Pope Francis has asked for the month of May to be devoted to prayer for an end to the Pandemic through the intercession of Our Lady and the Prayer of the Holy Rosary. the Holy Father has invited 30 Marian shrines across the world to lead this prayer each day. Today, May 1st the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham will begin this prayer at 6pm united with Pope Francis and Catholics across the world. The particular intention this evening will be for the faithful departed. You can join in the recitation of the rosary from Walsingham this evening via the Shrine's YouTube live stream. 

Journey in Faith - Sadly, for the second year running, we have been unable to baptise or receive adult members into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. With restrictions beginning to lift we intend to begin a programme of enquiry and preparation for any one interested in the Catholic Faith and those who may be seeking Baptism or reception into full communion with the Catholic Church. This programme will take us on a journey of faith until next Easter.

We hope we can begin on Monday 7th June. Do you know anyone who has expressed such an interest? Are you interested yourself? Might there be somebody you could approach and welcome? Start thinking and praying!

Get in touch by phone, email or after Mass to find out more.

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The Risen Lord calls each of us by our Baptism to share in his glorious new life and to be his disciples and witnesses. By our Baptism we share in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and are called to give our lives in prayer and faithful service to the Lord. On this Vocations Sunday we are invited to pray about the call of the Lord in our lives and ask the question, are we listening and responding to this call? We know this call takes place in many different ways. Marriage & family life, consecrated and religious life, priesthood and diaconate and various forms of single and apostolic life. The Good Shepherd is calling each of us. 

This is also the day when we pray for vocations to the priesthood. In this prayer we ask God to continue to call forth those who will shepherd His people and nourish them by Word and Sacrament making the love of Christ visible in a way that is essential for the life of the Church. In recent times we have seen the witness of Fr Alex as a newly ordained priest here in our parish and that of the seminarians who have come to be based here David Bench, Toby Duckworth and Steven Fleming. They all remind us of this essential call to ministry in the life of our Church. From our own community and beyond God is calling at least some of us to this way of life. It's essential that we help our young people discern such a call and pray that those whom God calls will have the courage to listen and respond. 
Please see the materials that have been produced by the Diocesan Vocations Office for this day of prayer. https://www.vocations.org.uk/vocations-sunday 

A very happy and holy Easter to all who come to our website and especially to our parishioners, their families and our friends. Holy Week has been a very blessed time in the parish and despite the lockdown restrictions we have been able to celebrate the Masses and Ceremonies worthily and well. 
Please join us for Easter Sunday Mass and Mass during the Easter Octave either in church or via the livestream Sacred Heart and Holy Souls YouTube page.
May the Risen Lord bring you his peace and joy!
Fr Jonathan & Fr Alex