General

From Monday 2nd September (commencing with the Monday – Thursday timetable)

Sunday
8am: Low Mass at Birkenhead Carmel
8.30am: Low Mass
9.45am: Confessions
10.30am: Sung or High Mass
5.30pm: Vespers
6pm: Rosary & Benediction

Monday – Thursday
8.15am: Low Mass at Birkenhead Carmel
9am: Rosary
9.15am: Confessions
9.30am: Low Mass
5.30pm: Vespers
6pm: Adoration

Friday
8.15am: Low Mass at Birkenhead Carmel
5.30pm: Vespers
6pm: Adoration
7pm: Low Mass

Saturday
8am: Low Mass at Birkenhead Carmel
8.30am: Adoration
9.30am: Rosary
9.45am: Confessions
10am: Low Mass , followed by devotions to St Philomena
5.30pm: Vespers

What is St Benedict’s Academy all about? We are a part-time academy based in Preston, Lancashire, looked after by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, and welcome children from age 5 to 18. In September, the academy will be entering into its third academic year, having started in January 2018.

The education provided at St. Benedict’s is all deeply rooted in the Catholic faith, as all subjects lead back to Our Lord. Whether in the study of History, with the Incarnation as its centre-piece, learning about and admiring the wonderful creation of God through the sciences, or in the study of the sacred language of the Church, Latin, through looking at the texts of the Mass, as well as passages from the Vulgate, Christ is always at the centre.

As priests, it is a great privilege to be able to teach the children, and to pass on the faith to them. The Sisters Adorers teach Catechism and French, as well as Gregorian Chant and Polyphony. It is wonderful to have religious around the school, as an example and inspiration to the children!

Every Friday, at 12 noon, there is a sung Mass at English Martyrs, at which some of the boys from St. Benedict’s serve, and the rest of the children sing the Kyriale of the Mass, as well some of the Ordinary, along with one or two polyphonic motets.

While the majority of the teachers at St. Benedict’s are volunteers, there are in fact many other essential costs needed to run the formation of the children, which include: heating of the building, electricity and water bills, textbooks, insurance and maintenance of the Academy.

As the academy is a charity, we never wish to turn a family away if they are not able to afford the fees and at present the majority of families do not pay fees. In order to keep the Academy running and to provide a strong catholic education to as many children as possible, we rely on the donations of generous benefactors.

As we read in our dearly-beloved Missal at Christmas time, “Thine almighty Word, O Lord, leaped down from heaven”. Priests must always imitate Christ in all things. Therefore, Canon Vianney Poucin, accompanied by Philip Russell (a trustee) and Kevin Russell-Young (a parent of three of the children) will also be leaping from the heavens (15000ft), but by means of an aeroplane and a parachute in order to raise funds for St Benedict’s!

The planned date is the 4^th September in Lancaster

Will you help make Catholic Education great again? Will you sponsor them?
#If you feel able, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/parachuting-priest

A photographic chronicle of the events and ceremonies of Holy Week at the Institute’s International Seminary at Gricigliano, Florence in Italy can be found here.

Hosánna fílio David: benedíctus, qui venit in nómine Dómini. O Rex Israël: Hosánna in excélsis!

A short photographic chronicle of the 2019 Palm Sunday procession.

[Show slideshow]

After our life saving defibrillator was stolen from its exterior cabinet sometime ago we hoped that perhaps someone would step forward either with information on its location or even return it. Sadly, that did not occur.

The vital life saving equipment was fitted in May 2016 but it went missing in December but has now been replaced after our loss was drawn to the attention of the Oliver King Foundation who have provided a replacement.

The Wirral Globe covered the replacement installation and the full article can be read here.

(Photo credit: Wirral Globe)

Canon Poucin de Wouilt made the short journey to Holywell in Flintshire, North Wales to celebrate the monthly Mass for the Latin Mass Society. After Mass, Canon visited Holywell and the Shrine of St Winefride for the first time.

