Event

Home Instead will be visiting on Monday 17th June to give free dementia training between 2 and 3.30pm.

Dementia affects more than 850,000 people in the UK and the figure is growing at an unprecedented rate. By 2051, over 2 million people will have been diagnosed with a type of dementia. These are not just statistics; they represent the millions of families with loved ones who require support to live a fulfilled life with dementia.

Anyone who would like to come along will be made to feel very welcome. Further details call Rachel Buckley on 07770266679.

As is the custom at Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena, Our Lady is crowned on the nearest Sunday to the 13th May (First Fatima Apparition, 13th May 1917).

The origins of the May Crowning are hard to pinpoint, although devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary originates in the earliest days of the church. Concerning the significance of the month of May, toward the end of the 18th century, Father Latomia of the Roman College of the Society of Jesus (in Rome) instituted the practice of dedicating this month to our Blessed Mother. His desire was to promote devotion to Mary among the students as a way to counteract infidelity and immorality. From Rome, the May devotion spread throughout the Jesuit colleges, and eventually throughout the whole church. Pope Pius VII in 1815 granted a partial indulgence for participating in either a public or private devotion honoring Mary during the month of May; Pope Pius IX made the indulgence plenary in 1859.

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Immediately after the Mass and procession, the sun shone brightly through the high windows of the Dome and the bright rays fell upon the statue of the Blessed Virgin ……

The Stations of the Cross will be held each Friday in Lent at 6pm in place of the Holy Hour and on Good Friday at 2pm.

Last Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady as an external solemnity having already observed the feast on the proper feast day on the 2nd February.

Besides commemorating the presentation of Christ in the Temple, this feast has another meaning, for it is called Candlemas Day. The candle is one of the most widely used sacramentals in the Church; one blessed in a special Mass.

We use candles at Baptism, at Mass and other church services, at the ordination of a priest, the consecration of a bishop, at Easter, at Christmas to signify the coming of Christ. Blessed candles should be in every home, to use in times of sickness, death, storms and calamities!

In the blessing of candles the Church reminds us that the candles signify light; they are blessed for the service of men, for health of body and soul, for those who desire to carry them in their hands with honour. Christ, the true Light and Fire of Charity, is asked to bless these candles; to dispel the darkness of night, to free us from the blindness of vice and to discern what is pleasing to Him and profitable for our salvation.

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Our first Community Chat is about to begin!

If you would like to share a morning of memories and nostalgia with some cake and coffee come and join us on Wednesday 13th February at 10.30am at the Presbytery of the Dome of Home, 7 Atherton Street, New Brighton CH45 9LT

Each month we will have a speaker and a different theme

We would be delighted to see you! and don’t forget to bring along any photos or memories you can share with us!

Your presence will help us gain the Heritage Lottery funding we need to improve our beautiful Shrine church.

Everyone is very welcome!

For further details contact Rachel on or by telephone on 07770266679

24th December: Vigil of Christmas
5.30pm: First Vespers of the Nativity
7pm: Matins of the Nativity (Gregorian chant)
10.30pm: Traditional Christmas Carols (Organ & Trumpet)
11pm: Procession to the Crib and ‘Midnight’ High Mass

25th December: The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
8.30am: ‘Dawn’ Low Mass
10.30am: Sung ‘Mass of the Day’
5.30pm: Vespers & Benediction

26th December: Feast of St. Stephen
10am: Low Mass

27th December: Feast of St. John the Evangelist
9am Mass (blessing of wine in honour of St. John after Mass)

31st December: New Year’s Eve
9pm: Adoration & Te Deum in thanksgiving for the past year (Plenary Indulgence)
French onion soup afterwards!

1st January: New Year’s Day
10am: Veni Creator (Plenary Indulgence) followed by Sung Mass

The Novena in preparation for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception will begin at 6pm on Friday 30th November and will continue each evening at 6pm through to Saturday 8th December.

Daily there will be a decade of the Rosary, followed by a sermon, Benediction,  the Novena Prayer and Tota pulchra es.