Reformation Study – 23 October

There will be a group of students attending Mass on Wednesday 23rd October as they study what Mass was like before the Reformation. This Mass will be at Noon.

Amongst those attending will be students who have never been to Mass before and all will be completing worksheets and maybe making notes. Following Mass, Father Gribbin will present to the students.

If you have an interest in the Reformation and would like to see Father’s presentation please mention this to a priest. If there is sufficient interest Father Gribbin would be willing to deliver his presentation to the congregation.

Male Voices from the Shores of the Volga


Nikolsky Ensemble Russia
A Concert of Russian Sacred Music will take place at Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena on Tuesday 8th October at 7pm

Tickets at £10 each and are available from Ronnie: phone: 07821 054044 or Atie: phone: 07738 370827

A taste of what you can expect can be viewed below:

New Liturgical Timetable from 2nd September

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

Sponsor a parachuting priest! £5000 needed!

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 4th 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

Radio Times – Shrine on the Wireless!

Joyce Ashton was interviewed this morning on BBC Radio Merseyside’s ‘Daybreak’ programme. In the interview, Joyce was able to showcase some of the work going on at the Shrine.

You can listen to the interview here. It is neccesary to be a BBCi user (you can register for free). Joyce features at 1:21:55

Care Home Visit

On Tuesday afternoon, 10 residents from Nazareth House visited Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena with their carers.

We had 11 volunteers from the Dome plus Fr. Gribbin. Time was spent in the church itself where volunteers spoke to our visitors about aspects of the church and showed them the side altars and our statues of Our Lady and the Sacred Heart.

Then into the presbytery where a beautiful Afternoon Tea lay waiting….

Jane Scott was in fine voice and found a willing singing companion in Muriel!

Books of old photographs of New Brighton and scenes from the past were passed around and brought smiles to our guests faces and indeed all of us.

Please pray for the residents of Nazareth House and indeed all those in Care Homes and their carers and families

11th August: New Brighton Camino Walk

Sunday 11th August 2-5pm (on St Philomena’s feast day)
Starts behind Bubbles on the prom at Marine Point, New Brighton.

This is a sponsored walk organised by Ss Peter Paul and Saint Philomena Shrine Church to raise funds for the church and for St John’s Hospice, Wirral.
It will take place on The Feast Day of Saint Philomena, on Sunday the 11th August, at 2 o’clock.
The emblem of the Walk is a golden cockle shell to echo the scallop shell emblem of the famous  pilgrim route of The Camino Way.

Route:
The Walk will start on the prom behind Bubbles and will continue along the prom to Vale Park gates and back again, a total of three miles. You can repeat this route to increase your mileage.

Sponsor Forms:
These are available at Ss Peter Paul and Saint Philomena Shrine Church in Atherton St and at St John’s Hospice Charity Shop in Victoria Rd, New Brighton, and online here

Shell Mural:
At Vale Park walkers will have the opportunity to write the name of a loved one inside a cockle shell which will be included in shell murals to be made in the gardens of the church and the hospice.

Dress: 
We are asking all walkers to wear blue as it is the colour associated with Our Lady and also with St John’s Hospice. All walkers will be given a golden cockle shell pendant bearing the anchor emblem of Saint Philomena to wear during the walk.
Don’t forget your sun hat and sun cream or your umbrella and raincoat!

Parking:
All day parking is available in Morrison’s car park at Marine Point and also along the prom. Do Not Park in Bubbles car park, it’s for patrons only and you could be fined.

Toilet facilities:
These are available in Morrison’s at Marine Point, also at Vale Park Cafe

Everyone is welcome:
This is a traffic free, wheelchair friendly route.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult
Dogs on leads are welcome to join us.

Competition for Scaffolding Tours

Do you fancy going on a scaffolding tour if we get the Heritage Grant? Maybe you have always wanted to see the Dome close up, been part of this church for a long time or even want to take that fantastic photo of New Brighton. Whatever the reason, you are eligible to enter our competition to win a tour around the scaffolding.  

We will have up to 18 places available subject to the appointed contractor’s eligibility and insurance criteria (I.e. a head for heights and fit enough to climb!). To enter, a person must answer the following question:

In 30 words or less, say why the landmark building of Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena aka the Dome of Home, is important to you?

We need feedback to show National Lottery that our church is very important to the local community. Please get anyone you know who would like to go up the scaffolding to submit their answer either by email to  or post to The Presbytery, 7 Atherton Street, CH45 9LT or simply click here to do online.

Silent Clergy Retreat: 7th – 11th October 2019

A retreat on the configuration of the priestly heart after the Heart of Jesus Christ

Preached by the Canons of the ICKSP
Secular and religious clergy welcome
Individual spiritual direction available
Comfortable, en-suite single accommodation
Full board included
Set in the peaceful & beautiful Stonyhurst Estate

Cost: £320 per person
23 places only – booking closes 30th September