A wonderful few days ended on Friday evening. It has been a time when lots of prayer has been offered from the many who have made visits to the Blessed Sacrament and have attended the evening Masses.

Candle arrangements on the Altar were dismantled.
There is a saying; ‘What goes up, must come down!’

Due to the high attendance especially at the Masses there was a shortage of hymn sheets!

You can read the full message from Canon Cooper for the conclusion of The Annual Quarant’ore Devotion on this website.

From Sunday 20th until Friday 25th August there is Silent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

To conclude the time of Silent Adoration there is Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 6:45pm.

What is Benediction?

Benediction is a devotional ceremony, celebrated especially in the Roman Catholic Church, but also in some Anglican, Lutheran and other churches, whereby a priest or a deacon blesses the congregation with the Eucharist at the end of a period of Adoration.

The Daily Mass is then offered at 7:00pm, this replaces the normal time and location of Mass in the Parish to encourage the faithful people of God to spend some time before the Blessed Sacrament exposed and Benediction.

The Masses each evening are similar to a normal weekday Mass. However, to highlight the importance of the week of devotion in the Parish hymns are sung as well as a few of the Mass parts e.g. Gospel Acclamation, The Preface Dialogue, Doxology and Great Amen.

The Annual Quarant’ore Devotion continues tomorrow, please join us if you can!

Yesterday afternoon flowers were being arranged for The Annual Quarant’ore Devotion which begins tomorrow!

The sign up lists are also touring the Parish this weekend to allow people to sign up to ‘Watch’ before the Blessed Sacrament.

Candle experiments were also taking place last night at St Mary’s in preparation of the Quarant’ore Devotion which beigns tomorrow. Full details can be found on this website.

Quarant’ore Devotion 2017

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is also a Holy Day of Obligation.

Today in the Holy Gospel we hear that great hymn ‘The Magnificat’. St Luke 1 39-56

Today’s vestment was used to reflect the sacred scripture readings used at Holy Mass:

A garment of gold and body and soul into heavenly glory.

The sun was shining down on Our Blessed Lady today!

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Today is the Memorial of the Lancaster Martyrs. This photo shows the Martyrs Memorial in Lancaster just up the hill from the Cathedral.

The names of the Lancaster Martyrs.

The prayers used at Holy Mass on this Memorial of the Lancaster Martyrs.

The liturgical colour is red which symbolizes the blood of the martyrs.

Martyrs of Lancaster – Pray for us

On Tuesday we had a Parish trip to the Birmingham Oratory and Shrine of Blessed John Henry Newman.

It is very fitting that our Parish Patron is Blessed John Henry Newman!

The Mitre and Crozier which Cardinal newman used.

The Birmingham Oratory has a very fine Sanctuary!

The Oratory also has many side Altars which are still used today.

Cardinal John Henry Newman – Rest in Peace