St Mary's and St Joseph's Catholic Parish

08/09/2026

Summer 2026 Parish Magazine is available to read here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/de0ecd67-17ec-46ab-aa25-5983087c3192

06/09/2026

After a beautiful celebration of mass with the Bishop at today’s Pilgrimage our returning First Holy Communion children are photographed with Bishop Paul on the Grotto

05/09/2026

25/08/2026

Read Fr Paul's reflection on last Sunday's Gospel:

Twenty-first Sunday of Year. A. 2026

The imposing edifice of St Peter’s basilica in Rome is only the most recent building there. Excavations make clear that it is build on the site of a Roman graveyard in which, in all likelihood, lies the body of St Peter - directly under the present high altar. The modest grave was venerated from earliest times until the first church could be built over it in the 4th century under the first Christian Roman emperor Constantine. St Peter - the Rock, as Jesus dubbed him, is truly at the foundation of the physical church. And, as the first pope, of the spiritual Church - the Vicar of Christ. So, clearly, a figure of supreme authority.
Yet while the magnificent Basilica that we see now was being constructed the authority of the papacy was being radically threatened by the Reformation. How could those Reformers, who wanted to return to the primacy of the scriptures, reject the successors of Peter - to whom Jesus had clearly given authority? This is something we always have to consider when we hear this gospel. Jesus gave Peter authority because Peter had declared his faith in Him. The Reformers looked at the state of the papacy and the Church and saw much that was wrong - how becoming an institution of such power had led to corruption and a falling away by some from the Gospel and its values.. They claimed their authority sprang from their faith in Jesus as did St Peter’s.
The papacy recovered its moral authority. The Pope is the supreme authority in our church and our faith. And a much needed figure of stability the world today. We look to him and his bishops to show us how best to live our faith in Jesus in our present age. What he has to say is worth hearing and exploring. Pope Leo’s encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ about the rise of artificial intelligence and how we should orientate ourselves in the changed world it will bring, has made a strong impact - being hailed by many who would have previously regarded themselves as being very far from the church.
We can be proud of our church and the papacy - and ourselves - as long as the first duty is to proclaim Christ, Son of the living God.

11/08/2026

If we desire peace in our souls, we must regularly turn our thoughts toward God and toward eternity.

Each day, countless voices cry out to us, promising us peace: click here, buy this, do this, etc. The world of advertising works tirelessly to convince us that the things of this world will satisfy our deepest longings.

Yet when our attention is fixated on what is immediate and quickly passing, our hearts do not find peace but instead grow restless and frustrated.

By contrast, when we turn ourselves toward God, we catch a glimpse of the only reality that does not pass away.

Eternity gently reorders our priorities, loosens our anxieties, and anchors us in a hope that no passing moment can take away.

—

Word of the Week by Fr. Jeremiah Shryock, CFR.�The hope is that this “word” offers you a continued source of grace, encouragement and focus throughout your week.

—

25/07/2026

Some good advice for those of us attending Mass this weekend.

A Franciscan friar is challenging Catholics to rethink how they go to Mass—and his simple “6 challenges” are striking a chord on social media.

Father Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, shared a practical guide to help Catholics enter more deeply into the Eucharist by rediscovering silence, focus, and intentionality.

Arrive 10 minutes before Mass
Instead of sliding into the pew at the last second, take time to pray. Offer your week to God—your joys, struggles, intentions—and prepare your heart for what’s about to happen.

Leave your phone in the car.
“You can do it, you can do it,” Ames says.

Yes, really. He calls this a “heroic act.” For most people, the world can wait an hour. Enter the sacred space without distractions.

Read the readings before Mass
Whether at home or during those 10 quiet minutes before Mass, knowing the readings helps you engage more deeply with the liturgy.

Close your eyes after receiving Communion
After receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, resist the urge to look around. Stay recollected. Speak to Him.

“Be with Jesus,” Ames says.

Keep your eyes closed after you receive Holy Communion until the priest says, “Let us Pray.”

He adds, “I know if you have little kids, that’s not possible.”

Make a thanksgiving after Mass
Instead of rushing out, take a few extra minutes to thank God. Let the grace of the Eucharist settle in.

Talk to at least one person
Before heading to your car, connect with someone. Build community. The parish is not just a place—it’s a people.

“Interact with at least one person before you head back to your car after you leave the church,” he says.

In a culture of distraction and hurry, these small habits can transform how we experience the Mass—turning routine into encounter.

More at: www.churchpop.com/leave-your-phone-arrive-early-stay-after-priest-shares-6-bold-challenges-for-mass/

🪶Kimmy Chacón

14/07/2026

Lots going on down at St Mary’s yesterday, the bell has now been repaired with the aid of a very large 25m cherry picker. ( it was a lose wire apparently).

02/07/2026

Garden care group meeting this Saturday morning 10:00 - 12:00 noon in the car park at St Mary's. This month we will be weeding the newly planted beds leading up to the Grotto. All welcome.

01/07/2026

Yesterday evening Bishop Paul Swarbrick was at St Begh's church in Whitehaven conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation upon twenty three young people from the parishes of West Cumbria. It was a very joyful celebration with a packed church. Our thanks to Bishop Paul and the priests of our Deanery, the catechists who prepared our young people so well, and to all those from the parish who pulled out all the stops to host the occasion: the altar servers, musicians and choir, and to St Begh’s school which so generously provided refreshments. The choir sang some beautiful plainchant, Gounod's Ave Maria, Franck's Panis Angelicus, music by Rutter, amongst others.

01/07/2026

This weekend we were joined at Mass by Jack, Jonathan (all the way from Germany) and Rose (all the way from Yorkshire) from Castlerigg Manor. They told us about the fantastic youth work that the diocesan youth service carry out both at Castlerigg Manor in Keswick and through outreach projects in parishes. Castlerigg has been in operation now for over 50 years and over 3000 young people visit each year. There are various ways to support this important work, one way is to become a Friend of Castlerigg with a regular monthly donation, another is to buy some much needed outdoor equipment for the centre through the Amazon Wishlist. Details can be found here on the Castlerigg website: https://castleriggmanor.com/friends/index.html