We hope this website will answer all your questions about our church and its community. If there is anything you would like to know that is not covered in these pages, please feel free to get in touch using the ‘Contact us’ tab above.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC
PUBLIC MASSES HAVE NOW RESUMED AT ST MARY’S
AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES EACH WEEK:
Tuesday: 9.15am, Wednesday: 6.30pm (Latin, old rite)
Friday: 6.30pm, Saturday: 6.00pm
Sunday: 9.00am and 11.15am
ONLINE BOOKING AVAILABLE AT https://massbooking.uk/
For the latest information about attendance at any of these Masses, please click here
The Bishops have made clear that in these emergency circumstances, and for as long as they last, the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is removed.
We will be using this page to keep you informed during the pandemic.
Please keep checking back for the latest updates.
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Facebook support group
A private Facebook support group called St Marys Community Support has been set up to help parishioners stay in touch, share information/advice, and offer each other support . Click here to join the group now. NB: You will need to have a Facebook account to join, but it is easy to set one up. Please share this information with others in the Parish.
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05.7.20: Face Masks at Mass
As you will know the Government has now made compulsory the wearing of a face mask at public worship. You will obviously have to remove it to receive Holy Communion. Children under 11 are not expected to wear them. People are exempted from having to wear a face mask for the following reasons: “not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability; if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress; in order to take medication.” Other reasons are given too. You can check out the document at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/
02.7.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 2 August 2020, 18th Sunday of the Year
Dear All, Today at Mass we hear St Matthew’s account of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand (14:13-21). This miracle is unique in that it is the only miracle of Our Lord that appears in all four Gospels. And so I would like to write today on the topic of miracles. We sometimes say of miracles, “For those who believe no explanation is needed. For those who do not believe no explanation is possible.” Click here to read more
31.7.20: Liturgy for Sunday 2 August 2020
31.7.20: Newsletter for Sunday 2 August 2020
26.7.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 26 July 2020, 17th Sunday of the Year
Dear All, Over the past few weeks Our Lord has been speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel. We have been listening to a number of what are called the “Parables of the Kingdom” – the Parable of the Wheat and the Darnel, the Parable of the Mustard Seed, the Parable of the Yeast and then today we have the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, the Parable of the Pearl and the finally the Parable of the Dragnet. Click here to read more
25.7.20: Liturgy for Sunday 26 July 2020
25.7.20: Newsletter for Sunday 26 July 2020
19.7.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 19 July 2020, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear All, This month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of JESUS and this devotion goes right back to the beginning of Christianity. St Peter writes in his First Letter, “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the Precious Blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). JESUS is the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Click here to read more
18.7.20: Liturgy for Sunday 19 July 2020
18.7.20: Newsletter for Sunday 19 July 2020
12.7.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 12 July 2020, 15th Sunday of the Year
Dear All, It is sometimes said that apparitions are sermons from Heaven! For the past two hundred years in her various apparitions, Our Lady has been telling us of the importance of sacramentals. In 1830 in Paris, Our Lady gave St Catherine Labouré the Miraculous Medal. In 1858 at Lourdes, she stressed the importance of the Rosary to St Bernadette. Click here to read more
11.7.20: Liturgy for Sunday 12 July 2020
11.7.20: Newsletter for Sunday 12 July 2020
06.7.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 5 July 2020, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear All, You have probably heard in the news how in some cities in America mobs are pulling down a number of statues. Should controversial statues be removed? Well, that’s not for me to say. That is something to be decided by local communities after discussion and debate, but it should not be the action of a mob. Statues of the saints have also been pulled down and desecrated. Last week a mob of two hundred gathered in the city of St Louis to pull down a statue of St Louis (1214-1270), the great monarch of France. Click here to read more
03.7.20: Liturgy for Sunday 5 July 2020
03.7.20: Newsletter for Sunday 5 July 2020
28.6.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 28 June 2020, Saints Peter and Paul
Dear All, Today is the transferred Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul. I say transferred because the real date of the Feast is 29th June (Monday), and in normal times it would be a Holyday of Obligation. The current practice in England and Wales when a Day of Obligation falls on a Saturday or Monday is to transfer it to the Sunday. Click here to read more
28.6.20: Newsletter for Sunday 28 June 2020
Click here to read (includes Liturgy for Saints Peter & Paul and Financial Report)
27.6.20: Archbishops’ Letter to Catholics in England
Click here to view/download the letter
25.6.20: Re-opening the Church for private prayer
Click here to read this news item
21.6.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 21 June 2020
Dear All, This is the first Sunday in ‘Ordinary Time’ we have had since before Lent, and so the priest returns to wearing green vestments. This is going to be rather short lived since next Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Princes of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul who were martyrs and so red is worn. Red is also going to be worn tomorrow because it is the Feast of two very important English martyrs: St John Fisher and St Thomas More. Both were executed under King Henry VIII in 1535. Click here to read more
19.6.20: Liturgy for Sunday 21 June 2020
19.6.20: Newsletter for Sunday 21 June 2020
14.6.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 14 June 2020, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi
Dear All, In the year 1263, a German priest by the name of Peter of Prague was going on a pilgrimage to Rome and he stopped off at the town of Bolsena in Italy to celebrate Mass. He was having problems believing that Christ was truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Click here to read more
13.6.20: Liturgy for Sunday 14 June 2020
13.6.20: Newsletter for Sunday 14 June 2020
09.6.20: Letter from Fr Paul: Re-opening the church
Dear Parishioners, As you will no doubt be aware, the Government has given permission for places of worship to re-open under strict conditions from next Monday 15th June for private prayer only. Our ability to open next Monday will be dependant on all the necessary measures being in place by then. If they are not we will have to delay. But it will soon be possible to come in on certain days and at specified times and pray before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I will let you know those times at the weekend and they will also be posted on the front door of the church. We are not able to resume the public celebration of Mass at this stage. This is a little further down the road and even then there will still be restrictions. Click here to read more
07.6.20: Letter from Fr Paul – 7 June, Trinity Sunday
Dear All, On the Sunday after Pentecost, we always celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity or Trinity Sunday as it is more commonly called. The doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of our faith (Catechism of the Catholic Church #234). That is there is one God and three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When you think about it, the Trinity really is the central mystery of our Faith. Click here to read more.
