FR DAVID WRITES
On Wednesday, the whole Church will begin the Lenten observance together. This year we begin Lent praying for the health and wellbeing of the Holy Father. Please continue to remember Pope Francis in your prayers. Please take a sheet from the church porch which outlines some of the themes that Lent presents to us. The sheet also outlines the times of Masses and services in Lent and Holy Week. We hope that everyone will make a good start to this special time of grace, and we know that the Lord will be with us as we share his journey that leads to the Cross and Resurrection. May God bless you all.
ASH WEDNESDAY
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Masses here will be at 8 am, 10 am, and 7 pm. Ashes will be distributed during all three Masses. Please note that, except for the housebound, ashes will not be given outside of Mass. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
During Lent we pray the Stations of the Cross. You can pray the Stations at any time in church. However, the communal celebration lead by the priest will take place every Friday morning in Lent immediately after 10 am Mass. Please join us.
NEXT SUNDAY: FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT & LENTEN ALMS
Next weekend there will be a retiring collection after all Masses for the Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal which represents the main Lenten Alms collection in the diocese.
BERNADETTE CLUB
Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 6 March at 2pm in the parish centre. Tickets will be available for our day trip to the Living Crafts Fair in the grounds of Hatfield House Friday 9 May. £20 to include coach travel from church leaving at 10.30am and the entrance fee.
We look forward to seeing you all on Thursday afternoon.
HATTERS’ CAKE SALE
Please come to the hall after Masses on Sunday to support a fundraising effort by the Explorer Scouts. All proceeds support the Scout expedition to Kenya.
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY
An advance notice that CAFOD Family Fast Day in Lent will take place on Friday 14th March. The appeal will be made in church on the weekend after, 15th-16th March.
REAL FAIR TRADE EASTER EGGS
Chocolate Fair Trade Easter Eggs, which tell a Real account of the first Easter with fun non-screen activities, are here on March 8 & 9. They usually sell out well before Palm Sunday.
CONFESSIONS IN LENT
As always, confessions are heard in church on Saturday afternoons at 3 pm. There are always more confessions to hear during Lent. Please make sure you come at 3 pm and wait in the queue. Confessions continue either until the queue has gone or till 3.45 which is the cut-off for the preparation for Mass. Thank you in advance for your consideration. There will be extra opportunities for confessions before Easter.
BAPTISM MEETING
The next date to book baptisms will be Monday 3 March at 6.30 pm in the hall.
PAPER SHOP
The Paper Shop has now been restocked and has items for Lent, Easter, St Patrick’s and Mothers’ Day. The shop is open after the first three Masses on Sunday morning.
THANK YOU
The Da Costa family wish to extend their thanks for all the kind messages, support and mass offerings for the late Alda Da Costa, following her funeral on Thursday.
GIUESEPPA MARIA SAUCHELLA RIP
The Funeral Mass will take place on Monday 10th March at 10 am. RIP
ASSUNTA COPELLI RIP
The Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday 19th March at 10 am. RIP.
ANNUAL MASS FOR MATRIMONY
Annual Mass of Thanksgiving for Matrimony at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 17th May 2025 at 2.30pm. The Cardinal invites couples in the Diocese celebrating in 2025 their 5th, 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, and 60th (and any over 60) anniversary of Catholic marriage. Please give your parish these details: the names of husband and wife, wedding date, number of years married, address, email (or telephone).