Solemn return of Cardinal Newman's remains to the Birmingham Oratory

(The brass Cardinal’s insignia from the coffin of John Henry Newman recovered from his grave at Rednal on 2 October 2008. Picture by Peter Jennings. This picture is the copyright of the Fathers if the Birmingham Oratory)

Statement by Peter Jennings, Press Secretary to the Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory and for the Cause of the Beatification and Canonisation of the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890), Friday 10 October 2008:

ARRANGEMENTS FOR A VIGIL OF RECEPTION
“I am able to announce that the remains of the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) will be placed in a glass-sided casket in the Upper Cloister Hall at the Birmingham Oratory, on Friday 31 and Saturday 1 November 2008.
“The remains will include locks of Cardinal Newman's hair, already in the possession of the Fathers of the Oratory, a small cross and clothing found in the grave, and some wood from the Cardinal’s original oak coffin.
“Everything recovered from Cardinal Newman’s grave is presently in the care of one of the country’s leading specialists in conservation, the York Archaeological Trust, including the brass Cardinal’s insignia that decorated the top of the coffin.
“The times during which visitors will have an opportunity to pray in the presence of the remains are 9.00 am to 8.00 pm.
“Over these two days the following special Masses will be celebrated in the Oratory Church:
“Friday 31 October at 8pm - Votive Mass of the Blessed Sacrament, celebrated by Bishop William Kenney, CP, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.
“Saturday 1 November at 8 am - Votive Mass of Our Lady, celebrated by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster.
“Saturday 1 November at 11 am - Votive Mass of St Philip Neri, celebrated by Bishop Philip Pargeter, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.



ARRANGEMENTS FOR MASS ON SUNDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 2008, FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
“High Mass will be celebrated at the Birmingham Oratory at 11am on Sunday, November 2, the transferred Feast of All Saints. The celebrant will be the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham. The Very Reverend Paul Chavasse, Provost of the Birmingham Oratory and Postulator of the Newman Cause, will preach.
“During this Mass the remains of John Henry Cardinal Newman will be solemnly placed in the Chapel of St Charles Borromeo, a friend of St Philip Neri, situated to the right of the Sanctuary. They will rest in the Chapel while the step by step process of Cardinal Newman's Beatification continues in Rome.
“The meticulous exhumation of Cardinal Newman's grave at Rednal on Thursday 2 October 2008 did not recover any human remains. The Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory have decided that the specially made marble sarcophagus intended to receive Cardinal Newman's body will not now be placed in the church as originally planned.”