Youth Evening of Recollection

Friday 7.30-10pm

Young people of secondary school age, sixth formers (and indeed any university students on holiday) are invited to an Evening of Recollection. This will begin with a talk, Rosary and Benediction, followed by a showing of the film “Arise Once More” and a question & answer session with Fr Finigan. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided.

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Stations of the Cross in Lent

During Lent we have Stations of the Cross in the Church each Friday at 7.30pm. There Stations are also prayed every Monday in Lent after the 10am Mass. To make the sacrifice of attending the Stations each week is a very worthwhile penance for Lent.

A plenary (under the usual conditions) is attached to devout participation in the Stations of the Cross.

Bethlehem Art

Owing to the troubles in the Holy Land, very few tourists visit Bethlehem and so many families suffer poverty because they cannot selling their works to secure a decent lifestyle.

Bethlehem Art provides an income for the few Christian families still living in Bethlehem by selling their works for them here in the UK. They will be visiting the parish next weekend (11-12 July) and I encourage you to support their work by purchasing devotional items that they have made.

Stations of the Cross in Lent

During Lent we have Stations of the Cross in the Church each Friday at 7.30pm. To make the sacrifice of attending the Stations each week is a very worthwhile penance for Lent.

A plenary (under the usual conditions) is attached to devout participation in the Stations of the Cross.

A Day with Mary this Saturday

This Saturday, 14 February, the parish hosts its annual Day With Mary, a day of instruction, devotion and prayer based on the message of Our Lady of Fatima.

The Day with Mary team, under the guidance of the Franciscans of the Immaculate will lead the day which begins with a procession of Our Lady at 10am, and includes a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, Adoration, Rosary, enrolment in the Miraculous Medal and the Brown Scapular.

At lunchtime, there will be tea and coffee available in the Large Hall and a large selection of Catholic books.

There will be Solemn Latin Mass in honour of Our Lady after the procession (about 11am) with Gregorian chant sung by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate.

People travel some distance for these wonderful days of devotion and prayer. Do take the time to come along yourself for at least part of the day.

Devotion to the Precious Blood

This is the text from the newsletter for this Sunday with some further links:

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We have received mercy, O Lord in the heart of your temple (Introit: Ps 47.10)

In his Apostolic Letter promoting devotion to the Precious Blood, Bl Pope John XXIII said:

“The world can still set itself right and always will be able to, because the voice and Blood of Christ cry out for pity and mercy... Devotion to the Precious Blood is the devotion of our time...It is devotion for all souls, for the whole world.”

The month of July is traditionally dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. His blood, part of his Sacred Humanity, united hypostatically to his Divine Nature, was shed to cleanse the whole world of sin. St Paul said that Christ made peace by the blood of the cross and that we are the flock which he won at the price of his blood.

The High Priest of the Old Testament sprinkled the blood of the lamb in the holy of holies on the feast of Atonement. At Christ’s death, the veil of the temple was torn apart because now his blood takes away the sins of the world.

We show devotion to the Precious Blood whenever, like St Francis of Assisi, we embrace the cross as the instrument of our salvation, from which our Lord’s atoning blood poured to the ground. This devotion makes us truly sorry for our sins and gives us the grace to practice the Christian virtues.

The greatest participation in the blood of Christ is at Holy Communion when we receive our Lord’s body and blood, together with His soul and divinity.

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Some links

Blessed Pope John XXIII Apostolic Letter Inde a Primis On promoting Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Precious Blood International

Litany of the Most Precious Blood (approved by Bl Pope John XXIII)

Chaplet of the Precious Blood (and other prayers)

Precious Blood article in the Catholic Encyclopaedia with some historical and theological information.

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

This Sunday, 7 October, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary: our parish patronal feast day.

We have Mass at our usual times (6pm Saturday, 9am, 10.30am and 6pm Sunday). Our 10.30am Mass will be sung in Latin.

In the afternoon, at 3pm we have the Rosary, an indoor procession of the statue of Our Lady, and Benediction.

Holy Hour for children

This Friday afternoon at 5pm, we have a Holy Hour for children. This will involve adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary, singing of popular hymns to the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady, and Benediction.

This is part of a worldwide initiative, promoted by "Children of the Eucharist." The Holy Father, Pope Benedict, has granted the Apostolic Blessing to all who participate.

Usus antiquior Mass on Monday

Fr Finigan will be celebrating a private Mass at 11.30am on Monday 27 August, using the usus antiquior, the older form of the Roman Rite. All are welcome to attend this Mass.

(Mass is celebrated in the older form of the Roman Rite every Saturday in the Church at 10.30am, followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the opportunity for confession. Adoration concludes with Benediction at noon, followed by the singing of the Marian anthem as appropriate for the season (currently the Salve Regina.)

Stations of the Cross during Lent

During Lent, there will be Stations of the Cross every Friday at 7.30pm in the Church. A Plenary Indulgence may be gained under the usual conditions.