Sunday Masses
06:00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass
09:30 am ( includes Children’s Liturgy)
11:30 am
06:00 pm
Weekday Masses
- Monday – 09:30 am
- Tuesday – 07:30 pm (Healing Mass on Last Tuesday of the Month)
- Wednesday- 09:30 am
- Thursday – 09:30 am
- Friday – 09:30 am
- Saturday
- Adoration 05:00 – 5:45 pm
- Confession 05-5:30 pm
- Benediction 05:45 pm
Request a Mass Intention
Click the button to check the availability of a Mass for the preferred day. Enter the requested details, donate, and the Office will confirm your mass booking via email. The minimum Diocesan recommendation is £10. Mass intentions are publicised in the newsletter the week beforehand.
Understanding Mass Intentions
Offering Mass intentions is a deeply rooted tradition in Catholicism that serves as a powerful spiritual act of intercession. When Catholics request or offer a Mass intention, they participate in a sacred practice that dates back to the early centuries of Christianity and holds profound significance today.
A Mass intention is a specific purpose or person for whom a priest offers the Eucharistic sacrifice during Mass. When a priest celebrates Mass each day, he offers the celebration for a particular person or intention, applying special graces from God upon that person or intention. This practice is distinct from personal prayers because the Mass, as the “source and summit of the Christian life,” possesses a spiritual power that personal prayers alone do not.
Why Offer Mass Intentions?
The Mass is considered “the most perfect form of prayer” (Pope Paul VI) and has immense power to bring about miracles and conversions. When a Mass is offered for someone, whether living or deceased, the faithful believe God applies the graces of Christ’s sacrifice for their benefit. The Eucharist presents Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, offering spiritual benefits that personal prayers cannot match.
The most common intention is for the repose of souls in purgatory. The Church teaches that offering Mass for someone who has died helps support their soul’s purification and hastens their entrance into heaven.
Mass intentions express the Catholic belief in the communion of saints – the spiritual bond between the faithful on earth, souls in purgatory, and saints in heaven.
Masses can be offered for:
- Living persons who are ill or suffering
- Birthdays, anniversaries, or other special moments
- Thanksgiving for blessings received
- Favours granted through saints’ intercession
Offering a Mass intention is an act of love that brings the person closer to the heart of the Church’s prayer life. It reminds us that we are never alone, as the Church community prays with and for us.
When requesting a Mass intention, it’s customary to offer a monetary gift called a stipend:
- This is not payment for grace (which is infinite and cannot be bought) but rather support for material needs and Mass requirements.
- Amounts vary by diocese (typically £10) and are set by local bishops.
- A priest must offer the Mass even if no stipend is given.
As Pope Leo XIII noted, the Mass strengthens the grace of mutual love among all members of Christ’s body through the communion of saints. This ancient practice continues to be a treasured aspect of Catholic spirituality, offering believers a profound way to participate in Christ’s redeeming work for the benefit of others.