A seminarian from East Anglia was watched by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide as he sang the Gospel at the Mass for the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
Deacon Peter Wygnánski, from the Diocese of East Anglia, who is linked to Our Lady and the English Martyrs in Cambridge and who is in his sixth year of studies at the Venerable English College in Rome, said it was the “privilege of a lifetime” to sing the Gospel at the Mass.
He was watched by large crowds of up to 20,000 in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican and a world-wide TV audience as Pope Francis canonised the first English saint in 40 years and the first post Reformation saint.
Deacons who are studying in Rome are encouraged to put themselves forward to take part in such liturgie, the diocese said.
“I believe I was chosen largely because of the English connection,” said Peter.
“It is the privilege of a lifetime to do something like this – and in many ways it is probably going to be one of the best things I ever do.” He said before the Mass that he was feeling a little “trepidation”.
He continued: “To be singing the Gospel in Latin and in front of tens of thousands of people is nerve-wracking enough. But it is such a wonderful thing to do and it will be a great joy to be with the global universal Church at such an important moment when we raise John Henry Newman to the altars.
“Newman’s commitment to seeking truth in the beautiful and the good has long inspired me, and he was a significant influence as I was discerning applying for priestly formation, so on a personal level it is a honour to play a role as the Church celebrates his life and sanctity.”
Peter did a one-year postgraduate course in music and before seminary even considered being a professional musician, as a jazz bass player.
“Music has always been a big part of my life,” he said. “I sang in choirs while at school and then was responsible for liturgical music for one year as choirmaster of the seminary. So I am not new to singing but I never formally had training, nor considered myself a singer.”
Peter is due to be ordained a priest of the diocese on July 25 next year at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich.
A seminarian from East Anglia was watched by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide as he sang the Gospel at the Mass for the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
Deacon Peter Wygnanski, from the Diocese of East Anglia, who is linked to Our Lady and the English Martyrs in Cambridge and who is in his sixth year of studies at the Venerable English College in Rome, said it was the “privilege of a lifetime” to sing the Gospel at the Mass.
He was watched by large crowds of up to 20,000 in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican and a world-wide TV audience as Pope Francis canonised the first English saint in 40 years and the first post Reformation saint.
Deacons who are studying in Rome are encouraged to put themselves forward to take part in such liturgie, the diocese said.
“I believe I was chosen largely because of the English connection,” said Peter.
“It is the privilege of a lifetime to do something like this – and in many ways it is probably going to be one of the best things I ever do.” He said before the Mass that he was feeling a little “trepidation”.
He continued: “To be singing the Gospel in Latin and in front of tens of thousands of people is nerve-wracking enough. But it is such a wonderful thing to do and it will be a great joy to be with the global universal Church at such an important moment when we raise John Henry Newman to the altars.
“Newman’s commitment to seeking truth in the beautiful and the good has long inspired me, and he was a significant influence as I was discerning applying for priestly formation, so on a personal level it is a honour to play a role as the Church celebrates his life and sanctity.”
Peter did a one-year postgraduate course in music and before seminary even considered being a professional musician, as a jazz bass player.
“Music has always been a big part of my life,” he said. “I sang in choirs while at school and then was responsible for liturgical music for one year as choirmaster of the seminary. So I am not new to singing but I never formally had training, nor considered myself a singer.”
Peter is due to be ordained a priest of the diocese on July 25 next year at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich.
Video of the Mass, with the Holy Gospel at 40 minutes.
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