Sunday 22nd March 2026 - Fifth Sunday of Lent - A

 

X LENTEN REFLECTION SESSIONS – LENT 2026 

Parishioners are warmly invited to join the last of our Lenten Reflection Sessions.

These gatherings have offered a prayerful opportunity to pause, reflect, and deepen our faith as we journey toward Easter together.

Location: Our Lady’s Parish Hall

Dates & Times:

·          Tuesday 24th March – 7:00 pm 

All parishioners are most welcome. The booklet accompanying these sessions, ‘We Dare To Ask’ is available at our bookshop for £3.  Please come along and take part in this meaningful Lenten journey.

X SCAN THE QR CODE TO DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE PARISH, THANK YOU.

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 STATIONS OF THE CROSS – During Lent, Stations of the Cross will take place at 12 noon each Friday starting on 20 February and finishing on Friday 3rd April, Good Friday.

X SCRIPTURE PASSAGE FOR YOUR MEDITATION AND PRAYER AT HOME

This week please read and pray with: John 7; Mark 12,1-13; Acts of the Apostles 23, 1-11; Daniel 12,1-13; 2Maccabees 7.; Ezekiel 37 and Psalm 103.

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 1^st or 3^rd Sunday of the month. Please note the preparation for infant Baptism will take place every second Sunday of the month in the Hall at 13h (1.00pm).

X WE PRAY FOR THE SICK - We remember all those who are sick or housebound and that they remain in our prayers including Dylan Jeffrey, John Meers, 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 Mary Kaye, Gerard Ryan, Ema Deba,  and all those who have died recently, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time including: Martin Hruska, Jean Ortoli (22^nd Mar); Jessie Davey, David Bryce (23^rd Mar); Evelyn Hannah, Stephen Hixon, Norah Slevin (24^th Mar); Francis McCabe, Mildred Matin, Anne Brewerton (26th Mar); Patricia Reeves (27^th Mar); Julián Pérez-Tejedor (28^th Mar); James Martin, Paul Kubilec (29^th Mar).

X FORTHCOMING SECOND COLLECTIONS IN 2026.

  ●   Holy Places of Palestine: 3^rd April 

X BRITISH SUMMERTIME IS COMING NEXT WEEKEND – Clocks will spring forward 1 hour at 2.00 am on Sunday 29^th March. Remember to set your clocks and watches forward by 1 hour before you go to bed this coming Saturday to make sure you are not late for Sunday Mass next week.

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 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

X NEW GIFT AID ENVELOPES – If you are registered with the parish for Gift Aid, please collect your envelopes from members of the finance committee at the back of the church/parish office (in the presbytery), after each Sunday Mass over the next couple of weekends. If you donate via bank standing order, you will also have envelopes to collect, for Diocesan Second Collections only. If you are a UK tax payer and are not currently registered for Gift Aid, please consider doing so as it does not cost you any more money, just your usual donation. The Government give the parish an additional 25% on top of your donation. This adds up across the parish to be a very significant amount. Currently the total for this year is approaching £7,000. Please speak to a member of the finance committee after Mass for further information and declaration forms. Thank you to everyone in the parish for the financial support you give.

 

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/