WEEKDAY MASS TIMES
Mass times this week are: Monday at 9:30am, Tuesday 9:30am Thursday 9:00am and Friday 9:30am. ASH WEDNESDAY TIMES See below
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ash Wednesday is this week on 5 March and marks the beginning of Lent. Masses with distribution of ashes are at 12:15pm and 7.30pm.
FASTING
The Church asks us to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and to abstain from meat on these days. Sometimes we can forget the importance of fasting in our spiritual lives as an act of penance, an act of solidarity with the poor and to allow ourselves a little more space for God to enter our lives.
Fasting and abstinence are obligatory for Catholics who are well enough, from their 18th birthday until their 60th birthday, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
WHAT IS A CATHOLIC FAST?
When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.
WHAT DOES ABSTINENCE MEAN?
Abstinence means not eating meat and we are asked to undertake this discipline every Friday of the year (as well as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday). Catholics are asked to observe abstinence from meat from age 14 onwards.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
The Stations of the Cross is a beautiful devotion where we walk with the Lord on his way to Calvary. This week, Stations will be after the 9:30 Mass this Friday (7 March). We will vary the times through Lent to allow as many people to attend as possible. Why not commit to coming to at least one of the Stations of the Cross this Lent to meditate on Our Lord’s Passion?
LENT EVENTS AND TALKS
Monday 10 March 7:30pm – Talk – The Leadbeater Assisted Suicide Bill. Katherine Hampton is our speaker from SPUC in the Church Hall.
Sunday 16 March 3pm – Divine Mercy Prayer in the Church Hall.
Monday 31 March 7:30pm – Talk – Why go to Confession? A talk by Fr. Adrian on the beautiful Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Church Hall.
Sunday 6 April 4pm – An hour of Ignatian meditation and prayer in the Church Hall.
JOIN US FOR THE FIRST ST EDMUND’S YOUNG ADULTS MEETING!
Are you 18-35 and looking to connect with other young adults in our Catholic community? St. Edmund’s Young Adults is launching, and we want you to be part of it!
Our first gathering will be a chance to meet fellow young adults, share ideas, and shape what this group will become. Whether you’re looking for faith discussions, social events, or service opportunities, this is your chance to have a say!
📅 Sunday, March 23rd
⏰ 5:00 – 6:00 PM
📍 St. Edmund’s Parish
Come for good conversation, new friendships, and a welcoming space to grow in faith together. We’d love to
see you there!
JOIN CAFOD’S BIG LENT WALK IN THE JUBILEE YEAR
You are invited to join CAFOD’s Big Lent Walk and journey together with Catholics in England, Wales and Scotland as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year – walking 200km over 40 days during Lent. Journey to one of the churches or shrines designated as places of pilgrimage in our diocese as part of your Big Lent Walk. Every £1 you raise will support communities like Lokho’s in Kenya, experiencing the worst impact of the climate crisis, to rebuild their lives in hope.
Sign up here: https://walk.cafod.org.uk/
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK
Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Karl Britz, Brenda Bryant, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, John McKernan, Remy, Geraldine Taylor, James Wright, Pamela Gibson, Geraldine Stains, Linda Moriarty, Victoria Leahy, Jean Collins, Barbara Searl,
Lyn Povey, Mason Family and all our loved ones who are unwell.