EF Confirmations in England

We have just received some photographs from the FSSP Apostolate in Reading, England. On Saturday August 3, H.E. Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth in England conferred the sacrament of Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The ceremony took place at St, William of York Church in Reading, Berkshire, and was organized by the priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, who have been serving daily in that church for the last five years. After consecrating sacred vessels to be used for the Holy Mass, Bishop Egan confirmed 12 candidates, assisted by Fathers Armand de Malleray and Matthew Goddard FSSP, and seminarians of the order. He then gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament with the Litanies of the Sacred Heart, and met with the families for refreshments afterwards. Fr. John Chandler, Diocesan Master of Ceremonies, attended in choir. Three years ago, Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton was the first English bishop to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form in his own cathedral. As of last Sunday (September 8) Bishop Egan has introduced a regular EF Sunday Mass in his cathedral in Portsmouth.