St. John Henry Newman Parish

25/06/2026

From Fr. Craig.

Today I had the immense privilege of celebrating Holy Mass in the Ca****la di Nostra Signora di Częstochowa, beside the tomb of St Peter in St Peter's Basilica.

It was, as always, a profoundly moving experience to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in this sacred place, where pilgrims have prayed for centuries and where the faith of the Church is rooted in the witness of the Apostle Peter.

The chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Częstochowa, the beloved patroness of Poland.

As I celebrated Mass there, I gave thanks especially for our parishioners of Polish heritage who enrich the life of St Newman Parish.

Your faith, traditions and witness are a treasured part of our faith family, and it was a joy to remember you in this special place.

What took the longest during the Mass was not finding the words, but remembering the many people, families, intentions, worries, illnesses, celebrations and hopes that I carried with me to the altar.

I prayed for each of you, for those who are flourishing, those who are struggling, those who are grieving, those who are searching, and those who simply asked to be remembered.

Standing so close to the tomb of St Peter was a powerful reminder that our parish faith family is part of something much greater: the universal Church, united in faith across every nation and generation.

St Peter, pray for us.

Our Lady of Częstochowa, pray for u

24/06/2026

Looking forward to a cooling afternoon this Saturday at St. Joseph’s, Darlaston.

All welcome!

Please share!!

22/06/2026

Today we mark the Feast Day of Ss. Thomas More and John Fisher.

Thomas More was a brilliant scholar, lawyer, and statesman who served as Lord Chancellor of England. Known for his deep faith and integrity, he ultimately gave his life in 1535 for his refusal to compromise his conscience and the teachings of the Church.

John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, was a learned and holy man who courageously defended the sacrament of marriage and the unity of the Church. He too was executed in 1535 for remaining faithful to his beliefs.

We give thanks for their powerful witness to faith, courage, and truth in the face of pressure and persecution.

On this day, we also remember with gratitude our former church of St John Fisher and all who worshipped there over the years, whose faith and commitment have richly contributed to our faith family and still does today.

We ask for your prayers for our parish senior school St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall under the patronage of St Thomas More, that all students and staff may be guided by wisdom, integrity, and a living faith.

21/06/2026

A Father’s Day Prayer

Loving God, we thank You for the gift of fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, godfathers, and all who have shared in the vocation of fatherhood.

On this Father’s Day, we give thanks for their love, sacrifice, guidance, patience, and generosity. Through their care, may we catch a glimpse of Your own faithful and fatherly love.

We give thanks for this opportunity to pause, give thanks, and pray for all fathers.

Bless them with wisdom, strength, good health, and joy.

Renew them in times of weariness, encourage them in moments of doubt, and help them to know how deeply they are loved and appreciated.

We pray for fathers who carry heavy burdens, for those who are separated from their children, and for those who struggle to provide, protect, and guide their families.

We remember with tenderness all for whom this day is difficult:
those who mourn a father,
those whose relationship with their father is painful or broken,
those who long to be fathers,
those who have lost a child,
and those who carry grief, loneliness, or regret in their hearts.

May Your compassion surround them and Your peace sustain them.

Through the intercession of Saint Joseph, faithful guardian of the Holy Family, may all fathers grow in holiness, courage, and love, becoming living signs of Your presence in the world.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

20/06/2026

Congratulations to Joseph and Willow on receiving their First Holy Communion this evening at St. Mary’s, Willenhall.

May you always remember the words of Jesus: “Fear not.”

He loves you more than the sparrows of the sky and is always with you.

As you received the Blessed Sacrament for the first time today, may His love fill your hearts and guide you throughout your lives, knowing that He will never leave your side.

God bless you both on this very special day.

20/06/2026

We’d really appreciate a helping hand 👏

20/06/2026

All would be very welcome.

We're excited to be taking part in the Brewood Open Gardens 2026. Come and see the lovely Presbytery Garden along with the other 19 local gardens.

We will be open 12noon-4pm on the Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June. Visitors will be able to enjoy traditional cream teas and prosecco, and there will also be a cake sale, a plant sale and a tombola. All money raised at the Presbytery Garden will go towards the £36,000 church roof repair fund.

The £5 wristband (accompanied children under 12 go free), available at the door, will provide access to all participating gardens throughout the weekend.

Programme is also available online: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QrDETC4LfVETgyBeFM2PP7iRu9klhnZi/view

19/06/2026

Thank you for being with us!

19/06/2026

We were delighted to welcome the staff of St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall to our parish and to Holy Trinity, Bilston today for a special Mass celebrating The Common Good, one of the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

The celebration was made especially meaningful by the many contributions from the school community. Members of staff proclaimed the readings and led the bidding prayers, while a beautiful prayer written by a Year 9 student reminded us all that faith and compassion are thriving in our young people.

We were also blessed by a staff choir whose singing helped lead us in prayer and reflection.

A special thank you goes to our student altar servers who generously gave up their free time to serve at the Mass. Whilst they could have chose a leisurely afternoon, these students chose service, and did so with great dedication and reverence.

After Mass, everyone gathered in the parish hall where our parishioners had prepared a wonderful spread of rolls, cakes and refreshments.

This was our small way of saying thank you to the staff for their commitment, care and dedication to the young people entrusted to them each day.

Their work often goes far beyond the classroom, and we are grateful for all they do in helping our young people grow academically, spiritually and personally.

The refreshments were greatly appreciated, although Fr Craig may have been heard channeling his inner Mrs Doyle from Father Ted as he encouraged everyone to sample the cakes: "Go on, go on, go on!"

Thankfully, very little persuasion was needed, and the cakes soon found plenty of willing volunteers to sample them!

It was a lovely opportunity for parish and school to come together, strengthening the partnership that is so important to both our communities.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the afternoon such a success, not least our illustrious Lay Chaplain, Mr Bowen and those who assisted with the catering.

Together we were reminded that the common good is not just something we talk about, it is something we build through faith, service, friendship, a little humour and community.

19/06/2026

Our parish is delighted to be taking part in this year's Great Get Together, inspired by the life and legacy of Jo Cox.

For the bake-off, we have created a limited-edition Pistachio & Chocolate Cake, made with care and a generous helping of community spirit!

Jo Cox famously said: “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us."

These words remain as important today as ever. In a world often marked by division and conflict, we pray that the truth of this message will be realised more fully in our communities, our nations, and our hearts.

As we gather together over tea, cake, and conversation, may we rediscover the things that connect us: kindness, friendship, compassion, and hope.

Please support this wonderful cause, enjoy a slice of cake, and join us in celebrating all that unites us.

Lord, help us to see one another as neighbours, to seek understanding rather than division, and to build a world where unity, truth, and peace can flourish. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pat McFadden