Weekdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Confessions 11:40am-12:05pm; Holy Mass 12:10pm)
Saturdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Eucharistic Adoration 10:00am-12noon, with Confessions 10:05am-11:45am; Holy Mass 12:10pm); Sung Vespers 6:00pm
Confessions 30mins before every Mass every day
Holy Rosary Mon-Fri 11:30am; Sat 11am; Sun 4:30pm
Stations of the Cross Mon & Fri, 1:00pm
Mothers’ Prayer Group: Wed 1:00pm
Holy Souls Prayer Group: every Tuesday 1:00pm
Church & Priory Court carparks for Shrine visitors
Bookshop Unit 3 Open Sun 12:25pm-1:00pm.
Daily Holy Mass online with homily: on LiveMass.net > Warrington: Sun 11:00am; Mon-Sat 12:10pm, and the same on demand 24hrs after 3pm upload for weekday Masses, and over 7 days for latest Sunday Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration: Sun 5:30pm; Sat 10:00am-12noon; 1st Fri 7:40pm-8:40pm; most Wed. afternoon after classes
Men’s group: Monthly 7:00pm Mass + Talk
St Mary’s Academy: Wed
All must dress modestly in church out of reverence for God and of respect for fellow-worshippers. Kindly switch OFF your mobile phonebefore you enter the church. Thank you in advance.
Safeguarding: If you have concerns about children or vulnerable adults, please contact the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Department: m.robson@rcaol.org.uk or 0151 522 1013, or speak with Kelly Williams, St Mary’s Safeguarding Officer. Thank you for your awareness.
Banns of marriage between Henry Walker & Lucienne Cotton (1 July); Demetri Newman-Brown & Maisie Szakaley (5 Aug); Adam Wallace & Bernadette Cunningham (26 Aug).
Priory Court: please continue to pray and tell others about our needs. Thank you!
We need £0.5M given us to complete the full scheme, but we need most urgently at least £200,000.00 to complete Phases 1 & 2 (Ground Floor and First Floor). Please ask the Venerable Elizabeth Prout for miracle donations! Also, do share our needs with your contacts. Previously, large donations came from people who did not know us personally, but only through friends. Our Lady helped us in the past. Let us ask Her again.
Hence, from 5 to 13 June included: “FOR COMPLETION OF PRIORY COURT” :
SPECIAL NOVENA OF MASSES ;
In addition, the Rector requests that ALL HOLY ROSARIES prayed at St Mary’s during the novena be prayed for the completion of the work at Priory Court ;
Also, that as much as possible all HOLY COMMUNIONS be offered for the same intentions.
We still anticipate that the new space will be accessible, even though not finished, for the blessing by Archbishop McMahon on 24th June, 4pm.
I want to support the PRIORY CAMPAIGN in Warrington.
please use bank transfer (specifying Priory Campaign); or a cheque payable to ‘FSSP ENGLAND’
Are you a taxpayer? Help us maximise your donation through Gift Aid
(ask us for a form: warrington@fssp.org).
FSSP ENGLAND is a registered charity: number 1129964
Bank Name: Lloyds Bank Account name: FSSP England
Sort Code: 30-93-04
Account number: 02027225
If by cheque, I send it and any correspondence to:
FSSP, St Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, Warrington
WA1 2NS, Cheshire, England
Thank you to all those who contributed to the success of the annual Warrington Corpus Christi procession in which at least 150 persons from St Mary’s took part. We thank Canon Cunningham for welcoming all worshippers at St Alban’s as on previous years. Watch the great video here. Send Kelly Williams your best pictures.
Silver reliquaries now enrich the altar. Purchased in Walsingham following our Shrine pilgrimage last month, their shape echoes that of the remaining arch of the destroyed priory in Walsingham. They contain the relics of Sts Philip Neri, John Henry Newman, Gemma Galgani and Bd Pier Giorgio Frassati. May the saints intercede for us to restore our own PRIORY (Court), and for our community.
Vocation Discernment for LADIES (Catholic & single): Sat 29 July, with Sr Mari Caritas (then visiting from Minneapolis, erstwhile from St Mary’s Shrine) and Fr de Malleray, FSSP: 10:00am-5:00pm. Free. Bring your picnic.
Bookings: stmaryssecretary@fssp.org.
URGENT: BOOK your child/nephew/niece TODAY for August FSSP summer camp in Macclesfield: Boy 7-12 Aug; Girls 14-19 Aug. £200 for the first child of a family attending each camp, and then £100 for subsequent children from that family. Email Fr Phipps: fsspcamps.uk@gmail.com.
Please tell your friends urgently as the deadline is looming ahead! Spread the word now!
The St Peter’s Summer Camp for Boys runs 7-12 August (see pics here and Facebook Event here)
The St Petronilla Summer Camp for Girls runs 14-19 August (see pics here and Facebook Event here)
The cost is £200 for the first child of a family attending each camp, and then £100 for subsequent children from that family.
No children to send? But can you sponsor a child? Your generosity will help us provide unforgettable holidays for more children.
There is an online booking form here. (NB this form does not include a facility for online payment. Please either send a cheque in the post to Fr Phipps, or use bank transfer as below).
Alternatively, please print off a booking form here and send to Fr Phipps, either by post or by email to fsspcamps.uk@gmail.com. A place will be reserved on receipt on the £30 deposit. NOTE there is a deadline of 1st July to receive the booking form and deposit.
Postal address:
Fr Seth Phipps FSSP St John Fisher House 17 Eastern Avenue Reading RG1 5RU
Cheques should be made payable to FSSP England
Bank Transfer: please use reference S/CAMP23
Bank Name: Lloyds Bank Sort Code: 30-93-04 Account number: 02027225 Account name: FSSP England
For international transfers, you may also need:
Bank Branch: Palmerston Rd Southsea Bank Address: Ariel House, 2138 Coventry Road, Sheldon, B26 3JW IBAN: GB09LOYD30930402027225 SWIFT code: LOYDGB21361
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION by Archbishop McMahon on Sat 24th June 2023 at 3:00pm;
followed by BLESSING of new Shrine hall at 4pm.
All welcome!
Family Sunday on 25th June with PRO-LIFE FETE & ACADEMY PRESENTATION. After the 11am High Mass, shared picnic in Presbytery Garden/new Shrine Hall. Pro-life talk and Academy presentation by the staff of St Mary’s Academy. No booking needed. Every one welcome, especially families.
Book in advance your seat on our bus £15pp: stmaryssecretary@fssp.org SCHEDULE: 10am Departure by bus from St Mary’s Warrington 11am Holy Mass of St Elizabeth, Queen, in Holywell Parish Church; 12:30pm: Veneration of Relic of St Winifred 1pm: To Basingwerk Abbey ruins for picnic lunch 3:30pm: At Pantasaph, Stations of the Cross on open-air Calvary Hill and Wood (good walking shoes required for uneven grounds) 4:30pm: visit of Pugin Parish Church/refreshments 5pm: Back on bus and return by 6pm at St Mary’s
Men’s Group: 21 Jun. (None in July and August. Resumes in September)
Congratulations to Nadja Roda, Jennifer Hewlett, Emma Yates who become Catholic this weekend after a year of preparation. We assure them of our prayer.
Thank you for helping us through the Offertory collection and standing orders. Should any parishioner be in serious financial difficulty, let them contact the Shrine clergy confidentially. Support St Mary’s Shrine: send your donation via our Donate page: https://fssp.co.uk/donate/. Ask us for a Gift Aid form to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid envelopes can be obtained from our Secretariat. Standing orders are easier and quicker for us to process than cash: Lloyds Bank; Sort Code: 30-80-27; Account number: 30993368. Account name: FSSP Warrington
Warrington Walking Day Fri 30 June: A long-standing tradition in the town and an opportunity to bear witness through the streets of Warrington alongside our Christian neighbours (depicted in the FSSP Calendar – May 2023). All are invited to join the procession, assembling at St Mary’s from 9:00am onwards ready for a prompt 9:30am departure. Please be aware of local road closures coming into town. We return to church soon after 11am and always in time for the midday Mass. Stewards and banner / statue bearers will be needed. Please contact Fr Quirke if you can help.
Now 893 subscribers to St Mary’s YouTube channel: Main homilies are uploaded regularly: youtube.com/@stmaryswarringtonyoutubech6943.
Pray for: Corneliu and Eugenia, Catherine Sibert;Terry Drury,Michelle Brazier-Huelsman,James H., Bill Conder, Greta Doyle, Dorothea Wallace, M. Hawley; Theresa Reynard.
RIP: Francis Billington: a former member of St Mary’s choir, he died on 28th May last. Please pray for his soul and his family. Also Laurentiu, Rita Hall; Hilda Creagan, Ana Mary Rozo, Ann Evans, Michael Whelan; John Marechal.
Sun
18
3rd Sunday after Pentecost
II
9:00am
Thanksgiving Sheldon
5pm Vespers and Benediction of the
11:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
Blessed Sacrament
6:00pm
Francis K
Mon
19
St. Juliana Falconieri, Virgin
III
12:10pm
Brian Odgen RIP
Tue
20
Feria – St Silverius Pope & Martyr
IV
12:10pm
Simone Sunderland
Wed
21
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Confessor.
III
12:10pm
Pius Mascarehenas RIP
Men’s Group: 8:15pm
7:00pm
Celebrant’s intentions
Thu
22
St. Alban, Martyr
III
12:10pm
Fr Norbert Cuypers
Fri
23
Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
II
12:10pm
Padre Pio Intentions
Sat
24
Nativity of St John the Baptist Adoration &Confessions 10am-12noon. 3pm: Confirmations;4pm Blessing of Shrine hall by Archbishop McMahon OP
I
12:10pm
St Mary’s Pro-Life intentions
Sun
25
4th Sunday after Pentecost. 12:30pm Pro-life FETE & Academy presentation. 5pm Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
II
9:00am
Veronica Doyle RIP
11:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
6:00pm
Winifred Cahill RIP
Mon
26
Sts. John and Paul, Martyrs
III
12:10pm
Jack Weaver RIP
Tue
27
St. Etheldreda, Virgin
III
12:10pm
John P.&Joan Struthers
Wed
28
Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
II
12:10pm
Fr Vin McShane RIP
Thu
29
Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, ApostlesHoly Day of Obligation. Vespers 5:00pmPlenary indulgence for FSSP & CSP members
I
7:00am12:10pm6:00pm
Celebrant’s intention FSSP & Conf.of St Peter Jacky, Anita and Girls
Fri
30
Commemoration of St. Paul
III
12:10pm
Conor Flood
Sat
1
The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus ChristAdoration & Confessions 10am-12noon.3pm: Wedding of Henry Walker and Lucienne Cotton
Great Catholic holiday for Boys, and Girls, in the Peak District. Organised and staffed by our Fraternity, with the help of lay staff.
