St Thomas of Canterbury, Billingham

30/03/2026

𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 - 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐚.

On a recent sunday Mass at Holy Rosary delivered an unexpected dose of action. Altar server Matthew was handling the thurible, the metal censer used for swinging burning incense, when disaster struck. Something snapped, and the heavy metal bowl detached, launching its smouldering contents straight toward Father Adrian.
A heavy, terrified silence dropped over the entire church. Everyone froze in the pews, watching the glowing charcoal fly through the air and bracing for a fiery collision. Father Adrian suddenly needed to deploy the swift moves of a ninja, and thankfully, Sir Isaac Newton's reliable law of gravity also pitched in, sending the hot coals crashing to the floor just shy of him.

What followed was a frantic, silent clean-up mission. Matthew and his fellow server, Louis, immediately dropped down to help manage the spill. From the perspective of the congregation, the altar turned into a comedy routine, with three disembodied heads frantically bobbing up and down as the team scrambled to contain the mess on the floor.

Eventually, the coast was clear. Father Adrian popped back up into full view, faced his stunned parishioners, and broke the silence:

'That was exciting.'

𝐀 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮

A massive thank you is owed to Matthew and Louis for their quick thinking, fast reflexes, and teamwork in saving the day. This unforgettable moment is also the perfect opportunity to express our deep gratitude to all our amazing altar servers. Week in and week out, they serve faithfully, ensuring everything runs smoothly and bringing reverence to our worship. We truly appreciate everything you do!

𝐀 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞

While Sunday's acrobatics were definitely not in the script, the thurible itself has been a fixture of the Catholic Mass for centuries. This unexpected excitement offers a great excuse to look back at how this smoking metal vessel became such a crucial part of the liturgy.

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬

The use of incense actually dates back to ancient Jewish temple worship, where it was offered to God. Early Christians, however, completely avoided using it for the first few hundred years. At the time, burning incense was heavily associated with pagan rituals and the forced worship of the Roman Emperor.

𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡

Things changed in the fourth century after Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire. The church began adopting the practice, initially for practical and cultural reasons. Large crowds gathered in enclosed basilicas, and the incense helped clear the air. It was also a mark of honour, carried before bishops and Gospel books just as it was for high-ranking Roman officials.

Spiritual Symbolism Takes Hold

By the Middle Ages, the thurible had evolved into a masterpiece of metalwork and a profound spiritual symbol. The burning coals came to represent the zeal of faith, while the fragrant smoke symbolises prayers physically rising to heaven. It also acts as a visual sign of purification and blessing.

The Modern Catholic Church

Today, the thurible is often reserved for more solemn occasions, such as Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and funerals. The altar server who carries it, known as the thurifer, has the specific job of managing the coals and handing the vessel to the priest. Usually, this is a smooth and reverent process, though as the Holy Rosary congregation learned this weekend, it occasionally comes with a bit of unexpected hazard.

06/03/2026

𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚, 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐧 - 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
We are delighted to welcome Nesta, Malcolm, and Damian Okpan as the newest members of our altar server team. Supported by their loving parents and Fr Adrian, their commitment to serving at the Lord's table is a beautiful testament to their growing faith. It was wonderful to see the congregation's enthusiastic clapping at the end of Mass today when Fr Adrian announced they had joined us. We are grateful for their dedication to the parish community of St Thomas of Canterbury. Their willingness to serve enriches our worship and inspires us all to live out our faith with joy.

Over the next few months, Nesta, Malcolm, and Damian will be immersed in learning the beautiful traditions and important duties of assisting at the altar. They will be trained to carry the processional cross and candles, hold the Roman Missal for the priest, and assist with the preparation of the altar. Their responsibilities will include presenting the bread and wine, assisting the priest when he receives the gifts, washing his hands, and ringing the altar bells at the consecration. They may also carry the thurible and incense during more solemn liturgies. Looking at their welcome photo, we see a wonderful blend of emotions that will serve them well in this ministry. Their warm smiles show the joy and enthusiasm they are bringing to joining the team, while their hands joined in prayer demonstrate the natural reverence they have for the sacred liturgy. Watching them grow in confidence and faith as they serve our parish community will be a blessing for us all.

05/02/2026

𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 - 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟏

𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟏
Here is a wonderful look back at the parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1981. The sunshine and palm trees in the background are a distinct change from home, though the fashions - from the sensible knitwear to the wide 80s collars - are distinctly British.
The Clergy Fr Keoghan and Fr Doyle are standing front and centre in their albs. We are so grateful for their guidance during that trip and beyond. We remember the late Fr Keoghan with fond gratitude for his years of dedication, and we appreciate Fr Doyle for the warm community spirit they built together.

𝐈𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲
Looking at this gathering from over forty years ago, it is touching to realise that, like Fr Keoghan, many of the faithful smiling back at us have since passed away. These men and women were the backbone of our community. They didn’t do it for the recognition; they just worked together to keep the parish alive.
We remember the tireless work of that generation in every area of parish life. No single role was more important than another, including: CAFOD, Catholic Women’s League, choirs, cleaners, counting the offering (money), Eucharistic ministers, flower arranging, Legion of Mary, Parent and Toddler helpers, parish finance, readers, school governors, supporting Fr Damien, SVP, welcomers to church, and many more.
We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. We are here today because of the work they put in back then.

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩?
Do you recognise anyone in this photograph? Perhaps you were there yourself, or you spot a family member in the crowd. We would love to hear the stories behind the smiles. If this image sparks a memory - funny or serious - please get in touch with Fr Adrian.

We want to save these stories so the history of this journey isn’t lost. Find the story on our website and complete the form, or if you prefer, write it on paper (with your name included) and pass it to Fr Adrian.

Also, if you have other photos from this trip, please let us scan the originals so we can get the best quality possible. Thanks in advance for your help.

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞
Finally, seeing our parishioners standing peacefully in that land reminds us of the difficult reality there today. We pray for peace across Israel and the Palestinian Territory. We hope that the communities in Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and beyond can find a way to live side by side in safety.

22/01/2026

𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐲: 𝐀 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 - raising £1,000 for Macmillan

Many of you will remember the incredible story of Lucy Drummond, the young altar server (9 years of age) with a determination far beyond her years. We were all moved when Lucy walked around her block 1,000 times in just 12 days, driven by love for her Great-Nana, May Hutchinson. Her efforts raised an amazing £1,500 for Stichell House, funding "May’s" - a mobile shop bringing joy and independence to the residents - and even earning her a prestigious High Sheriff Award.

Well, we are delighted to report that she has been at it again. The spark for this latest adventure came during a simple walk with her Mam. Chatting about what she could do next to help others, they decided to support Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan is a vital charity that provides physical, financial, and emotional support to help people live life as fully as they can while facing cancer.
The plan was set. Her Mam contacted the charity, and Macmillan sent out their famous coffee morning packs, complete with a QR code for online donations.

To make the event a success, the word was spread far and wide. A video was posted on Facebook, and posters appeared everywhere - from the Wynyard Pub (where the event was to be held) to her mam's workplace, her dancing studio, and even the staff room at her school.

On the big day, it was a true family affair. A dedicated team of "coffee makers" swung into action, including Mam, Ollie, and Nanna Aunty Janine not only helped out but provided the entertainment, singing beautifully and taking requests in exchange for donations.

The atmosphere was buzzing with fun and games:

Name the Teddy: For £1 a go, guests tried to guess the bear's name. The winning name was Erica, and Sydney went home the happy winner of the bear.

Joker’s Card Game: A crazy game of luck involving 54 cards.

Tombola: Thanks to generous donations, prizes came in big numbers for the £1 tombola.

The Big Raffle: For a £5 ticket, guests competed for premium prizes, including a family ticket to Tweddle Farm, a £20 Amazon voucher, and fancy bottles.

Sweets in a Jar: A classic guessing game that kept everyone entertained.

And, of course, there were cakes - lots of them - made by many kind people, available for suggested donations.

Here is the wonderful twist in the tale. The QR code provided by the charity was used very little, recording only £15.00 in donations. Macmillan, ever grateful, sent Lucy a letter thanking her for her efforts based on that figure.

But they were in for a huge surprise.

What they didn’t know was that through the hard work of Lucy, her family, and the generosity of the community on the day, Lucy actually raised £1,000 in cash!

The family is incredibly proud of Lucy. They are now planning a trip to the Macmillan office to hand over the cash personally and enjoy the look on the staff's faces when they realize the true scale of her achievement.

Lucy would like to say a massive thank you to the Wynyard Pub in Billingham for hosting the event and to everyone who donated prizes and cakes.

Never one to sit still, Lucy is already thinking of her next fundraising event, which she hopes will support Tourette syndrome awareness and research.

Well done, Lucy - you are a true inspiration to us all!

08/01/2026

𝐀𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧

St. Stephen's feast day marked a milestone for Ana Hanson as she was inducted into the Guild of St. Stephen. The photos on the website capture Ana making her solemn vow to serve at the Mass with reverence, and proudly wearing her Guild medal for the first time. This medal signifies her entry into a worldwide fraternity and her commitment to the liturgy. Her parents looked on with immense pride as she took this significant step.

For those unfamiliar with the tradition, Altar Servers perform roles deeply rooted in Scripture. The Crucifer leads with the Cross ('take up your cross', Mt 16:24), while Acolytes carry candles honoring the 'light of the world' (Jn 8:12). Servers hold the Missal like Aaron supported Moses (Ex 17:12), ring bells like the High Priest (Ex 28:35), and prepare the Altar like the disciples (Lk 22:13). The Thurifer uses incense to create fragrant clouds, symbolizing prayers rising to heaven (Ps 141:2).

In the group shot, Ana is surrounded by the beaming faces of our fantastic team. Their discipline and reverence elevate our worship and draw the congregation closer to the sacred mystery of the Altar. We are deeply thankful for Ana and her peers—the future leaders of our church.

We warmly invite you to visit our website to see the full gallery of photos and read the complete story. There are many more wonderful moments from the day that we would love to share with you!

30/12/2025

𝘼 𝙈𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨: 𝘼𝙪𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙮’𝙨 100𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙙𝙖𝙮

This December, the Medway played host to a truly special gathering as parishioners arrived to mark Audrey Johnson’s 100th birthday. Her daughter, Liz, had arranged the get-together, supported by friends of the parish who had kindly helped set up the Medway. The room looked wonderful, laid out invitingly with tea, coffee, and treats, with the birthday cake taking pride of place.

It was a day defined by connection. One by one, friends arrived to greet Audrey, sharing a smile and a word with the new centenarian. Audrey was particularly grateful that Fr Adrian was able to attend, adding a spiritual warmth to the occasion. While Liz was there to ensure everything ran smoothly, Audrey spoke with deep affection for her wider family; she is a proud grandmother and great-grandmother, and that joy was evident to everyone she spoke with.

Audrey is a woman of great humility and certainly didn't broadcast her past achievements to the room. However, Liz made sure to share the details with me so that they could be properly recorded here. We learned that Audrey was once a nationally recognised music teacher with a gift for drawing the best out of her students. Years ago, while living in Cape Town, she served as Choral Director of a choir so accomplished that they were chosen for the distinct honour of singing for the Queen Elizabeth 2 when the iconic ship berthed in the city.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. A hush fell over the room as the cake was brought forward, topped with a single candle representing a century of life. One particularly lovely photo in the montage captures the split second where Audrey drew in her breath - gathering the strength of ten decades - before blowing the candle out in a single go. It was a small action that spoke volumes about her enduring spirit.

Following the applause, the focus shifted to the cake itself. A friend of Liz had baked it with love, but looking at the crowd, a small worry set in - it didn’t look like there would be enough to go around. Liz hoped for a small Christmas miracle. And, in the spirit of the season, that is exactly what they got.

Perhaps it was the way the slices were cut, or perhaps it was just the Medway’s own "loaves and fishes" moment, but not only was everyone fed, there was half a cake left over at the end.

A heartfelt thank you must go to everyone who attended and to the parishioners who worked behind the scenes to make the Medway look so lovely. Your presence turned a birthday into a memory, wrapping Audrey in the warmth of the community she holds dear. It was a perfect day - good company, unexpected abundance, and a very happy 100th birthday for Audrey.

Message from Liz - Audrey Johnson’s daughter - I really appreciate all the hard work the Friends of the Parish put into today. God Bless x

14/12/2025

𝐀 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝟐𝟖𝟎 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

At the heart of the SVP’s mission is a simple but powerful desire: to provide help where it is needed most, regardless of faith or background. This Christmas, our goal was ambitious - to create substantial support for families facing difficult times, identified with sensitivity and care by our wonderful partners in our local Primary Schools.

To make this vision a reality, the SVP sprang into action, calling upon the kindness of our Catholic community. We asked for bottles for our Tombola, and you responded with overwhelming generosity. We curated a luxury hamper for the raffle, but we knew we needed to do more to raise the necessary funds.

The solution was an evening of entertainment, and what an evening it was! We were honoured to be joined by the legendary Jeremy McMurray and friends, whose professional musical talents are renowned across the North East. A huge thank you to them for setting the tone for the night.

We hoped for a good turnout, but we were humbled to see our community and friends arrive in their droves. The atmosphere was electric. Jeremy McMurray and friends went above and beyond by running a brilliant musical quiz, which in itself raised further funds. Between this, the ticket sales, a sold-out Tombola that was an immense success, and the raffle for the Christmas Hamper, the total began to soar.

With the funds secured, it was time for the logistics. We headed to Tesco to purchase the stock. A sincere thank you must go to the team at Tesco; they provided a service money can't buy. They painstakingly prepared and organised the food for collection, making the difficult task of transporting such a vast quantity of goods smooth and manageable for us.

Then came the final labour of love: the assembly. For this mammoth task, the SVP and friends were delighted to be joined by students from St. Michael's Catholic Academy. It was wonderful to see the students rolling up their sleeves to help pack the food, working side-by-side with our team. Take a look at the results of the packing effort, with bags lined up and ready to go. These packages were now set for immediate delivery to the primary schools.

The result of this hard work was staggering. We were able to support 70 families this Christmas. As each family received four full shopping bags of food, we prepared a total of 280 bags. Crucially, we ensured that where there were children in the family, the correct number of chocolate selection boxes were included, ensuring no child missed out on the sweetness of the season.

These bags were then delivered to the Primary Schools, ready for our partners to discreetly ensure they reached the families who needed them most.

𝐀 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐲: 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲

The montage is more than just a collection of photographs; it is the vibrant heartbeat of our community captured on camera. Looking through these images, the sheer warmth in the room is undeniable.

The photos perfectly illustrate the fun of the evening. You can see the triumphant smiles of our many tombola winners proudly displaying their bottles, and there is a wonderful glimpse of the magnificent luxury hamper that helped raise so much funding.

Tying it all together are the fantastic shots of Jeremy McMurray and friends, whose musical talent provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of laughter, connection, and shared purpose.

But beyond the prizes and the music, what truly shines through is the spirit of togetherness. Every smiling face here represents a generous heart working to help others. This visible joy is what made it possible for us to provide 280 bags of food to families this Christmas. It is a beautiful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐕𝐏

It takes a village to make something like this happen. The SVP would like to express their deepest gratitude to every single person involved. Because of your support, your attendance, and your generosity, we were able to bring some relief and joy to so many homes.

Happy and Holy Christmas from the SVP.

03/12/2025

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐲: 𝐀 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

What a joy it was to celebrate the First Sunday of Advent with you all today!

The season began beautifully at Mass, with one of our own altar servers stepping forward to light the first candle on the Advent wreath - a symbol of hope that set the tone for the morning. It was truly impressive to see the vast majority of our serving team present on the sanctuary, standing together in prayer and duty.

But what happened after Mass was just as inspiring.

Once the final hymn was sung, the team didn't just head home. Instead, they headed straight for the Medway to continue serving our community at the coffee morning. It was a seamless transition from serving at the Altar to serving the people.

The teamwork was brilliant to watch:

The Senior Servers took charge of the hot drinks, staffing the tea and coffee station like pros.

The Younger Servers did an amazing job offering a delicious assortment of homemade food to everyone who came in.

As the morning went on, they didn't stop. They were constantly moving through the Medway - checking on parishioners, offering support, tidying away empty cups, and replenishing the food. There was a real, tangible sense of service in the room.

It is so wonderful - and frankly, quite moving - to see such young people truly understanding what it means to serve their community. They offered their time and their smiles with such generosity.

A huge thank you to our Altar Servers for making the start of Advent so warm and welcoming. We are incredibly proud of you!

13/11/2025

𝐂𝐀𝐅𝐎𝐃 𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
Huge thanks to everyone who supported our recent coffee morning after Mass on behalf of CAFOD.

Through your generosity and support we raised £165.00 which is amazing.

Our next coffee morning event will be after Mass on 21st December- sampling some mulled wine and mince pies along with other treats. If you can donate prizes for the raffle, or want to consider volunteering for us please get in touch we would welcome more willing hands.

04/11/2025

𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬
This is your final opportunity to take part in Fr Adrian's adult quiz or Joan Nicholas' children's quiz. Follow the link to our website below and have a go. The names of the top scorers (actual scores will not be published) will be featured in our Sunday Bulletin. You can use your real name or a secret name – like being a spy!

Catholic parish of St Thomas of Canterbury Billingham - Updated Saturday 1 November 2025