Saturday, August 14, 2010

Extra tickets returned for Papal mass in Cofton Park

A further 5,000 tickets have been made available for those wanting to attend the Papal mass and beatification of Cardinal Newman in Birmingham.

The tickets are for people within the Archdiocese of Birmingham as they were not taken up elsewhere.

Those interested have until 22 August to sign up.

Preparations are under way for a display of Cardinal Newman artefacts to coincide with September's Cofton Park event.

Staff at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are cleaning up a bust, commissioned in 1841, by Richard Westmacott the younger, a friend of the Cardinal from his days at Eton.

Other items will include his robes, hat and shoes, a pectoral cross and a shell engraved with the Immaculate Conception, which have not been on display before.

The exhibition can be seen from 10 September to 6 January 2011.

The mass, by Pope Benedict XVI in Cofton Park on 19 September to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Last week, the Catholic Church in Birmingham said it was oversubscribed with parishioners wanting to attend the mass in Cofton Park.

The archdiocese, which covers Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire was originally allocated 14,000 tickets.

Exhibits such as Cardinal Newman's robes and shoes are to go on display next month at Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum.

It coincides with the beatification of Cardinal Newman at Cofton Park on 19 September.

SIC: BBC