Seven candles will burn on the Altar, January 1st, as Jesus Guild prepares to welcome our apostle, shepherd, and founder, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, to Georgetown Oratory to celebrate Holy Mass and preach.

January is a month that still bears the name of the Roman deity, Janus, who had two faces, one looking back to the past; the other looking forward to the future. His name is derived from the Latin word for ‘portal:’ ianua.

Typically, we consider the idea of being ‘two-faced’ to be pejorative, but it need not always be the case. Very often our liturgical expressions are multilayered, none more so than the Liturgy for January 1st.

In the Roman Rite, January 1st is the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, or of Mary, Mother of God. Both bear the hallmarks of antiquity, and it is on this day we celebrate both the maternity of Mary and the first shedding of the blood of Christ.

Of course, the two are inextricably linked. Christ’s blood is able to be shed because He has a human mother. That redemptive flood is only possible because of Mary’s consent to God’s plan of salvation.

All Feasts of the Lord therefore have a Marian character; and all Marian Feasts are deeply Christological. It depends with which lens we choose to look at the same data.

At Jesus Guild, our philosophy is to take from what is old and what is new. As such, we are able to chart the course of liturgical history, not abandoning what has stood the test of time, but not being restrained by it, either.

In our own, deeply visual age, our Bishop was inspired to look back to another era before the dominance of the written word. The reason for this is to evangelize with fresh vigor, unencumbered by polemic or ideological factions.

Whatever the language, whatever the Rite, God is able to speak to our heart without any intermediary. Our task is simply to get out of the way, and allow Him to make the invitation, soul by soul.

As we look back over 2023, we see Jesus Guild has come a very long way in a short space of time. Our apostolates are growing, and our voice is reaching further than we ever imagined.

But this is because we try to heed the voice of the shepherd ever more closely. Jesus Guild is one part of a wider mission of evangelizing catechesis, and our task is to assist the Bishop in his plan for diocesan renewal.

Record Numbers at the Oratory this Christmas

Christmas 2023 marked a turning point at the Oratory, because for the first time, all of the Masses were under the auspices of Jesus Guild. Traditional carols rang out at all eleven Masses over the weekend.

There was standing room only at many Masses as people came to experience a traditional Christmas in a unique country church. The flexibility of seating layout due to moveable pews was a great help in accommodating these numbers.

The Oratory was lovingly decorated by two families over two successive nights. The aesthetic was both traditional, and naturalistic - and not a poinsettia in gold-wrapped foil to be seen.

Notable was the use of a new, temporary gradine behind the Altar. Crafted by Bodgan Sarzynski and his team from MBS Woodworking, this simple feature allows Mass in both forms to be celebrated easily without the upheaval of moving Altar fittings around.

Changes to the Sanctuary are always delicate. This is why it is often wise to use temporary structures to try out new arrangements before permanent proposals are made. This way, it is possible to ‘learn the space’ - in liturgical furnishings, every inch is important.

Reactions to the gradine were entirely positive, with many people observing it seems to make the Sanctuary feel more spacious, and gave the Altar more prominence.

Additionally, the emphasis on the vertical helped to unite the window (which in 1954, Fr. Joseph Cleary envisaged as a reredos) with the Altar, thus uniting the artistic scheme between the two elements for the first time in 50 years.

Grateful thanks to all who worked so hard to make our friends and guests welcome this Christmas, from the serving team to the ushers to the decorators, it was a true coming together of a family.

Becket and the Development of Pilgrimage

Jesus Guild exists to promote beauty in the arts, and part of this mission includes the promotion of pilgrimage, both locally and further afield. We are certain that Canterbury would feature highly as part of a future English itinerary. St. Thomas Becket: pray for us. But why not have your say? Let us know where you would like to go on pilgrimage.

Your Chance to Own This:

Lovingly created in genuine egg tempera on wood by our own resident artist, Ewa Krepsztul, our ‘Christmas 2023’ painting is available for you to own - and contribute to the Oratory Girls’ Choir at the same time!

Our resident graphic artist, Ewa Krepsztul, has generously offered the 2023 Christmas image for sale by silent auction. Proceeds to support our new Girls’ Choir.

Hand-painted in egg tempera on wood, this stunning painting features, our own Oratory church in the snow. The perfect Christmas gift for someone you love!

Make your bid for this spectacular piece in one of two ways:

1. Use the form below to enter your name, address, and telephone number with your highest bid today.

2. Email the Rector with your highest bid [email protected] by Friday December 29th

Starting bid for this unique original piece is $300.

Good luck!