The ancient shrine of Holywell has the distinction of being a place of uninterrupted pilgrimage for 13 centuries. Situated in the beauty of North Wales, this special place of spiritual unbrokenness stood up to the torments of the Reformation and the early years of the Protestant schism.

[Show slideshow]

It is a traditional practice and an act of piety to have your home blessed between Epiphany and before the feast of the Presentation, the true end of the Christmastide period.

Chalk previously blessed is used to inscribe the formula:

20 + C + M + B + 19

The 20 and 19 at either end clearly relate to the year in question with the C, M and B referring to Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar – the three Magi.

To arrange for your house to be blessed, be contact a priest at the Shrine.

Help us win new, substantial new Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) funding in a Heritage Grant to restore the Dome and main Sanctuary of Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena Church by completing our new survey to prove to HLF that we have local support.

Chasing funding to restore Wirral’s landmark buildings and heritage is arduous at best of times. So far, we’ve achieved much after three successful HLF projects. There is much more to do – our work is not done!

For funding to complete the roof restoration, we need to consult YOU about the proposed activities. This next project focusses remedial works on the Dome itself, in a project worth over £500,000.

Encourage 5 other friends/family/acquaintances who don’t attend Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena to do likewise. Survey closes 31^st December 2018.

We’d love to hear what you think!

By HLF standards, successful projects don’t just mean good quality restoration work but outstanding activities to engage the Community. In 2018, the Dome won the Marsh Award for Innovative Church Projects, for its World War II Audio Tour for schools.

Free of charge HLF Activities might include:

• extending successful primary visits to secondary schools;
• producing a photographic ‘Reflection Book’ helping housebound and isolated reconnect with personal heritage;
• making an Interactive Photo Album to record heritage for future generations;
• developing an accessible Community Peace Garden.

Do you live near New Brighton or Wirral? Would these Activities engage you?

We have produced a community survey to help us make a good Second Round Application to win a substantial HLF Heritage Grant.

As a BIG THANK YOU, you will be entered for our free prize draw to win £50 which will be drawn on Epiphany, Sunday 6^th January 2019 at the social following Mass.

If you are a younger person, we would also like to hear your views!

A special version of the survey  can be completed by clicking the link below. (N.B. you will not be asked for any personal details).

November is the specific time of the year when we remember our loved ones who have died in recent times and over the years. If you would like your relative or friend to be remembered at Holy Mass, please provide the names of your deceased loved ones that you wish to be remembered and place them in an envelope (at the back of the church) with a discretionary offering and hand the envelope to one of the Priests.

Dear friends of the Shrine,

During the General Chapter of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, we received our new appointments for the year 2018-2019: Canon Parant has been appointed by Msgr Wach to Béziers and as a chaplain of our School in Montpellier, whilst Father Gribbin will join our community at Ss PPP soon.

We are all very grateful to Canon Parant for his excellent work for our family of Ss PPP and we assure him of all our prayers for his new mission. We are also very grateful to God’s Providence, since our church was again granted £72,000 for preparation works and surveys, in order to restore the last part of the building, i.e. the dome and the sanctuary, which are both in great need of reparation.

This year, three men from the United Kingdom will join our Seminary of Gricigliano (Italy), and begin their formation to the priesthood: in these days of darkness, these vocations are both an answer to our daily prayers, our sacrifices, and a sign of hope. Please keep praying for Lee, Gary and Joseph! More candidates will join our house of discernment in Preston in November, where they will learn French, community life and spirituality of the Institute of Christ the King.

Finally, we have the great joy to announce the foundation of a new Apostolate of the ICKSP in Shrewsbury Diocese: Bishop Mark Davies has invited a Canon of the Institute to reside permanently in his episcopal city (Shrewsbury), where our priest (and a seminarian) will live the canonical life (according to the Constitution of the ICKSP) and celebrate daily Mass. The mission will resume in October, more details to come. Thank you again for your prayers to support this new foundation!