Please tell your friends urgently as the deadline is looming ahead! Spread the word now!
The St Peter’s Summer Camp for Boys runs 7-12 August (see pics here and Facebook Event here)
The St Petronilla Summer Camp for Girls runs 14-19 August (see pics here and Facebook Event here)
The cost is £200 for the first child of a family attending each camp, and then £100 for subsequent children from that family.
No children to send? But can you sponsor a child? Your generosity will help us provide unforgettable holidays for more children.
There is an online booking form here. (NB this form does not include a facility for online payment. Please either send a cheque in the post to Fr Phipps, or use bank transfer as below).
Alternatively, please print off a booking form here and send to Fr Phipps, either by post or by email to fsspcamps.uk@gmail.com. A place will be reserved on receipt on the £30 deposit. NOTE there is a deadline of 1st July to receive the booking form and deposit.
Postal address:
Fr Seth Phipps FSSP St John Fisher House 17 Eastern Avenue Reading RG1 5RU
Cheques should be made payable to FSSP England
Bank Transfer: please use reference S/CAMP23
Bank Name: Lloyds Bank Sort Code: 30-93-04 Account number: 02027225 Account name: FSSP England
For international transfers, you may also need:
Bank Branch: Palmerston Rd Southsea Bank Address: Ariel House, 2138 Coventry Road, Sheldon, B26 3JW IBAN: GB09LOYD30930402027225 SWIFT code: LOYDGB21361
Right after 11am High Mass, join the annual procession across Warrington, from St Mary’s Shrine to St Alban’s Church on Bewsey Street. Starts circa 12:30pm – ends after Benediction at St Alban’s circa 1:30pm.
Formal (modest) attire. All welcome. Bring flower petals in baskets to be scattered before the Blessed Sacrament. See our great pictures from previous years here.
St Mary’s Shrine Church Bulletin 4-18 June 2023 (fortnightly)
Smith Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 2NS, England
Served by the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter by appointment from the RC Archdiocese of Liverpool
Weekdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Confessions 11:40am-12:05pm; Holy Mass 12:10pm)
Saturdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Eucharistic Adoration 10:00am-12noon, with Confessions 10:05am-11:45am; Holy Mass 12:10pm); Sung Vespers 6:00pm
Confessions 30mins before every Mass every day
Holy Rosary Mon-Fri 11:30am; Sat 11am; Sun 4:30pm
Stations of the Cross Mon & Fri, 1:00pm
Mothers’ Prayer Group: Wed 1:00pm
Holy Souls Prayer Group: every Tuesday 1:00pm
Church & Priory Court carparks for Shrine visitors
Bookshop Unit 3 Open Sun 12:25pm-1:00pm.
Daily Holy Mass online with homily: on LiveMass.net > Warrington: Sun 11:00am; Mon-Sat 12:10pm, and the same on demand 24hrs after 3pm upload for weekday Masses, and over 7 days for latest Sunday Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration: Sun 5:30pm; Sat 10:00am-12noon; 1st Fri 7:40pm-8:40pm; most Wed. afternoon after classes
Men’s group: Monthly 7:00pm Mass + Talk
St Mary’s Academy: Wed
All must dress modestly in church out of reverence for God and of respect for fellow-worshippers. Kindly switch OFF your mobile phonebefore you enter the church. Thank you in advance.
Safeguarding: If you have concerns about children or vulnerable adults, please contact the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Department: m.robson@rcaol.org.uk or 0151 522 1013, or speak with Kelly Williams, St Mary’s Safeguarding Officer. Thank you for your awareness.
Pray for 10 FSSP deacons ordained priests in Wigratzbad on 10th June.
Banns of marriage between Henry Walker & Lucienne Cotton (1 July); Demetri Newman-Brown & Maisie Szakaley (5 Aug); Adam Wallace & Bernadette Cunningham (26 Aug).
Juventutem Warrington youth group 18-35: Sat 10th June: after 9am “trekkers Mass”, trek to Dunham Massey. Contact juventutemwarrington@gmail.com.
Priory Court: PAUSE BUTTON PRESSED ON PHASE 2 FOR WANT OF MONEY.
We need £0.5M given us to complete the full scheme, but we need most urgently at least £200,000.00 to complete Phases 1 & 2 (Ground Floor and First Floor). Please ask the Venerable Elizabeth Prout for miracle donations! Also, do share our needs with your contacts. Previously, large donations came from people who did not know us personally, but only through friends. Our Lady helped us in the past. Let us ask Her again.
Hence, from 5 to 13 June included: “FOR COMPLETION OF PRIORY COURT” :
SPECIAL NOVENA OF MASSES ;
In addition, the Rector requests that ALL HOLY ROSARIES prayed at St Mary’s during the novena be prayed for the completion of the work at Priory Court ;
Also, that as much as possible all HOLY COMMUNIONS be offered for the same intentions.
We still anticipate that the new space will be accessible, even though not finished, for the blessing by Archbishop McMahon on 24th June, 4pm.
I want to support the PRIORY CAMPAIGN in Warrington.
please use bank transfer (specifying Priory Campaign); or a cheque payable to ‘FSSP ENGLAND’
Are you a taxpayer? Help us maximise your donation through Gift Aid
(ask us for a form: warrington@fssp.org).
FSSP ENGLAND is a registered charity: number 1129964
Bank Name: Lloyds Bank Account name: FSSP England
Sort Code: 30-93-04
Account number: 02027225
If by cheque, I send it and any correspondence to:
FSSP, St Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, Warrington
WA1 2NS, Cheshire, England
Annual Corpus Christi procession on Sunday 11 June 2023, after the 11.00am High Mass. “At the end of Mass, we too will go out; we will go forth with Jesus, who will pass through the streets of this city.” (Pope Francis, Corpus Christi Homily 3 June 2018, Ostia)
Like every year, the procession will start from St Mary’s and across town to St Alban’s, the mother church of Warrington. Duration (slow pace): 45 minutes. With our First Communicants. We will sing hymns and pray the Rosary. Any one welcome, regardless of where they normally attend Holy Mass. What to wear? To honour the Blessed Sacrament – that is, God Himself – carried along our streets, let us make a special effort to wear our Sunday best: for instance, dresses for ladies and girls, suits for men and boys. Arrival around 1:15pm at St Alban’s: Bewsey Street, Warrington, WA2 7JQ. We are grateful to Canon Christopher Cunningham, parish priest of St Alban’s and Sacred Heart, who welcomes Eucharistic worshippers again this year in his beautiful church.
Please note that this event is for any Catholic, whether from Warrington or from outside. Do invite people to come from far and wide to walk by Our Lord and sing, giving this beautiful witness of the Eucharistic presence. See earlier pictures here.
Thank you in advance to volunteers: servers, singers, clergy, canopy bearers, stewards, flower petals gatherers, photographer, and worshippers in general.
Fr de Malleray thanks you for your prayers during his past pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Converts’ class: interested in Catholicism? Contact us to meet with a priest and fellow inquirers. Formation cycle will start again in September.
Thank you to those who supported the successful Rosary for Peace on 13 May last.
Vocation Discernment Day for LADIES (Catholic & single):
Sat 29 July: 10:00am-5:00pm.
With Sr Mari Caritas (then visiting from Minneapolis, erstwhile from St Mary’s Shrine) and Fr de Malleray, FSSP. Free. Bring your picnic.
Bookings: stmaryssecretary@fssp.org.
Men’s Group: 21 Jun; Ladies’ Group: 17 Jun.
Annual pilgrimage from Edinburgh to St Andrews 29-31 July. Contact Michael Hall: m.hall@talk21.com.
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION by Archbishop McMahon on Sat 24th June 2023 at 3:00pm.
Family Sunday on 25th June with PRO-LIFE FETE & ACADEMY PRESENTATION. After the 11am High Mass, shared picnic in Presbytery Garden/new Shrine Hall. Pro-life talk and Academy presentation by the staff of St Mary’s Academy. No booking needed. Every one welcome, especially families.
Shrine Pilgrimage to Holywell on Sat 8th July. Bus departs 10am; Holy Mass 11am; Relics 12:30pm. Book your seat on the bus now: stmaryssecretary@fssp.org.
LAST 15 spaces, out of 70!
Book now for the great Juventutem Summer Weekend21-23 July at Ampleforth Abbey!
For any young Catholics 18-35. With Fr de Malleray, FSSP seminarians, and Sr Mari Caritas.
Book now at: bit.ly/juventutem2023 or: juventutemldn@gmail.com.
Thank you for helping us through the Offertory collection and standing orders. Should any parishioner be in serious financial difficulty, let them contact the Shrine clergy confidentially.
Support St Mary’s Shrine: send your donation via our Donate page: https://fssp.co.uk/donate/. Ask us
for a Gift Aid form to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid envelopes can be obtained from our Secretariat. Standing orders are easier and quicker for us to process than cash: Lloyds
Well done our pilgrims to the Chartres Pilgrimage last Pentecost, who walked the 70 miles from Paris to Chartres among 16,000 young traditional Catholics.
Now 884 subscribers to St Mary’s YouTube channel: Main homilies are uploaded regularly: youtube.com/@stmaryswarringtonyoutubech6943.
Pray for: Catherine Sibert; Terry Drury, Michelle Brazier-Huelsman, James H., Bill Conder, Greta Doyle, Dorothea Wallace, M. Hawley; Theresa Reynard. RIP: Rita Hall; Hilda Creagan, Ana Mary Rozo, Ann Evans, Michael Whelan; John Marechal.
Sun
4
Feast of the Most Holy Trinity
I
9:00am
Stephen Skilling
5pm Vespers and Benediction of the
11:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
Blessed Sacrament
6:00pm
Paul & Ursula Cavanagh
Mon
5
St. Boniface, Bishop Martyr
III
12:10pm
Priory Court completion
Tue
6
St. Norbert, Bishop Confessor
III
12:10pm
Priory Court completion
Wed
7
Feria, Votive Mass for priestly vocations
IV
12:10pm
Priory Court completion
Thu
8
Corpus Christi
I
12:10pm
Priory Court completion
6:00pm Sung VESPERS
7:00pm
Carole Eileen Wardell
Fri
9
Feria, Votive Mass for any Necessity
IV
12:10pm
Priory Court completion
Sat
10
St. Margaret, Queen Widow
I
12:10pm
Priory Court completion
Adoration & Confessions 10am-12noon
Sun
11
2nd Sunday after Pentecost Annual Corpus Christi Procession across town to St Alban’s (Bewsey St) following the 11am Mass
II
9:00am
Preservation Latin Mass,FSSP
5pm Vespers and Benediction of the
11:00am
Priory Court completion
Blessed Sacrament
6:00pm
Simone Sunderland
Mon
12
St. John of San Facondo, Confessor
III
12:10pm
Priory Court completion
Tue
13
St. Anthony of Padua, Confessor Doctor
III
12:10pm
Priory Court completion
Wed
14
St. Basil the Great, Bishop Confessor Doctor
III
12:10pm
Linda
Thu
15
Feria, Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist
IV
12:10pm
Private Intention
Fri
16
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
I
12:10pm
FSSP
7:00pm
Thanksgiving Sts.Joseph/Anthony
Sat
17
Most Pure Heart of Mary (St. G. Barbarigo) Adoration & Conf. 10am-12noon. Ladies’ Group
Reminder: Ascension Thursday 18 May is a holy day of obligation. Every able Catholic must attend Holy Mass that day. At St Mary’s, Holy Masses at: 8am; 12:10pm; 6pm.
St Mary’s Shrine Church Bulletin 21 May-4 June 2023 (fortnightly)
Smith Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 2NS, England
Served by the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter by appointment from the RC Archdiocese of Liverpool
Weekdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Confessions 11:40am-12:05pm; Holy Mass 12:10pm)
Saturdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Eucharistic Adoration 10:00am-12noon, with Confessions 10:05am-11:45am; Holy Mass 12:10pm); Sung Vespers 6:00pm
Confessions 30mins before every Mass every day
Holy Rosary Mon-Fri 11:30am; Sat 11am; Sun 4:30pm
Stations of the Cross Mon & Fri, 1:00pm
Mothers’ Prayer Group: Wed 1:00pm
Holy Souls Prayer Group: every Tuesday 1:00pm
Church & Priory Court carparks for Shrine visitors
Bookshop Unit 3 Open Sun 12:25pm-1:00pm.
Daily Holy Mass online with homily: on LiveMass.net > Warrington: Sun 11:00am; Mon-Sat 12:10pm, and the same on demand 24hrs after 3pm upload for weekday Masses, and over 7 days for latest Sunday Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration: Sun 5:30pm; Sat 10:00am-12noon; 1st Fri 7:40pm-8:40pm; most Wed. afternoon after classes
Men’s group: Monthly 7:00pm Mass + Talk
St Mary’s Academy: Wed
All must dress modestly in church out of reverence for God and of respect for fellow-worshippers. Kindly switch OFF your mobile phonebefore you enter the church. Thank you in advance.
Safeguarding: If you have concerns about children or vulnerable adults, please contact the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Department: m.robson@rcaol.org.uk or 0151 522 1013, or speak with Kelly Williams, St Mary’s Safeguarding Officer. Thank you for your awareness.
Pray for FSSP seminarians Miklos Homolya from the UK and Gideon Zoonen who served on our UK Summer camps, both ordained deacons on Sat. 20th May. Some of our parishioners will represent St Mary’s Shrine.
Banns of marriage between Henry Walker & Lucienne Cotton (1 July); Demetri Newman-Brown & Maisie Szakaley (5 Aug); Adam Wallace & Bernadette Cunningham (26 Aug).
Priory Court: please pray for the missing £0.5M to be sent us, that we may complete our Shrine facility. Pleaser ask the Venerable Elizabeth Prout for a miracle donation!
Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP unwell for a few months, is now recuperating in Warrington. He will not resume his pastoral commitments until some weeks, therefore please do not contact him for pastoral needs until further notice. Thank you for your prayers.
Fr de Malleray is in the Holy Land until Pentecost and will present the prayer intentions of St Mary’s Shrine in the Holy Places.
Converts’ class: interested in Catholicism? Contact us to meet with a priest and fellow inquirers.Formation cycle will start again in September.
We had a grace-filled pilgrimage to Walsingham Pilgrimage last 7-8 May. There is interest for having it again next year, with 2 nights on site. Thank you to those who generously sponsored pilgrims.
Men’s Group:17 May, 21 Jun, 12 July.
Ladies’ Group: 17 Jun
Trek on Ascension Day 18 May: climb Kinder Scout in the Peak District: m.hall@talk21.com.
St Andrew’s Pilgrimage 29-31 July: annual pilgrimage from Edinburgh to St Andrews: 55 miles. Contact Michael Hall: m.hall@talk21.com.
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION by Archbishop McMahon on Sat 24th June 2023 at 3:00pm.
Family Sunday on 25th June with PRO-LIFE FETE & ACADEMY PRESENTATION. After the 11am High Mass, shared picnic in Presbytery Garden/new Shrine Hall. Pro-life talk and Academy presentation by the staff of St Mary’s Academy. No booking needed. Every one welcome, especially families.
Shrine Pilgrimage to Holywell on Sat 8th July. Bus departs 10am; Holy Mass 11am; Relics 12:30pm. Book your seat on the bus now: stmaryssecretary@fssp.org.
BOOK NOW for the great Juventutem Summer Weekend21-23 July at Ampleforth Abbey!
For any young Catholics 18-35.
Take part in a great social, doctrinal, spiritual and relaxing time with Fr de Malleray, FSSP, several FSSP seminarians and up to 60 young adults and young professionals.
Book now at: bit.ly/juventutem2023
or: juventutemldn@gmail.com.
Thank you for helping us through the Offertory collection and standing orders. Should any parishioner be in serious financial difficulty, let them contact the Shrine clergy confidentially.
Support St Mary’s Shrine: send your donation via our Donate page: https://fssp.co.uk/donate/. Ask us
for a Gift Aid form to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid envelopes can be obtained from our Secretariat. Standing orders are easier and quicker for us to process than cash: Lloyds
Pray for: Terry Drury,Michelle Brazier-Huelsman,James H., Bill Conder, Greta Doyle, Dorothea Wallace, M. Hawley; Theresa Reynard. RIP: Rita Hall; Hilda Creagan, Ana Mary Rozo, Ann Evans, Michael Whelan; John Marechal.
Sun
21
Sunday after the Ascension
I
9:00am
Michael Giverin RIP
5pm Vespers and Benediction of the
11:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
Blessed Sacrament
5:00pm
Christina Pomfrey RIP
Mon
22
Feria
IV
12:10pm
Elsie Olbinson
Tue
23
Feria
IV
12:10pm
Deceased Givern&Berry families
Wed
24
Our Lady Help of Christians (feria)
IV
12:10pm
John Finan RIP
Thur
25
St. Gregory, Pope, Confessor
IV
12:10pm
Riley Michael Jones
Fri
26
St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bish. Conf.
II
12:10pm
Donor’s Son
Sat
27
Vigil of Pentecost Adoration & Confessions 10am-12noon.
I
12:10pm
Thanksgiving St. Joseph
Sun
28
Pentecost
I
9:00am
Peter Lukacs
5pm Vespers and Benediction of the
11:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
Blessed Sacrament
6:00pm
Donor’s Daughter
Mon
29
Whit Monday
I
12:10pm
Martin Oravik RIP
Tue
30
Whit Tuesday
I
12:10pm
Harold Wilde RIP
Wed
31
Whit Wednesday Ember Wednesday
I
12:10pm
Conor Flood
Thur
1
Whit Thursday
I
12:10pm
Angelo Bonaccurso RIP
Fri
2
Whit Friday Ember Friday First Friday Mass & Holy Hour (updated)
Weekdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Confessions 11:40am-12:05pm; Holy Mass 12:10pm)
Saturdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Eucharistic Adoration 10:00am-12noon, with Confessions 10:05am-11:45am; Holy Mass 12:10pm); Sung Vespers 6:00pm
Confessions 30mins before every Mass every day
Holy Rosary Mon-Fri 11:30am; Sat 11am; Sun 4:30pm
Stations of the Cross Mon & Fri, 1:00pm
Mothers’ Prayer Group: Wed 1:00pm
Holy Souls Prayer Group: every Tuesday 1:00pm
Church & Priory Court carparks for Shrine visitors
Bookshop Unit 3 Open Sun 12:25pm-1:00pm.
Daily Holy Mass online with homily: on LiveMass.net > Warrington: Sun 11:00am; Mon-Sat 12:10pm, and the same on demand 24hrs after 3pm upload for weekday Masses, and over 7 days for latest Sunday Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration: Sun 5:30pm; Sat 10:00am-12noon; 1st Fri 7:40pm-8:40pm; most Wed. afternoon after classes
Men’s group: Monthly 7:00pm Mass + Talk
Ladies’ Group: Monthly 1pm shared lunch + Talk
St Mary’s Academy: Wed
All must dress modestly in church out of reverence for God and of respect for fellow-worshippers. Kindly switch OFF your mobile phonebefore you enter the church. Thank you in advance.
Safeguarding: If you have concerns about children or vulnerable adults, please contact the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Department: m.robson@rcaol.org.uk or 0151 522 1013, or speak with Kelly Williams, St Mary’s Safeguarding Officer. Thank you for your awareness.
Congratulations to Seth and Leia Hamill on the Baptism of their first child Cillian on Sunday 7 May at St Mary’s (12:30pm).
Rosary for World Peace on Saturday 13th May 1pm-5pm: sign-up sheet in Porch.
Mondays Toddlers’ Group replaced with Playgroup for 0-4 years olds, every Wednesday at 9:30am till 11:30am – please contact Carla Cilia for details carlagcilia@gmail.com.
Pray for His Majesty King Charles III and for the realm on the occasion of the Coronation on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey.
