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 services in the current month at S. Mary’s, Hay; S. John’s Chapel, Hay; S. Eigon’s, Llanigon; ‘Little’ S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin; S. Michael and all Angels’, Clyro and Bettwys Chapel, Clyro please see the Calendar of Services below.
Calendar of Services for June 2026
MONDAY 1st JUNE
The Visitation (trans.) – Normally this feast is kept on the 31st May. However, due to it being Trinity Sunday on the 31st we are keeping this important day one on. It is the feast marking the visit of Our Lady to S. Elizabeth. Both were pregnant at the time. Both break into words of joy. Our Lady sings her song known to us now as the Magnificat.
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 3rd JUNE
The Ugandan Martyrs – persecution and murders in the 1880’s of Christian missionaries and those whom they had brought to the Faith. At a later stage Idi Amin persecuted and had killed Priests and others for criticising his exercise of power.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 4th JUNE
Corpus Christi – The feast of the Body of Christ present in the consecrated elements at Mass and reserved in the Tabernacle at S. Mary’s. This feast is very much a day of rejoicing and is a public holiday in many countries. I very much enjoyed such celebrations when in Seville several years back. Perhaps we should start a campaign to have this as a public holiday.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
5th June – S. Boniface – In the seventh and eighth centuries, this Devonian evangelised what is modern day Germany. He eventually became a Bishop and had much support from monastic communities in England, sending him books, vestments and money. In later life he resigned as Bishop and returned to the mission field. He was martyred at the hands of tribesman whilst reading in his tent. As an English man who very much likes visiting Germany, I can relate to S. Boniface.
SUNDAY 7th JUNE
Here Corpus Christi (trans.)/1st Sunday after Trinity/10th Sunday in Ordinary Time & 10th week in Ordinary Time
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 8th JUNE
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
9th June – S. Columba – A native of County Donegal, he became a monk and in 561, due to war between clans, he went to Iona, just off the coast of Scotland, in exile. Here he founded a monastery and in time evangelised Scotland. His chief biographer, Adommnan, described him as a giant of a man whose voice was ‘so loud that it could be heard a mile off.’ No need for microphones and other modern amplification with S. Columba around.
WEDNESDAY 10th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 11th JUNE
S. Barnabas – Apostle and companion to S. Paul. He is not one of the twelve, as such, but had commission to take the faith into the Mediterranean. This makes sense as he was a Cypriot. A lovely island with much beautiful scenery alongside some proper party destinations. He had a falling out with S. Paul, not hard one might say, and separated ways after the Council of Jerusalem. S. Barnabas, as described in Acts, comes over as a more forgiving man.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
12th June – The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – This is a moveable feast, always kept on the second Friday after Trinity Sunday. I have a great personal devotion to images and representations of the Sacred Heart. Not before or after is there a heart and love so pure, passionate and without limit here on earth.
13th June – S. Anthony of Padua – Born in Portugal as Fernando, he joined the Franciscan order after being ordained Priest in the order of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. He was attracted to this relatively new religious order by the example of those who had known S. Francis. He is most well-known as the Patron Saint of lost things, so it is wise that if you are like me his aid be invoked several times a day.
SUNDAY 14th JUNE
2nd Sunday after Trinity/11th Sunday in Ordinary Time & 11th week in Ordinary Time
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Morning Praise at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 15th JUNE
S. Edburga of Winchester – The granddaughter of King Alfred the Great, she entered a Convent in Winchester at a young age and spent her life quietly praying and carrying out acts of charity. There are many S. Edburga’s among us and we are all the better for their presence.
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 17th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 18th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
SUNDAY 21st JUNE
3rd Sunday after Trinity/12th Sunday in Ordinary Time & 12th week in Ordinary Time
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 22nd JUNE
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 24th JUNE
The Nativity of S. John the Baptist – Son to S. Zechariah and S. Elizabeth, he was the last and greatest of the prophets whose life was dedicated to pointing toward He who must increase, namely Our Lord Jesus Christ. So important is he to our faith, his birth has a separate feast to his heavenly birthday.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 25th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
SUNDAY 28th JUNE
Ss. Peter & Paul & 13th week in Ordinary Time – Both S. Peter & S. Paul were fundamental to the spread and formation of the Church in those early days following the death, resurrection and ascension of Our Lord. Both were martyred in Rome. Petertide is the traditional time for ordinations to the Diaconate and Priesthood. Ember cards, asking for prayer by those who are to be ordained into such orders God-willing, will be kept this year in the Sanctuary at S. Mary’s. Not only do we pray for this small band of men known to Fr. David and the places that they will serve, but we pray that others within our midst, families and surrounding areas will heed such a call should God have gifted them with it.
11.00 am Patronal Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
4.00 pm Hymns and Pimms at St Michael and All Angels, Clyro
MONDAY 29th JUNE
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
30th June – S. Eigon – Our very own local Saint, the Church in Llanigon is the only one dedicated to her/him depending on your source. Sabine Baring-Gould, in his Lives of the British Saints, says that he was a Bishop and brother to S. Cynidr. There is also S. Eigen who was the daughter of King Caratacus. Both accounts locate Llanigon as home.
Evening prayer at 6 pm daily in St Mary’s, Hay – except for Mondays when there is a Mass.
For the diary
Some of you will remember Geoff Holder, a student for the Priesthood, who spent time with us on placement last year. His ordination to the Priesthood will take place on Saturday 4th July in Hereford Cathedral at 11am. Ewan Gillings, who preached for us earlier this year and has visited the parish several times, will be ordained to the Priesthood on Monday 6th July in S. Lawrence, Weston-under-Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye at 6pm by the Bishop of Oswestry, who also visited us here earlier this year.
Our Lady’s pilgrimage on the Wye – Once again we shall mark the Principal feast of Our Lady, the Assumption on Saturday 15th August, with Mass in S. Mary’s, a procession through town, and a couple of days afloat with rowers along the Wye. May Our Lady intercede for us and guide us to care better for the gift of God’s creation.
Ignatius Memorial Pilgrimage – The annual pilgrimage, starting at Llanthony Abbey, stopping at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin and concluding at the ruined monastery church at Capel-y-Ffin takes place on Saturday 5th September.
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
