Current Events
Lenten Invitation at St. Francis Parish
Throughout Lent, we encourage you to join our morning Masses with the Capuchin Brothers in the friary chapel on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8:00am. You may also arrive earlier to participate in Morning Prayer and Adoration from 7:00am. Access is through the main church, and we will lead you to the chapel at 6:55am and 7:55am.
On Fridays we invite you to:
- 10:30am – Stations of the Cross
- 11:00am - 12:00pm – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Lenten Confession
On Saturdays we invite you to:
- 11:00am - 12:00pm – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Lenten Confession
This year, we also have special spiritual events:
- 11th April 2025 - TAIZÉ prayer services in our parish hall, featuring Adoration of the Cross, biblical meditation and beautiful Taizé hymns
- 4th - 8th March 2025 - We will welcome the Sisters Minor of St. Francis from Birmingham, who will share their experiences of living the Franciscan charism after Masses.
Let us walk this Lenten journey together in prayer, reflection, and renewal. You are all most welcome!
Weekly Events
Morning Masses at the Friary with the Capuchin Brothers
Starting in December, additional morning Masses will be celebrated at 8:00am in the Friary choir (the brothers' chapel) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Access to the choir is through the church, as the chapel is located behind the sanctuary.
On these days, from 7:00am, the brothers pray Morning Prayer (Lauds) and adore the Blessed Sacrament. You are warmly invited to join us for this time of prayer and adoration.
Please note that on these days, there will be no Masses at the Benedictine Abbey on Curzon Park. Masses at the Benedictine Abbey will continue to be celebrated at 8:00 AM on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Weekday Masses at 12:00pm in the church remain unchanged. We warmly invite everyone to join us in prayer.
Invitation to Weekly Parish Community Gatherings Over Coffee and Tea
We warmly invite you to join our weekly parish community gatherings over coffee and tea, held after the Sunday 9:30am Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, enjoy fellowship, and strengthen our bonds within the community.
If you are interested in helping organize these gatherings on a rotating basis, please send us an email [email protected] Together, we can create a welcoming space where everyone feels at home. We look forward to seeing you this Sunday!
The Rosary
The Rosary will be recited at 11.30am Monday to Thursday. If you would like to volunteer to lead the Rosary please contact Br Piotr. All are welcome to join in.
The prayers that compose the Rosary are arranged in sets of ten Hail Marys, called "decades". Each decade is preceded by one Lord's Prayer, and traditionally followed by one Glory Be.
Usually, five decades are recited in a session. Each decade provides an opportunity to meditate on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall events in the lives of Jesus Christ and his mother Mary.
Wikipedia contains a series on the Rosary of the Catholic Church available via this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary
St Francis Holy Hour
We will be meeting weekly for a Holy Hour to pray, to reflect and to share. We pray for our parish and our country in the sacramental presence of our Lord. We reflect on inspired readings and most of all on God’s Word. We share our thoughts and life experiences as Christian brothers and sisters. You are more than welcome to join in weekly, or bi-weekly or just once in a while when you can make it on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. in the Church (Entry via the green door at the left hand side of the Church).
If you have questions call 01244 351331. See you there!
Events in April 2025
Holy Week and Easter 2025 Services
Maunday Thursday - 17th April
- 11:00am - 12:00 Noon | Confessions
- 7:00pm | Mass of The Lord’s Supper (in English)
- Silent Adoration until 10:00 pm
- 10.30am | Stations of the Cross (in English)
- 11.00am - 12:00 noon | Confessions
- 3:00pm | Celebration of The Lord’s Passion (in English)
- 11:00am - 12:00 Noon | Confessions
- 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Blessing of Easter Food (in Polish)
- 8:00pm | Easter Vigil (in English)
- 8:00am | Mass (in English) – at the Benedictine Abbey
- 9:30am | Mass (in English)
- 12:00 noon | Mass (in Polish) (Please note: There will be no 4.30pm mass today)
- 8:00am | Mass in English – at the Benedictine Abbey
- 12:00 noon | Mass in English
- 4:30pm | Mass (in Polish)
- By placing your offering in the donation box at the back of the church
- Through the card payment terminal
Good Friday - 18th April
Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) - 19th April
Easter Sunday - 20th April
Easter Monday - 21st April
Events in May 2025
Celebrating 150 Years of St. Francis Church2nd - 4th May 2025
Join us in celebrating the 150th Anniversary of St. Francis Church from May 2nd to May 4th! This special milestone will be marked with a series of events to bring our community together in prayer, reflection, and joy.
The celebrations begin on Friday 2nd May with First Friday Devotion. Confessions and Adoration will start at 5:30pm, followed by a Polish Mass at 6:30pm. The evening will conclude with a social gathering in the Parish Hall at 7:30pm.
On Saturday 3rd May the day will start at 10:00am with a Historical Exhibition and an Organ Recital. At noon we will celebrate a Jubilee Mass with invited past parish priests. At 3:00pm a special tour and lecture will highlight the church’s history and significance. At 5:00pm, there will be a Praise & Worship Session with testimonies. The day will culminate with a Solemn Mass at 6:30pm and a formal Anniversary Dinner at 7:30pm which is reserved for approximately 80 long-time parish contributors.
Sunday 4th May will feature our regular Masses, including a guest preacher at 9:30am and a special Children’s Jubilee program from 10:30am to 12:00pm. The Polish community will have two Masses at 12:00am and 4:30pm to conclude the celebrations.
At our last planning meeting, we formed a leadership team responsible for organizing the Jubilee. However, we still need volunteers to help make this event a success. If you would like to join and support the preparations, please email us at [email protected].
Fundraising for the Jubilee of St. Francis Church
As we prepare to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St. Francis Church, we invite you to support this special occasion. Your generous contributions will help us organize a worthy and joyful celebration of this milestone in our parish’s history.
Donations can be made in the following ways:
Every contribution, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated and will make a difference. Thank you for your kindness and support in making this anniversary a truly memorable event. May God bless you abundantly!
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