X RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION DURING MASS – Only Catholics in state of grace receive communion
during Mass. The priest/minister raises the host slightly and shows it to each
of the communicants, saying The Body of
Christ; Response: Amen.
Those Christians who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church and Roman Catholics not able to receive Holy Communion are welcome to receive a blessing. Those wishing to receive a blessing are asked to approach the priest with their arms crossed over their chest. Those receiving Holy Communion in your hands please put it in your mouth before leaving the minister/priest.
X SCAN THE QR CODE TO DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE PARISH, THANK YOU.
X WEDNESDAYS COFFEE MORNING – Sadly the coffee morning on Weds is very poorly attended at the moment, therefore the coffee team have decided to take a break for the winter season. This will be from December until the spring. Any queries, please contact Monica at monaherne@gmail.com.
X FORTHCOMING SECOND COLLECTIONS IN 2026.
· White Flower Appeal: 10th/11th
January
· Maintenance
of St George’s Cathedral: 25th January
· Racial
Justice Sunday: 1st February
· Sick and Retired Priests: 15th February
· CAFOD Lent
Appeal: 1st March
· Parish
Building & Maintenance: 16th March
· Poor Parishes: 22nd March
● Holy Places of Palestine: 2nd April
X INFANT BAPTISM – May only happen after undergoing a
preparation with the parish priest. Baptisms can then be celebrated at either
3pm on a Saturday or 1pm on a Sunday on the 1st or 3rd
Sunday of the month. Please note the preparation for infant Baptism will take
place every second Sunday of the month after 11 am Mass in the Hall.
X WE PRAY FOR THE SICK - We remember all those who are sick or housebound and that they remain in our prayers including Mrs Eileen (aka Ellen) Varrall, Catalina Fernández, Anne Sharp, Kathleen Lynch, Bernadette Pay, Blanche Ellis, Liz Willis, Stacy Rodrigues, Ann Robinson, Uzo Mbanugo, Bob & Tess Vickery, Canon Luke Smith, Beulah Blomfield, John Lodge, Veronica Poulton, Margaret Woolley, and all those who have asked for our prayers.
X WE PRAY FOR THE RECENTLY DECEASED - Please pray for the repose of the soul of Gerard Ryan, Ema Deba, and all those who have died recently, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time including: Iris Vickers, William Bownes (4th Jan); Mary Wheaton, Theresa Thody, Winifred Elgar, Joseph Barham, (5th Jan); Terry Kelly (6th Jan); Margaret Shepherd, Mary Byrne, Angelo Rodriguez (7th Jan); Agnes Halloran (8th Jan); Shirley Hart, Robert Hart, (9th Jan); Arthur Roberts (10th Jan).
X HOLY COMMUNION FOR THE SICK OR IN HOSPITAL
For those sick at home – The parish has a team of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, who are all commissioned by the Archbishop and DBS checked. Their ministry is to take the Sacrament of Holy Communion to people who are long-term sick or disabled, and who are thus unable to get to Mass. If you know of anyone in this category who is not currently receiving the Sacrament at home (or where they are living), please inform Fr Alex Saba via the Parish Office on 01303 252823 or email folkestone@rcaos.org.uk
For those in hospital - people who are seriously ill or undergoing operations may ask for the Anointing of the Sick. Those who are going into hospital should remember to ask for a visit from the hospital’s Catholic Chaplain: If not a priest, they will arrange for a Catholic minister or an extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to visit them, or - if anointing is required - for a priest to visit (but, hopefully, you will have already asked for anointing before you go in). Catholic chaplains are often clergy or laypeople from the hospital’s local parish. Contact the parish office 01303 252823 or email folkestone@rcaos.org.uk
X HOW FILL MASS INTENTION ENVELOPES – When you complete the envelope asking for a Mass to be said, please write the full name of the person after Intention of Mass for e.g. George Smith RIP, even if he is one of your parents, relatives and friends, do not write for my Dad, Mum, brother, girlfriend, boyfriend and so forth. Likewise, if the Mass is for several people e.g., do write down: for the deceased members of the Smith family, or for the wellbeing of the members of the Smith family and so forth. Thank you for your help with this simple and important matter.
X PARISH MASS STREAMING – To watch the Mass online, you need to go to the parish website: https://catholic-folkestone.blogspot.com. Once there, click on the Parish Mass Streaming tab.
X RESPONSORIAL PSALM AT 11AM MASS – From now on, we will
practice the response to the psalm at 11am Mass, a minute or so it will take,
and this before the Angelus starts. This will enable us all to give our
response to the first reading which, according to the spirit of the liturgy, it
is the role of the whole gathered assembly. Let us all join in the effort of
making this a great success in our parish for the glory of our God who speaks
to us when scriptures are proclaimed during the Liturgy.
X PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES – Join our
pilgrimage to Lourdes travelling overnight by luxury coach from 9 to 14
February 2026.
It is always a
beautiful and deeply spiritual experience soaking in the Spirit of Jesus as we
travel to honour Our Blessed Mother.
Leaving Slough and
Ealing Broadway on 9 Feb 2026 and departing Lourdes on 13 February for a visit
to the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Rue du Bac, Paris on 14
February morning and arriving in London later on 14 February 2026
Full board,
exciting festival devotional program, experience the Blessed Sacrament Procession
of the Sick, the Candlelight Marian Rosary Procession and the International
Mass on the Feast Day followed by Stations, Confessions and Adoration with Hour
of Mercy. Travel, full board and program cost £590. Call Millie on 07957594646
for more info.
HAIL HOLY QUEEN
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.
WE FLY TO THY PROTECTION
We
fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do
not despise our petitions in our necessities, but
deliver us always from all dangers,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
PRAYER TO ST MICHAEL
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our
protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him,
we humbly pray; And do
thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell
Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Presbytery and Parish Office:
41 Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1EF
Tel: 01303 252823
e-mail: folkestone@rcaos.org.uk
Parish Priest: Fr Alex Saba MA, MSLR, MCL, JCL
Hall
Bookings: hallbookingonline.com/folkestone/
