A Solemn Mass will be sung on Sunday 14 June at 10:30am, the Second Sunday after Trinity, in celebration of Portugal Day, the national day of Portugal.

The observance has a particular resonance at Warwick Street, whose origins lie in the chapel of the Portuguese Embassy established here in 1724, at a time when Catholic worship in England was severely restricted. Under the protection of the embassy the chapel became an important place of prayer for London’s Catholics, and from these beginnings the present church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory developed.

On this day we give thanks for the Portuguese community whose faith and patronage formed part of the early history of Warwick Street, and we commend the people and nation of Portugal to the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We look forward to welcoming H.E. Nuno Brito, Ambassador of Portugal to the Court of St James’s, together with members of the Portuguese community, on this occasion.

All the faithful are warmly invited to assist at this Solemn Mass, celebrated according to Divine Worship: The Missal (Ordinariate Use).

Music list:
Introit: Thomas Tallis – If ye love me
Setting: Harold Darke – Collegium Regale in E
Psalm: 120
Creed: Merbecke
Anthem: Felix Mendelssohn – I waited for the Lord
Hymns:
All my hope on God is founded (NEH, 333)
Dear Lord and Father of mankind (NEH, 353)
Blest are the pure in heart (NEH, 341)
National Anthems:
A Portuguesa
God Save the King (NEH, 489)

O LORD, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy steadfast fear and love: keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence; and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.