Of your charity pray for the soul of Fr Terrence Gordon, FSSP who died of a heart attack in America on 28 April, aged 52. A former Marines Captain, he was in good health. He has two brothers also FSSP priests, one of whom was able to administer the Last Rites to him. R.I.P.
PHASE 3: Top Floor conversion into 12 bedrooms for Shrine pilgrims + external safety staircases
The overall contract cost of Phase 1 is just over £400k, but VAT, contingencies and fees add a further £130-135k depending on input required. Thankfully we have already secured £485k, but we urgently need to raise circa £50k to cover the deficit and complete this current phase. Any surplus raised would be carried over into Phases 2 and 3 which combined are currently costed an additional £490k (including VAT) but recent scheme changes give us hope that these costs can be brought down so are not yet fixed. Updated figures will be available for the next edition of Dowry. Should funds raised exceed final completion costs, they would be used to support the running costs of the new facility and adjacent Shrine.
I want to support your PRIORY CAMPAIGN in Warrington.
please use bank transfer (specifying Priory Campaign); or a cheque payable to ‘FSSP ENGLAND’
Are you a taxpayer? Help us maximise your donation through Gift Aid
(ask us for a form: warrington@fssp.org).
FSSP ENGLAND is a registered charity: number 1129964
Bank Name: Lloyds Bank Account name: FSSP England
Sort Code: 30-93-04
Account number: 02027225
I send my cheque and any correspondence using the pre-printed envelope to:
FSSP, St Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, Warrington
WA1 2NS, Cheshire, England
Annual Corpus Christi procession on Sunday 11 June 2023, after the 11.00am High Mass. “At the end of Mass, we too will go out; we will go forth with Jesus, who will pass through the streets of this city.” (Pope Francis, Corpus Christi Homily 3 June 2018, Ostia)
Like every year, the procession will start from St Mary’s and across town to St Alban’s, the mother church of Warrington. Duration (slow pace): 45 minutes. With our First Communicants. We will sing hymns and pray the Rosary. Any one welcome, regardless of where they normally attend Holy Mass. What to wear? To honour the Blessed Sacrament – that is, God Himself – carried along our streets, let us make a special effort to wear our Sunday best: for instance, dresses for ladies and girls, suits for men and boys. Arrival around 1:15pm at St Alban’s: Bewsey Street, Warrington, WA2 7JQ. We are grateful to Canon Christopher Cunningham, parish priest of St Alban’s and Sacred Heart, who welcomes Eucharistic worshippers again this year in his beautiful church.
Please note that this event is for any Catholic, whether from Warrington or from outside. Do invite people to come from far and wide to walk by Our Lord and sing, giving this beautiful witness of the Eucharistic presence. See earlier pictures here.
Thank you in advance to volunteers: servers, singers, clergy, canopy bearers, stewards, flower petals gatherers, photographer, and worshippers in general.
Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP unwell for a few months, is now recuperating in Warrington. He will not resume his pastoral commitments until some weeks, therefore please do not contact him for pastoral needs until further notice. Thank you for your prayers.
Converts’ class Saturdays 5pm. Catholics willing to improve their faith are welcome as well.
Contact Fr Quirke: frquirke@outlook.com.
Walsingham Pilgrimage 7-8 May: pray for our 50 pilgrims: they will also pray for you.
Men’s Group: 17 May, 21 Jun, 12 July.
Ladies’ Group: 22 Apr, 13 May, 17 Jun
Trek on Ascension Day 18 May: climb Kinder Scout in the Peak District: m.hall@talk21.com.
St Andrew’s Pilgrimage 29-31 July: annual pilgrimage from Edinburgh to St Andrews: 55 miles. Contact Michael Hall: m.hall@talk21.com.
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION by Archbishop McMahon on Sat 24th June 2023 at 3:00pm.
Family Sunday on 25th June with PRO-LIFE FETE & ACADEMY PRESENTATION. After the 11am High Mass, shared picnic in Presbytery Garden/new Shrine Hall. Pro-life talk and Academy presentation by the staff of St Mary’s Academy. No booking needed. Every one welcome, especially families.
Shrine Pilgrimage to Holywell on Sat 8th July.
Bus departs from St Mary’s 10am;
Holy Mass 11am;
Relics 12:30pm;
Lunch
Conference
Arrival back at St Mary’s
BOOK NOW for the great Juventutem Summer Weekend21-23 July at Ampleforth Abbey! For any young Catholics 18-35. With Fr de Malleray, FSSP and FSSP seminarians.
Book now at: bit.ly/juventutem2023
or:
juventutemldn@gmail.com.
Thank you for helping us through the Offertory collection and standing orders. Should any parishioner
be in serious financial difficulty, let them contact the Shrine clergy confidentially.
Support St Mary’s Shrine: send your donation via our Donate page: https://fssp.co.uk/donate/. Ask us
for a Gift Aid form to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid envelopes can be obtained from our Secretariat. Standing orders are easier and quicker for us to process than cash: Lloyds
Pray for: Terry Drury,Michelle Brazier-Huelsman,James H., Bill Conder, Greta Doyle, Dorothea Wallace, M. Hawley; Theresa Reynard. RIP: Rita Hall; Hilda Creagan, Ana Mary Rozo, Ann Evans, Michael Whelan; John Marechal.
Sun
7
4th Sunday after Easter
I
9:00am
Bridget Hannah
5pm Vespers and Benediction of the
11:00am
Confraternity of St. Peter
Blessed Sacrament
6:00pm
Alfred Worharm RIP
Mon
8
Feria Votive Mass for forgivness of sins
IV
12:10pm
Eric Cheesman RIP
Tue
9
St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishop Conf. Doctor
III
12:10pm
FSSP
Wed
10
St. Antoninus, Bishop Confessor
III
12:10pm
Ellen Parsons RIP
Thur
11
Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
II
12:10pm
William Weeks RIP
Fri
12
Sts.Nereus, Archilleus, Domitilla, Pancras, Mart.
III
12:10pm
Edward and Ellen Doran RIP
Sat
13
St Robert Bellarmine, Bishop Conf. Doct.
III
12:10pm
Agie Scanlon RIP
Adoration & Conf. 10am-12noon. Ladies Group
Sun
14
Dedication of the Cathedral
I
9:00am
Carol Parkinson
Crowning of Our Lady’s statue in garden after 11am Mass.
11:00am
Preserv. Latin Mass/FSSP
5pm Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
6:00pm
John Paul Utuma
Mon
15
St. John the Baptist de la Salle, Conf. Rogations
III
12:10pm
Edward and Jenny Chu
Tue
16
St. Ubaldi, Bishop ConfessorRogations
III
12:10pm
Catherine Stonehouse
Wed
17
Vigil of the Ascension
II
12:10pm
Francis Cox
Men’s Group 7:45pm-9:15pm
7:00pm
Celebrant’s intention
Thur
18
Ascension of the LordHOLY DAY OF OBLIGATIONEvery able Catholic must attend Holy Mass
I
8:00am 12:10pm 6:00pm
Celebrant’s intention Rebecca Hall FSSP seminarians
Weekdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Confessions 11:40am-12:05pm; Holy Mass 12:10pm)
Saturdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Eucharistic Adoration 10:00am-12noon, with Confessions 10:05am-11:45am; Holy Mass 12:10pm); Sung Vespers 6:00pm
Confessions 30mins before every Mass every day
Holy Rosary Mon-Fri 11:30am; Sat 11am; Sun 4:30pm
Stations of the Cross Mon & Fri, 1:00pm
Mothers’ Prayer Group: Wed 1:00pm
Holy Souls Prayer Group: every Tuesday 1:00pm
Church & Priory Court carparks for Shrine visitors
Bookshop Unit 3 Open Sun 12:25pm-1:00pm.
Daily Holy Mass online with homily: on LiveMass.net > Warrington: Sun 11:00am; Mon-Sat 12:10pm, and the same on demand 24hrs after 3pm upload for weekday Masses, and over 7 days for latest Sunday Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration: Sun 5:30pm; Sat 10:00am-12noon; 1st Fri 7:40pm-8:40pm; most Wed. afternoon after classes
Men’s group: Monthly 7:00pm Mass + Talk
St Mary’s Academy: Wed
All must dress modestly in church out of reverence for God and of respect for fellow-worshippers.
Kindly switch OFF your mobile phonebefore you enter the church. Thank you in advance.
Safeguarding: If you have concerns about children or vulnerable adults, please contact the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Department: m.robson@rcaol.org.uk or 0151 522 1013, or speak with Clare Fraser, St Mary’s Safeguarding Officer. Thank you for your awareness.
Confirmation Class begins Sun 23 April 9:45am-10.45am.
Learn basics of chant on Wed 26 April with Sam Barry: s.a.e.barry@hotmail.com.
Ask the Ven. Elizabeth Prout for miracles! She founded the female branch of the Passionists, who ran St Mary’s school for decades. Address report to Sr Dominic Savio, Cross & Passion Convent, Convent Lodge, 19 East Beach, Lytham, FY8 5EU.
St Mary’s playgroup – toys, crafts, games, singing and prayers – for 0-4 year olds. Every Monday and Wednesday 9:30 till 11:30 during term time.
Please contact for details Rebecca Bowen – rebeccamarybowen@outlook.com or Carla Cilia – carlagcilia@gmail.com.
Christian Leadership Programme for sixth-form students: https://christianheritagecentre.com/clf/.
Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP unwell for a few months, is now recuperating in Warrington. He will not resume his pastoral commitments until some weeks, therefore please do not contact him for pastoral needs until further notice. Thank you for your prayers.
Converts’ class Saturdays 5pm. Catholics willing to improve their faith are welcome as well.
Contact Fr Quirke: frquirke@outlook.com.
Walsingham Pilgrimage 7-8 May: fully booked.
Men’s Group: 17 May, 21 Jun, 12 July.
Ladies’: 22 Apr, 13 May, 17 Jun
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION by Archbishop McMahon on Sat 24th June 2023 at 3:00pm.
Family Sunday on 25th June with PRO-LIFE FETE & ACADEMY PRESENTATION. After the 11am High Mass, shared picnic in Presbytery Garden/new Shrine Hall.
Pro-life talk by guest speaker Isabel Vaughan-Spruce. Come and meet the courageous woman who got arrested merely for praying silently outside an abortuary.
