780066182007-04-09T16:54:00.000+08:002007-04-09T16:54:00.000+08:00Thanks for sharing your photographs Andrew. Did yo...Thanks for sharing your photographs Andrew. Did you take them yourself? Do you find yourself less able to concentrate at the Masses you photograph? I hope you don't mind me asking these questions as I am quite interested in liturgical photography myself. I notice that your congregation kneels at the Litany of the Saints at the Easter Vigil. Is this a custom or something new done this year? I was always under the impression that at Eastertide the invocation to the Saints is done standing, but I'm wondering if the kneeling is mandated by the Malaysia, S'pore, Brunei Bishop's conference, as I've seen other churches in the region do it as well, and our parish has got it wrong? Certainly in London where I usually am this time of the year, we stand for the Litany. BTW - I LOVE that your altar of repose is in a garden. No one could possibly fail to appreciate the symbolism.<BR/><BR/>I observed Holy Week at the main church in Brunei (or 'cathedral' - though strictly speaking, we have a cathedra, but not a cathedral as Brunei is not a diocese but an Apostolic Vicariate led by an Apostolic Vicar with the dignity of Titular Bishop of Putia in Numidia). Here are some pictures of our Holy Week celebrations including the Vicariate Chrism Mass at another parish, if you are interested. I didn't take them myself.<BR/><BR/>http://www.bruneicola.com/Photo%20Gallery.htm<BR/><BR/>I haven't been back in Brunei for Holy Week for a while (usually I make my observances in Westminster Cathedral, London - which as you know is liturgically excellent!). We did an ok job I suppose. The music was a wierd mix. For the first time ever they had one or two praise and worship songs at each service, which most of the congregation, myself included, did not approve. At the same time there was a decent amount of Latin. For Maundy Thursday the Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei was chanted in Latin. Ubi Caritas antiphon with English verses for the preparation of the gifts. Pange Lingua and Tantum ergo chanted in Latin in procession to the altar of repose. Good Friday no Latin, but English plainchant was used for the psalm (as is our custom), the Improperia was sung in English, and Sing my tongue (Good Friday version) in English for the veneration. O Sacred Head sung acapella for the communion. Easter Vigil saw the return of the Latin Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. Everything else in English. 4 OT readings, 1 epistle. 67 (!!) baptisms and 3 receptions into the church. <BR/><BR/>Oh I forgot, another question. What is the official liturgical name for the capes that the servers in your parish wear with their albs? We have albs with cincture in our parish too, used sometimes, though they tend to stick to cassock (though I question the use of the red cassock seeing as they are not cardinals) and cotta for the big feasts, but I've never seen capes used before. What do they symbolize?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com