Sunday 30th August. 22nd Sunday of the Year.

Matt 16:21-27

If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me.

These words from the Gospel of St Matthew this Sunday seem particularly apt on a societal scale in these times. Our Lord walks with us but let us also minister to one another, as kind souls did for him: Veronica with her cloth and Simon with his strength, Mary Magdalene with her tears and John with his steadfastness. And of course, Our Lady with her Immaculate and loving Heart.

Our public Masses remain suspended for the moment at St Catherine's but let us pray for one another.

Sunday 23rd August. Parish news.

 

Gospel of St Matthew this Sunday 16:13-20

You are Peter, 

and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Regrettably, due to Covid 19 restrictions,

we are once again without public Mass at St Catherine's this Sunday.

Sadly, No Masses this Sunday

I write with a heavy heart as I will have to cancel Masses for this coming Sunday at St Catherine's due to the strange times forced upon us all by Coronavirus. 

As many parishioners will know, I have been in France for a few days this week. However, I have been caught out by the sudden imposition of 14 day quarantine for those returning from France. I have made desperate attempts to arrange a booking to allow me to return before the deadline tomorrow but to no avail, as everyone else seems to have had the same idea! So although I may be able to return tomorrow, it will not be possible for me to celebrate public Mass for 14 days.

I have been unable to find a priest to cover at this short notice - many of those who might usually do so as retired priests throughout the diocese are also in age and health circumstances that restrict them from doing so.

With the uncertainty surrounding all this, I cannot say for definite when Masses might resume but I will keep parishioners informed via email and here on the Blog as soon as I can be certain.

We would have been celebrating the beautiful feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven this Sunday. I hope you will still honour this lovely feast in the best way you can and I will be offering my Mass for all your intentions.

 

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year

 

We restarted public Masses last week but numbers were about half of what we might have expected on a usual Sunday. This seems to be the experience of others who have opened up as well. Not surprising as many will still be shielding for various reasons and others will not have heard that we are open again. Though I fear that there will be a number who have gotten out of the habit and may never return to Sunday Mass. We shall see. 

In the light of the numbers, we are reducing to two Masses, which still leaves plenty of space for the social distancing rules in place. So please make a note that for the time being - Sundays in Covid time, as it were, our Masses will be at 8.30am and 10am only. Actually our 10am Mass was particularly prayerful with just the Latin chant being sung (properly distanced and shielded) by a cantor, very calm and gentle. 

For all the difficulties and tragedies of this time, we trust in the Lord, hearing his words in the Gospel:

Courage! Do not be afraid!

Mass times for this coming Sunday changes

Just a note to give advance warning that this coming Sunday and following we will reduce to two Masses. Simply, there are not enough people returning as yet to warrant three Masses.

SUNDAY 

(both Masses in the Ordinary Form)

Mass at 8.30am

Mass at 10am

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For the rest of this week:

Thursday 7pm - Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Friday 9.30am - Mass (OF)

Saturday 12 noon - Mass (EF)

Return of public Masses

We return to the public celebration of Mass 

here at St Catherine's tomorrow Sunday 2nd August.

8.30am - 

10am - with music but no congregational singing

11.30am - EF

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Eighteenth Sunday. Year A in the Ordinary Form

  9th Sunday after Pentecost in the Traditional Form