Shrine Pilgrimage to Holywell on Sat 8th July. Save the date. Similar schedule to our successful first last July, when 100 attended. Details to be communicated soon.
BOOK NOW for the great Juventutem Summer Weekend21-23 July at Ampleforth Abbey! For any young Catholics 18-35. With Fr de Malleray, FSSP. Book now at: bit.ly/juventutem2023 or: juventutemldn@gmail.com.
Thank you for helping us through the Offertory collection and standing orders. Should any parishioner
be in serious financial difficulty, let them contact the Shrine clergy confidentially.
Support St Mary’s Shrine: send your donation via our Donate page: https://fssp.co.uk/donate/. Ask us
for a Gift Aid form to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid envelopes can be obtained from our Secretariat. Standing orders are easier and quicker for us to process than cash: Lloyds
PHASE 3: Top Floor conversion into 12 bedrooms for Shrine pilgrims + external safety staircases
The overall contract cost of Phase 1 is just over £400k, but VAT, contingencies and fees add a further £130-135k depending on input required. Thankfully we have already secured £485k, but we urgently need to raise circa £50k to cover the deficit and complete this current phase. Any surplus raised would be carried over into Phases 2 and 3 which combined are currently costed an additional £490k (including VAT) but recent scheme changes give us hope that these costs can be brought down so are not yet fixed. Updated figures will be available for the next edition of Dowry. Should funds raised exceed final completion costs, they would be used to support the running costs of the new facility and adjacent Shrine.
I want to support your PRIORY CAMPAIGN in Warrington.
please use bank transfer (specifying Priory Campaign); or a cheque payable to ‘FSSP ENGLAND’
Are you a taxpayer? Help us maximise your donation through Gift Aid
(ask us for a form: warrington@fssp.org).
FSSP ENGLAND is a registered charity: number 1129964
Bank Name: Lloyds Bank Account name: FSSP England
Sort Code: 30-93-04
Account number: 02027225
I send my cheque and any correspondence using the pre-printed envelope to:
FSSP, St Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, Warrington
WA1 2NS, Cheshire, England
Chartres Pilgrimage 2023 Pentecost Weekend 26-30 May 2023: Register asap:m.halll@talk21.com.
Now 840 subscribers to St Mary’s YouTube channel: Main homilies are uploaded regularly: youtube.com/@stmaryswarringtonyoutubech6943.
Pray for: Terry Drury,Michelle Brazier-Huelsman,James H., Bill Conder, Greta Doyle, Dorothea Wallace, M. Hawley; Theresa Reynard. RIP: Rita Hall; Hilda Creagan, Ana Mary Rozo, Ann Evans, Michael Whelan; John Marechal.
Masses are offered in private forLynne Burgess, Teresa & Thomas Wakefield (50th Wedding Anniv), Anne Drury, Jimmy Walkers RIP, Michael Hall, Margaret Bruce RIP, Gemma Mary, Conor Jones, Fr Peter Haverty RIP, Gabrielle O’Malley RIP, Frank Doyle RIP, Tess Doyle RIP. Kindly ask Fr Stewart.
Sun
23
St George (Good Shepherd Sunday or 2nd after Easter) 5pm Sung Vespers and Benediction of theBlessed Sacrament
I
9:00am
Thomas Higgins
11:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
6:00pm
Kay Bennett RIP
Mon
24
S Fidelis of Sigmaringen
III
12:10pm
Simon O’Neil RIP
Tue
25
S Mark Evangelist
II
12:10pm
Fr O’Connor SJ
Wed
26
Ss Cletus & Marcellinus popes & martyrs
III
12:10pm
Daniel Jones
Thur
27
S Maughold, bishop & confessor
III
12:10pm
David Gleason RIP
Fri
28
S Paul of the Cross
I
12:10pm
Charlie Yen RIP
Sat
29
S Peter Martyr. Adoration &
III
12:10pm
Anne Marie Morratin
Confessions 10am-12noon; Vespers 6pm
Sun
30
3rd Sunday after Easter
I
9:00am 11:00am 6:00pm
Romeo Robinson John Murphy Madeleine Bevans RIP
5pm Sung Vespers and Benediction of the
Blessed Sacrament
Mon
1
S Joseph the Worker, Spouse of the B. V. Mary
I
7:00am 12:10pm
Frank & Tess Doyle RIP Veronica Davies RIP
Tue
2
S Athanasius BC
IV
12:10pm
Greta Doyle
Wed
3
Feria, Comm of Ss Alex., Eventius, Theo. & Juv.
IV
12:10pm
Christopher Flood
Thu
4
The Holy Martyrs of England & Wales
III
12:10pm
Stephen Skellry
Fri
5
S Pius V, Pope Sacred Heart 1st Friday Mass and Holy Hour
III
12:10pm 7:00pm
Anne Marie Ogden RIP Special intention
Sat
6
Immaculate Heart of Mary 1st Sat. Adoration & Confess. 10am-12noon; Vespers 6pm
Weekdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Confessions 11:40am-12:05pm; Holy Mass 12:10pm)
Saturdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Eucharistic Adoration 10:00am-12noon, with Confessions 10:05am-11:45am; Holy Mass 12:10pm); Sung Vespers 6:00pm
Confessions 30mins before every Mass every day
Holy Rosary Mon-Fri 11:30am; Sat 11am; Sun 4:30pm
Stations of the Cross Mon & Fri, 1:00pm
Mothers’ Prayer Group: Wed 1:00pm
Holy Souls Prayer Group: every Tuesday 1:00pm
Church & Priory Court carparks for Shrine visitors
Bookshop Unit 3 Open Sun 12:25pm-1:00pm.
Daily Holy Mass online with homily: on LiveMass.net > Warrington: Sun 11:00am; Mon-Sat 12:10pm, and the same on demand 24hrs after 3pm upload for weekday Masses, and over 7 days for latest Sunday Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration: Sun 5:30pm; Sat 10:00am-12noon; 1st Fri 7:40pm-8:40pm; most Wed. afternoon after classes
Men’s group: Monthly 7:00pm Mass + Talk
St Mary’s Academy: Wed
All must dress modestly in church out of reverence for God and of respect for fellow-worshippers. Kindly switch OFF your mobile phonebefore you enter the church. Thank you in advance.
Safeguarding: If you have concerns about children or vulnerable adults, please contact the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Department: m.robson@rcaol.org.uk or 0151 522 1013, or speak with Clare Fraser, St Mary’s Safeguarding Officer. Thank you for your awareness.
Please keep lights on all day in Narthex and Porch,
but doors shut from Nave to any other part of the church including WCs. Thank you.
THANK YOU to all of you who helped in various ways to make this Easter Triduum 2023 a success: liturgies, chant and music, church and grounds cleaning, church flowering, clergy cooking, LiveMass and more. Kindly save non urgent matters for next 17th April onward as the clergy will be fewer during Easter week.
May we remind you that the Easter collections are not retained by St Mary’s clergy for private use but are used instead for the ongoing expenses of the Shrine. Thank you for your support.
Juventutem Warrington on Sat 15th April: walk in the Delamere Forest. Join our young adults for monthly trek, chat, picnic. For 18-35. Cf facebook.com/juventutem.warrington. Contact juventutemwarrington@gmail.com.
Congratulations to our parishioner Henry Walker who became President of the International Juventutem Federation: http://juventutem.org/.
The Juventutem International Federation is pleased to announce that Henry Walker (England) succeeds Bertalan Kiss (Hungary) as President and John Paul Makilya (Kenya, New York) succeeds Monica Clarke (USA) as Secretary. Cosimo Marti (Switzerland, Italy) stays on as Treasurer as does Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP (UK) as Chaplain. We are grateful to all at the Bureau, and in our local groups for their past and current involvement at the service of the sanctification of the young according to the Roman traditions of the Church.
Please visit the pages of our various chapters to communicate and book for the forthcoming events, notably: the Pilgrimage of Christendom from Paris to Chartres on the weekend of Pentecost; the annual Summer Weekend in the UK (Ampleforth Abbey, Yorkshire, 21-23 July 2023); and WYD (see below).
World Youth Day: Lisbon 2-6 August 2023
Whereas the uncertainty affecting the celebration of the traditional Latin liturgy precludes participation on the same scale as at previous World Youth Days, Juventutem will be present in Lisbon. Adequate venue has been secured in the centre of the capital. Doctrinal and spiritual conferences, and liturgies, will be held daily. Please note that Juventutem will take no booking of any kind. Pilgrims must secure their travel, accommodation, meals and any such arrangements separately from Juventutem. The location and schedule will be advertised on Juventutem medias in time before WYD begins.
Easter duty: to be absolved from any grave sins in confession individually by a priest and receive Holy Communion at least every 12 months, preferably around Easter.
Thank you for your prayers for Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP unwell for a few months.
Converts’ class Saturdays 5pm. Catholics willing to improve their faith are welcome as well. Contact Fr Quirke: frquirke@outlook.com.
Men’s Group: 19 Apr, 17 May, 21 Jun, 12 July. Ladies’: 22 Apr, 13 May, 17 Jun
Annual SPUC silent witness event in support of Unborn Children on Saturday 29th April 1.30pm -3.30pm. Holding the placards out on Mersey Street.
Picture below: Fr de Malleray wrote: Thank you to all the peaceful witnesses to the sacredness of unborn life. It was an honour to pray with you outside the Brixton abortuary on the feast of Archangel Gabriel who, the following day, was commemorated as conveying God’s proposal to the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Et Verbum caro factum est. God chose to be conceived and born of a woman to save all men from sin.
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION by Archbishop McMahon on Sat 24th June 2023 at 3:00pm. With planned blessing of the new Shrine hall at Priory Court.
Family Sunday on 25th June with PRO-LIFE FETE & ACADEMY PRESENTATION. After the 11am High Mass, shared picnic in Presbytery Garden/new Shrine Hall. Pro-life talk and Academy presentation by the staff of St Mary’s Academy. No booking needed. Every one welcome, especially families.
Shrine Pilgrimage to Holywell on Sat 8th July. Save the date. Similar schedule to our successful first last July, when 100 attended. Details to be communicated soon.
