On the weekend of 15th/16th December we had the great pleasure of welcoming Bishop Athanasius Schneider to St Kevin’s. Bishop Schneider is the Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Maria Santissima in Astana, Kazakhstan.
On Saturday 15th the Bishop celebrated a Pontifical Low Mass. Before Mass the Bishop kneels to make his preparation; the vestments lie on the altar, covered by a veil.
This bishop removes his pectoral Cross, and then the mantelletta:
Over the rochet the Bishop is then vested with the usual Mass vestments:
Mass begins, the two priest chaplains assisting; the Pontifical Canon is on the altar, instead of the usual altar cards:
The Gospel; the hand-candle, or bugia, is held whenever the Bishop reads:
After the Gospel Bishop Schneider preached a wonderful sermon about the Mass and the need for reverence in receiving Holy Communion.
After Mass the Bishop gave a conference in the hall on the topic: “Holy Communion and Church Renewal”:
On Sunday morning – Gaudete Sunday – Bishop Schneider sat in choir for Mass, and preached the sermon. Here we are pictured outside the church after Mass:
