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.
Calendar of Services for August 2025
1st August – S. Alphonsus di Ligouri – An Italian Priest and founder of the Redemptorist order. He was approached to be Bishop of Sant’Agata dei Gota and tried to use his age and ill-health to decline the appointment. It took thirteen years for his infirmities to develop to a stage where he could no longer continue in post. Those who aspire to the Episcopate could do worse than spend some time reading his ascetical works and his writings on Marian devotion.
SUNDAY 3rd AUGUST
The Transfiguration of Our Lord (trans.) / 7th Sunday after Trinity/ 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time and 18th Week
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 4th AUGUST
S. John Mary Vianney – Referred to as the patron Saint for Priests, a Frenchman who two years after ordination was appointed to the remote parish of Ars-en-Dombes. He became known for healing, which he attributed to S. Philomena’s intercession, and for ministry in the confessional. He did not welcome crowds or adulation and devotedly stayed in the parish of Ars-en-Dombes for the rest of his life.
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 6th AUGUST
The Transfiguration of Our Lord – We keep this feast on the Sunday. It is one of the milestones in Our Lord’s life at which S. Peter said, ‘tis good Lord to be here.’ It is at this moment that the temporal met with the eternal at which Our Lord became the bridge, the connecting point between Heaven and Earth.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 7th AUGUST
John Mason Neale – Brought up in an evangelical household, whilst a student at Cambridge he saw the light when exposed to the developing Tractarian movement in the Church of England, returning the Church to proper and universal norms, and whilst there founded the journal, The Ecclesiologist. Ordained Priest in 1842, he spent most of his Priesthood as Chaplain to the alms house community of Sackville College, East Grinstead. The Bishop disapproved of his proper practice and so barred him for sixteen years from officiating anywhere other than at the alms houses. He translated a good number of ancient hymns including ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ and ‘Jerusalem the Golden.’
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
8th August – S. Dominic – A Spaniard who first responded to God’s call by joining the Augustinian order. In the early 1200s he was sent on a preaching mission to an area in Southern France where heretical ideas had taken hold. In time he founded an Institute of Preachers, learned men who taught, preached and gave religious instruction. By personal approval of Innocent III, the Institute became a religious order known as the Order of Preachers, and now often referred to as the Dominicans. The order continues to produce some outstanding theologians and philosophers.
SUNDAY 10th AUGUST
8th Sunday after Trinity/19th Sunday in Ordinary Time and 19th Week
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 11th AUGUST
S. Clare of Assisi – S. Clare heard S. Francis of Assisi preach aged 18 and decided there and then that she was called to the religious life. Her family disapproved and went to great lengths to stop her. In time, under the guidance of S. Francis, she founded the order known as the Poor Clares. There is a community of Poor Clares in Herefordshire, and likewise there was one near to my childhood home in Warwickshire. I felt an incredible aura of holiness when in the presence of one of the sisters then resident at Baddesley Clinton.
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 13th AUGUST
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 14th AUGUST
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
FRIDAY 15th AUGUST
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – The principal feast of Our Lady, patroness of the Church here in Hay. This feast marks her fully assuming her place in Heaven and taking the special ‘place’ from which she intercedes for us as her children.
Voyage of Our Lady of the Wye
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s Hay followed by a procession through the town to the launch point on the banks of the Wye. For all the stops on the 4-day journey, please see the poster below.
SUNDAY 17th AUGUST
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (trans.)/ 9th Sunday after Trinity/20th Sunday in Ordinary Time and 20th Week
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 18th AUGUST
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 20th AUGUST
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 21st AUGUST
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
22nd August – Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary – The Queenship of Our Lady is kept following the feast of her Assumption. As her Divine Son is King of Heaven, so she is Queen. Pope Pius XII wrote the following for this feast: ‘We are convinced that this feast will help to preserve, strengthen and prolong that peace among nations which daily is almost destroyed by recurring crises. Is she not a rainbow in the clouds reaching towards God, the pledge of a covenant of peace?’ Pertinent words for our time.
SUNDAY 24th AUGUST
Bartholomew the Apostle/ 10th Sunday after Trinity/21st Sunday in Ordinary Time and 21st Week
S. Bartholomew was one of the twelve Apostles. Following Pentecost, he is thought to have evangelised in Arabia, Mesopotamia and Egypt. I used to attend a Church dedicated to S. Bartholomew. Every year, on the Saturday nearest his feast, we would have a BBQ or pizza party billed as ‘Barty’s party.’
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Compline at Holy Trinity, Bettws
MONDAY 25th AUGUST
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 27th AUGUST
S. Monica – The loving and long-suffering mother of S. Augustine whose feast follows tomorrow. In his Confessions he wrote of the following incident: ‘as she vehemently held on to me calling me back or saying she would come with me, I deceived her. I pretended I had a friend I did not want to leave until the wind was right for him to sail. I lied to my mother – to such a mother – and I gave her the slip.’ She did not give up on him and followed him from Carthage to Italy. In time she saw him return to the Christian Faith and this gave her great joy. Amongst other things she has patronage of disappointing children and Santa Monica in California. I don’t know what this says about the city of Santa Monica.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 28th AUGUST
S. Augustine of Hippo – Unkind son and lover, yet Bishop and declared as Doctor of the Church. Gives hope to the rest of us struggling poor souls. I think I would find it hard not to name a long-term lover whom I had dismissed for convenience, in an autobiography. Perhaps I am softer of heart than dear S. Augustine.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
29th August – The Passion of S. John the Baptist – S. John the Baptist met an unfortunate end with his head presented on a platter to Salome, daughter of Herodias at her mothers request. The last of the prophets and the first of the martyrs, he was the forerunner of Christ and one who assisted with the work of Our Lord. His martyrdom has resulted in several relics, some of the same body part, being in situ in Cathedrals and elsewhere. Accuracy might be one thing, but this should not detract from devotion toward him as a Saint and martyr.
SATURDAY 30th AUGUST
S. Margaret Clitherow – A recusant who went to her death in 1586 as she refused to enter a plea to the charge of harbouring Catholic Priests in her home in York. Her death came about through her own front door being placed over her followed by numerous heavy stones. Her home in The Shambles is now a Chapel and place of pilgrimage. In her time it was a place open to any who wished to see a Priest. Such faith, determination and hospitality is admirable.
Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Pilgrimage
11.30am – Mass at S. David, Llanthony followed by lunch – bring a picnic or at the Abbey Pub
1.30 pm Pilgrimage walk from Llanthony to Capel-y-Ffin
3.30pm Evensong at S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin, Preacher: Dr. Scholastica Jacob
Processional walk to the ruins of Fr. Ignatius’ Abbey Church with ‘stations’ at the Wayside Calvary and at the Statue of Our Lady of Capel-y-Ffin.
SUNDAY 31st AUGUST
11th Sunday after Trinity/22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time and 22nd Week
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
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