BOOK NOW for the great Juventutem Summer Weekend21-23 July at Ampleforth Abbey! For any young Catholics 18-35. With Fr de Malleray, FSSP and FSSP seminarians. Book now at: bit.ly/juventutem2023 or: juventutemldn@gmail.com.
Shrine expenses grow quicker than income. This is not surprising since our parishioners are affected by the economic difficulties. However, if you are in a position to contribute personally or to alert benefactors on our needs, even though they don’t live in Warrington, please share our bank account details below with them.
Thank you for helping us through the Offertory collection and standing orders. Should any parishioner
be in serious financial difficulty, let them contact the Shrine clergy confidentially.
Support St Mary’s Shrine: send your donation via our Donate page: https://fssp.co.uk/donate/. Ask us for a Gift Aid form to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid envelopes can be obtained from our Secretariat. Standing orders are easier and quicker for us to process than cash: Lloyds
Chartres Pilgrimage 2023 Pentecost Weekend 26-30 May 2023: Register asap:m.halll@talk21.com.
Now 840 subscribers to St Mary’s YouTube channel: Main homilies are uploaded regularly: youtube.com/@stmaryswarringtonyoutubech6943.
Pray for: Terry Drury,Michelle Brazier-Huelsman, James H., Bill Conder, Greta Doyle, Dorothea Wallace, M. Hawley; Theresa Reynard. RIP: Rita Hall; Hilda Creagan, Ana Mary Rozo, Ann Evans, Michael Whelan; John Marechal.
Masses are offered in private for other intentions. Kindly ask Fr Stewart.
Sun
9
Easter Sunday
I
9:00am
Khan Family
No benediction or 6pm Mass
11:00am
Preserv. Latin Mass/FSSP
Solemn Vespers
5:00pm
Mon
10
Easter Monday
I
12:10pm
Ron North RIP
Tue
11
Easter Tuesday
I
12:10pm
Thanksgiving for Heather
Wed
12
Easter Wednesday
I
12:10pm
George and May Louie
Thur
13
Easter Thursday
I
12:10pm
David Connolly
Fri
14
Easter Friday
I
12:10pm
John and May Finan RIP
Sat
15
Easter Saturday Sabbato in Albis. Adoration &
I
12:10pm
William Morris RIP
Confessions 10am-12noon; Vespers 6pm
Sun
16
Quasimodo or Low Sunday
I
9:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
5pm Sung Vespers and Benediction of the
11:00am
Brian Plumb
Blessed Sacrament
6:00pm
Kesia Jimmy
Mon
17
Feria Daily Mass of the Dead
IV
12:10pm
Ann Marie Kerfoot RIP
Tue
18
Feria Daily Mass of the Dead
IV
12:10pm
Mary Connell RIP
Wed
19
Feria Votive Mass for VocationsMen’s Group 7:45-9:15pm
IV
12:10pm 7:00pm
Stephen Skilling Men’s of St Mary’s
Thu
20
Bl. James Bell, Parish Patron
I
12:10pm
Romeo Robinson
Fri
21
St. Anselm, Bishop Confessor Doctor
III
12:10pm
Rosaleen Saunders
Sat
22
Sts. Soter and Caius, Popes Mart. Ladies Group. Adoration & Confess. 10am-12noon; 1st Vespers of St George 6pm
III
12:10pm
Audrey Jones
Sun
23
St George, Martyr, Protector of England (2nd Sunday after Easter)
As a Lenten meditation Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP explains how the thorns of the crown prophetically stem from the timber of the cross. Or watch this meditation as a video here.
Introduction: What crown?
What is a crown? A crown is a circle of metal, normally precious, set around the head of a human ruler. As a piece of jewellery, the crown draws attention to the head of its bearer, and more specifically to his brow, under which his brain is the organ associated with intellect and will. The crown therefore signals human authority. In the beginning, God had granted the first man authority over the material world. We read in Genesis that God had generously empowered Adam and Eve as regents of the material world: And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth (Gen 1:28). Thus, Adam was to subdue the world and to rule over it all.
Adam did not wear a material crown as God’s appointed ruler over the material world. But he bore a spiritual crown made of the preternatural gifts. Those were qualities added to his human nature alongside justice: bodily immortality, integrity and infused knowledge. Later on, tempted by the devil, Adam ambitioned to be like God: it was the first sin. It consisted in claiming authority as his own instead of confessing it as a gift undeservedly received from God. Through sin, Adam lost his spiritual crown. His disobedience undermined his authority over the world instead of magnifying it. Just as Adam had rebelled against God, so would the material world rebel against Adam. God described Adam’s punishment: Cursed is the earth in thy work:with labour and toil shalt thou eat thereof all the days of thy life. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee (Gen 3:17-18). Thorns bear no fruit and hinder cultivation because their sharp ends scratch human skin, causing pain and bleeding. Thorns are to soil what sins are to the soul. As a sign given by God, thorns therefore manifest in botanical form the harmful consequences of man’s disobedience, all stemming from the pride once instilled in him by Satan.
In Jesus the New Adam, God became man, dying for our sins: it wrought our redemption. In reparation for Adam’s usurpation of authority, Christ the New Adam was crowned with thorns: And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews (Mt 27:29). Thorns were brought forth by the earth as a consequence of Adam’s usurpation of authority when he ate the forbidden fruit from the tree. Later on upon the Cross, again thorns encircled the brow of the New Adam above whose head a title read, Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews. The Lord Jesus, who truly was king over the entire world, accepted to be mocked in expiation of Adam’s pride. Since the crown is a symbol of sovereignty, and since pride was the main sin of Adam, the crowning with thorns synthetises our fall and our redemption. The crowning with thorns depicts sovereignty usurped: culpably by Adam, purportedly by Jesus. The moral humiliation and physical sufferings of the crowning with thorns undergone by the New Adam heal the wounds inflicted upon human nature by devilish pride since Adam of old.
Our Lord suffered many torments during his Passion: sweat of blood in Gethsemane, blows and binding of limbs from his arrest onward, scourging at the pillar, carrying of the cross and finally crucifixion. The crowning with thorns is the apex of all these sufferings because by mocking Christ’s genuine kingship, it atones for Adam’s usurped sovereignty. Therefore, the crowning with thorns can be seen as the nexus of our redemption. Since the Passion of the Lord is the Hour toward which all history converges, most of its aspects were prefigured in the Old Testament. This certainly applies to the crowning with thorns. Like all events in the life of the Saviour, but supremely for the reasons just explained, the crowning with thorns is hinted at, sketched, announced, echoed in various ways in the Holy Bible. Such stages vary in precision. Some are strikingly explicit, casting meaning upon less obvious ones. Let us now examine successively: Adam and Eve’s hiding; Isaac’s ram; Moses’ bush; the Ark of Covenant; Samson’s demise; and finally Absalom’s death. We will see how those six biblical episodes display across time the pattern of a lethal entanglement of one’s head or person in wood, ultimately unfolded in the mystery of Christ’s crowning with thorns. Like shades of light separated through a prism, those six stages evoke different titles of Our Lord: New Adam, Lamb of God, Son of Man, Deliverer, Nazarene, and Son of David. On Golgotha, all titles combine like coloured waves emanating from Our Lord crowned with thorns on the throne of our redemption, the cross.
Hiding in the wood
After they ate of the forbidden fruit, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of the Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise (Gen 3:8). Culpably, our first parents sought concealment in some arboreal surround. The Douai-Rheims version has our first parents hide amidst trees, at the plural. Thus, they ran into a grove. However, following the Septuagint (i.e. the original Greek version), St Jerome’s Latin Vulgate translates tree in the singular, not in the plural: Adam and Eve hid in the midst of the tree of the paradise. Tree is here used collectively, and can also mean wood as a matter rather than a plant. One may even picture our first parents entering inside the tree, as if literally hiding within a wooden cavity. The conclusion is the same: whether amidst a grove or inside a hollow trunk, Adam and Eve hid in some arboreal surround. They had anticipated that gesture when, perceiving themselves to be naked immediately after eating of the fruit, they sewed together fig leaves, and made themselves aprons (Gen 3:7). Fig leaves were chosen as wider and thus more effective to cover their bodies, even though the actual trees in which they hid soon after may not have been fig trees. Let us take note of the common nature and purpose of leaves and wood, though: they belong together as the lesser and main parts of any tree, and are meant by the offenders as hiding devices. This prefigures the unity, many centuries later, between the timber of the cross and the crown of thorns of the Lord Jesus, as if the latter were branches stemming from the former. Combined, they stand as wood wherein Our Lord is caught. Thus, Adam and Eve’s posture is the initial stage in our prophetic thread of the lethal entanglement of one’s head or person in wood. Indeed both culprits are soon arraigned and death sentence is pronounced. But their progeny will avenge them, God promises: the New Adam Our Lord.
Isaac’s ram
On Mount Moriah (located in what became Jerusalem according to tradition), God instructed Abraham to spare his son Isaac. In response, Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw behind his back a ram amongst the briers sticking fast by the horns, which he took and offered for a holocaust instead of his son (Gen 22:13). Here the pattern becomes more precise. Young Isaac was under immediate threat since, bound upon the wood of sacrifice, he could see his father’s dagger about to cut his throat. His salvation is granted by God as a reward for the obedience of Abraham (and his own). This fortunate outcome is sealed by a sacrifice of substitution. An animal is killed instead of the son. What we should note at this stage is the posture of the victim. The ram is caught in brambles by the horns, therefore, by its head. Instead, the animal could have been caught by its leg in a crevice, the landscape being mountainous. Like sheep, rams naturally grow long tails swelling with fat, when not cut off by shepherds as would have been the case for a wild ram in the desert mountain of Moriah. The ram’s wide and long tail then could have plausibly caught in brambles. Or else, the ram could have been caught by its neck. Or simply, it could have been wandering unawares and directly seized by Abraham, well accustomed to such handling, since he had sheep and oxen and he asses (Gen 12:16). All those suppositions help us realise that the posture of the ram conveys prophetic meaning. With its horns entangled, that is, its head, the ram mirrors Isaac bound on the wood and announces the definitive Victim, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world: Christ crowned with thorns, that is, also caught by the head in brambles.
