S. Mary’s stands firmly in the Catholic Tradition of the Anglican Church. Worship is central, and everyone is welcome to our services.
Mass
Sunday 11.00 am Solemn Mass – a sung Mass (traditional language 1984 Church in Wales Prayer Book) with incense, choir, occasional sung propers, motets/anthems.
Monday 6.00 pm Mass
Wednesday 10.00 am Mass
Evensong
Evensong daily at 6.00 pm (said in chancel) except for days when there is a Mass.
For the month’s services at S. Mary’s, and for those at S. Eigon’s, Llanigon; S. John’s Chapel, Hay; S. Michael and all Angels’, Clyro, ‘Little’ S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin and Bettwys Chapel, please see the calendar below.
Services for March and Holy Week 2026
SUNDAY 1st MARCH
Second Sunday of Lent & Second Week of Lent
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Parish Mass at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin
MONDAY 2nd MARCH
S. David – Patron Saint of Wales (transferred due to 1st March being a Sunday). The Cathedral at S. David’s stands on the site of the monastery which he founded. It is a fine building, a place of pilgrimage, and well worth visiting. Cromwell’s evil forces did their very best to destroy it and it is a blessing that such efforts now look to have been in vain. It is said that S. David, in his last sermon, uttered this well-known phrase, ‘Do ye the little things in life’, which is one for all of us to take to heart.
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 4th MARCH
S. Casimir – A son of the King of Poland, he upset his father by refusing to take arms, rather encouraging his father to put effort into relieving the poor and oppressed of their burdens. He died at the young age of 23 in 1481 and was buried with a Marian hymn by S. Bernard in his hands. Perhaps a patron Saint for those born into similar circumstances.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 5th MARCH
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
7th March – Ss. Perpetua & Felicity – Perpetua with child, and Felicity pregnant, were arrested, tried, imprisoned and eventually put to death for the Faith. They are named in the Roman Canon, a Eucharistic prayer rooted in antiquity, dating to at least the 7th century. It is a beautiful prayer and shall be used.
SUNDAY 8th MARCH
Third Sunday of Lent & Third Week of Lent – Collection for Charity this Sunday
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Mattins at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 9th MARCH
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
10th March – S. John Oglivie – A native of Scotland who was brought up as a Calvinist. Following some education on the Continent, he saw the light and found the Catholic Faith. He trained to be a Priest and then returned to Scotland. He was tried for treason and hanged in 1615.
WEDNESDAY 11th MARCH
S. Sophronius – An early Saint, he became Patriarch of Jerusalem in 634. He, along with others, collected material on the lives of the Desert Fathers. These texts give us much spiritual enrichment along with insight into lives lived in prayer, often with silence as a part.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 12th MARCH
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
14th March – S. Matilda – A saintly widow who died on this day in 968. She had been married to Henry, Duke of Saxony and then King of East Francia. She spent much of her time during her thirty years as a widow founding monasteries.
SUNDAY 15th MARCH
Laetare Sunday/ Mothering Sunday – a particular day of celebration amongst the austerity of Lent
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Evensong at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin
MONDAY 16th MARCH
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
17th March – S. Patrick – Patron Saint of Ireland. Born in Britain (exact location disputed), in his teenage years he along with others was captured and taken to Ireland. After around six years he escaped and returned to Britain. He then had a vision, recounted in his work Confession, which led him to return to Ireland where in time his evangelical efforts brought many to the Faith. The hymn sung around this feast, S. Patrick’s Breastplate, is fantastic.
WEDNESDAY 18th MARCH
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 19th MARCH
S. Joseph of Nazareth – S. Joseph took Our Lady to be his wife, and so was a father to Our Lord and would have trained him in carpentry. He was of the House of David as is recorded exhaustively at the beginning of S. Matthew’s Gospel. The quiet life of loving dedication, as lived by S. Joseph, is to be greatly commended.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
20th March – S. Cuthbert – Born 634, he entered the religious life and in time was tasked with introducing the rule of S. Benedict into the monastic community on the island of Lindisfarne. He stayed there for many years and is said to have been greatly grieved at being appointed a Bishop, leaving the island in tears.
