Aug 22nd 2026

The 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - 23rd August 2026

From Father Victor

This Sunday the Church calls us to place our trust in God’s providence and to live in humility before His holy will. In our First Reading, the Prophet Isaiah teaches that God’s ways are higher than ours, assuring us that His promises do not fail even when His plan seems hidden. St. Paul, in our Second Reading, urges us to walk worthily within our calling - bearing patience and forbearance with one another and striving for unity in the Spirit. And in our Gospel reading this Sunday, Our Lord addresses the dispute about who is the greatest and warns that genuine discipleship is not measured by rank, influence, or worldly success, but by receiving God’s kingdom like a little child - by simplicity, teachability, and trust in the Father who ever draws near to the lowly.

May this Gospel therefore shape our hearts to be ready to correct, to be corrected, and to forgive. Let us grow in the virtue of humility, resisting vanity and envy, and instead practicing mercy in our homes, our parish, and our workplaces. When disagreements arise, let us seek reconciliation before insisting on our own opinion, and let our speech reflect charity and truth. As we come to the altar, may our worship be sincere, and may our lives match what we profess.

Let us also renew our prayer for the courage to follow Christ faithfully, especially when the world praises pride and self-assertion. May we support the work of the Church with generous hearts, attend to those who are weak or vulnerable, and build peace through works of kindness and faithful witness to the Gospel.

May God bless you and keep you strong in the service of the Lord.

THIS WEEK - THE 21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 23rd August 2026

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.15 am.

PARISH MASS at 10.00 am.

23rd August

TUESDAY

Low Mass at 6.30 pm.

24th August

WEDNESDAY

Eucharistic Adoration at 11.45 am.

Low Mass at 12.15pm.

25th August

THURSDAY

No Mass today.

26th August

FRIDAY

Low Mass (B.C.P. / English Missal) at 10.00 am.

Coffee Morning at 10.30 am.

27th August

SATURDAY

Low Mass at 10.00 am.

28th August

SUNDAY - THE 22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.15 am.

PARISH MASS at 10.00 am.

TEA AND COFFEE IS AVAILABLE AFTER MASS ON SUNDAYS - DO JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP.

PARISH NEWS

THE CHRISTIAN INITIATION CLASS IS ON SUMMER BREAK. Classes will resume in the First Week of September.

OUR HALF HOUR BIBLE STUDY GROUP ON MOST SUNDAYS. This is a regular meeting that takes place after Sunday Mass and Coffee every week - Father Tunji leads us to reflect more closely on the Holy Scriptures, which are one of God’s most precious gifts to us. Bibles texts will be supplied. THE BIBLE STUDY MEETS EITHER IN THE VESTRY HALL OR THE LIBRARY IN THE CHURCH, BY THE CHAPEL OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM.

CONFESSIONS - As well as Saturday mornings, the Sacrament of Confession can be celebrated 20 minutes before any of the Weekday Masses and immediately afterwards. Please speak to Father Victor, Father Ian or Father Tunji.

CHECK IT OUT - REPOSITORY - OUR PIETY STAL

This is open before and after Mass on Sundays and weekdays selling a wide range of items from religious cards, rosaries, books, crucifixes and icons to mugs, fridge magnets, church diaries, pens and note books.

THE PROCEEDS OF EVERYTHING WE SELL ON OUR PIETY STALL GOES TOWARDS WELL NEEDED CHURCH FUNDS.

Items presently are to be can be found on the table in the Vestry Hall. Please take a look.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PRAYERS or Mass intentions you would like me to offer at Mass or if would like someone added to our parish prayer list of the Sick or Departed.

Father Victor’s contact details are as follows:

Telephone: 07714190663

Email: Vicarstmartin@outlook.com

He is also usually available in person during Surgery Hour on Saturday’s in Church between 10.30am - 11.30am.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION is also available at this time.

Please continue to remember the following in your prayers:

That as a parish we may seek afresh to grow in our discipleship in Christ and to become more fully the people He wishes us to be. May we welcome Christ Jesus fully into our hearts and lives.

That we may continue to worship in spirit and truth, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

That we may grow in a deeper appreciation of the Holy Traditions of our Christian Church, of the Holy Scriptures and of the precious deposit of faith and teachings that have been passed down to us from the Apostles.

For Blessings on our Parish family as we seek to grow our Church.

For graces, blessings and a deepening of understanding of Christ and His teachings for those participating in our Faith Formation and other Groups.

For peace in our troubled world and for an ending to the conflict in Iran, Gaza and the Ukraine.

For the development of a Parish Prayer Group and Prayer Walks.

For a greater generosity in giving and stewardship so that we may be able to fund our mission and witness effectively.

For our Church community, that we may continue to grow into the likeness of Our Lord through worship, prayer and service.

For our Parish that we may emulate him in our faithfulness to the Gospel and its proclamation and to the care of our brothers and sisters in their need.

For our young people that the Lord may fill their hearts with living faith that they may serve Him faithfully in worship and in service.

For our Bishop Paul and all the Parishes that look to him in the See of Oswestry.

For the future of our Sunday School, that we may find a capable and loving teacher to carry on this vital ministry.

For a deepening of our own faith and a greater commitment to Christ.

For the strength to remain firm in our Christian faith and to give witness to it through our own example.

That we may continue to remember, the needs of those so less fortunate than ourselves.

For those at school, college or University, that as they grow in knowledge and wisdom, they may be safe and well.

For those who work, particularly those who have families or other dependents.

For our Government, that they may seek to serve the common good and that we may see increased integrity within the world of politics.

For peace to reign within our homes and between one another.

For the elderly, housebound and those living in residential and nursing homes.

For our Ambulance Service and for our other Emergency Service Staff and for Milton Keynes Hospital and all who work there.

For Father Victor, Father Ian, Father Tunji as they seek to continue to make Christ present in our midst through the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass and the other Sacraments of the New Covenant. May the Lord bless them as they seek to make Christ known and offer continuing Pastoral care.

For our Monastic Community of the House of Initia Nova of the Order of Saint Benedict as, enthused by its recent Convocation at the Motherhouse in Ponce, Puerto Rico we seek to know and serve God.

For our Abbot, Michael-John Austin, for all of the community and for those new to its life.

For the Sick:

For Christine Hummant, Damian Seymour, Yvonne and Denis Simpson, Gary Ashby, Rosalio Eluna, Heather Burke, and Nicola Monaghan.

For the Departed:

For Father Arthur John Salter, for Heather Burke and all the recently departed, and for Ernest Haddon, Donald Goff, Hilda Payne, Francis Collier, Kathleen Wilmot, Thomas Pummery, Violet Pummery, Mary Pateman, Jack Brinklow,  John Hartup, Margaret Link and all whose whose anniversaries fall at this time. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let Light Perpetual shine upon them.

May the Lord bless and keep you now and always.

Father Victor (Brother Cuthbert)