Moses’ bush
This third episode is similar to that of Isaac’s sacrifice. In both instances a nomadic shepherd (Abraham, Moses) travels toward a mountain (Moriah, Horeb) where God speaks to him in close connection with a bush: Now Moses… drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush (Ex 3:1-2). The Hebrew word used is seneh, a thorny bush, perhaps a blackberry bush. The Greek word is batos (βάτος): a thorn bush or bramble bush. We can be sure that the bush had thorns because the same word was used by Our Lord when referring to Moses’ bush: Moses also shewed, at the bush, when he called the Lord (Lk 20:37); and in his comparison of the good and bad trees: For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape (Lk 6:44). Unlike in Isaac’s story though, here no threat weighs upon either boy or ram. Could it be that God be the one made vulnerable through dwelling in the bush? Is God caught in the brambles? No mention of a head is needed here, God being incorporeal. But the Fathers of the Church have interpreted the Burning Bush as a prophecy of the Incarnation of the Divine Word. The fire is the godhead, they wrote, and the unburnt bush is the human nature assumed yet not consumed. Some authors are more specific, suggesting that the fire is Our Lord yet unborn and the bush is Our Lady pregnant, whose virginity, like the shrub, is brightened, not consumed, by the divine Fruit she bears. Further, it could prefigure the Holy Eucharist in which the divine Presence communicates itself through the externals of wine and bread. When becoming Jesus Christ, therefore, the Word eternal entangled himself in our human nature out of love, like the fire in the thornbush. He became our substitutive victim like the ram caught in Abraham’s bush was for Isaac. As the biological progeny of Mary, Jesus is therefore truly the Son of Man, subjected to death that we may rise.
The Ark of the Covenant
Once Moses had led the Hebrews out of Egypt God commanded him to build the Ark of Covenant: a piece of sacred furniture the size of a chest. Within it the Almighty would dwell, accompanying his people on their way to the Promised Land: Frame an ark of setim wood… And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold, within and without; and over it thou shalt make a golden crown round about (Ex 25:10-11). After Adam and Eve’s hiding tree, Isaac-ram’s thicket and Moses’ burning bush, once again we encounter the pattern of a presence caught within wood. As with the burning bush above, no head of the incorporeal God needs mentioning here, or obliquely through the faces of his two angels carved on the top of the ark. The Hebrew word setim (or shittim) means acacia. The Vulgate explains it as not liable to putrefaction. The Hebrews came across acacia trees when wandering in the desert. To survive heat, acacias grow very dense, strong wood, hence unpalatable to insects or other decay agents. The surround pattern occurs again with the golden crown round about the ark. The Septuagint reads: You shall make [for] it a waved border of gold, twisted round about. Thus, once again God assigns the pattern of wooden encirclement (here with acacia enhanced by gold) as a sign for his presence, either personal or prophetic. In addition, most acacia trees grow thorns, some up to three inches long (over seven centimetres). Thorns were surely cut off for the wood to be shaped into an ark, but the notion of threat is by no means absent from this sacred device since thousands of Philistines were killed by God for having captured his ark (1 Sam 5; 6). Indeed, the ark inspired dread down to King David’s time. On its way to Jerusalem, the guard Oza put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it: because the oxen kicked and made it lean aside. And the indignation of the Lord was enkindled against Oza, and he struck him for his rashness: and he died there before the ark of God (2 Sam 6:6-7). Its sacredness kept hands off the ark more surely than its original acacia thorns shaved off. God further commanded: Thou shalt put in the ark the testimony which I will give thee (Exo 25:16). The Septuagint mentions here testimonies in the plural, martyria (μαρτύρια). They are the stone tablets of the law, Aaron’s rod and a jar of manna. Historically connected with Moses, all three items point to Christ as the definitive Deliverer: Giver of the New Law, Saviour through his Cross and Bread of Angels.
Samson’s demise
An ambivalent character listed among the judges of Israel, Samson also prefigures Christ in striking ways: notably through his treacherous delivery for money, his bringing the wooden gates of the city up to a nearby hill like Christ carrying his cross to Golgotha, and his sacrificial death. Intending to betray Samson to his enemies the Philistines, his ill-trusted Delilah presses him to reveal the secret of his superhuman strength. He deludes her twice, pretending that binding him with cords and ropes would overcome him. His third riddle leads her dangerously close to the truth, pointing to his head and hairs instead of man-made bonds: If thou plattest the seven locks of my head with a lace, and tying them round about a nail, fastenest it in the ground, I shall be weak (Judg 16:13). Her attempted betrayal having failed a third time, Delilah allows Samson no respite so that, His soul fainted away, and was wearied even unto death (Judg 16:16). His anguish announces that of Christ in Gethsemane, My soul is sorrowful even unto death (Mk 14:34), sorrowing upon the fallen human race, the unfaithful spouse whom he comes to cleanse in his blood. Samson finally gives up and admits to Delilah: The razor hath never come upon my head, for I am a Nazarite, that is to say, consecrated to God from my mother’s womb: If my head be shaven, my strength shall depart from me, and I shall become weak (Judg 16:17). The Lord Jesus was called a Nazarene, not only because he grew up in Nazareth but because he was consecrated to God even from conception, better than Samson or any prophets. Nazarites were to wear long hair, as echoed in all traditional depictions of Our Lord from his Holy Shroud onward. Paradoxically, Samson was safe when his hairs were entangled in lace and tied around a nail; whereas he was doomed once shaven. This prefigures Jesus’ entanglement of love when crowned with thorns. Christ vanquished as the thorns combed his long hair, piercing his scalp. Upon the tree of the cross, quoting the psalm where his sufferings were prophesied in striking details, the true Nazarene affirmed his total consecration to God: From my mother’s womb thou art my God (Ps 21:11).
No thorns or brambles caught Samson, even though he lost his eyes when betrayed. Our thread of the arboreal entanglement seems interrupted here. Still, his posture implied a lethal embrace as Delilah craftily lulled the lover she has already sold for money: She made him sleep upon her knees, and lay his head in her bosom (Judg 16:19). Prophetically, would not that sentence describe just as fittingly the newborn Child Jesus in his young mother’s arms, and even the dead Christ embraced by his sorrowful mother the Blessed Virgin Mary? For us who came long after Samson and Delilah, their embrace gleams like an evil negative of the Nativity or of the Pietà. The crowning with thorns fulfils, we realise, the entanglement of love initiated at the Incarnation and manifested at the Nativity. As the sacred liturgy affirms, Beata viscera Mariae Virginis quae portaverunt aeterni Patris Filium: Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, that bore the son of the everlasting Father. Our contrition increases and our gratitude even more when devoutly recalling the virginal viscera after the Latin quote above. The Virgin’s bowels, to translate literally, form the organic entanglement sought by the Word Eternal when becoming man in Our Lady’s womb. To what end? To die on the cross for our sins, his kingly head entangled in brambles. It was still a plant, then, in which the incorporeal Word was caught through his Incarnation, the Jesse Tree of his human descent, culminating in Jesus the divine Nazarene, that is, following St Matthew’s connection with the word nezer, an offshoot.
Absalom’s death
The name of King David’s third son was Father of Peace, from Abba, father, and shalom, peace. The similitudes between Absalom and Our Lord are more numerous and striking than with Samson, as are the contrasts. Absalom intrigued to succeed his father before the time, even waging war against him. Jesus came to do his Father’s will, even unto death. Absalom’s external appearance was unrivalled: But in all Israel there was not a man so comely, and so exceedingly beautiful as Absalom (2 Sam 14:25). Not of his rebellious son, though, but of the divine Messiah did King David prophesy: Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever (Ps 45:2). Samuel wrote further of Absalom that, From the sole of the foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. Contrasting word for word, Isaiah beheld Christ in his Passion: From the sole of the foot unto the top of the head, there is no soundness therein: wounds and bruises and swelling sores (Isa 1:6).
The circumstances of their deaths bring our thread of the lethal wood entanglement to its climax. Both sons of David rode on a mule soon before being caught, their heads entangled with branches: As [Absalom’s] mule went under a thick and large oak, his head stuck in the oak: and while he hung between the heaven and he earth, the mule on which he rode passed on. And one saw this and told Joab, saying: I saw Absalom hanging upon an oak (2 Sam 18:9-10). After the Resurrection, St. Peter bore witness before the Jews to Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree (Acts 5:30). All four evangelists affirm of Jesus that, platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head (Mk 15:17). Vital force emanated from Absalom, but purely material and probably vain. Thus he had been described earlier as growing hair in striking quantity: When he polled his hair (now he was polled once a year, because his hair was burdensome to him) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred sicles, according to the common weight (2Sa 14:26). In contrasted similitude, St. Luke wrote of Jesus that, all the multitude sought to touch him: for virtue went out from him and healed all (6:19). It is likely that Absalom’s abundant mane caught all the more tightly into the branches of the oak, sealing his fate as Joab, took three lances in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom (2 Sam 18:14). Following the Hebrew, the Greek Septuagint brings together the heart of the fugitive son and, surprisingly, the heart of the oak tree: Jonas stuck the arrows in theheart of Absalom [while] yet he was living, in the heart of the oak. Indeed the same Greek noun cardia, heart, is used for the man (καρδία Αβεσαλώμ) andfor the tree (καρδία τῆς ὃρυός). The oak thus appears as an extension of the man. Their hearts superimpose as his hair mingles with its branches. This detail strengthens the assimilation of the human victim with the arboreal creature. Their association seems fortuitous in this episode of the Old Testament, but not in the light of Jesus’ crucifixion and crowning with thorns. According to his revelation, God intended a correspondence between Christ, fruit of our redemption, and the cross, tree of salvation. A bitter summary of mankind’s aversion from God, the palms waved by the crowd in acclamation before the Son of David entering Jerusalem on his mule became, but five days later, lethal thorns forced around his head. Such a mystery could not be explained all at once. Its unfolding was prepared by stages.
Conclusion: Harvesting
We have just surveyed various episodes of sacred history as if flying over a dense forest. The intricate complexity of so many details and concrete circumstances can overwhelm us, making us wonder where this is all leading up to. Are we lost? Through one pin on the map of redemption―the holy Cross planted on Golgotha―God solves our helplessness. To the Cross of his Son everything leads, and from it all life stems. The Cross is steady while the world turns, to quote the motto of the Carthusians: Stat crux dum volvitur orbis. Falling from grace, Adam was expelled from Eden. God followed him headlong, moved by compassion. Adam was caught in the wood, a symbol for his godless outlook on creation. So God got himself caught in the wood as well. How? Prophetically, through victimal substitution with the ram caught by the head in the thicket. Through arboreal illumination in the burning bush. Through wood wrapping in the wandering Ark of Covenant. Through organic nesting in the Virgin’s womb as prophesied in Samson’s head caught in Delilah’s bosom. Finally, through the actual hanging of Absalom’s head from the tree.
