Jan 10th 2026

THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - 11th January 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, a radiant feast that marks the anointing of Jesus as the beloved Son and the beginning of His public ministry. In the Jordan, the heavens open and the Spirit descends like a dove while the Father’s voice proclaims Our Lord as His Son in whom He is well pleased. This mystery reveals the gracious plan of the Trinity: the Son sanctified, the Spirit poured out, and the Father’s love made visible in the flesh. It is a moment that invites us to behold the depth of God’s mercy and to see in Christ the acceptance and vocation spoken over every baptised believer: you are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.

Therefore as we enter the season after Epiphany, the Church calls us to reflect on the transforming effects of our own baptism. Just as Jesus’ immersion marked the beginning of His mission, our baptism marks the beginning of ours in Christ, grafting us into His life and sending us into the world to bear witness to the Gospel. We are claimed for God, cleansed of sin, and equipped with the Spirit to live as true disciples: to love God above all things, to love our neighbour as ourselves, and to pursue holiness in the ordinary events of daily life. This feast invites us to renew our own baptismal promises, to turn from sin, and to rise with Christ in a renewed zeal for evangelisation, mercy, and service to those most in need.

So may the grace of this holy feast deepen our commitment to live as beloved sons and daughters, attentive to the voice of the Father, led by the Spirit, and faithful to the mission entrusted to us. May our families be formed in the joy of that first blessing spoken from heaven, may our church community here at Saint Martin’s be a beacon of truth and charity, and may our daily work be offered as a living sacrifice in praise of the Son who was baptised in the Jordan and who now calls us to share in His life.

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Martin and all the saints, may God bless you and your loved ones this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

THIS WEEK - THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

11th January 2026

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.15 am.

FESTAL MASS at 10.00 am.

13th January

TUESDAY

Low Mass at 6.30 pm.

14th January

WEDNESDAY

Eucharistic Adoration at 11.45 am.

Low Mass at 12.15pm.

15th January

THURSDAY

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.00 am.

Low Mass at 10 am.

16th January

FRIDAY

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.00 am.

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

17th January

SATURDAY

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.00 am.

Low Mass at 10.00 am.

18th January

SUNDAY - THE 2ND SUNDAY OF 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

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.

REPOSITORY - OUR PIETY STALL

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 can be seen in the glass case by the font at the back of church and in the glass case 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.

My contact details are as follows:

Telephone: 07714190663

Email: Vicarstmartin@outlook.com

I am also 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:

For this New Year ahead. That we may seek afresh to grow in our discipleship in Christ and to become more fully the person He wishes us to be. May we welcome Christ Jesus fully into our hearts and lives.

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

For the successful development of our House Groups as places of prayer and fellowship.

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.

For an end of war in the Ukraine and in Gaza and the Holy Land and the re-establishment of Peace.

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 and for its Motherhouse in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

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

For the Sick:

For Amanda Lowe, Yvonne and Denis Simpson, Gary and Helen Ashby, Heather Burke,

June Reid, and Nicola Monaghan.

For the Departed:

For Amalia Marino, Marino Eluna Senior, Louis Sore Bahati and all the recently departed, and for all whose whose anniversaries fall at this time, among them, Frederick Harold, Emmeline Parkins, Gladys Smith, Margaret Joyce, Dorothy Masters, Howard Jarvis, Albert Elliott and Sydney Dunmore.

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.

And let Light Perpetual shine upon them.

May we rejoice as we experience the light of Christ through His most Holy Epiphany. Blessings on you and your families.

Father Victor (Brother Cuthbert)