Missa Cantata this Saturday

Our visiting schola will be here on Saturday 2 April for our solemn Missa Cantata in the Traditional Roman Rite The texts of the Mass will be sung in Gregorian chant according to the Roman Gradual.

Since the Mass will take longer than the usual Low Mass, it will be followed by a short service of Benediction and the Marian anthem. There will be a priest available from 11am to hear Confessions during Mass and Benediction.

Parish Family Fast Day this Friday

I would like to propose Friday 1 April as a Lenten “Family Fast Day” when, as a parish, we try to go without some of the food we would normally eat. There are envelopes for you to use to make a donation, perhaps proportionate to the cost of the food you forego.

The proceeds of the Family Fast Day will be sent direct to Aid to the Church in Need.

Sunday Mass: a reminder of Catholic practice

Catholic are bound to attend Mass in a Catholic Church every Sunday and Holyday of obligation. (Saturday evening Mass fulfils the obligation for Sunday.) This is a serious duty, reaffirmed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (2181)

This obligation is not binding if there is a genuine reason that prevents someone from attending Mass (for example, illness, the care of infants or more than an hour’s journey to attend Mass). In such a case, there is no sin, and Holy Communion may be received at the next Mass with a good conscience.

The Catechism reminds us that those who deliberately fail in this obligation (without a good reason such as those given above) commit a grave sin.

A person who has missed Mass without good reason, especially if this have been for several weeks or more, should make a good confession before receiving Holy Communion.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence. We are bound to abstain from meat and to eat significantly less food than we normally would.

Masses in the parish on Ash Wednesday are at:

• 10am
• 4.15pm
• 8pm (Sung Latin EF)

Ashes will be blessed and distributed at all Masses.

During Lent, we have Stations of the Cross every Friday at 7.30pm.

Requiem Mass for Fr Koch

There will be a sung Latin Requiem Mass (EF) on Monday 7 March at 8pm, with absolutions at the catafalque to pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Koch, the founding parish priest of our parish, on the occasion of his anniversary.

A Day With Mary

The Day with Mary will be coming to Blackfen on Saturday 12 March to provide a day of devotion and prayer in the parish. I do recommend this Day and ask as many parishioners as possible to come along to support it. The Day starts at 10am and finishes at about 5pm. You can come for any part of the Day.

KSC Recruitment Drive

The Knights of St Columba will be holding a Recruitment Drive in the parish this weekend, 5/6 March. Knights will be present at all Masses and available to meet people afterwards to explain the work of the Knights of St Columba. I encourage men of the parish to join this apostolate.

Confirmation rehearsal and Mass

The Confirmation rehearsal will take place this coming Friday at 8.15pm, after the Stations of the Cross at 7.30pm. Candidates and sponsors are asked to come: if the sponsor cannot come, another adult should attend in their place.

The Confirmation Mass will be on Tuesday 15 March at 7.30pm. Candidates are asked to report to the Small Hall at 7pm. Others who are attending the Mass should be seated in the Church by 7.15pm.