The transformative power of divine grace is such that God, made wood for the sake of rescuing Adam, revives fallen humans through grafting them in him. Thus, St. Paul applies that horticultural verb to Jews and Gentiles alike: And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again (Rom 11:23). Such spiritual grafting occurs when we embrace the true faith. But any living branch requires sap. The sap of our souls is the Holy Eucharist, flowing in us through Holy Communion. In that main sacrament the fall of Adam is fully repaired. Lured into the tree by the serpent in Genesis, Adam had turned away from God, eating of the tree or wood, hence losing the godly use of his reason. Having embraced a tree against God’s order, Adam had spiritually become wood himself as is the fate of idolaters: Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as trust in them (Ps 115:8). As a merciful antidote, the New Adam made himself vine to pour the sap of his own blood into our bodies and souls.
We can now better appreciate the divine logic illustrated by the various stages described earlier. God had made himself wood, that is, he had manifested or prophesied his presence through botanical surrounds to reach us where we lay, rooting us and grafting us back in him to unite us with him anew. The clusters of grapes and sheaves of wheat carved on the tabernacles of our churches fittingly display this literal transformation of plants by God into his Body and Blood for our consumption and salvation. Which of us would not want to be crowned in his turn with such Eucharistic wreaths, helmets of salvation purchased for us by the Lord? After the grapes and wheat changed into the Eucharistic Body and Blood of the Lamb, our persons are turned into his limbs, mystically. But again, all the merit of such a salutary change stems from the racking of the Lord upon the tree of the Cross and the piercing of his kingly brow within the fiery crown of thorns. Glory to the King who redeemed us from the barbed jungle of sin at the cost of his divine sap: Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat! Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands! □
Weekdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Confessions 11:40am-12:05pm; Holy Mass 12:10pm)
Saturdays: 9:00am-6:20pm (Eucharistic Adoration 10:00am-12noon, with Confessions 10:05am-11:45am; Holy Mass 12:10pm); Sung Vespers 6:00pm
Confessions 30mins before every Mass every day
Holy Rosary Mon-Fri 11:30am; Sat 11am; Sun 4:30pm
Stations of the Cross Mon & Fri, 1:00pm
Mothers’ Prayer Group: Wed 1:00pm
Holy Souls Prayer Group: every Tuesday 1:00pm
Church & Priory Court carparks for Shrine visitors
Bookshop Unit 3 Open Sun 12:25pm-1:00pm.
Daily Holy Mass online with homily: on LiveMass.net > Warrington: Sun 11:00am; Mon-Sat 12:10pm, and the same on demand 24hrs after 3pm upload for weekday Masses, and over 7 days for latest Sunday Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration: Sun 5:30pm; Sat 10:00am-12noon; 1st Fri 7:40pm-8:40pm; most Wed. afternoon after classes
Men’s group: Monthly 7:00pm Mass + Talk
St Mary’s Academy: Mon and Thu 8:30am-3:30pm
All must dress modestly in church out of reverence for God and of respect for fellow-worshippers. Kindly switch OFF your mobile phonebefore you enter the church. Thank you in advance.
Safeguarding: If you have concerns about children or vulnerable adults, please contact the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Department: m.robson@rcaol.org.uk or 0151 522 1013, or speak with Clare Fraser, St Mary’s Safeguarding Officer. Thank you for your awareness.
Please keep lights ON all day in Narthex and Porch,but doors SHUT from Nave to any other part of the church including WCs. Thank you.
Lenten effort: book for vigil and/or send alms to save babies via GoodCounselNetwork.com.
Fr de Malleray, FSSP addresses concerns about the future of the traditional Latin Mass. The prospects are bleak, but divine Providence will support us if we put our hearts into this liturgy as a means of sanctification for us and others.
Adolescents Make Rosary Beads
Romeo and Lucianna Robinson, a disabled young man and his sister, found that their usual beads did not last very long. They decided to make their own. Now they sell them as an apostolate.
God Tangled: Christ’s Crowning with Thorns
As a Lenten meditation, Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP explains how the thorns of the crown of Our Lord prophetically ‘stem from’ the timber of the cross as prefigured in various episodes in the Old Testament.
Bl. Noël Pinot, a Shepherd for Times of Trial
Frs Franck Labbé and A. de Malleray tell the story of the exemplary pastor who, during the French Revolution, walked up to the guillotine wearing his priestly vestments and praying the very first words of Holy Mass, ‘Introibo ad altare Dei’.
Vendée War Heroes Inspire Young Catholics
Young Catholics in France learn about the courage of their forefathers, mostly country people and a few local gentry who stood up for their faith against formidable odds, whose bravery earned them the admiration even of Napoleon.
Priory Campaign Reopened
Times call for strong traditional Catholic centres, such as St Mary’s Warrington. Invest with us in a fully-fledged traditional Catholic hub with versatile conference hall sitting 218 guests.
First House in Ireland for our Fraternity
By Fr Patrick O’Donohue, FSSP describes the encouraging growth of our Irish apostolate. He trusts in the intercessions of saints and the assistance of the faithful to consolidate our first base on the Isle of Saints.
Forthcoming Events
Supporters of the traditional Latin Mass will be eager to book early for these various events, including children’s camps, youth summer weekend, pilgrimages, confirmations, and retreat for all.
Support our Apostolate
Unlike long-established religious orders and dioceses endowed with valuable assets providing regular income, the FSSP in this country relies essentially on the generosity of its benefactors. Thank you for your support to help us do more for God and souls.
Easter duty: to be absolved from any grave sins in confession individually by a priest and receive Holy Communion at least every 12 months, preferably around Easter.
Please don’t wait until Easter for Confession, lest there be not enough time to hear every penitent. Please note that the priests will be very busy with the liturgies during the Triduum, so that there will not be a lot of time for Confessions then.
Passiontide from Sat 25th evening until Easter Vigil: veil images and crucifixes in churches. Thank you to all who can give extra time to prepare the liturgies this Passiontide (singers, servers, cameramen), clean the church, arrange flowers and cook for clergy.
Pray for Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP unwell for a few months and presently recuperating in Reading. We hope to have him back with us by Holy Week.
Converts’ class Saturdays 5pm. Catholics willing to improve their faith are welcome as well. Contact Fr Quirke: frquirke@outlook.com.
Treat your soul this Lent with Fr de Malleray’s Meditations on the Stabat Mater, now a CTS bestseller. Special price £3.50 per copy or 2 copies for £6.00 at bookshop, or order on: www.ctsbooks.org/ product/meditations-on-the-stabat-mater/. Have it already? Then what about buying one for a friend this Lent?
YOUR BOOKING IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO MEET DEPOSIT DEADLINE!!!
BOOK NOWfor the great Juventutem Summer Weekend21-23 July at Ampleforth Abbey! For any young Catholics 18-35. With Fr de Malleray, FSSP.
Men’s Group: 19 Apr, 17 May, 21 Jun, 12 July. Ladies’:25 Mar, 22 Apr, 13 May, 17 Jun
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION by Archbishop McMahon on Sat 24th June 2023 at 3:00pm.
St Mary’s playgroup: rebeccamarybowen@outlook.com or Carla Cilia – carlagcilia@gmail.com.
Shrine expenses grow quicker than income. This is not surprising since our parishioners are affected by the economic difficulties. However, if you are in a position to contribute personally or to alert benefactors on our needs, even though they don’t live in Warrington, please share our bank account details below with them.
Thank you for helping us through the Offertory collection and standing orders. Should any parishioner be in serious financial difficulty, let them contact the Shrine clergy confidentially.
Support St Mary’s Shrine: send your donation via our Donate page: https://fssp.co.uk/donate/. Ask us for a Gift Aid form to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid envelopes can be obtained from our Secretariat. Standing orders are easier and quicker for us to process than cash: Lloyds
Chartres Pilgrimage 2023 Pentecost Weekend 26-30 May 2023: Register asap:m.halll@talk21.com.
Now 819 subscribers to St Mary’s YouTube channel: Homilies for Sundays and major feasts are uploaded regularly: youtube.com/@stmaryswarringtonyoutubech6943.
Pray for: Terry Drury, Michelle Brazier-Huelsman, James H., Bill Conder, Greta Doyle, Dorothea Wallace, M. Hawley; Theresa Reynard. RIP: Rita Hall; Hilda Creagan, Ana Mary Rozo, Ann Evans, Michael Whelan; John Marechal.
Masses are offered in private for: Ann Musleh RIP; Peter & Dorothy Clark; Patrick Connell; Benjamin Baranek; Mark Adam Craig RIP; Dorothy Clark RIP; Harold & Albert Wilde; Sandy and children; Derek Stanton RIP; Rita Hall RIP; Pat McDonald; St Mary’s Choir. Kindly ask Fr Stewart for details.
Sun
26
Passion Sunday (Summer time begins: rise 1hr earlier)
I
9:00am
Maria Bobby RIP
5pm Vespers and Benediction of theBlessed Sacrament
11:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
6:00pm
M.Anthony Punspanathan
Mon
27
Feria
III
12:10pm
Margaret Wilde RIP
Tue
28
Feria
III
12:10pm
Inas D’almeida RIP
Wed
29
Feria
III
12:10pm
Deceased Meehan/Barlow
Thur
30
Feria
III
12:10pm
David McGloughlin RIP
Fri
31
Feria; Clergy-led Stations of the Cross 1pm
III
12:10pm
Anna Mary Rosa
Sat
1
Votive Immaculate Heart of Mary 1st Sat (Feria)
III
12:10pm
Mary Kelly
Adoration & Confessions 10am-12noon; Vespers 6pm
Sun
2
Palm Sunday
I
9:00am
Thanksgiving
Blessing of palms after 11am Mass only
11:00am
All St. Mary’s Faithful
5pm Vespers and Benediction of theBlessed Sacrament
Palms already blessed can be collected after 6pm Mass as well.