SUNDAY 22nd MARCH
Passion Sunday & start of Passiontide
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 23rd MARCH
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
TUESDAY 24th MARCH
S. Oscar Romero– He served the Church in El Salvador, finishing as Archbishop. Resistant to the pressures to modernise the Faith pushed by some in the mid-twentieth century, his commitment to the enduring fundamentals meant he found himself in opposition to both the military dictatorship and the Marxist resistance. Neither side had much care for people, particularly the poor, in stark contrast with the actions and statements of S. Oscar. In 1980 he was shot dead by an assassin as he was celebrating Mass in a hospital chapel. He was officially declared a Saint in 2018.
6.00 pm Solemn Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 25th MARCH
The Annunciation – On this great feast we note Our Lady taking on her task, as Mother of God, with selfless acceptance. There is a most wonderful depiction of this moment, the visit of the Angel Gabriel to Our Lady to tell her of what was to happen, in the Shrine Chapel at S. Mary’s, Hay.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Solemn Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 26th MARCH
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
28th March – S. Hesychius of Jerusalem – Little is known of this early Saint, who went to the Lord circa 450, but his writings have survived. His devotion to the Mass is evident within them. Fittingly, Fr. David will be participating at a Chrism Mass, led by the Bishop of Oswestry in Bathwick, with many other Anglo-Catholic Priests who rejoice in the understanding of the Mass in its fullness.
Holy Week
SUNDAY 29th MARCH
Palm Sunday – The entry of the Our Lord into Jerusalem, adored by the crowds. Holy Week shows us how fickle popular opinion can be!
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Stations of the Cross in S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 30th MARCH
Holy Monday – The Gospels record that Our Lord cursed a fig tree and cleansed the Temple from merchants and moneymen.
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
TUESDAY 31st MARCH
Holy Tuesday/Fig Tuesday – Our Lord uses a barren fig tree to teach his Disciples.
Diocesan Chrism Mass in Brecon Cathedral at 12 Noon – Holy Oils blessed by our Diocesan Bishop will be brought back to be used at Baptisms and for the anointing of the sick. Fr. David and Fr. Peter will be present, all are welcome!
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL
Spy Wednesday – Our Lord was betrayed by one of His disciples for 30 pieces of silver.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Mass at S. Michael & All Angels, Clyro
THURSDAY 2nd APRIL
Maundy Thursday
10.00 am Morning Prayer at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
6.00 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed by the Watch at the Altar of Repose
FRIDAY 3rd APRIL
Good Friday
12.00 pm Stations of the Cross in S. Eigon, Llanigon
3.00 pm Good Friday Liturgy at S. Mary’s, Hay
SATURDAY 4th APRIL
Holy Saturday – a day of waiting, until…
8.00 pm The Easter Vigil with the lighting of the New Fire, Exultet & Easter Proclamation moving into the First Mass of the Resurrection.
SUNDAY 5th APRIL
Easter Day/ Sunday of the Resurrection
9.30 am Mass at S. Michael & All Angels, Clyro
9.30 am Mass at St Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Mass at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin
6.00 pm Evensong at Chapel of the Holy Trinity, Bettws
NOTICES and SPECIAL SERVICES
Monday 2nd March, 2 pm – Memorial Service at S. Mary’s, Hay for David Harry Price.
Friday 10th – Monday 13th April 2026, Parish Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham – final call!
Everyone is welcome – for all the details, please see the Pilgrimage page.
The Angelus bell rings out twice a day at S. Mary’s, 12.00 noon and 6.00 pm before evening prayer. This devotion reminds people that they are being prayed for and blessed. The Angelus is a very ancient devotion – and I hope that when people hear the bell ringing (3×3, then 9) they will pause and join with the prayer being offered in the church as it rings. Fr. David
