What is Lent?
Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It’s a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.
During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms and practising self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ’s will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ’s death, died to sin and evil, and began a new life in Christ.
Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God’s gifts—not only through the distribution of money but also through sharing our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: “Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).
In Lent, the baptised are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptised through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
Parish news about Lent
Get the most out of Holy Week
We are now well into Holy Week and there is a lot going on in the parish to help you celebrate this important season in the church's year. https://youtu.be/qdrPhxqRP9I Attend Confession If you have still to attend confession during Lent then Canon Alan is hearing...
Results of Easter Raffle
Congratulations to the winners of the Parish Easter raffle which was drawn after Mass on Sunday the 10th of April. We have raised the grand total of £338 towards parish funds. The list of people to thank is long. Firstly many thanks to Kerry for organising the raffle....
Book in for Holy Week
During Holy Week we will reconfigure our seating arrangements and be able to welcome 90 people to Mass. It is essential that you book in through our Eventbrite booking system as if you have not booked in we will not be able to accommodate you in the Church. We are...
Invitation to a diocesan inspirational day
Living the faith during the time of pandemic has been a challenge for many of us. Reflect and reconnect on this zoom event.
Novena to St Joseph
Starting on the 10th of March, we begin a Novena to St Joseph, culminating in his Feast Day on the 19th of March. Pope Francis has declared this year the Year of St Joseph, and praying the Novena is one of the suggestions given by Bishop Terry to commemorate this...
Bishop’s Pastoral Letter for the First Sunday of Lent
This weekend we heard the letter from Bishop Terry for the First Sunday of Lent. If you missed it you can watch a video or read the text of the letter. https://youtu.be/24h36X5UsVE Pastoral Letter Of Terence Patrick Drainey, Bishop of Middlesbrough Dear Sisters and...
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday the 17th of February is Ash Wednesday. Marking the start of Lent, we will have two Masses where Ashes will be distributed. Ashes will be distributed differently this year as part of the changes made due to the COVID pandemic. After the usual prayers of...
Prepare for the Easter Triduum Livestreams
We are celebrating Holy Week and Easter in a very unusual way this year. In order to help you take part in the Mass and services you can download and print the following documents: Order of MassDownload Mass of the Lord's Supper ReadingsDownload...
Prepare for Mass this weekend
Mass will be live streamed on out Youtube Channel this weekend. Click here to get to the live streams. Make sure you get on the stream in good time as there may be issues accessing the website just before Mass due to the number of people trying to access. Today we...
Bishops Confirm Dispensation From Easter Duties
In their letter of March 18, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said: “In these emergency circumstances, and for as long as they last, the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is removed. “This is, without doubt, the teaching of the...