Dates for your Diary

Catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation - Session 1 Sunday 18th October 11.30am to 2pm with a half an hour break for packed lunched session 2 Sunday 8th November same timings. Both sessions to be held in the classroom at St Mary’s. It is essential to attend both sessions before receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Please email Fr Gerard before Wednesday 14th October to apply for Confirmation this year. The Sacrament will be celebrated at St Aelred’s on Saturday 21st November at 5.30pm

Week of Guided Prayer – 11th-16th October 2026. Please take an information leaflet from the back of church and consider taking part in this valuable offering for ALL parishioners . You do not need to have taken part in a retreat before. If you wish to talk it through, ask questions etc before committing, speak to Fr Gerard, Deacon David, Deacon Philip or Bernadette. If you would like to take part, then please return your completed form to Fr Gerard by Sunday 15th September. Payment towards the retreat in daily life can be made in cash, on the dona machine, QR code from the bulletin or by bacs (please see Fr Gerard for details of the account number)

Saturday 10th October, 11.30 am to 3.45 pm in St. Aelred’s church hall.  Speaker is Lyn Bradbury, Lay Franciscan Formation Minister. Celebrating the Year of St. Francis of Assisi. “The Franciscan Cord.”

The winning numbers for the August draw are:- £40 - 86, £25 - 26, £20 - 159, £15 - 155.  Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The winning cheques can be collected from the notice board.

Please note that when you hand in a Mass intention all dates are allocated 2 weeks in advance. Please be aware that due to the high volume of Mass requests we have received this year, the timeframe from the request to the Mass being celebrated is approximately 10 weeks. If you want a specific date you will need to hand in well in advance to avoid disappointment, if the date you request has already been taken you will be given the next available date nearest to your request. Please ensure that you put your donation inside the envelope (minimum donation £10), and the details on the outside ( in block capitals) , who the mass is for, and the date and church you would like. Thank you.

Volunteering within both parishes offers not only the chance to support our parish community but also a rewarding opportunity to gain essential work experience. These roles are open to all ages and ideal for anyone completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award , seeking work experience or wishing to build skills that enhance their CV . • Counting Team : Help manage and count donations, developing valuable skills in accuracy, attention to detail, financial record keeping and teamwork. • Cleaning Team : Maintain the church premises, gaining experience in organisation and time management and responsibility for communal spaces. • Children’s Liturgy : Assisting or leading, gain skills in Teamwork and collaboration, creative lesson planning and managing group dynamics. • Event Helpers : Assist in setting up, supporting, and clearing up during parish events, ensuring smooth operations and community engagement. If you are interested in gaining practical experience while contributing to our community, please contact the church office or speak to a member of the clergy. Please note, we follow a Safe Recruitment policy, roles are subject to references and in some cases DBS checks.

St Mary’s Children’s Liturgy Group are looking to refresh our children’s book box with some preloved religious books for children to borrow and enjoy during Mass. If you have any religious books for children that your family has finished with and would be happy to pass on, we would be very grateful for your donations. A basket will be left in the foyer for anyone who would like to contribute. Thank you.

If you have a child who is due to start school in September 2027, we would love to meet you and help you get to know our school community. We are holding two open sessions for prospective families: • Tuesday 6th October | 9.30am to 11.30am • Wednesday 18th November | 1.30pm to 3.00pm Please ring the school office to arrange a visit during one of these sessions on 01423 864631. If these dates are not convenient, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange a tour at a time that suits you.

We are delighted to invite parents, carers, babies and toddlers to our friendly Baby and Toddler Group held every Wednesday morning from 9.30am to 11.00am, in the school hall and led by our wonderful Reception Class Teaching Assistant Ms Mackay. Everyone is welcome! Our first exciting theme is The Very Hungry Caterpillar, with activities and fun inspired by the much-loved story. There is no need to book. Simply turn up and join us for a relaxed morning of play, stories and meeting other families.